SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — After enjoying all the indulgent foods that the holidays have to offer, Hispanics, like everyone else, are making it their New Year's resolution to get fit for overall health. Many are working out with their entire family to have a greater chance of success in achieving their goals. And some are even seeking out unique practices like yoga to incorporate in their daily routine. This year, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creator of GOT MILK? and TOMA LECHE, has teamed up with TV personality and yoga instructor Lina Navia to help California Latinos and their families practice a healthier lifestyle in 2011 with fitness through yoga and proper nutrition with milk.
"Yoga is a way of life that families can easily incorporate into their daily routine," says Navia, the creator of Umbral, a yoga DVD program designed to educate Hispanics about the health benefits of the practice. "Practicing yoga has shown to increase flexibility, to strengthen muscles and to reduce stress, contributing to overall wellness. Coupled with a well-balanced diet that includes low fat or nonfat milk, fresh fruits vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates, families can be on their way to health."
An avid milk drinker, Navia encourages families to reduce the empty calories they consume by substituting sodas and other sugary drinks for low fat or nonfat milk, and incorporating chocolate milk as a post workout beverage. A study in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism shows that chocolate milk competes effectively with commercial sports drink when taken 30 minutes after practice. It has the right combination calcium, protein, and carbohydrates to provide the energy and nutrients essential to strengthen bones and rebuild muscles for the next workout.
"Yoga and milk are the perfect combination," says Steve James, executive director of the CMPB. "Both are proven to increase flexibility and muscle tone, which is something we all seek to achieve as we start the New Year."
Along with incorporating milk as part of a diet to maintain healthy weight, Navia and the California Dairy Council have outlined the following tips for families for a healthy New Year:
1.Start small. Little changes can lead to big results. Resist that second serving of food. Cut down the number of sweets you eat daily. Bake foods instead of frying them. Same goes for exercise. Start by doing two to three yoga poses, spending about 10 minutes a day. With time and practice, you will be able to do more advanced poses or practice yoga for a longer period of time.
2.Include…Not Exclude! The more variety you include on your plate, the more likely you are to get the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Try incorporating more fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk and dairy products, lean proteins such as salmon and chicken and whole grains like brown rice in your meals as much as possible.
3.You Don't Need a Studio or a Gym. You can practice yoga anywhere. Find a place that allows for relaxation. The park, for example, is an ideal place to do yoga. It's airy, close to nature and has lots of space. For those who prefer doing yoga at home, practicing in your bedroom before bed could help you get a better night's sleep.
4.Erase the guilt! Stop defining food as "good" or "bad." Remember, all foods can be incorporated into a healthy eating plan. As long as "treats" like cookies and cakes are consumed in moderation, there's nothing wrong with a small reward from time to time.
Fitness and nutrition are more important than ever as health risks such as obesity and diabetes continue to rise in the Hispanic community. According to the American Diabetes Association, two and a half million Latinos ages 20 and older have diabetes, and one in three Hispanics is obese. For additional information on how you and your family could get fit in 2011, and for more information on the health benefits of milk, visit www.tomaleche.com.
About Lina Navia
Lina Navia was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia where she worked as an actress, appearing in popular TV shows and Telenovelas including Pequenos Gigantes, and Cafe con Aroma de Mujer. She moved to Los Angeles in 1998 where she took her first yoga class, and was immediately drawn to the practice. Today, Lina's mission is to educate Hispanics about the benefits of yoga and provide access to classes in Spanish. For more information on Lina Navia and umbral visit www.umbralyoga.com.
About the CMPB
The California Milk Processor Board was established in 1993 to make milk more competitive and increase milk consumption in California. Awareness of GOT MILK? is over 90% nationally and it is considered one of the most important and successful campaigns in history. GOT MILK? is a federally registered trademark that has been licensed by the national dairy boards since 1995. The CMPB's Spanish-language campaign began in 1994 using the tagline "Familia, Amor y Leche" (Family, Love and Milk). The TOMA LECHE (Drink Milk) campaign replaced it in 2006, following a growing trend in Hispanic food advertising that uses wit and humor to reach audiences. GOT MILK? gifts and recipes can be viewed at www.gotmilk.com and www.tomaleche.com. The CMPB is funded by all California milk processors and administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Source: California Milk Processor Board
