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The Hispanic Culture of Mexico
-Mexico contains 2/3 populations of all Hispanic cultures
-3 major subgroups of Hispanic culture includes Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba
Culture in Mexico: Religion, Health, and Medicine
- The majority of Hispanics are Catholic, with an increasing presence of Pentecostals.
- Health is a gift from God and should not be taken for granted.
- The prevention of illness is an accepted practice that is accomplished with prayer, the
wearing of religious medals, or amulets, and keeping relics in the home. Visiting shrines,
offering medals and candles, offering prayers and the lighting of candles is a frequently
observed practice. Many homes have shrines with statues and pictures of Saints. The
candles are lit here and prayers are recited.
-An individual who becomes sick will turn first to family members, especially elders, for
support, comfort and advice.
- Historically speaking, the Mexican culture is based on that of the Aztecs. The medical
beliefs of the Aztecs combined with Greek beliefs brought over by the Spaniards can still be
seen today in some of the traditional Mexican practices. These beliefs are based on balance
and supernatural powers.A balance in what they refer to as the four humors: blood, phlegm,
black bile, and yellow bile, is what is required for good health. The four humors were
combined with the already existing Aztec beliefs and formed a new belief based on the
balance of hot and cold. Medicines, natural remedies, and diseases all have a classification
of hot or cold.
- A “hot” medicine or remedy must be used to treat a “cold” disease and a “cold” medicine
or remedy must be used to treat a “hot” disease. “Cold” diseases are ones that typically
have invisible symptoms and are things such as earaches, arthritis, chest colds, and
stomach cramps. An example of an acceptable treatment of a “cold” disease such as an
upper respiratory infection would be penicillin, a “hot” medicine. Interestingly, vitamin C, a
“cold” substance, would not be acceptable to treat an upper respiratory infection. “Hot”
diseases are those that present with more visible symptoms. Examples of these are
stomach ulcers, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, headache, fever, and sore throat.
- It is believed that supernatural powers can cause disease. With diseases that are caused
by supernatural forces, cures must also be provided by supernatural means. The
supernatural healer in Mexico is curanderas. She is believed to get her powers from God.
Treatment of disease by anyone other than a curanderas would not be acceptable.
-The quality of health care in Mexico is comparable to health care in the U.S. since most of
its doctors and dentists get a significant amount of their training in United States. Health
care is available to those who can afford it if through private health care organizations.
Public health care is subsidized based on person’s employment status. Preventative care is
often neglected.
- Most Latin Americans see thinness as a problem and plumpness as the ideal. Advice that
a patient should lose weight might not be followed because it would create a negative body
image.
-Hispanic men expect to be waited on in sickness AND in health.
Culture in Mexico: Health Concerns of Obesity and Type II Diabetes
- Mexico is number 2 in obesity rates worldwide at 24%.
- Mexico has a total number of 205 McDonald’s restaurants, ranking 34th in the world per
capita. But it is not comparable to the U.S. with leading highest number of McDonald’s
restaurants reaching 12,804. As far as soft drinks are concerned, Mexico is not ranked on
the top 18 list in the world ranking of McDonald's by country, but the country’s consumption
has increased by 60 percent over the last 14 years.
-Mexico is using several methods on trying to reform their obese and overweight population.
The Mexican Health Secretary launched a new health campaign on February 25, 2008 and
PepsiCo launched a program for children. The program is aimed at elementary aged children
and encourages active participate in exercise activities and to adopt a healthy lifestyle by
using a computer game. In this game, the "nutrin," as the figure is called needs help
making decisions on what foods to eat, what sports to play, and when it should go to the
doctor for a check-up.
-Federal education officials said it would be next to impossible to provide Mexico's 25 million
schoolchildren with 30 minutes of daily exercise because space at most public schools is
tight and the day is already short. Public elementary schools are in session just 4 1/2 hours
a day, and 30 minutes of that is already taken up by recess.
-The leading cause of death in Mexico is cardiovascular disease.
- Diabetes has become the main health problem in Mexico. With a population of just over
100 million, Mexico currently has 10 million people with diabetes (types 1 and 2).
Approximately 67,000 people will have died from diabetes by the end of this year. Diabetes
Type II affects 10% of its population in ages over 20. It affects 25-30% in ages over 50.
Culture in Mexico: Diet and Nutritive Sources
-The diet of Mexico is a blend of Indian and Spanish influences.
-major cooking methods are stovetop cooking, stewing, and frying with fats or oils.
-Corn (maize) is the basis of the Mexican diet.
-Chicken and pork are more commonly consumed than beef.
-Seafood is common in coastal areas.
-The tortilla is the basis of the typical meal.
-Corn, rice, beans, and peppers are most often used because they are inexpensive.
-Cheese and eggs round out the diet
-Other foods that are typically used in the Hispanic diet include: Squash, papaya, pineapple,
plantains, sweet potatoes and yams, guava, lime, avocado, Serrano and jalapeño peppers,
tomatoes and tomatillos, cilantro, vinegar, garlic, onions, oregano, vanilla, and chocolate.
-Their foods are high in carbohydrates but not processed carbohydrates.
A typical meal:
Desayuno (Breakfast) - coffee and sweet rolls and/or eggs
Comida (Lunch)- Between the hours of 1 and 3pm. This is their largest meal
a soup, meat dish, rice, tortillas, coffee, and dessert or fruit.
consisting of
Cena (Suppper) – Usually after 9pm and is a light meal.
Nutrition:
-The maize in soaked in lime-water solution that causes it to soften; this helps Calcium and
Niacin to become more bioavailable.
-The grinding stones used to prepare the tortillas provide Iron and Zinc.
-Beans have B vitamins, Magnesium, Folate, and Fiber.
-Tomatoes and limes have Vitamin C.
-The papaya, squash, melon, mango, and sweet potatoes have carotenoids.
So where does the Obesity and Diabetes come from?
-From acculturation and changing nature of diet.
-In Mexico and Central America, as elsewhere, this transition has been fueled by
globalization and urbanization. Major dietary changes include an increased use of animal
products and processed foods that include large amounts of sugar, refined flour, and
hydrogenated fats.
-There is a decline in the intake of whole grains, fruit, and vegetables.
-Hispanics are more than twice as likely to drink whole milk, but much less likely to drink
low-fat or skim milk.
-Lard used is high is saturated fat and cholesterol.
-While the increased variety has improved micronutrient status for many low-income
groups, the inclusion of more animal fat and refined foods has contributed to a rapid
increase in obesity and chronic disease throughout the region.
-The adoption of a more sedentary lifestyle is currently prevalent.
What can be done?
-More physical activity
-Use healthier methods of cooking like broiling or baking
-Do not eat past 7pm
-Avoid the processed foods
-Avoid frescos, drinks made of fruit syrup, water, and sugar
-Drink low-fat or skim milk
-Cook with healthier oils such as corn or vegetable oil
-Increase whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables!
-Portion Control
-Avoid fast foods like McDonalds
-Take heed to preventative care
References:
1. http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/22/world/la-fg-mexico-obesity-20100423
2. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_Mexico>
3. http://socyberty.com/religion/cultural-diversity-mexican-beliefs-towards-medicine-andillness/#ixzz1HdlAwkrN
4. Central Americans and Mexicans, Diets of - calcium, food, nutrition, body, diet, health,
protein, fat, nutrients, vitamin, amino, acids, water, vitamins, habits, Traditional Dietary
Habits http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/Central-Americans-and-Mexicans-Dietsof.html#ixzz1HdqYVv15
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/88951.php
5. <http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity>