AMERIQUE:


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: It is the unspoken statistic, but it is as real as anything to do with the lingering U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to the military, 1,800 American servicemen have killed themselves since the initial invasion of Baghdad. That is in addition to the more than 4,000 who died in battle. This week, families of the soldiers who committed suicide asked President Barack Obama to change the government policy of not forwarding letters of appreciation to mothers and fathers of these servicemen. By week's end, the White House had reversed the policy and agreed that such letters are needed, as well... - Eduardo Paz-Martinez, Editor of The Tribune

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Killing Tamales:...They're Tasty...But One Tamale Takes 30 Seconds Off Your Life Expectancy...

By PATRICK ALCATRAZ
Editor-In-Chief

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Eating is fun here along the Texas-Mexico border. You can find generous helpings of a variety of fat-rich Mexican food. Eat and be happy, yes, but watch out for those tamales.

Nutritionists will tell you that you risk losing 30 seconds of your lifetime span with every tamale you eat. The reason? Lard.

Lard build-up is the silent killer in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. One tamale contains enough lard to cook a dozen eggs, say those who know about such things. And you say you eat an order of six every time you sit down to scarf a plate of pork or beef or bean tamales? Well, sock away some cash for the early gravesite.

Americans are living longer these days. The average life expectancy of U.S. males today is 80.8 years, according to the World Health Organization. American women can expect to live about 75.6 years on average. That's not bad, but Japanese men live to the ripe age of 82.2 and Japanese women to age 79.4.

Mexico's males on average live to age 76.2 and Mexican woman to age 73.7.

The RGV residents, perhaps because they gleefully chase the maize-rich Mexican diet likely live to ages closer to Mexico than to their U.S. counterparts. It's something to think about this food-heavy Holiday Season, a time of the year when tamales fill the dinner tables in homes from one end of the Valley to the other.

Tamales are delicious; they just bite you at life's end.

Eating a dozen tamales will take six minutes off your life. How many have you eaten to this point?...

- 30 -

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Hispanics Live Longer than Caucasians and African Americans in the U.S.

http://topnews.us/content/227646-study-says-hispanics-live-longer-caucasians-and-african-americans-us

Anonymous said...

Odd,it used to be that the average life span of women was longer than that of men.

Changing subjects...I wonder how much CO2 Ms. Wright puts into the atmosphere driving to take her trash to be recycled.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

ANONYMOUSES:...Women should live longer. They are smart to disdain the six-tamale plate most Valley men demand at suppertime. Tacos are the other killers. This region's addiction to tacos is the untold story. What is it about the cheap and simplistic taco that has most Valleyites eating them like there was no tomorrow? Hamburger meat and lettuce and tomato in a tortilla? Surely it is time for the taco to evolve into something better... - Editor

Anonymous said...

Patrick I love tamalitos, I only two or three, with over easy eggs and hot sauce. That's all you need to get your day going.

Maria Luisa said...

Patrick, so how many Tamales do you eat?? One maybe, their is nothing wrong eating tamales, just don't over do it. Hey, some is saying Tony Chopito sold the rag-line blog to some character name Jake.
Not that it makes any difference, because they are down to three comments in 2 days.
You were correct, when you stated, he screwed the publication up. I don' t hear bragging chopito about loosing one blogger and getting 20 more. Viejo sonso.

Patrick Alcatraz said...

Maria Luisa:...I love red pork tamales. Not more than three on my plate, however. I suspect I've taken two-three years off my life span over the years. My birthday is Sunday (tomorrow) and, yes, I'm stunned to have lived this long. Pork tamales & Shiraz wine, chased by some even tastier sex and a longing gaze at the Heavens... - Editor

Anonymous said...

Hey, Luisa, wake up, it is Tontito, not Tonito, it is Tontito, Sonsito, viejito, pendejito.
You remember, Tonto an the Lone Ranger. I am sure your brothers saw the Lone Ranger Rides again.
Hey, Mr. Editor the music selection is pretty cool.