One of the reasons I came up with the Hot Latin Diet has a lot to do with being an ob-gyn for over 30 years. Throughout my career, I’ve had hundreds of mommies—and soon-to-be-moms—coming through my office door. What I’ve noticed is that over the past few decades, moms have been gaining significant weight during their pregnancies, and then they haven’t lost the weight—in fact, they have gotten heavier after just two years. We’ve seen an epidemic of obesity in children and type 2 diabetes in females.

I am disturbed by the alarming growth (yes, literally!!) of the entire American population. The statistics speak for themselves: chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes) are now among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems, et they affect the lives of more than 90 million Americans (not to mention the cost of health care); 1.7 million people die annually as a result of chronic disease, which translates into the deaths of seven out of ten people. And despite the fact that chronic diseases are perhaps the most common and costly of health problems, they are also among the most preventable. They can simply be prevented by the food we put in our mouths.

In our quest for balance, it’s interesting to me that everyone—myself included—may have a different reason for getting in shape. Ironically, the main reason, being healthy, doesn’t seem to be in the forefront. But whatever your reasons are, the seven Latin powerfoods can help you get there.

The important thing to remember is that The Hot Latin Diet is not just a diet, but rather a lifestyle change. And by employing the benefits of the seven Latin powerfoods, you can change your life for the better.

Each day for the next week, I’ll be discussing one item from the list of powerfoods, and providing tips on how to live a healthier life; Latino style!