By Helen Jung, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

Sep. 14–Nike may dominate the basketball sneaker market with its $175 Air Jordans and $110 Zoom Lebrons, but it’s a bargain-basement shoe selling for $14.98 that’s stealing much of the media attention these days.

A new line of basketball sneakers endorsed by New York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury is selling as fast as the 140-store Steve and Barry’s retail chain can stock them, according to a company executive. The chain is billing the shoes as an affordable on-court alternative to the best offerings from Nike and Adidas AG.

Marbury, who said in a phone interview Wednesday that he remembers not being able to buy expensive sneakers as a child and wanted to do this for “the kids that couldn’t afford to spend $200 for the shoes that were being put out.”

He believes they’re such high quality that he plans to wear a regular, off-the-shelf pair of the Starbury 1 basketball sneakers all season long.

The sneaker, which has been on sale since mid-August, has its skeptics. Although the shoe may rival others in the $45-$65 price range, “I don’t buy into their claim it’s as well made as a Jordan or Nike,” said Ernest Kim, a senior writer who reviews shoes for Sole Collector magazine under the name Professor K.

“It cannot possibly be a performance basketball sneaker,” said Matt Powell, a footwear analyst and contributing editor of industry newsletter Sports Executive Weekly. “We have a good idea of what the cost components are of a Nike shoe. There’s no way you can make a quality shoe for $15.”

Well, actually less than $15. But Howard Schacter, chief partnership officer for Steve and Barry’s, which is selling the shoe exclusively, said his company makes a profit on every one sold.

Schacter bristled at the assertion that the shoes are not performance quality, challenging critics to cut through the shoes for themselves and compare them with others. He added that the company, which predominantly sells nonbranded T-shirts, hoodies, capri pants and other apparel but has no stores in Oregon or Washington, can afford to offer such a low price by strict cost management.

So far, stores are selling out fast, he said. The company found that inventory expected to last a month was gone in three days. Marbury and company have also taken the show on the road, visiting communities throughout the United States.

Marbury hasn’t always advocated for lower-priced shoes. Earlier in his career, he signed with basketball apparel and footwear company And1, which marketed a signature line for Marbury priced at $85 a pair.

And Marbury isn’t the only basketball player who has proposed the idea of a cheaper alternative to the $175 Jordans. Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal has long endorsed a line of basketball sneakers selling in the $30 to $35 range at Payless ShoeSource designed as an affordable performance shoe.

The bottom line, said Powell, is that with such limited distribution, it’s unlikely that the Starbury line of sneakers will gain any significant market share from the Nikes and Adidases of the world. And with sales for the highest-priced basketball sneakers continuing to rise, there still appears to be a strong market out there for the top-of-the-line models.

—–

To see more of The Oregonian, or to subscribe the newspaper, go to http://www.oregonian.com.

Copyright (c) 2006, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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NKE, ADDDY, ADS,

 

NIKE recently launched its Fall 2006 Premium Performance footwear with an art exhibition by renowned local artist Stephen Lau at the Laundry Bar in The Curve, Mutiara Damansara.

The collection has put Nike one step higher in demonstrating “visible technology”, incorporating designs that boast superior performance.

In line with the theme “Born from Obsession”, Nike explored the obsession that moved its footwear designers to design the premium performance footwear in its class.

The results are Air Max 360, Nike Free 5.0 V2, Nike Trainer 5.0 V2, Zoom Air Tre and Mercurial Vapor III.

Lau was commissioned to produce a piece of art to demonstrate his interpretation of the Premium Performance collection.

He is the first Malaysian artist to have his work featured in a Nike advertising campaign.

His artistic efforts can be seen in the Nike Fall innovative outdoor advertising structure along Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.

Lau’s creative work focused on the new and improved Air Max.

Nike Malaysia’s country marketing manager Glenn Heng said: “The Born from Obsession campaign is a reflection of our designers’ obsession to create performance-driven products.

“We enjoyed the creative process of working with Stephen. It gave us an opportunity to showcase local talent as well.”

Lau said: “I was inspired by the revolutionary technology behind Air Max.

The word ‘air’ represents freedom, flexibility and space.”

The exhibition also featured Air Max 360 Basketball and Nike Free shoes.

Celebrities such as Ashraf Sinclair, Adam Carruthers, Joe Flizzow, Dragon Red, DJ Fuzz, DJ Bling, DJ Uno and Twilight Action Girl attended the event.

Air Max 360 Basketball is the culmination of over 25 years of innovation. It boasts revolutionary cushioning technology.

Nike Free is a revolutionary running shoe that mimics the natural mechanics of the foot, giving the athlete the benefits of barefoot training with the protection they need.

The newly-improved Nike Free 5.0 V2 is constructed of Escaine, a unique Japanese synthetic suede with a fibre base that works in co- ordination with a midsole material to create the ultimate glove- like fit, moulding to the foot and providing support in key areas.

Meanwhile, the Nike Free Trainer 5.0V2 is the ultimate training shoe for competitors who understand the importance of training the foot for strength, mobility and flexibility.

Driven by the passions of skateboarder shoe designer James Azizumi, the Zoom Air Tre is an innovative skate footwear designed to withstand the intense wear and tear of the sport.

Handcrafted in Italy and weighing only 200g, the Mercurial Vapor III is Nike’s most advanced football boot.

It provides the highest level of technical innovation, speed and comfort for today’s fastest football player, Brazil’s striker Ronaldo.

(c) 2006 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By Claire Hay

LAST month Caroline Lindsay and Caroline Horner arrived at the pretty coastal town of Berwick-upon-Tweed tired but happy. They had just completed a 2,433km trek that took them around the whole coast of Scotland. The walk, which raised thousands of pounds for Save the Children, took them nearly three months to complete. Such a mammoth feat, which involved months of preparation and training, may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but more people are walking as a way to keep fit. Indeed, it has become the country’s most popular lowimpact exercise.

A lack of physical activity is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in Scotland. (In England, a ‘minister for fitness’ has recently been appointed to encourage the nation to boost activity levels and to get fit.) Yet NHS Health Scotland recommends that if we did just 30 minutes of moderate walking every day we would feel the health benefits, and it would help to lessen the risk of coronary heart disease and strokes, lower blood pressure, and reduce high cholesterol and body fat (as well as cellulite).

Walking at a snail’s pace won’t do, though; it’s important to keep it brisk. You should just be able to hold a conversation while you are walking. The average person will use about 90 calories over mile - but the heavier you are and the faster you walk, the more calories you will burn off.

Charity walks have become increasingly popular. Next year the Great Scottish Walk celebrates its tenth anniversary. Entry numbers have continued to rise over the years, and this June more than 8,000 people joined in. Edinburgh’s first Moonwalk was a huge hit this year, with more than 8,000 bra-clad walkers turning out for the overnight marathon.

The number of organised walking programmes has also increased. Paths for All Partnership (www.pathsforall.org.uk) for example, comprises 17 Scottish organisations that work to create and promote path networks for walkers around the country. Visit Scotland (www.visitscotland.com) has released a list of suggested walks for the autumn, which show off the countryside at its seasonal best. If you live in a town or city, green spaces and country parks ensure that you don’t have to miss out.

Wherever you choose to walk, go well equipped. Outdoor specialist Tiso (www.tiso.com) offers lots of advice to ensure your safety, which includes carrying plenty of water and wearing the correct footwear. It’s also a good idea to buy a pedometer, so that you can measure your routes and progress - and it will also encourage goal- setting.

Shoe manufacturers have even come up with a new range of footware. Vivo Barefoot and Nike Free trainers have both been designed to replicate the sensation of stepping out barefoot - it is believed that this encourages foot strength and reduces the likelihood of injury. Similarly, MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology) trainers were designed to simulate the Masai tribe’s shoeless gait. Its revolutionary design means that even when you are walking on a hard surface it feels textured, as if you are walking on sand.

While some have dismissed the health claims of the shoe manufacturers, Cherie Blair, Jemima Khan and various US sports stars have all been spotted wearing them. This celebrity endorsement has the back-up of a survey by Sheffield Hallam University, which found that the trainers do indeed help reduce stress on joints, and reduce postural and back pain. So the next time you’re out and about, why not speed up? Remember, these feet are made for walking.

(c) 2006 Scotland on Sunday. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

The large joint at the base of the big toe plays a big role in every step taken, so if it is painful, it requires a trip to the doctor, say U.S. experts.

As the joint bends, it is the last point from which a person propels forward, and therefore the joint is a prime location to give way to wear and tear, according to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

In addition to pain, other signs and symptoms of a problem include: a visible bump near the base of the big toe, decreased movement or range of motion in the big toe, and difficulty finding shoes that fit properly in the toe area.

A doctor can determine the joint’s condition with an X-ray. Arthritis is among the most common reasons for toe pain, but if the condition is addressed early, conservative treatments such as different shoes or shoe inserts can help relieve pain.

If there’s more advanced joint degeneration in the toe, surgical treatments may be considered, the newsletter said.

 

By Crable, Ad

Ouch. Defying odds, 55-year-old hiking 2,174-mile Appalachian Trail barefoot to help war veterans get counseling.

I caught up with Ron Zaleski last week in a motel near Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, in the northern shadow of Blue Mountain.

He had come down off the Appalachian Trail for a day because of a worsening case of poison ivy.

When you are trying to backpack 2,174 miles from Maine to Georgia barefoot, poison ivy on your piggies is more than a nuisance.

From the looks of things, Zaleski’s treads had other problems after more than 1,000 miles of wear.

His toenails were split and chipped. His feet were fissured and a disgusting black.

“Somebody on the trail thought I had frostbite because both feet were black,” the Flanders, N.Y., hiker laughs.

Although Zaleski, 55, has been called nuts by plenty of people for attempting a barefoot trek, it’s not quite the podiatric suicide you might think.

He has, in fact, spent the last three decades sans shoes.

Which is related to why he’s really doing this.

Zaleski was drafted during the Vietnam War and served two years in the Marines. He was stationed in the U.S. and didn’t see battle action.

But he lost five soldiers he served with and saw returning veterans scarred for life.

“I heard guys come back and I heard them scream in their sleep,” he says, tears gathering in his eyes.

Angry and consumed by survivor guilt, he vowed to go barefoot as a silent memorial to those killed in the war.

He’s done that for 33 years, starting when he went to college on the G.I. Bill. He never explained to people why he was barefoot.

He owned his own health club, so work wasn’t a problem. When he goes to restaurants and other places that require footwear, he dons a pair of goofy flip-flops.

Then, last year, a child came up to him during a class Zaleski was teaching and in the inquisitive, straightforward way kids do, asked him why he wasn’t wearing shoes.

Something gave way in Zaleski.

He realized that his nonconformity was more about his own self- righteousness and anger, and really wasn’t doing anything constructive for veterans.

“I thought, what kind of a memorial is this…I hadn’t honored them - it was all about me.”

Soon afterward, he chose to fight to convince Congress or the military to make it mandatory for soldiers returning from war to undergo counseling and be told about the dangers of post-traumatic stress disorder and other possible emotional problems.

He points to a recent report published by The Journal of the American Medical Association that found that more than one-third of troops serving in Iraq seek help for mental-health problems after coming home.

Zaleski says he has talked to mothers of soldiers returning from Iraq. “They tell me, I have my son home but he’s not my son.’”

He takes a neutral stance on the Iraq war but not on what wars do to soldiers.

“We take a 17- to 19-year-old kid and teach him how to kill. We ask him to do the unspeakable and then when they get home, we don’t speak about it.”

While counseling for returning vets is offered by the military, it is not required, and the option is often not sought because of an attached stigma, Zaleski says.

The cost of such counseling should not be prohibitive, especially if given in groups. And consider, he adds, the costs of treating later mental-health problems or the repercussions of violent behavior.

Zaleski hit on the idea of through-hiking the world’s longest continuous mountain trail barefoot as a means to draw attention to his crusade and to raise money for such counseling programs.

He considers it his penance.

Zaleski sold his gym and started hiking from Maine’s Mount Katahdin on Memorial Day with a goal to reach Springer Mountain in Georgia on Veterans Day, Nov. 10.

A runner and scuba diver, but hardly a backpacker, Zaleski started out hiking 16 to 20 miles a day.

“Hike the Appalachian Trail barefoot? He won’t make it, I don’t care how callused his feet are” scoffed a reader after a story on Zaleski’s trip appeared in a Vermont newspaper.

“He’ll last maybe a month.”

Hiking barefoot on a journey in which most people wear out three pairs of sturdy boots, it didn’t take him long to get noticed on the trail.

Through-hikers on the AT take trail names. Zaleski came up with his own, but later found out he was known up and down the coast as the “Holy s— Man,” as in “Holy s—, I can’t believe he’s walking the whole trail barefoot.”

Zaleski believes he would be the first person to through-hike the AT without shoes. Two sisters from Maine hiked most of it barefoot in 2000, but donned shoes for snowy sections.

The Guinness Book of World Records is interested.

Zaleski’s gear also attracts stares. His pack, tent and sleeping bag are fashioned from strips of Tyvek, a lightweight, wind- and waterproof plastic best known for its use as a home insulator.

Trim to begin with, Zaleski has lost 20 pounds pounding the turf. He’s getting tired of oatmeal and ramen noodles.

Tough and weathered, his feet still have taken a beating and have slowed his pace.

He stubs his toes and bruises the soles of his feet on tree roots and jutting rocks.

“High rocks are like running them across a file,” he says.

His feet sometimes are like pincushions for thorns.

Zaleski started out spreading his message by talking to fellow trail users and walking into American Legion and VFW posts in towns along the way.

To get more exposure for his mission, he briefly leaves the trail every two to three days to ring up local newspapers and radio stations.

Last Thursday, Zaleski spent a night in Lancaster County at the invitation of a Lititz woman who met Zaleski on the AT in New Hampshire in July and was moved by his sincerity.

Zaleski’s message was well received by a group who heard him speak at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster.

Zaleski is asking for donations - one penny for each mile on the AT, or $21.74 - to fund counseling programs for veterans. Donations to his not-for-profit organization may be sent to The Long Walk Home, P.O. Box 929, Riverhead, N.Y., 11901.

Yet Zaleski considers it even more important that Americans write letters to their Congressional representatives, the White House and key military officials, requesting mandatory counseling for vets.

To get those e-mail addresses, go to The Long Walk Home Web site at www.thelongwalkhome.org, then click on “How to Help.”

U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington state, and a psychiatrist and Vietnam War medical doctor, has been sufficiently impressed by Zaleski’s crusade to call an informal hearing on the mandatory counseling for veterans proposal later this month in Washington, D.C.

“One person can make a difference. I’d like it to be Ron Zaleski,'’ the congressman said at a Veterans for Peace Conference speech last month in Seattle.

Zaleski, who is twice divorced with two grown sons, plans on continuing his hike to Harper’s Ferry, W.Va., before heading to Washington to address McDermott’s hearing.

From there, he’s not sure what will follow. Perhaps, if the campaign has enough momentum, he’ll be needed to marshal the forces or get into counseling soldiers himself.

Perhaps he’ll get back on the trail and put skin to earth and continue on.

“I know I’m committed to this - that’s all I know,” he says.

Just as I finish photographing Zaleski on the AT where it crosses Route 501 and we are getting into the car, two hikers pop out of the forest.

One happens to be Tom Johnson, the 65-year-old president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, the overseer of the AT. He wants to do a story on Zaleski’s crusade in the club newsletter.

“What luck,” I say to Zaleski afterward.

“There are no accidents,” he replies.

Caption: Photos by Ad Crable, New Era - Ron Zaleski has hiked more than 1 000 miles so far on the Appalachian Trail without shoes.

(Copyright 2006 Lancaster Newspapers)

(c) 2006 Lancaster New Era. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By HILARY E. MACGREGOR Los Angeles Times

Note to the lactose-intolerant: When it comes to milk, don’t stray far from the federal food guidelines.

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, published in the September issue of Pediatrics, says that even children who can’t easily digest lactose should consume some dairy foods to make sure they get enough calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients for healthy growth.

“A lot of people say they are lactose-intolerant, so they can’t have any dairy products,” said Dr. Melvin Heyman, chief of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at University of California San Francisco Children’s Hospital and lead author of the report. “But now we know there is a problem with that down the road: osteoporosis.”

Although lactose intolerance causes uncomfortable symptoms — abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and flatulence — it is not going to cause injury, Heyman said.

Experts suggest: Consume small amounts of lactose in 4- to 8- ounce portions — with other food; choose yogurt instead of milk because the bacteria partially digest the lactose; and eat aged cheeses.

(c) 2006 Tulsa World. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

High cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease. Here are a few suggestions I offer regularly as a strategy to get high cholesterol back to the low to normal category: Choose healthier fats, limit dietary cholesterol and exercise regularly.

Medication may be needed to lower cholesterol along with lifestyle changes.

Making the right food choices can reduce your cholesterol. Oatmeal and oat bran, walnuts and almonds, fish and omega-3 fatty acids, foods fortified with plant sterols and stanols, fruits, vegetables and whole grains all work to limit cholesterol and saturated fats when eaten as part of a low cholesterol diet.

The National Cholesterol Education Program of the National Institute of Health recommends the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet for people who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease and high cholesterol. General guidelines for this diet are:

n\u200925 to 35 percent of total calories can come from fat, but limit saturated fat to less than 7 percent.

n\u2009Limit cholesterol intake to less than 200 milligrams per day.

n\u2009Limit sodium to less than 2,400 milligrams per day.

Buckwheat Pancakes

2egg whites

1tablespoon Canola oil

1/2cup fat-free milk

1/2cup all-purpose flour

1/2cup buckwheat flour

1tablespoon baking powder

1tablespoon sugar

1/2cup sparkling water

3cups fresh peaches, sliced

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg whites, canola oil and milk.

In another bowl, combine the flours, baking powder and sugar. Add the egg white mixture and sparkling water; stir until slightly moistened.

Place a nonstick frying pan or griddle over medium heat. When a drop of water sizzles as it hits the pan, begin spooning 1/2 cup pancake batter into the pan.

Cook until the top surface of pancake is covered with bubbles and edges are lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

Turn and cook until the bottom is well browned and pancake is cooked through. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve pancakes with fresh peaches as a topping.

Servings: 6.

Nutritional analysis per pancake: calories, 134; protein, 5 grams; fat, 3 grams; carbohydrates, 23 grams; cholesterol, trace; fiber, 3 grams; and sodium, 149 milligrams.

Melissa Moore, R.D., L.D. is a registered dietitian at the Cotton- O’Neil Heart Center, a division of Stormont-Vail HealthCare. Melissa teaches three free Heart Healthy Cooking classes per month to help people develop more healthy eating habits. Call Health Connections at (785) 354-5225. Her column runs the second and fourth Monday

in The Capital-Journal.

(c) 2006 Topeka Capital Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By Rajen M.

READ this article and look at the diagram. Your life may never be the same again. A study was conducted 20 years ago. Sadly, the message had not reached your doctor or you.

Indeed, the study shows that just keeping high levels of a group of essential fatty acids - the Omega 3 - prevents hardening of the arteries and hence, heart disease.

The scientists studied the effect of fish oil on the development and progression of coronary artery disease in pigs subjected to coronary balloon abrasion.

The pigs were fed a diet aimed at inducing the hardening of arteries for eight months. Indeed, they were fed doughnuts, which are practically starch and sugar.

The eight-month study involved 18 pigs. Sections of the coronary arteries were analysed in seven pigs given a fish oil supplement and 11 animals not given the supplement.

At the end of the study, the scientists noted significantly less disease in the animals fed cod-liver oil.

Compare the two cross sections on the chart (right). Cross section A is clearly blocked. On the other hand, the pigs fed with the fish oil did not display the blockage. Thus, the cross section B has little blockage of blood flow.

Clearly, pigs fed with the fish oil had lesser blockage of the arteries. Both groups of animals had severe hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol and triglycerides) throughout the study.

It is interesting to note that the differences in the extent of hardening of the arteries were not related to differences in plasma lipid levels.

Furthermore, they were significant differences in the biochemistry of the pig fed the fish oil.

The platelet arachidonate, which causes inflammation, was markedly reduced. On the other hand, platelet eicosapentaenoic acid was increased. This reduces inflammation.

Serum levels of thromboxane were decreased in the oil-fed group compared with the control group. This meant that the fish oil fed group had far lower levels of inflammation.

The scientists concluded 20 years ago that “in our animal mode, dietary cod-liver oil retarded the development of coronary artery disease, possibly through changes in prostaglandin metabolism”.

In other words, having high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids in the blood prevented the hardening of the arteries and hence, heart disease.

Over the last 20 years, we learned even more about heart disease and fish oil. Indeed, we know that fish oils can not only prevent heart disease progression, they can actually prevent sudden death following a heart attack.

Indeed, based on the Italian GISSI trial, taking fish oil supplements can reduce sudden death in the event of heart attack by 42 per cent. Yes, 42 per cent.

However, in the last 20 years, our oceans have also been increasingly contaminated by toxins.

In 1995, Greenpeace conducted a test of fish oil supplements found in US pharmacies. Of the 22 brands that were analysed, 21 failed.

Since then, the Americans, Europeans and Japanese have cleaned up their act. Fish oil supplements in the United States now undergo molecular distillation - a process that removes toxins while preserving the fish oil’s highly sensitive Omega 3 fatty acids.

Molecular distillation is an expensive and delicate process. As such, molecularly distilled fish oil is more expensive. However, when you consider that you may be taking these supplements for life, this investment is certainly worth it.

The experts increasingly recommend that you take two to three grammes of Omega 3 fatty acids daily.

KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS

* A study conducted 20 years ago shows fish oil protects your heart.

* The mechanisms are due to its anti-inflammatory activity and electrical membrane stabilisation.

* Taking fish oil regularly has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the arteries. It reduces the tendency of the arteries to harden and get blocked.

* The experts recommend 2-3 grams of omega 3 fatty acids.

* Take supplements.

References

* Connor, W.E. (2004). Will the dietary intake of fish prevent atherosclerosis in diabetic women? Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 80: 535-536

* Marckmann, P. (2003). Fishing for heart protection. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 78: 1-2

* Johansen, O., Seljeflot, I., Hostmark, A.T., Arnesen, H. (1999). The Effect of Supplementation With Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Soluble Markers of Endothelial Function in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 19: 1681-1686

* Stone, N.J. (1996). Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Lipids, and Coronary Heart Disease. Circulation 94: 2337-2340

* Hau, M.-F., Smelt, A. H.M., Bindels, A. J.G.H., Sijbrands, E. J.G., Van der Laarse, A., Onkenhout, W., van Duyvenvoorde, W., Princen, H. M.G. (1996). Effects of Fish Oil on Oxidation Resistance of VLDL in Hypertriglyceridemic Patients. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 16: 1197-1202

* Marchioli R, Barzi F, Bomba E, et al, on behalf of the GISSI- Prevenzione Investigators. Early protection against sudden death by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: time- course analysis of the results of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto Miocardico (GISSI)-Prevenzione. Circulation. 2002; 105: 1897-1903

(c) 2006 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

 

By Juana M. Gyek, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

Sep. 25–Tacos, enchiladas, menudo and other typical Mexican dishes were favorites for Maria and Hector Hinojosa.

But the couple can’t enjoy those tasty foods as often as they once did because they have to watch their weight and blood sugar levels.

Maria and Hector have what many Latinos have: diabetes.

Maria, 61, was diagnosed with the disease 23 years ago, she said, but never took extra care of her health, even though both her parents died from the disease and four of her eight siblings also have it.

Hector, 66, who found out he had diabetes two years ago, but neither he nor his wife knew how to go about managing the disease, Hector said.

But now that the Hinojosas are participating in the six-year-old diabetes control program offered by Campesinos Sin Fronteras, they say their health and the quality of their lives have taken a turn for the better.

They’ve been involved in the Spanish-language program since May after Maria’s sister, who also has diabetes, told them about it.

“We liked it a lot, we already feel like family,” Maria said.

“We communicate what is happening to us with each other,” Hector said.

Diabetes is an urgent health problem in the Latino community with rates of diabetes almost double those of non-Latino whites, according to the American Diabetes Association Web site.

A possible cause for the high rates is that Latinos tend to have family gatherings that revolve around foods that are not always balanced. Some Latinos have poor physical habits and many have a family history of the disease, said Idolina Castro, who, as lead promoter for Campesinos, teaches diabetes control classes to participants.

Before participating, they both ate like someone not afflicted with diabetes and even though they did have the disease, they still continued to eat plenty of unbalanced meals, high in fat and sugar.

Maria wouldn’t care if there was food in the house as long as there was cake and soda, she said.

For years she worked night shifts and the only way to stay awake through the night was drinking five sodas, Maria said.

A single can of soda contains the equivalent of 10 tablespoons of sugar, Castro said.

Through the program, the couple have been able to learn about portion and serving size as well as what each of the food groups contain.

They have learned to eat light portions five to six times a day, including meals and snacks. They eat grilled chicken or meat and different kinds of salads and other meals that Maria makes.

“I don’t get full,” Maria said. “It’s a drastic change.”

It’s important to remember to eat something before going to sleep at night, too. People who do not eat at night wake up with higher sugar levels, Castro said.

Maria and Hector share a bag of plain microwave popcorn as their nightly snack before going to sleep. If they skip this nightly snack, they both wake up with higher blood sugar levels, Hector said.

Hector takes two pills daily, one in the morning and one at night, while Maria has to take an insulin shot every morning and night before she eats in addition to multiple pills.

Maria still has high glucose levels and her vision has been affected through years of not taking care of herself. She also suffers from cramping in her feet, she said.

She said that although she has a strong family history of diabetes, she never really thought about the consequences of not taking care of herself. “I would forget,” she said.

When Hector was diagnosed with diabetes, “it did give me (something) to think about,” he said. “I follow my diet to the letter. ” Hector gets up every morning, pops in an exercise DVD and exercises for 35 minutes, eats a snack, like a piece of cake and coffee, then later returns to lift light weights for 45 minutes while he watches television. He eats dinner at 7 p.m. and eats a small snack, like a piece of fruit, at 9 p.m.

Hector said he had high blood pressure but it is now maintained at a normal level since participating in the program and learning what steps to take to control the disease.

The support group has helped the couple significantly “we have made friends, we have fun and exchange experiences … we’re very happy,” Hector said.

Juana M. Gyek can be reached at jgyek@yumasun.com or 539-6872.

WHAT CAMPESINOS SIN FRONTERAS DOES

Offers 4 basic classes that teaches participants: — What diabetes is and how the body functions. — Nutrition, diet and food properties. — How to understand analysis and exam results, how to use a glucometer and explains medications. — Physical activity, health complications and feet-care.

After the basic classes: — Participants can join support groups that meet weekly to review what was already learned through the discussion of different topics: self-esteem, stress, depression, complications and many more. — Experts, like psychologists, are invited to talk to the group and answer questions. — Each support group session is started off with a positive and inspirational message. — Promoters work closely with Sunset Community Health Center to provide reduced health care for uninsured participants with low income. — Promoters help participants fill out applications and forms when applying for health-care services, like Medicare and AHCCCS. — Promoters stay in touch with participants and do phone calls for updates. — Offers glucometers and special footwear free of charge for diabetics who can not afford them.

DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP IN SPANISH

– Yuma: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Center, 300 S. 13th Ave. — Somerton: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, call 722-5735 for location. — San Luis: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Fernando Padilla Community Center. — La Mesa: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 722-5735 for days and locations. — Wellton: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. every other Monday at the Wellton Library.

DIABETES SYMPTOMS Some diabetes symptoms include: — Frequent urination. — Excessive thirst. — Extreme hunger. — Unusual weight loss. — Increased fatigue. — Irritability. — Blurry vision.

You can keep your risk low by: — Keeping your weight under control (or losing weight if you are overweight). — Staying active most days of the week. — Eating low-fat meals high in fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods.

Source: American Diabetes Association

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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