108 BROOKLYN NEWS WWW.BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
CUT THE SALT, CURB THE SUGAR!
With a lead-by-example attitude,
Borough President Adams is paving
the way to a healthier Brooklyn through
a number of healthy diet initiatives,
including his own cookbook! “Cut the
Salt, Curb the Sugar,” an initiative
and preventative health program that
doubles as the name for his recipe
guide, is loaded up with low-sugar,
low-sodium recipes submitted by
everyday Brooklynites.
“We can ‘cut the salt’ and ‘curb
the sugar’ – without sacrificing
flavor – to create healthier, happier
Brooklynites,” said Borough
President Adams. “I constantly look
for nutritious ways to enhance my
eating experience that do not pack
on the pounds. It is so important that
every resident of Brooklyn, especially
those predisposed to adverse health
risks like diabetes, hypertension and
obesity, embraces small steps in their
own lives that replace salty, sugary
foods. Preventative health care is the
most effective health care, and I hope
our new cookbook is a useful guide
to help Brooklynites raise healthy
children and families.”
High salt and sugar intake is leading
to serious health consequences for
Brooklynites; statistics have shown
the borough carries higher adult
diabetes and obesity rates than the
city and state averages. Consider that
increased intake of salt over time can
lead to high blood pressure, heart
attack and stroke, which in turn can
lead to heart failure. This is a critical
problem in Sunset Park, where the
leading cause of death for residents is
heart disease. Additionally, according
to the New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene, 40 percent
of Brownsville residents consume one
or more 12-ounce sugary drinks per
day, the second-highest rate citywide
and 13 percent higher than Brooklyn
and New York City averages. These
highly sweetened beverages are
associated with higher Body Mass
Indices (BMIs), which are in turn
associated with higher diabetes rates.
As a result, this community ranks sixth
in diabetes in New York City and 11th
in obesity.
Borough President Adams debuted
his “Cut the Salt, Curb the Sugar”
cookbook at an event in Downtown
Brooklyn’s Columbus Park on July
28th, where he also served as sous chef
to TV personality Chef Daisy Martinez
for a live cooking demonstration of her
healthy recipe for summer gazpacho;
a video of their presentation can be
viewed on Borough President Adams’s
YouTube channel. To date, he has given
out hundreds of free copies, including
to Brooklynites attending his “Seniors
by the Sea” celebration on August 26th
at Kingsborough Community College in
Manhattan Beach. He is also pushing
forward a public health agenda that
includes hosting more health fairs and
screenings in high-risk communities
as well as identifying targeted
“treatment plans” to address wellness
factors unique to specific Brooklyn
neighborhoods.
“I believe that further awareness
efforts such as ‘Cut the Salt, Curb the
Sugar’ will have a cumulative effect in
jumpstarting healthy lifestyle practices
for consumers, which in turn will
encourage businesses to offer more
healthy lifestyle options,” said Borough
President Adams. “Our neighborhoods
have received the diagnoses of the
public health challenges they face, and
now we must provide the treatment
plans to solve them. Nothing can be
more important than creating safer
places to raise healthy children and
families in Brooklyn.”
BP Adams’s Recipe for Kale Berry
Salad with Coconut-Date Dressing
(Makes One Serving)
1/2 bunch of kale, chopped (approximately 6-8 leaves)
1/2 avocado, diced
1/2 cup almonds (toasted, if preferred)
1 cup of blueberries
1/2 cup of strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup coconut water
1 cup dates, pitted
Use a chef’s knife to slice out kale stems, or pull the leaves from the ribs
with your fingers. Chop the kale leaves into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, combine
the kale, avocado, almonds, blueberries, and strawberries. In a blender,
pulse coconut water and dates until smooth. Lightly toss the dressing into
the salad.
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