Parish Nurse Notes for Spring 2008

Spring is in the air. We all want to look good for those summer outfits. Exercise and healthy eating are a very important part of looking good and feeling better but, what about paying attention to our skin.
A sun burn will fade, but damage to deeper layers of skin can remain and eventually cause cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

If you listen to the news you might be confused about the effects of the sun. We hear that sun exposure is important for our vitamin D level, but then we hear that sun can cause cancer! Even more confusing are those tanning beds are they good or bad for you?

Plan to attend the health chat on Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30pm. Our own Heather Greene, MSN, FNP, AOCNP, will be speaking about skin cancer and sun safety.

Here are some basic sun safety tips you can follow:
1) Slip: slip on a light colored skirt to protect your skin.
2) Slop- slop on sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher.
3) Slap- slap on a wide brimmed hat to protect your ears, neck and face.
(Slip, Slap, Slop is a registered trademark of the American Cancer Society
The sun shall not harm me by day, nor the moon by night” (Psalm 121:6).
 

Please contact me at 926-0979, ext. 305 or by Email at parishnurse@cherokeechurch.com for additional information.
Your parish nurse, Marie Cope


        All of the information contained in the parish nurse notes is carefully researched but it is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Please use this information in consultation with your physician.
 

 

Compassion for Yourself?
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Genuine compassion for yourself is the key to an overall healthy life.

          Here’s a prescription:

          1. Do a lot of interesting stuff.

          2. Always choose wellness.

          3. Treat every day like the miracle it is.

        4. Ask yourself what it is that you know

               unconditionally; not just what others tell you.

          5. Make as many friends as you can.

          6. Cultivate your creativity and fun-lovingness.

        7. Live your life with such fullness that if you become

               ill or disabled, you’ll have no regrets.

     Source: Adapted from Herbs for Health.

Now you have the prescription, where do you get it filled? Start by deciding which part needs filling the most and try to improve that part of your life. This is not a “one pill fixes all” kind of prescription. Each part will need a different amount of work, but the results will bring you to a full and happy life.  So lets get started with an easy one, #3. Tomorrow morning look out the window and breath in the beautiful world the Lord has made for us! Say a prayer of thanks for the day and set out to make this the best day of your life. “This is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24 .  

Health Related Sites
The Internet is a wonderful source of information but please be careful when accessing health information. Methods of treatment, drug usage etc. changes rapidly, so check to see when the article was last updated.

Check to see if the information is from a reliable source and that the company is not just trying to sell you something that you do not need.

Also, any information you obtain should not replace your physician. Use the information to make yourself a more knowledgeable consumer. If you have any questions I would be happy to assist you.

A few health sites you may find helpful are:

• American cancer society.www.cancer.org
• Mountain States Health Alliance.www.msha.com
• American Heart association. www.americanheart.org
• Webmd.www.webmd.com
• Medline.www.medlineplus.gov

Heart-healthy Recipe 

Guiltless Guacamole 

(8 servings, about 1/3 cup each)

A half cup of regular guacamole has almost 200 calories, 86 percent of them from fat. Add a handful of chips and you're eating the calorie equivalent of a Quarter Pounder. This recipe is total genius; it substitutes green peas for most of the avocado but tastes like the real thing. Serve with baked corn tortilla chips. (Cut tortillas into 8 wedges and bake at 350 degrees or until crisp, about 9 minutes.)

1 1/2 cups thawed green peas

1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks

2 tbsp. fat-free mayonnaise

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. canned diced green chilies

1 /2 cup mild or medium commercial salsa

2 tbsp. diced onion

1 medium tomato, diced

Salt to taste

2 cloves garlic, minced         

       Combine all ingredients except garlic in a food processor or blender and blend until thoroughly mixed but not quite smooth. Stir in garlic.

        1/3 cup serving: 49 calories, 2.3g fat (0g saturated fat)

 

 If you have a heart-healthy recipe you would like to share with CUMC please email it to parishnurse@cherokeechurch.com