MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Aug. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) joins the American Diabetes Association® in the national Stop Diabetes® movement and has set a goal to help increase awareness among Latinos about the role good fats play in daily nutrition. The campaign will accelerate the conversation about ways to prevent, delay and manage diabetes through sharing the benefits of eating good fats such as fresh avocados. The Latino community in the U.S. is disproportionally affected by diabetes, with individuals nearly twice as likely to get diabetes as non-Latino whites.  

In honor of the Association’s 75^th anniversary, the Association and HAB are working together on national consumer outreach and developing new recipes and educational materials in English and Spanish for distribution through their respective platforms. Among other goals, the collaboration aims to promote awareness of healthful eating by increasing traffic to the nutritious recipes and superfood information on the Association’s webpage, with a specific emphasis on the Latino community.

“Though diabetes touches every community, the American Diabetes Association is increasingly prioritizing the elimination of health disparities like that found among Latinos,” said Kevin L. Hagan, CEO of the American Diabetes Association. “We are focused on working with underserved populations to help them better understand what comprises ‘a healthy plate,’ and how to incorporate good nutrition into their everyday lives and, if needed, to better manage diabetes. Our goal is to increase awareness and engagement, facilitate downloads of bilingual resources and increase audience electing to take action toward healthful habits. We welcome the support of the Hass Avocado Board around this initiative. ”

“Fresh avocados contain naturally good fat, making them a great substitute for foods high in saturated fat,” said Emiliano Escobedo, Executive Director of the Hass Avocado Board. “The fresh Hass avocado industry is proud to be the first whole food to nationally partner with the American Diabetes Association in the battle to stop diabetes.”

Recipes, tip sheets, social media messages and public service announcements will be produced in Spanish and English for consumers and health professionals to drive awareness. Resources will be featured at diabetes.org/eatwell for English and diabetes.org/comerbien for Spanish. Further information about avocado nutrition is available at loveonetoday.com/stopdiabetes and saboreaunohoy.com/altoaladiabetes. The following relevant facts will be integrated across the campaign:

• Eating well to maintain a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• Avocados contribute good fat to one’s diet. Nutrient-dense, they can be enjoyed while following a calorie-controlled diet as a replacement for other fats.
• Avocados contain eight percent of the daily value of fiber per serving. Diets rich in foods containing fiber have been found to potentially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Fiber also adds bulk to a sensible diet, which helps provide a feeling of fullness.
• Avocados, which are a fruit although most people think of them as a vegetable, contain less than one gram of sugar per 1-ounce serving, the least amount of sugar per serving of any other fresh fruit.

About the Hass Avocado Board

The Hass Avocado Board (HAB) us an agriculture promotion group established in 2002 to promote the consumption of Hass Avocados in the United States. A 12-member board representing domestic producers and importers of Hass Avocados directs HAB’s promotion, research and information programs under supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding for HAB comes from Hass avocado producers and importers in the United States. To learn more about avocado nutrition visit  loveonetoday.com/diabetes and saboreaunohoy.com/diabetes.

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. For the past 75 years, our mission has been to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.