July 26, 2000 Purtianò (Dbaeruer Health/Education Diabetes reaches epidemic proportions especially among Hispanic and African-American groups • Diabetics get more urinary tract infections than general populations CONTBlBUTCDSTOItV eqr T he P ortland O bserver The statistics are staggering. Diabetes is the numbers one-health problems facing Hispanic-Americans in the United States. In fact, they are twice as likely as Caucasians to die from the disease and complications stemming from it. Equally as concerning, one in four African-American women, over the ageof55, are estimated to have the disease. Both Hispanic an African- Americans are nearly twice as likely to develop type 2 or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is most common form o f the disease, where the body becomes insensitive to insulin and can no longer use it properly. Although diabetes is a chronic disease without a cure, it can be controlled through diet, exercise, and sometimes medication. The greatest risk factor that affects diabetes differently than the general population. Diabetics often have a higher incidence o f urinary tract infections, and Ocean Spray is the brand scientifically proven to help. Medical research confirms what has been nutrition folklore. According to a 1994 university study published in the Journal ofthe American Medical Association, elderly women who drank 10 ounces ofOCE AN SPRAY Lightstyle low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail a day had a reduced chance for developing UTIs. Lightstyle containjust 40 calorie and only 10 grams o f carbohydrates per 8-once serving, yet it’s packed with 130 percent o fth e Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) o f vitamin C. One 8-once serving equals '/i fruit exchange. Appropriate fordiabetes, Lightstylejuice drinks are sweetened with SPLENDA Brand Sweetener; the only low-calorie sweetener made from sugar. Cranberry juice and juice drinks contain proanthoyanidins, More commonly known as condensed tannins. These natural compounds found in cranberries have been shown to inhibit the attachment ofharm f i l l bacteria in the urinary tract. Interestingly, the same anti adhesion properties responsible for urinary tract health may inhibit the activity o f other disease-causing bacteria, including some bacteria that contribute to gum disease. For more information on diabetes and/or LiGHTST YLE juice drinks or to order free brochures on the two subjects, call the Ocean Spray Consumer Helpline at I -800-662-3263 or visit their Web site at www.oceanspray.com. Ocean Spray is an agricultural cooperative owned 750 cranberry growers and 150 citrus growers throughout the United States and Canada. Headquarter in Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass., Ocean Spray ranks among the 50 food and beverage companies and is the best-selling brand name in the canned and bottled-juice category. For additional information Ocean Spray C ranberries, Inc., visit their Web site at www.oceanspray.com. PCC student says scholarship based on race unfair A ssociated P ress open to everyone,” Williams said. “That would defeat the purpose o f A Portland Com m unity C ollege the program.” stu d e n t has file d a re v e rse The tuition waivers are worth a total discrimination complaint alleging she ofabout $25,OOOayearat PCC for the is being denied free tuition because 15 students in the program, said Jan she is white. Coulton, a campus spokeswoman, Adrienne W illiams, 29, claims a plus additional money to run the te a c h e r d e v e lo p m e n t p ro g ram program office. v io la te s th e c o lle g e ’s n o n ­ Minority scholarships and college discrimination policies because it is admissions have been a hot political open only to minorities. and legal issue on campuses in recent She sent her complaint to the U.S. years as affirmative action efforts Department o f Education’s Office o f collide w ith the notion o f equal C ivil Rights, which investigates opportunity. charges o f discrimination on campus. Raymond Pierce, deputy assistant Williams enrolled at PCC this summer education secretary in the Office o f in hopes o f becoming an elementary Civil Rights, said the issue o f race- school teacher. With little money, based scholarships h a s n 't been she worried about looming debt from reviewed by the U.S. SupremeCourt. five years o f study, and she looked In 1994, the court declined to review for grants and loans. a Fourth Circuit ruling that threw out She wanted to apply to the Portland ra c e -b a se d sc h o la rsh ip s at the Teachers Program, which offers free University o f Maryland, but that tuition for minorities who qualify. decision does not legally bind Oregon. “I was pretty upset when I saw it,” M ost o f the court rulings have Williams said. “We are talking about addressed race-based admissions, a program that is funded w ith and even there the record is muddled. government dollars.” The most cited cased is the U.S. T he 1 0 -y ear-o ld p ro g ram w as Supreme C ourt’s Bakke decision of developed in response to the shortage 1978, which said that race could be o f minority teachers. In Portland, 36 used as a factor not the sole factor in percent o f students are minorities, admissions. but only 12 percent o f classroom Pierce’s office has issued guidelines teachers are. Statewide, minorities on financial aid that state, among make up 18 percent o f students but other things, that race can be used as only 4 percent o f teachers. a factor in granting scholarships with In a decade, the program has provided the aim o f creating diversity on 6 0 Blacks, Latinos, American Indians campus. M ildreO llee.deanofPCC’s and Asian Americans with teaching Cascade cam pus, said w hile the d eg rees. T h irty -e ig h t teach in Portland Teachers Program may not Portland schools, according to Jim be open to Williams, there are many W illia m s, a P o rtla n d sch o o l other financial aid programs for which administrator. she might be eligible. Students take two years o f college at For her part, Williams thinks having PCC, eam a bachelor’s degree and a a diverse teaching force is a good graduate teaching certificate at idea but not at her expense. Portland State. They pay no tuition, “ I’m not asking for anything special," but they are committed to working at she says. “ I’m not saying that it is least two years in Portland schools. necessary to let me into the program. “ It would be a shame if this had to be I’m sayingjust make it equal." f Page A3 ÿtartlanii (Dbseruer Pay yourself first.. .exercise! eor T iie P ortlasd O bserver People often wonder after noticing my youthful appearance just how long I’ve been working out. My answer is astonishingly, my whole life! W hat I truly enjoy about e x e rc isin g re g u la rly is the coordination between body, mind and spirit. It is the element o f self- improvement - refining myself all the time that is motivating. My current job as a Recreation Supervisor and F itn e ss In stru c to r at S e lf Enhancement Inc. is truly a dream come true because I’m doing by example the things I value most. In the coming weeks, I will be featuring a series of articles regarding health, fitness and wisdom. My first pearl of wisdom to all o f you and those in my fitness class is “Pay yourself first, e x e rc ise .” E very tim e you do something that requires you to extend yourself physically which in turn makes your cardiovascular system work more efficiently, the quality o f your life improves. After 25 years o f teaching fitness classes, I’ve had the opportunity to see hundreds o f people come and go. I can honestly say that I’ve only met See your business advertised here, call 288- 0033 fitness instructor, I often get cornered by folks needing help with getting in shape. I’m in the bus iness o f solving a serious problem, not fielding excuses. Trust me when I say that I haven’t heard a good excuse from those with good intentions but not doing what it takes to stay in good physical condition. Despite that, I stoy encouraged. There are more people coming to the realization that fitness is your best health insurance investment. So remember, “Pay YourselfFirst!” Are you having trouble paying your student loans? Summertips Sunglasses: D o n ’t Leave Home Without Them Ultraviolet rays— which are more intense during the summer— can wreak havoc on an unprotected pair o f eyes. Too much unprotected sun can cause comeal changes that affect vision, boost the risk o f cataracts, and induce macular degeneration. Providence St. Vincent Medical Center eye specialists recom m end that sunglasses be worn at all times during summer outdoor fun, and even on overcast days, particularly near water or snow. Read the label, say the experts. Sunglasses should be 99-to- 100 percent UVA and UVB coated, or you’re unprotected. Protect Your Heart With Beer Drinking red wine in moderation can help your heart, but drinking beer occasionally with dinner may be even better for your ticker. Researchers have found that beer contains B6, a vitamin that reduces homocysteine levels in blood. High levels o f homocysteine, a long-ignoredamino acid, may play as important a role in heart disease risk as cholesterol. P ro v id e n c e H eart In stitu te cardiologists and physicians are examining the role homocysteine and B6 play in protecting the heart. Fluids Key To Hot Weather Survival W hat’s the best way to stay healthy and keep cool when temperatures soar into the ‘90s? Drink plenty o f water, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to keep from dehydrating, say Providence St. V incent Medical Center fitness experts. Joggers and other athletes who play hard outdoors in the summer are advised to drink fluids before even short outdoor work-outs, and take breaks frequently to re-fuel. Don ’ t Rock The Boat When It Comes To Water Safety T ak in g a few sim p le safety precautions around water may save you a trip to the em erg en cy department this summer. Every year, emergency room physicians treat victims o f boating or swimming- related accidents. Many o f the avoidable water-related mishaps revolve around alcohol. Providence St. Vincent emergency room physicians have a few tips for summer water safety: avoid alcohol when swimming or boating, always wear a lifejacket when boating even if you know how to swim, never swim alone, always supervise chi ldren who are in and around water, avoid sw im m ing in unm arked or unmonitored areas, and keep rescue equipment handy. a few individuals who are both consistent and serious about their personal fitness programs. Just recently, I was talking to a beautiful young lady the other day about her injury that required surgery. During her time o f recovery, she was unable to get into exercising which ledtoherweightgain. She was serious about losing “this weight” around her hips. In most cases like hers, it’s a matter o f people consuming more calories than they are burning off and not getting enough exercise. As a Were you promised a job you didn’t get? Training that fell short? A school that closed? Are you disabled? Experience hardship? FREF. W ORKSHOP TO ADDRESS STU D EN T LOAN PROBLEMS This free workshop will be held Tuesday, August 1 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Ainsworth United Church of Christ 2941 NE Ainsworth, Portland. • • • • • • Topics include default prevention loan consolidation loan deferrals discharge hardship cases repayment plans B ring your paperwork if at all possible . Brought to you by The Oregon Consumer League with help from the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, the U.S. Department of Education and special guest, Richard Slottee, director of the Lewis and Clark Legal Clinic. Legal Notice Legal Notice If You Have or Had a Life Insurance Policy of $2000 or Less, a Burial Policy, a Health Policy, ora Similar Type of Insurance Policy From: Equitable Life Gulf Life Home Beneficial Life Home States Life Independent Life Interstate Life Knight’s Life Life and Casualty Insurance Co. National Life and Accident and other insurance companies now owned by American General Life and Accident You May Be Entitled To Valuable Benefits, including: • Lower Life Insurance Payments • Free Additional Life Insurance • in some instances, a Cash Payment. These benefits are from the settlement o f a lawsuit involving the insurance companies and types o f insurance policies described above. You are not being sued. You may have important legal rights under this settlement that may be affected and some of which you must act on by August 24,2000. To find out more about the settlement, these benefits, and your legal rights, call: (Please have policy number available, if possible.) 1-800-681-4944 FOR TDD/TTY, CALL: 1-877-477-0959 or write to: Industrial Life Class Action Administration Center P.O. Box 1628 Minneapolis, MN 55440-1628 4