Latina Weekly

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a response following multiple adverse events linked to unapproved weight loss drugs. Dosing errors related to unapproved drugs have resulted in several hospitalizations, including a few fatalities. Drugs lacking FDA approval have not been reviewed by the agency for safety, effectiveness, or quality—unlike FDA-approved medications that meet strict regulatory standards. In an effort to better educate and inform the public, the FDA issued a statement to address its concerns over the use of unapproved Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, the active component of popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Both… Read more: FDA Responds to Concerns Over Unapproved Weight Loss Drugs

Despite proposed international tariffs and political turmoil, robust demand for Ozempic along with international medical tourism continues to thrive. In fact, it’s nothing new. It’s been happening for years and shows no signs of slowing. Access to healthcare and pharmaceuticals has become prohibitively expensive. As a result, people will travel thousands of miles for discounted drugs and medical care — especially in the face of rising inflation and costs of living in the United States. More and more Americans are willing to travel to countries like Mexico where popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic can be purchased for a… Read more: US Citizens Travel to Mexico – for Ozempic

As inflation continues to spread globally, Latin America grapples with rising costs and supply chain challenges. In certain countries like Cuba, the situation has become critical with 12% of the population failing to meet their daily caloric requirements.1 Food shortages and power outages have become increasingly frequent in a country already facing a series of political and economic challenges. Multiple industries have been affected. Specifically, fuel and vehicle shortages have negatively impacted Cuba’s sugar industry as both are essential for sugar cane production. Once an exporter of sugar, Cuba is now required to import sugar to meet its own domestic… Read more: Cuba’s Legendary Rum Producers Grapple with Latest Sugar Shortage – Update

Scattered beyond the seawall of Cuba’s historic Malecón, small groups of inventive fishermen rely on corcho rafts — ingenious vessels self-crafted from a combination of polyfoam, aluminum rods and wood propelled by oars and small engines.  Derived from the Spanish word “corchos,” meaning “cork,” these DIY rafts exemplify human creativity and resourcefulness. In a country where the average fishing boat costs upwards of 30,000 dollars, an amount beyond the financial reach of many Cubans, corchos have become a vital part of daily life. Corcho fishermen design and build their own small innovative platform rafts — and they’re surprisingly buoyant and… Read more: Unable to Afford Boats, Cubans Build Corchos

In February, Rayo celebrated its third anniversary by introducing a bold new menu. Rayo’s newest innovative menu was designed in collaboration with a local perfumer “Tamach” and is a tribute to Mexico’s sophisticated cultural heritage. Once again focusing on cocktails as both an experiential and sensory journey, it begins with a curated box featuring aromatic profiles from all ten of their signature cocktails. Additional details are provided by the latest press release: About Rayo: “Rayo, located in Mexico City, was inspired by the legend of Mayahuel, a Mexican goddess who descended to earth for love and was struck by lightning,… Read more: How Rayo’s “Hecho en México” fragrance driven menu is revolutionizing cocktail culture

The Pastry War may sound like the title of a comedy film. In fact it was a little-known war which took place from November 1838 to March 1839.  What was the cause of this oft forgotten conflict? The Pastry War was named after events related to the ransacking of Mexico City’s Parisian marketplace back in 1828. Rarely mentioned in history, it was named “The Parian Riot” in reference to its location. Parián is the Spanish word for market. In an unprecedented event, a mob of 5,000 people descended upon Mexico’s capital and ransacked an upscale marketplace. Numerous luxury shops and… Read more: The Pastry War : A Forgotten Chapter in Latin American History

The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is gearing up for its 125th anniversary celebration scheduled to take place in April 2025. Special events will take center stage, including new immersive experiences, expert guided tours, an expanded EV test track, Bentley’s hand painted ‘Belonging Bentayga’ and the World Car Awards live! An annual event, The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is one of the world’s most longstanding, iconic and influential automotive events. Currently held at the internationally acclaimed Jacob Javits Convention Center, it became the world’s first modern car show when it originally opened at Madison Square Garden in 1900.The… Read more: World’s Oldest Car Shows : The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)

Apple keyboard shortcut : How to add tilda Spanish accents and other diacritical language marks

In the latest list of new and innovative AI applications in the field of Artificial Intelligence, a sensor linked to an artificial neural network can accurately analyze both solid foods and liquids. Developed by a research team from Penn State, the “AI tongue” can detect specific characteristics such as freshness, quality and authenticity. Referring to authenticity, one example cited (see Rubin Hassid’s You Tube video embedded below) was AI’s ability to distinguish between Coke vs Pepsi. Results were published in Nature magazine in October; the article is entitled “Robust chemical analysis with graphene chemosensors.” According to the authors, “the AI… Read more: Is It Safe to Eat ? Artificial Intelligence AI Tongue Predicts Food Safety and More

Enchiladas Suizas is a dish shrouded in a mysterious past. Literally translated Enchiladas Suizas means “Swiss enchiladas,”  a name attributed by some to the large amount of cheese and cream resembling the Swiss alps and by others to culinary influences from Swiss immigrants on Mexican cuisine. Enchiladas are a traditional staple deeply rooted in Mexico’s past. Derived from corn, tortillas originated in Mexico and date back to Mayan times. Corn is one of the most ancient food staples. Originally known as maize (Zea mays), corn or maize is believed to have been selectively domesticated in Mexico from a wild grass… Read more: The Mystery of Enchiladas Suizas ~ Controversies, Cuisine & History

One of the world’s most underrated foods has to be the serrano chile pepper. Most people are familiar with the world famous jalapeno or the infamously hot habenero. The serrano deserves widespread recognition for its incredible flavor profile, multicultural recipes and medicinal uses.

The battle against aging and its deleterious effects is expanding scientifically as well as commercially. For anyone concerned about premature aging, this is welcome news. The idea of “turning back the clock” has always fascinated people. More than a decade ago, Researchers Shinya Yamanaka and John B Gurdon discovered that mature lab cells could undergo “reverse aging” (they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2012). In more recent news, another group published “an age reversing cocktail.” A recent study1 revealed “the global Anti-Aging market size was worth around USD 200.12 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow to around USD… Read more: Global Anti Aging Market Predicted Growth – Over 400 Billion by 2030

Latin America’s 50 best restaurant list was officially announced at the Museu Histórico Nacional in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, November 26 2024. This year’s top spot went to Don Julio in Buenos Aires, winning The Best Restaurant in Latin America and Argentina for 2024. Buenos Aires continued to shine as one of the world’s top restaurant destinations with eight Buenos Aires establishments making the list. In close competition, Lima and São Paulo followed Buenos Aires with seven restaurants each making the list. A detailed press release also highlighted the following: For more information visi : https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/latin-americas-50-best-restaurants-2024-list-revealed.html?utm_source=50Best_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2024-11-27

Aloe Vera is well-known for its skin benefits, healing and anti-inflammatory qualities. Widely cultivated as a house plant, it’s also agriculturally grown for its topical medicinal properties. Aloe vera has been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties derived from naturally produced bacteriostatic anthraquinones and polysaccharides. To obtain the gel, select a thick healthy leaf, cut it and squeeze out the liquid inside. Aloe vera’s gel form is typically used in skin care, wound healing, insect bites, sunburn, dental and hair care. Acne is another condition where Aloe Vera may provide some relief. Also… Read more: Aloe Vera : A Natural Acne Skin Care Remedy

Mexico City’s popular Rayo Cocktail Bar has announced the expansion of their award-winning program with the arrival of two key new leadership team members : Luis Miguel Cardona (Alquimico) as Head Bartender and Audrey Hands (Trailer Happiness, Havana Club) as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Guest Experiences. The announcement reflects Rayo’s continued pursuit of excellence by incorporating and embracing industry leaders with extensive experience at renowned establishments with refined understanding of global and regional cocktail culture. Creating unique tastings and conceptual experiences are a key element contributing to Rayo’s highly successful ascent to becoming one of the world’s best bars.… Read more: #5 Bar in North America Rayo Cocktail Bar Announces New Leadership

In the past, when consumers thought of rum, popular name brands like Bacardi were at the top of the list. More recently, however, a group of newer highly specialized rum producers have gained in popularity and interest amongst rum aficionados. As discussed in prior posts, alcohol consumption must be weighed against its associated health risks. When considered for personal or culinary uses, it should be of high quality and made with exacting standards. Guatemala has created some of the purest and most high quality rum products in recent years. Several characteristics distinguish Guatemalan rums from others, including but not limited… Read more: Guatemala’s Hidden Secret – Incredible High Altitude Volcanic Rum

The Consorzio Delle Venezie DOC Pinot grigio is the first supra-regional experiment ever in Italy able to unite two regions (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto) and one autonomous province (Trentino).   The new Delle Venezie DOC was created in 2017 as a direct result of the history and culture of generations involved in the creation of the great “Triveneto vineyard”. Over the past few years, the “Triveneto vineyard” or Triveneto zone in the northeastern part of Italy has become one of the most important wine regions in the region. In terms of geography, for oenological purposes the Veneto region is divided into… Read more: Pinot Grigio Wine Excellence – Delle Venezie DOC

Aiming to implement changes to reduce the markedly elevated maternal mortality rates in New York City, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso continued his efforts to raise public awareness via an appearance on Spectrum 1 News. Brooklyn’s current BP has taken additional steps by allocating 18.5 million dollars in capital funding to towards integrating women’s health services on NYC’s South Brooklyn Health’s campus. The full interview is available online at Spectrum News. The issue raises serious concerns over the state of current healthcare in the city. The full interview may be found here: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/in-focus-shows/2024/09/21/brooklyn-borough-president-antonio-reynoso-discusses-maternal-health-crisis?cid=share_clip

The history of slavery in Cuba is a complicated one. Dependent upon free slave labor to run its plantations, slavery in Cuba was part of the larger Atlantic slave trade until it was abolished in 1886. While it took a decree from Spain to officially end slavery, it was an American abolitionist named Henry Highland Garnet who called for the invasion of Cuba to free slaves in 1873. Reverend Garnet was born into slavery in Maryland in 1815. Unwilling to accept his fate in life, he managed to escape from enslavement by 1824 departing from the South along with several… Read more: Henry Highland Garnet : Cuba and A Narrow Escape from Slavery

As global political tensions rise, so does rising concerns over longstanding current wars and armed conflicts. While the mainstream media continues to focus on conflicts in Gaza and the Ukraine, other areas of the world are experiencing armed conflicts, some of which have been ongoing for decades. This raises the question: “exactly how many countries are currently at war?” The answer is 32, according to World Population Review’s article “Countries Currently at War / Countries at War 2024” The article contains a world map outlining war zones and casualties. Wikipedia also has a very detailed list on the subject under… Read more: Countries at War in 2024

One of those once in a lifetime experiences and the recipient of many five star reviews, Jose Cuervo’s Tequila Express Train offers travelers a scenic journey via train and a way to discover more about the story behind one of Mexico’s most traditional spirits. The journey begins in Jalisco’s state capital,Guadalajara, with a couple hour trip that ends with a visit to the town of Tequila and Latin America’s oldest distillery, Destilería La Rojeña. Traveling by train allows one to relax and enjoy the stunning terrain and agave lined fields. The travel website Tripadvisor.com contains some excellent content and insight… Read more: All Aboard ! The Jose Cuervo Express Tequila Train

As part of a series of speeches at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), U.S. House of Representatives member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) was heavily criticized for adjusting her accent while addressing the audience and nation. The headlines were highly critical, blasting the performance with statements like “AOC mocked debuting bizarre new accent Democrat National-Convention” by the UK dailymail and others. AOC quickly responded by stating “‘Folks talking about my voice can step right off,’ she wrote on Twitter. “Any kid who grew up in a distinct linguistic culture & had to learn to navigate class enviros at school/work knows what’s up.… Read more: AOC DNC Speech Fake Accent Controversy : Code Switching

In a disturbing trend, the maternal mortality rate among black women in the United States is now three to four times higher compared to the general population and predominately white areas. The impact of racial disparities in health care, particularly those involving black women has reached a critical level, placing both women and their children at an alarmingly high risk for pregnancy-related complications, including death. The elevated risk is not limited to rural areas alone. New York City has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality where black women are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes… Read more: Alarming News On Maternal Mortality : Black Women Four Times More Likely to Die in NYC

The exact cause of a massive explosion at the La Rojeña Factory in Tequila, Jalisco that resulted in at least six deaths remains unknown. According to Civil Protection Jalisco, the explosion that occurred on Tuesday at 4:30 pm CST was likely due to a boiler but the exact cause is still being investigated. The La Rojeña Factory is one of the oldest tequila distilleries in Latin America and is where Jose Cuervo, one of the world’s best selling tequilas, is produced. The factory explosion resulted in the deaths of six workers; the company stated it occurred while maintenance was being… Read more: Cause of Jose Cuervo Factory Tank Explosion Remains Unknown

One of Mexico’s most popular drinks is tepache – a traditional mildly alcoholic beverage made out of fermented pineapple rinds and sugar. Notable for its low calorie characteristics as a beverage and cocktail mixer as well as potential health benefits, tepache can either be purchased ready to drink (RTD) or made at home using a home brewing kit. For those who prefer the ready to drink option, De La Calle offers tepache in multiple flavors, is certified organic and climate pledge friendly. Their products also appeal to the calorie conscious. According to De La Calle’s product website, the alcohol by… Read more: Tepache – A Low Alcohol Drink You Can Brew At Home

Immigrants represent an essential part of the US economy. To underscore this point, the Joint Economic Committee issued a report detailing the financial effects of recent increased immigration on the United States economy. The title of the report is aptly named “Immigrants Are Vital To The US Economy.” The report begins with a brief statement on how the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic influenced the way we view recent and new immigrants to the US. During the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, immigrant workers accounted for a greater proportion of “essential” jobs. Immigrants played a key role in maintaining the economy… Read more: Robust US Economy : Fed Chair Powell Acknowledges Positive Effect of Immigration

Mexican food is some of the best on earth. It’s also one of the most challenging when it comes to pairing with beverages. The complexity of spices, texture and sheer range of cuisine choices and combinations makes it difficult to rely on a simplistic approach. Just imagine – many traditional moles contain 30 different ingredients and some can have over 100 ! That’s a lot of food chemistry at work. Now try and decide what beverage would compliment it the best. No easy task. When it comes to pairing food with beverages, someone once told me it’s best to stay… Read more: Enchiladas Suizas – A Beverage Pairing Challenge