“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity . . . This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:1-2, 8).

National Health Awareness Month

Im looking at myself in the mirror and seeing a different me from 10 years agao, from 5 years ago, even a year ago. I'm seeing a lot of things I don't like. Does that sound like some of you? I am determined to make some changes......first thing is making sure i am always putting God first, then I know everything else will fall in line. I am doing good so far, getting my exercise in, walking, jogging, and most importantly, making sure I rest also. So many people don't realize how important rest and decreasing stress in your life plays a big part in your health. I seeing a difference already. Take some time for yourself, move having good health up on your list of things to do, and take care of yourself......Life will be so much more enjoyable. Start by going for your annual check up......

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE BASICS

By Miriam E. Nelson, Ph. D.

Most people know how harmful smoking is to health. Many public places have banned smoking—not just to discourage smokers, but also to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. Unfortunately, just as we begin to make headway reducing smoking rates, obesity rates are climbing to epidemic heights. Poor diet and physical inactivity are poised to surpass tobacco and become the leading preventable cause of death in America.

Poor Health Habits Lead to Premature Death

These poor health habits increase risk for chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, which can all lead to premature death.  A recent study¹ released by The United States Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that deaths due to poor diet and physical inactivity rose by 33 percent over the past decade. As caregivers, we often neglect our own health, but there are simple ways to stay healthier.

You can Make a Difference by Exercising More and Eating Healthier

You can start with smaller steps. Reduce sedentary activity in your home and workplace and encourage others to join you -- for a walk, an exercise class, or just by taking the stairs rather than the elevator.  Use an exercise machine or simply stretch out on the floor while watching television instead of lounging on the couch. When you shop, choose whole, non-processed foods. Prepare your meals following the new government guidelines at www.mypyramid.gov.
When you eat out, you can ask for whole wheat bread, brown rice, and twice the vegetables with half the starch. If enough of us start asking for wholesome foods at restaurants, they will start serving them!

Benefits of Regular Meals

Sometimes we assume that skipping meals is a good strategy for controlling body weight. The logic says if you cut a meal, you’ll cut calories. A study from the University of Nottingham in England shows the opposite. ²
Lean women and overweight women were asked to follow either a regular or irregular meal schedule for 14 days (including skipping breakfast). The women were then asked to follow the opposite meal schedule for two more weeks. When women (both overweight and lean) ate regular meals their total calorie intake per day was less than when they were eating irregular meals. Furthermore, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and glucose control were better when eating regular meals.
Skipping breakfast and missing meals may actually contribute to weight gain and poor cardiovascular risk profile in women.  No matter how busy your life is, give yourself and your loved ones regular, healthy meals.

Weight and Age

Most women assume they will gain weight around the time of menopause. Results from a large study³ of midlife women shed new light on this issue. The study measured 3,064 ethnically diverse, non-menopausal women aged 42–52 years over three years. On average, women gained 4.5 pounds (or 3% of their body weight) and saw their waist circumference increase by about one inch. This result was not surprising.
What the investigators also saw was that going through menopause or becoming perimenopausal did not influence weight gain. This finding was interesting since most people believe that it is the change in hormonal status that kicks in the weight gain. The study also showed that women who maintained a high level of physical activity or became more physically active (regardless of when they started) did not gain weight. In fact, the women who became more physically active over the three years actually lost a little weight and reduced their waist size.
Again this study confirms that age matters less—it's what you do that counts!  Following the basics of a healthy lifestyle will have a positive effect for you and those in your care.

http://www.strengthforcaring.com/manual/food-fitness-and-wellness-healthy-lifestyle/healthy-lifestyle-basics/


Impart a Legacy of Health http://www.strengthforcaring.com/manual/food-fitness-and-wellness-healthy-lifestyle/impart-a-legacy-of-health/

Life's Sustenance........Our strength

Over the years there have been ups and downs. One thing that I know I can always rely on is God. Only God will continue to give us the strength and the resources to restore the community and even make it even better than its ever been.

Isaiah 40:28-31  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint,   and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;   they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;   they shall walk and not faint.

#thankingtheeverlastingGodwhofaintsnot

Be Blessed

Children Eye Health and Safety

It is a good idea to have your child's eyes and vision examined by an eye care professional (optometrist or ophthalmologist) at least once a year. Scheduling this around your child's birthday is a good way to remember to do it (and is also a birthday gift of sight!). Do not wait until your child complains of blurred vision, red eyes, and/or headaches. And do not rely on the school's vision screening program because that is designed to only detect the more common eye and vision problems (pink eye, nearsightedness, etc.) in asymptomatic children.
Children often do not know how they should be seeing because they assume everyone sees the way they do. Because of this, the American Optometric Association recommends that all children receive a professional eye and vision examination at critical stages in their visual development. These critical stages are

• By six months of age
• At 3 years of age
• Before first grade
• At least every year between ages 6 and 18 while they are continuing to grow

By having your child's eyes examined at these critical stages of development, permanent vision loss from amblyopia ("lazy eye") and other pediatric eye diseases can be prevented. But children at any age with signs and/or symptoms of vision problems, like red eyes, tearing eyes, unusual sensitivity to light, eye pain, or squinting should be examined as soon as possible.
http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/eye/children.cfm

FAQ for eye health- http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/eye/

Immunization Awareness

Back to School Time and its also National Immunization Awareness Month...............
Some parents may hesitate to have their kids vaccinated because they're worried that the children will have serious reactions or may get the illness the vaccine is supposed to prevent. Because the components of vaccines are weakened or killed — and in some cases, only parts of the microorganism are used — they're unlikely to cause any serious illness. Some vaccines may cause mild reactions, such as soreness where the shot was given or fever, but serious reactions are rare.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/medical/immunization_chart.html

Should I get the flu vaccine?
High-risk groups include:

• all kids 6 months through 4 years old
• anyone 50 years and older
• anyone with a weakened immune system
• women who will be pregnant during the flu season
• anyone who lives or works with children younger than 5 or adults 50 or older
• residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
• any adult or child with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma
• health care workers who have direct contact with patients
• out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of anyone in any of the high-risk groups

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/flu_vaccine.html?tracking=P_RelatedArticle

FAQ http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/medicine/fact_myth_immunizations.html?tracking=P_RelatedArticle