What subject should your child study harder in school this year?

According to the federal government, more than two thirds of U.S. fourth graders did not show proficiency in science in the 2010-11 school year.

Six out of 10 eighth and twelfth graders also failed to meet proficiency on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is used as a key measure of performance in science.

Francis Eberle, executive director of the National Science Teachers Association, said that the reason for this may be, in part, because science classes are often cut short in favor of math and reading.

The problem was so serious, President Obama included it in his last State of the Union address. Obama said science is crucial for American competitiveness.

A new study indicates that when immigrants move to the United States, they and their children gain more than a new life and citizenship.  They also gain weight.

The wide availability of cheap, convenient and fatty American foods cause immigrants to pile on the pounds.  Over time, the diets of the immigrants worsen the longer they stay in the country, and within 15 years, they often begin to approach U.S. levels of obesity.

According to psychologists, however, it’s not just because food is convenient that immigrants choose them.  Immigrants consciously choose American dishes like burgers and hot dogs as a way of fitting in with the culture and prove their American-ness.

“People who feel like they need to prove they belong in a culture will change their habits in an attempt to fit in,” said Sapna Cheryan, corresponding author and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington. “If immigrants and their children choose unhealthy American foods over healthier traditional foods across their lives, this process of fitting in could lead to poorer health.”

Researchers surveyed Asian-American and white college students about embarrassing childhood food memories. Sixty-eight percent of the Asian-American respondents reported food insecurities around white peers while growing up while only 27 percent of white respondents remembered embarrassing food memories.

In order to trigger the threat of not being considered American, researchers asked half of the participants whether or not they spoke English.  Then, they asked participants to report their favorite foods.

Among the Asian-Americans who were asked about language, 75 percent listed a typical American food as their favorite compared with 25 percent of Asian-Americans who had not been asked if they spoke English. White participants’ lists of favorite foods remained unaffected by the question.

Eating habits were also affected.  In another study, Asian-Americans were asked to select a dish to eat from Asian and American restaurants. Before some participants chose a meal, the researchers said: “Actually, you have to be an American to be in this study,” as a way of threatening the participants’ American identity.

Those participants chose more American dishes than participants whose identity was not threatened.  Because American dishes are typically fattier, the threatened participants ended up consuming an extra 182 calories, 12 grams of fat and seven grams of saturated fat.

The root of the problem lies in social pressure, according to Cheyran. “In American society today, being American is associated with being white. Americans who don’t fit this image – even if they were born here and speak English – feel that pressure to prove that they’re American.”

The study was published in the journal Psychological Science.

By eating the seven Latin powerfoods, by ingesting foods with antioxidant properties, and by eliminating bad oils and implementing good ones, you’re detoxifying yourself. What does this mean? Well, basically, every human cell takes food, burns it, creates waste, and then discards it. We all generate cellular by-products. However, when the cell doesn’t get rid of waste, we become less efficient. And when the waste is contaminated, it is difficult to eliminate. What we want is to have our cells metabolize effectively. Toxins don’t allow cells to work well. In order for us to lose weight, our cells must be working well. That’s why antioxidants, proteins, and good oils become important when you start to talk dieting and health. That’s also why when we see news reports about lowering cancer rates, they’re always—if you notice—linked with balanced diets. At the end of the day, cancers, aside from being genetically derived, are derived from cellular toxicity from poor diets and habits (like smoking and drinking).

The good news about all this is that you can eliminate a lot of the toxins in your body—and your body will respond relatively quickly. Consider this example using one of the most toxic activities people do to themselves: smoke. Did you know that if you quit smoking—even after twenty years of doing it—your body will immediately change? In fact, even after one hour of not smoking, the oxygen content in your cells is significantly higher! Now if your body responds that quickly to stopping one of the most detrimental toxins from invading it, you can recognize that a change in the body’s diet is also going to have immediate, beneficial effects.

Let’s look further into the seven Latin powerfoods and their subcategories and learn about their immediate effects on our bodies.

TOMATILLOS
These flavorful and unique small yellow-green tomatoes pack a lot more nutrients than regular red tomatoes. Used throughout Mexico and available now here in the States, tomatillos are rich in vitamins C, A, and folic acid, as well as potassium. They are a great source for your daily antioxidant needs.

GARBANZO BEANS
These delicious beans are very high in fiber, which will improve your elimination cycles and support the growth of healthy intestinal flora. They are very low in natural sugar content, and high in complex carbohydrate content and protein, giving you a steady source of high-quality fuel for balanced energy throughout your day. They also have a warming effect on your body and a calming effect on your mind. Garbanzo beans are used in cooking throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

AVOCADO
Do not let the “high” fat content of avocados deter you from eating this fantastic fruit. In fact, the healthy monounsaturated oil in avocado will help you feel satiated after a meal and signal your body to burn more fat stores, as well as lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol! Avocado also helps lubricate your intestines and assists in regulating your elimination cycles. Avocados are grown, and consumed, throughout the Americas.

GARLIC
Use garlic as often as you can in your cooking. Garlic is well known for its immune-boosting and antimicrobial properties. It also helps lower bad cholesterol. A clove of garlic a day can keep the doctor away! You will benefit from improved blood circulation as well as a stronger libido. The Spanish, Portuguese, and French are credited with introducing this powerfood to the New World, where it is now a ubiquitous ingredient.

CINNAMON
A half teaspoon a day of cinnamon can lower sugar levels in your blood, and studies show that cinnamon can aid in the prevention of diabetes. Cinnamon is also high in antioxidants, not to mention flavor. You can sprinkle cinnamon on fruits or whole grains instead of sugar for a delicious treat. You will also benefit from its sensually warming and cholesterol-lowering qualities. First used medicinally in Egypt and India and in parts of Europe since about 500 BC, this spice is now part of many Latin American and Caribbean cuisines.

CHILES
You can use chiles as often as you wish in your dishes for flavor and for health. Chiles of all types, like chipotle and other hot chiles, are high in minerals and antioxidants, giving a healthy boost to your immune system. Another interesting note about this powerfood is that although it is hot to taste, it actually has a cooling effect on your body. Blood rushes to the periphery of your body in response to the hot taste, and then the blood cools down before moving more to the center of your body, where your temperature is higher. That is why Latinos in hot tropical countries instinctively eat hot and spicy foods. Though many equate chiles with Mexico, they can be found in varied colors and shapes, as well as all different degrees of hotness, throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

CILANTRO
Cilantro accelerates the excretion of toxic metals from your body. Excess toxic metals in the body can create a breeding ground for viral infections, so using cilantro on a daily basis in your cooking is a very smart choice for staying healthy. All you need is a handful in a salad or a couple of tablespoons in a cooked dish to reap the benefits of this medicinal plant. This herb—and its cousin, culantro—is used throughout the Americas.

Aside from these seven Latin powerfoods, there is a great assortment of others that fall under the same categories. These powerfoods contain a myriad of options offering benefits similar to the ones I’ve mentioned. If you’re looking for more variety—which is one of the main advantages of following a Latin diet—look at the powerfood categories below. You’ll see where each of the seven Latin powerfoods falls within the food groups and what other similar foods you can work with. Be creative! More color means more nutrients. By combining these healthy and natural Latin ingredients, you’ll be sure to optimize their effects!