Latino food is often described as unhealthy because of the oil and salt, among the other usual ingredients. Unknown to many, there are actually easy ways to make Latino food healthy.

A 2019 report released by USA Today indicated that the leading causes of death among many Latinos are cancer and heart disease. Moreover, they have 50 percent more chances of dying from diabetes compared to whites.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), there has been an increase in the number of people, specifically women, suffering from "autoimmune disorders." Over 80 illnesses take place as a result of a malfunctioning immune system that attacks the organs and tissues of the body.

Diseases such as diabetes and systematic lupus erythematosus are more typical in Latinas, as well as other women of color, according to NIAID.

While studies on the causes of these health conditions persist, one thing is clear - there is an important step to take to be able to live a longer and healthier life, and that is, to eat healthily. 

Here are easy tips from three Latino entrepreneurs on living a healthy lifestyle:

Opt for the Healthier Tortilla

One way to be sure if the tortilla you're eating is healthy is to make it homemade and use flour for the main ingredient. 

If you don't have the time to make your tortillas, you can buy from a seller that can guarantee you a tortilla that's made of flour. 

Siete Family Food's Veronica Garza says their tortillas are made with alternative flours - such as almond flour, cassava flour, and more - making them a great alternative for people with dietary restrictions.

More so, their chips and other products are ideal for those following a "grain-free diet."

Garza added food is an essential part of her healing journey that includes stress management, exercise and coordination with doctors to develop a holistic and balanced strategy to her search "for health and happiness."

Switch to Olive Oil when Cooking

Salud de Paloma is a company that not just sells olive oil. It also operates with a mission-to put "diabetes and heart health ahead of retail sales," said Rosa Rios Valdez, founder and CEO.

Recalling her mother's death because of diabetes in 1989, Valdez said, her family could no longer be in denial about the illness that took their mother's life. Cooking the way she learned from her mom, Valdez added, her "Tex-Mex food tasted wonderful" though she said, it was not the way she needed when cooking. 

Sharing awareness that olive oil was used in Mexican culture for medicinal use, Valdez also said, the Vitamin E in this product "helps heal small scratches." It is effective as a moisturizer, too.

Be a Vegan

Health issues started Todo Verde's Jocelyn Ramirez on a health food journey. Specifically, she switched to a vegetarian diet after she was diagnosed with having a thyroid issue.

Serious about getting cured, Ramirez shared she decided to change her diet and healed herself over time. As such, she shared she added superfoods and supplements into her diet.

Her father, Jorge, who has diabetes, was later on diagnosed with throat cancer that later on required him to go through an invasive procedure.

The older Ramirez knew he should be as strong as possible that he decided for a drastic change in diet. Jocelyn, for her part, would make her father "smoothies with superfoods."

Hers and her father's health condition eventually made Jocelyn start to explore what she called "indigenous veganism." She shared, she, first and foremost learned about healthy eating from her maternal grandmother from Zacatecas, Mexico.

Check these out!