From Our Team

The Soda Ban is Stupid

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Jon Law

While on the theme of soda taxes, I’d like to share the following link “The Soda Ban is Stupid”.

Dr. Carroll, Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine, asserts that we are unfairly demonizing soda, when other foods in chain restaurants have a much greater contribution to caloric unbalance (eating more than we burn). Take a look at his analysis of a 4000 calorie meal at Chili’s. Arguably, the Coca Cola is least threatening of the foods in this hypothetical meal….

México 'One Ups' NYC

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Jon Law

An update for those who may not know — Mexico has a new soda tax, referred to in Mexico as the “Impuesto a las bebidas azucaradas” (tax on sugared drinks).

In 2013, the Peña Nieto administration approved a number of fiscal reforms, which include a tax of 1 peso (approximately 8 cents) per liter of soda. In addition, there is a 5% excise tax on high calorie packaged foods, like potato chips and sweetened breakfast cereals.

This tax is a little different from New York City’s soda law passed in 2012. The NYC Board of Health, with strong encouragement from Mayor Bloomberg, banned many…

Getting a hold on Underage Drinking

Two weeks ago, several local organizations hosted a training for law enforcement officers titled “Controlled Party Dispersal.” The purpose of the training was to prepare officers to safely control and contain underage alcohol parties. As the officers engaged with the trainer, I was shocked to hear about the excesses of underage alcohol parties officers encountered in all parts of El Paso County. In two cases, the parties were hosted by businesses with underage individuals as the targeted customers. While the officers’ anecdotes are shocking, these specific events are merely symptoms of a…

Surviving Flu Season

From the office to the gym, it seems like I’m constantly running into folks who are recovering from the flu or hearing about folks who are out due to illness. My perceptions appear to correlate with the data. According to the El Paso Department of Public Health, 2,902 flu cases have been reported from October through the third week in January, and there are likely many other cases that do not get reported.

“Flu” refers to illnesses caused by different influenza viruses. Symptoms of flu include fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, chills and fatigue. Each year…

Help Youth Avoid Drinking

A while back, I was talking with a friend of mine who runs a local business. He shared with me his interviews with two great candidates for his company. These young people (ages 22-24) had relevant skills, ambition, and seemed to be promising hires. As part of his business, he routinely conducts background checks on all new employees. The two checks on these individuals found that both had DWI (driving while intoxicated) offenses on their records. Much to his disappointment, the increased cost to manage the associated risks made it so he could not afford to hire them.

My friend’s…

January Health Tip: Test Anxiety

As 2013 begins, kids are returning for the second half of the school year. In addition to the regular school assignments and testing, teachers will work to prepare students for state standardized tests. This becomes a stressful time for children, youth and teachers. Kids go to class, study, complete homework, and arrive prepared for tests more often than not. But test anxiety can be a problem for some kids preventing them from successfully completing crucial tests.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America [ADAA], test anxiety can lead to symptoms such as: headache,…

Eat as a family as much as possible

After traveling for a week for work, one of the things I looked forward to most was a home cooked meal. But if you’re like me, after a long day, the last thing I want to do is cook. Picking up a hot and ready meal isn’t always cost effective, but it’s usually easier and more convenient. However, this choice isn’t always the healthiest option. The recommended caloric intake for adults can range from 1,800-2,400 calories depending on your age and sex. In just one fast food meal, I can easily consume more than the recommended intake of calories. Those calories likely don’t include any fruits…

Let’s Take A Walk

I often think about simple things we can do to improve our health without hurting our wallets. With warmer weather and increased sunlight, I’ve been spending more time outdoors. Whether it’s walking my dog, or intentionally walking some place instead of getting in my car, I’ve realized how easy it is to incorporate walking into my daily routine.

We’ve all heard time and again that walking is good for us! Some of the health benefits include: reducing risk for heart disease and stroke, controlling blood sugar, weight control, and increasing overall energy. But, more often than not, we…

Get Your Teen Ready for Summer!

Summer is upon us and kids are looking forward to summer vacation. Before you hear the summertime teenage cry of “I’m bored”, prepare yourself with a response. Planned activities by reputable organizations have the benefits of providing a safe environment for learning and making friends, while also diverting teenagers from potentially harmful activity. If teenagers don’t find a positive and supportive environment to take risks and try new things, they might resort to trying new things in a negative environment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration…

Food and Quality of Life

When it comes to health and quality of life, food plays a central role. Yet quality of life conversations more often are associated with recreational events, arts and culture, libraries, medical services, schools, jobs, housing, weather, and other topics. Food may only be considered as a factor in cost of living calculations.

Air, water, shelter, and food are essential for life. Urban plans, government agencies, and private developments frequently have long-range plans for clean air, water, and housing. But master planning for food, although not absent, seems to be a smaller piece of the…