Promoting Good Health Through Diet & Lifestyle

Good health and a long life! A healthy diet and lifestyle go a long way towards meeting that goal. We all know that the challenge each day is to eat healthy and get adequate physical activity, given the many conveniences we have. That's why it's important for us to learn about the benefits of a healthy diet and lifestyle for the prevention of many chronic diseases down the line. This series of five booklets is designed to focus on the benefits of a healthy diet & lifestyle for the prevention of chronic diseases. In these five lessons, we'll learn about the benefits of a low-fat, plant-based diet, which follows the guidelines of the Food Guide Pyramid. We'll also learn how modifications in alcohol and tobacco consumption and increasing physical activity play key roles for a healthy lifestyle. If we know the benefits, we'll be motivated to make changes in our lives to move closer toward meeting our goals for good health and a long life!

The project is originally funded by the California Cancer Research Program, Department of Health Services and the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program to help low-income Vietnamese-Californians reduce risk of developing diet-related cancers.

With additional funding, the Cooperative Extension at University of California Berkeley developed these booklets which can be used by the Extended Food and Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP) around the country which have Vietnamese Nutrition Education Assistants. EFNEP provides nutrition assistance to people with low-income. It can help families buy nutritious foods for a better diet.

For more information about this project, contact
Kim P Nguyen M.S.
Research Nutritionist
kimphuc@nature.berkeley.edu

Cancer Prevention with Vietnamese Americans In California Click here

Cancer Prevention with Vietnamese Americans In California
University of California Berkeley, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology

According to the US Census Bureau, Vietnamese Americans are one of the fastest growing American Asian Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups in the United States. From 1990 to 2000, the Vietnamese population in the United States grew by 83% (614,547 to 1,122,528), and are expected to reach 4 million by 2030 (US Census Bureau 2000). This population has encountered significant social challenges since their immigration to the United States. Compared with other AAPI groups, the Vietnamese have lower socio-economic status and many have difficulty with the English language. Culturally, many Vietnamese rely on traditional beliefs about health and medicine. Social isolation is also a major problem in Vietnamese-American communities. Low reading levels and limited access to culturally and literacy-appropriate education materials may contribute to inadequate dietary intake. In this project, we propose an approach that promotes networking and social support among community members.
This project focuses on establishing and supporting nutrition education through home-based neighborhood gatherings. The goal of this project was to develop a culturally sensitive and relevant nutrition education program for Vietnamese immigrants for the purpose of reducing their risk of developing cancer by:
- increasing the number of servings of fruit and vegetable consumption
- decreasing calories intake from saturated/ animal fat, and
- reinforcing traditional food practices which promote a diet low in fat and high complex carbohydrates and fiber.

Funded by the California Cancer Research Program (CCRP grant # 99-86878) and matching funds from the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program (FSNEP), this three year project contains five major components:
" Focus groups
" Educational material development
" Paraprofessional training
" Nutrition education
" Program evaluation

Since January 2002, a minimum of 50 intervention participant who are low-income Vietnamese Americans aged 18 and above in each of the 4 counties (Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Orange counties) were reached each year for the two year data collection period. Each county recruits a minimum of 50 control group participants per year.

The program is in its second year of data collection. Outcome assessments will be evaluated after September, 2003. Reports from Nutrition Education Assistants teaching the lessons indicate the program is being well received by the community. Many are excited about the education materials they received and the information they are learning. In some counties, there is already a waiting list to join the program. Results of the study will be released in February 2004.

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