Get Up and Fight

"Come now, let's settle this," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool."
~Isaiah 1:18~

The greatest battle you may ever fight is the fight to forgive yourself. Remember,  all my chosen ones had to get up and receive My gift of grace to finish living out their faith.
I gave My disciple Peter the strength to get up from guilt from denying he ever knew Me. I gave My anointed King David the grace to get up from the shame of committing adultery. I gave My apostle Paul the mercy to get up from pride and arrogance. I gave my warrior Gideon the courage to stand above his fears.
The time is now to accept My forgiveness, and finish what I called you to do. Nothing can keep you down, because My power to rise again is in you.~

"Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up."
~Proverbs 24:16~

Breast Cancer Month

 

The story of breast cancer is the story of people — and for the month of October, we are honored to share stories of compassion, determination, triumph, despair and optimism through the eyes of breast cancer survivors, the people who love them, and the people helping them every day.

These are the people we've come to know and love at Komen — people we’ve been able to help through our research, community health programs, advocacy and global work — and the people who are trying to end this disease in laboratories around the world, and in our own neighborhoods.

Join us here every day in October as we post a new story to celebrate the women and men who inspire us all. ww5.komen.org

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Education Webinar Series

The Goods on Anti-Inflammatory

In chronic inflammation, the immune system continually releases chemicals that are typically responsible for combating harmful substances like viruses and bacteria. Often resulting from lifestyle factors like stress and lack of exercise, chronic inflammation occurs even when there are no foreign invaders to fight off.

Since nutrition can also influence inflammation, the anti-inflammatory diet is thought to curb chronic inflammation and help prevent or treat the following conditions:

• allergies
• Alzheimer's disease
• asthma
• cancer
• diabetes
• heart disease
• inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease)
• irritable bowel syndrome
• stroke

Foods to Include in the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Research suggests that people with a high intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, healthy oils and fish may have a reduced risk for inflammation-related diseases. In addition, substances found in some foods (especially antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids) appear to possess anti-inflammatory effects.

Foods high in antioxidants include:

• berries (such as blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries)
• cherries
• apples
• artichokes
• dark green leafy vegetables (such as kale, spinach, and collard greens)
• sweet potatoes
• broccoli
• nuts (such as pistachios, almonds, and pecans)
• beans (such as red beans, pinto beans, and black beans)
• whole grains (especially oats)
• dark chocolate

Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include:

• oily fish (such as salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and tuna)
• flaxseed
• walnuts
• omega-3-fortified foods (including eggs and milk)

There's also some evidence that certain culinary herbs (such as ginger, turmeric, and garlic) can help alleviate inflammation.

Benefits of the Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Although the health effects of the anti-inflammatory diet have not yet been extensively studied in clinical trials, the available research indicates that following an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce levels of certain inflammatory markers (such as a substance called C-reactive protein). Furthermore, there's some evidence that the anti-inflammatory diet may help manage chronic inflammation-related conditions like diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity.

Tips for Following an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

• Eat five to nine servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables each day.
• Limit your intake of foods high in omega-6 fatty acids while increasing your consumption of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as flaxseed, walnuts, and oily fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring).
• Replace red meat with healthier protein sources, such as lean poultry, fish, soy, beans and lentils.
• Swap out margarine and vegetable oils for the healthy fats found in olive oil, nuts and seeds.
• Instead of choosing refined grains, opt for fiber-rich whole grains like oats, quinoa, brown rice, breads and pastas that list a whole grain as the first ingredient.
• Rather than seasoning your meals with salt, enhance flavor with anti-inflammatory herbs like garlic, ginger and turmeric.

_Sources

_{Bakker GC, van Erk MJ, Pellis L, Wopereis S, Rubingh CM, Cnubben NH, Kooistra T, van Ommen B, Hendriks HF. "An anti-inflammatory dietary mix modulates inflammation and oxidative and metabolic stress in overweight men: a nutrigenomics approach." Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Apr;91(4):1044-59.}

_{Galland L. "Diet and inflammation." Nutr Clin Pract. 2010 Dec;25(6):634-40.}

_{Geraldo JM, Alfenas Rde C. "Role of diet on chronic inflammation prevention and control - current evidences." Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2008 Aug;52(6):951-67.}

_{Giugliano D, Ceriello A, Esposito K. "The effects of diet on inflammation: emphasis on the metabolic syndrome." J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Aug 15;48(4):677-85.}

_{Masters RC, Liese AD, Haffner SM, Wagenknecht LE, Hanley AJ. "Whole and refined grain intakes are related to inflammatory protein concentrations in human plasma." J Nutr. 2010 Mar;140(3):587-94.}

_{Sears B, Ricordi C. "Anti-inflammatory nutrition as a pharmacological approach to treat obesity." J Obes. 2011;2011. pii: 431985.}

Wisdom

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.   James 3:17, NLT

I don’t know about you, but I’m always right.
Ever feel that way? So many of us--men as well as women--fall into the trap of self-absorption and act as if we are the only one with a valid perspective. After all, what are most arguments about but a struggle for the distinction of being "right?" The thing is, sometimes we're right, and sometimes we're wrong. And sometimes when we're right, we are wrong in the way we handle the situation--because being right is not necessarily the same as being wise.

The Bible teaches us that wisdom is pure. My idea of being "right" is rarely pure. It is all about me and my reputation. The Bible also says that wisdom is peace-loving, gentle at all times, and--here's the real kicker--willing to yield to others. That is definitely not my version of wisdom. My version results in frustration, while true wisdom results in mercy, good deeds, and sincerity.

Imagine what our relationships would be like if we admitted when we were wrong and were quick to show mercy when the other person was wrong. In all relationships, this means sometimes yielding the control and making compromises. And in a marriage, this might mean yielding a situation to your husband and then having mercy if he is indeed wrong. Sometimes we must yield the control and trust the Lord to be the guardian of justice.

In one of your relationships, is there some tension about who is right and wrong? Stop and ask God for his wisdom. When you are tempted to fight for your way, ask God for peace, and respond with mercy and sincerity--what an amazing testimony of God’s love you can be.

Tyndale House Publishers

August Health Observation

National Breastfeeding Month
The United States Breastfeeding Committee
2025 M Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 367-1132 Voice
(202) 367-2132 Fax
Office@usbreastfeeding.org
www.usbreastfeeding.org/NBM

Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Prevent Blindness America
211 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 331-2020
(312) 363-6001
(312) 363-6052 Fax
info@preventblindness.org
www.preventblindness.org

National Immunization Awareness Month
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E-05
Atlanta, GA 30333
(800) CDC-INFO (232-4636) English/Spanish
(888) 232-6348 (TTY)
(404) 639-7394 Fax
(877) 394-8747 International Travel Information
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm

Plastic Bottle Safety

Chemicals May Contaminate Food and Drinks in Reused Plastic Bottles
Studies have indicated that food and drinks stored in such containers—including those ubiquitous clear Nalgene water bottles hanging from just about every hiker’s backpack—can contain trace amount of Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that interferes with the body’s natural hormonal messaging system.

Reused Plastic Bottles Can Leach Toxic Chemicals
The same studies found that repeated re-use of such bottles—which get dinged up through normal wear and tear and while being washed—increases the chance that chemicals will leak out of the tiny cracks and crevices that develop over time. According to the Environment California Research & Policy Center, which reviewed 130 studies on the topic, BPA has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels.

BPA can also wreak havoc on children’s developing systems. (Parents beware: Most baby bottles and sippy cups are made with plastics containing BPA.) Most experts agree that the amount of BPA that could leach into food and drinks through normal handling is probably very small, but there are concerns about the cumulative effect of small doses.

 

Even Plastic Water and Soda Bottles Should Not Be Reused
Health advocates also recommend not reusing bottles made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE), including most disposable water, soda and juice bottles. According to The Green Guide, such bottles may be safe for one-time use, but re-use should be avoided because studies indicate they may leach DEHP—another probable human carcinogen—when they are in less-than-perfect condition.

Remember plastic water bottles were designed to be a single use product.

Millions of Plastic Bottles End Up in Landfills
The good news is that such bottles are easy to recycle; just about every municipal recycling system will take them back. But using them is nonetheless far from environmentally responsible: The nonprofit Berkeley Ecology Center found that the manufacture of plastic #1 uses large amounts of energy and resources and generates toxic emissions and pollutants that contribute to global warming. And even though PET bottles can be recycled, millions find their way into landfills every day in the U.S. alone.

Incinerating Plastic Bottles Releases Toxic Chemicals
Another bad choice for water bottles, reusable or otherwise, is plastic #3 (polyvinyl chloride/PVC), which can leach hormone-disrupting chemicals into the liquids they are storing and will release synthetic carcinogens into the environment when incinerated. Plastic #6 (polystyrene/PS), has been shown to leach styrene, a probable human carcinogen, into food and drinks as well.

Safe Reusable Bottles Do Exist
Safer choices include bottles crafted from safer HDPE (plastic #2), low-density polyethylene (LDPE, AKA plastic #4) or polypropylene (PP, or plastic #5). Aluminum bottles, such as those made by SIGG and sold in many natural food and natural product markets, and stainless steel water bottles are also safe choices and can be reused repeatedly and eventually recycled.

Water

The U.S. National Research Council recommends 1 mL of water for every calorie you eat. So according to this guideline, a person who eats 2,000 calories should be drinking 2,000 mL.

More water is needed during exercise and in hot weather. A rough guideline—for every hour of exercise, drink an extra quart of water.

An article published in the October 5, 2004 issue of The Washington Post reported that cities across the United States, such as Philadelphia, Boston, and New York City, were manipulating the results of tests used to detect lead in water, violating federal law and putting millions of Americans at risk by giving them a false sense of security.

Drinking water can be contaminated with heavy metals, microorganisms, chlorine, fluoride, and other impurities.

• You can improve the quality of drinking water by filtering with a reverse osmosis system, charcoal, ceramic, or other high quality filter.
• Check bottled water—some types are not spring water but actually purified water from the same source as tap water.
• Store water in glass containers. Avoid the plastic water bottles you find at the store. If you do drink water from a soft, clear water bottle, do not reuse it.
• Avoid drinking distilled water regularly, because it can deplete your body of needed minerals

There are reasonably priced water filters on the market, such as Brita or PUR.