Health Ministry
Mission Statement: The Mission of the Health Ministry of Mount Carmel Baptist is to provide support and services that will fulfill the tenant described in our Church’s Mission Statement to holistically meet the physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs of our membership and community.
Goal: The Health Ministry will…
- …keep current (using surveys) of physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs of our membership.
- …plan ongoing programs that reflect the known needs of the membership of the church.
- …extend an invitation to the community to attend all programs offered to the membership.
Exercise and Eating
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
1Corinthians 3:17
Our bodies are gifts from God. We are stewards of them. It’s important to take time to care for them by adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to conquer hypertension. Then we will be better able to carry out our God-given vocation on earth.
Regular physical activity-at least 30-60minutes most days of the week can lower blood pressure. It doesn’t take long (just a few weeks) to see a difference.
Eating a healthy diet, low in salt(*sodium), high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products and cholesterol foods as well as decreasing saturated fat will also lower your blood pressure.
Be victorious over high blood pressure on all fronts with prayer, eating, exercise and God as the ultimate anchor.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 1 Corintians 10:31
FROM THE HEALTH MINISTRY
Marva James, RN and Gwen Travis, RN, Facilitators
THE SALT CONNECTION
Session 1: Blood Pressure is the force of blood against the artery walls. When the blood pressure stays elevated over time, then it is called High Blood Pressure or Hypertension. The extra pressure causes our heart to work harder and can lead to heart, kidney disease and stroke (CVA) and blindness.
What you choose to eat affects your chances of developing and controlling blood pressure can be lowered by eating less salt (AKA Sodium). The lower your salt intake, the lower your blood pressure.
There is a dietary approach to stop hypertension, the (DASH Eating Plan). The DASH Plan is rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products and whole grains, which are naturally lower in sodium than many other foods and makes it easier to eat less salt and or sodium.
Actually, only a small amount of sodium/salt occurs naturally in foods. Most sodium/salt is added during food processing. READ THE LABELS!!
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 10:31
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 3:26
THE SALTY SIX
Session 2: Here’s a look at some of the saltiest foods we eat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. Some on the list might surprise you!
Breads and rolls. We all know breads add carbohydrates and calories, but salt too? It may not seem like it because a lot of bread doesn’t even tast salty, but one piece can have as much as 230 milligrams (mg) of sodium. That’s 15% of the recommended amount from only one slice and it adds up quickly. Have a sandwich and muffin in one day? The bread alone could put you at about 1,000mg of salt—or 2/3 of the American Heart Association’s recommended daily sodium limit of 1,500mg. Be sure to check the nutrition label as different brands of the same foods may have differing sodium levels.
Cold Cuts and Cured Meats. Even food that would otherwise be considered healthy may have high levels of sodium. They have so much because mot cooked meats would spoil in only a few days without the added sodium solution. Look for lower sodium varieties.
Pizza. Ok, everybody knows pizza not exactly a health food. But you’re probably thinking the big concerns are cholesterol, fat and calories. But pizza plenty salty too! One slice can contain up to 760mg of sodium. It doesn’t take a whole lot of math to realize two or three slices alone can send you way over the daily sodium recommendation. You may want to have fewer slices of pizza topped with vegetables and less cheese.
Poultry. Surely chicken can’t be bad for you, right? Well, it depends on how the chicken is prepared. Reasonable portions of lean. Skinless grilled chicken are great. But when you start serving up chicken nuggets or poultry injected with added sodium solutions/marinates, the sodium starts adding up. Just 3 ounces of frozen and breaded nuggets can add nearly 600mg of sodium. And most kids probably aren’t stopping at 3 ounces. Check labels to be sure you are selecting the lower sodium version and that there are no added sodium solutions.
Soup. This is another one of those foods that seems perfectly healthy. It can’t be bad if Mom gave it to yhou for the sniffles, right? But when you take a look at the nutritional label fro some products, though it’s east to see how too much soup can quickly turn into a sodium overload. One cup of canned chicken noodle soup can have up to 940mg of sodium. (Remember 1,500 is the limit). Look for lower sodium options that taste just as great!
Sandwiches. This covers everything from grilled cheese to hamburgers. We already know that breads and cured meats are heavy on sodium. Add them together and you can pretty easily surpass 1,500 mg of sodium in one sandwich. Top sandwiches with plenty of vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers!
