While cruising in my station wagon a few weeks ago, I listened to a ‘teaser’ spot on National Public Radio for an upcoming show about food. The sound bites of dispassionate interviewees caught my attention. One claimed, ‘I never eat anything unless I know exactly who prepared it and how they did it’. The second gal mumbled something about not eating much of anything, especially meat, dairy, sugar, coffee or wheat, and the lone guy sounded upset at the thought of the green beans on his plate touching the potatoes touching his pork chops.

Now, I have a question: after the Revolution, or when part of our country is obliterated by a dirty bomb and food is scarce or nonexistent, what will these folks who worry so much about the provenance or placement of their food do? I don’t know about you, but if push came to shove, I’d gladly share a bowl of Alpo SSSizzling Sirloin with my Border Collie (‘move over, Velma!’) and if so, I want to be on her good side. That is, on the other side of her snapping jaws.

Why the unusual emphasis on food? Is it because we have so much of everything we can afford to be neurotic? Then again, maybe these people are as exacting while choosing light bulbs (‘Godammit,

Marie- I said 40 watts!’). To have such complex rules, to suffer self deprivation of something so simple and sometimes so joyful (usually in the company of others) is puzzling. It sounds like these folks just have too much free time- the promise of the past (‘…in the Future, foods will be prepared by microwaves!’) has met the present (‘I can eat whatever I want, so I’ll eat it all. Or devise mystical rules so, confused and exhausted, I’ll go to bed hungry’).

Back in the 50’s, when families actually shared at least one daily meal together without interruptions (no texttweetphonevideo options, thank you), sensible meals were consumed and a really, really big night featured a quivering dish of Jello.

Don’t get me wrong- I like food. I just don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it, unless it’s ice cream. That, my dear, is a story for another day. For now, I worry about this American preoccupation (as it does seem to be unique to the US). It’s a schizophrenic relationship with sustenance: on one hand, you’ve got folks who wouldn’t dream of touching a veal medallion (I agree- the poor creatures live in tiny pens their entire lives), yet slam on the brakes at the nearest O’Burger’s to chow down on something called Chicken O’Chunks (choking on my own fluids sounds like a better alternative). It is a Scientific Fact that if you eat more than one Smiley Meal in any six month period, you take fourteen years off your lifespan. There are women and young girls in this country who will pass on meat and potatoes, pasta and sauce- starve themselves- and then eat a sixteen ounce jar of powdered coffee creamer when everyone else has gone to bed. Really- I knew someone like that once. Some folks live on vitamins, supplements and Perrier and wonder if Botox injections count as protein. Then there was the guy I knew in 1983 who ate only orange food. Talk about monochromatic.

And the ads- oh my God, the ads for food. The television spots and newspaper circulars are not only filled with ravishing, famishing pix of mouthwatering tidbits, but the copywriters use the word ‘love’ so much, as a noun and a verb, it seems you’ll get more warm fuzzies from a box of doughnuts than you would a boyfriend…. Love means never having to say, “I’m stuffed”.

As summer is quickly approaching, like others I want to look my best in a bathing costume. At my age, I’ll soon worry about what I’ll look like in an adult diaper, let alone a snug Speedo. Exercise is out of the question, as I break out from perspiration. Ergo, I watch what I eat.

Perhaps you want to lose a few pounds, or maybe bulk up. You may be interested in the Triple D Reducing Plan (‘Darin’s De-Lite-Full Diet’) – it does it all! The Plan is versatile and easy- I lost twenty-five pounds on it, although ending a fourteen year relationship probably contributed to the drop . This Reducing Plan is loaded with minerals and roughage and is simple to prepare. It is also cheap.

EVENING

- Steamed fresh baby spinach with a black bean and white rice pilaf, sprinkled with   scallions and liberal amounts of Cuban pepper (No salt!)

- Wassa brand multigrain flatbread with hummus- optional fresh lime

- Pomegranate and seltzer over ice- optional fresh lemon

- Triple piece of chocolate layer cake with two scoops of Hagen Daas vanilla ice cream-   chocolate sauce optional

With the Triple D Reducing Plan, you skip all other meals but may drink as much coffee as you like, having the occasional nine or ten Ginger Snaps to boost your energy.

If you’re one of those who want to increase your weight, just double up on everything and throw in a couple sixers of Corona.

While I usually consider processed food product in packages as ‘toxic’ (love that word- it’s so New Millennium), ice cream and cookies are exempt. It’s my Diet Plan, so I can do whatever I want. I avoid the Cancer Aisle at my local market whenever possible, unless there’s a sale on biscotti. At 6’2” and 142 pounds, I weigh less than I did in high school and look really great in boxy sports jackets. All the gals tell me so.

Mark Twain once said, “If I knew I would live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” Still another great writer (I read this in a scandal rag at the Safeway) wrote, “If it comes in a box, don’t eat it or you’ll go out in a box.” And then there are the immortal words of my Mother, circa 1958: “Honey, there are people starving in China. Please eat your lima beans.”

Maybe it’s really all about Balance: if you have to eat a Smiley Meal (because you’re a glamour gal/guy-on-the-go, tweeting and texting as you navigate Life’s superhighway), do twelve pushups and have a bowl of organic yogurt…

By: Jim Moss

It appears that the U.S. Congress is on the verge of passing ‘historic’ health care & insurance reform legislation.
The year-long debate about health care reform has brought America to the brink of big CHANGE, Obama-style.   Now is the time for all good citizens to ask a simple, yet sobering question —

Would JESUS support ObamaCare?

Whenever the name of Jesus Christ is invoked for the purpose of making a political point, Jesus always wins.  In other words, IF it is obvious what Jesus would do — then, any public policy that is clearly contrary to the teachings of Jesus simply can not stand.
So, to be fair, it is important to probe the true meaning of ObamaCare, and to uncover what it will really do to America.
President Obama has embraced the health care legislation that has passed both houses of Congress. Although the U.S. House and Senate bills are somewhat different, they are similar enough to soon be reconciled into one piece of major legislation that Obama is eager to sign into law.  Therefore, the big policy components of health care reform detailed in the 2000+ pages of proposed legislation — on the verge of being reconciled by the House & Senate — can now be accurately described as ‘ObamaCare’.
In a 1-2-3 health care nutshell, here is what Obama wants to codify into law.
First — citizens and small businesses shall have the same choice of private health care insurance that members of Congress enjoy.   And, tax credits, based upon income will make certain that health insurance is affordable for all Americans.
Second — all citizens shall be protected from the worst practices of insurance companies. Policies can not be unjustly revoked, premiums can not be arbitrarily raised, and a pre-existing condition can not exclude any citizen from access to quality care.
Third — as a result of these reforms, Obama claims (and the Congressional Office of Management & Budget substantiates) that the U.S. economy will benefit by reducing the Federal deficit by as much as $1 trillion over the next two decades.  The current crisis of sky-rocketing, out-of-control health care costs, will begin to reverse course due to savings realized from comprehensive health care reform.
Now — let us reverently apply some brutal scrutiny to ‘ObamaCare’ through the eyes of JESUS.

Would JESUS support the kind of choice & tax credit assistance that Obama is advocating — that would actually permit all citizens to select a health insurance plan comparable to what their elected representatives enjoy?  Or, do you suppose that JESUS would align Himself philosophically with the brand of  capitalism that believes a free-enterprise system, unfettered by government interference is sacrosanct?  Is it possible that individual and corporate freedoms — including the right to profit from society’s health care misery index, would raise the ire of JESUS?

The Bible story about JESUS righteously upending the ‘money-changers’ doing profitable business in the synagogue paints a vivid picture of how JESUS might act in the executive suites of big health insurance companies.  Might JESUS be enraged at how the ‘high priests’ of the insurance industry are desecrating the ‘temple of God’ as represented in the bodies & souls of individual citizens trying to cope with a health care system driven by profit motive, and built upon a foundation of greed?
Might JESUS admonish, “Verily I say unto you, High Priests of health insurance, and your powerful & affluent defenders — you have the best health care money can buy.  Surely, you have not forgotten my counsel — that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.  Go, Ye therefore, share society’s wealth and minister to all those in need of a healthy, secure life.”
And, what would JESUS say about Obama’s plan to protect all American citizens from the cruel practices of health insurance companies?  Would JESUS dare to endorse a ban on the practice of unjustly revoking a health insurance policy, or an arbitrary premium hike, or an exclusion based upon a pre-existing condition?
It is hard to imagine that JESUS would flip-flop like a Washington politician, to cast aside the Good Samaritan for whom He pronounced praise & blessing. Might JESUS instead respond, “What you have done to the least of your Brethren, you have done unto me.”  Thus, when the humble, hardworking citizen is royally screwed by the insurance High Priests, that immoral treatment is also directed at JESUS, Himself.
Finally, would JESUS have the audacity to render an opinion about the effects of health insurance reform on the U.S. economy?  Would JESUS give a damn about debt, deficit, or bankruptcy?
This part of the debate is surely the most controversial.  This is where beliefs about BIG government, tax policy, fiscal discipline, and economic philosophy create fireworks in a diverse democracy.  But, did JESUS ever shrink from controversy?   Was not JESUS a provacateur — an ideological revolutionary — the Master of ‘Change We Can Believe In’?

“Render unto Ceasar, that which is Caesar’s…” leads one to recognize that JESUS was not anti-government. One of His disciples was a tax collector!  The Good News about personal salvation profoundly changed the world by offering each & every individual the hope and promise of eternal life. So, JESUS preached individual liberty within the context of a secular societal government structure. JESUS’ teachings, as exemplified by the Sermon On The Mount, breathes life into every cause of social justice for the past two thousand years.  And, think of the parables JESUS spoke that illustrate the importance of good works, high ethics, and personal responsibility.  This rich mosaic of JESUS reflects the beliefs, hopes, fears, and aspirations of individuals in America’s (largely) Judeo-Christian culture.

Given the seemingly impossible challenges surrounding America’s failed health care/insurance system — JESUS might be tempted to turn and quietly walk away.  But, of course, He would not.  Rather, would JESUS not empower individuals to demand that their democratically elected government get its act together, and put its fiscal house in order?   The Federal Government represents the sum of all 300+ million parts — personal responsibility translates into a collective responsibility.
A desperately broken health care delivery system is both irresponsible and immoral.  Would not JESUS expect those created in His image to solve the problem in a way that preserved individual liberty, yet also promoted the interests of society — collectively?  Freedom of choice… balanced with principles of social justice.

Would JESUS support ObamaCare?

Is America ready, finally,  for comprehensive health care/insurance reform? If American Citizens, through their elected representatives, walk away again — and fail to enact meaningful health care & insurance reform — would it not be appropriate for JESUS to lament once more,

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

By: E. Vargas

Effective in March, Cobre Valley Community Hospital will become Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center. The new name is a reflection of the region the hospital serves which includes customers and patients from Young, Kearny, Hayden, Winkleman, Superior, San Carlos, Tonto Basin, Roosevelt, Globe, and Miami.  CVCH has been experiencing regional expansion for the past several years with clinics established in Young, Superior, and Kearny.  CVCH has also recently added a Urologist, a Sleep Center, and is in the process of bringing in a full-time Oncologist and Cardiologist to the staff.

“In 2009, Cobre Valley Community Hospital continued to see growth despite the financial and economic challenges being faced throughout Arizona and the nation.  As we embark on 2010, the CVCH Board of Directors has outlined core strategies that will focus on continued growth, outstanding customer service and workforce development,” states Neal Jensen-CVCH CEO.  “This will lead to new services, new providers, and a continued focus on regional expansion.”

Some questions about the name modification are answered below:

What prompted the decision to modify the name of Cobre Valley Community Hospital to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center? The modified name, Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center, is a reflection of the customers/patients we serve.  Our patients come from Young, Kearny, Hayden, Winkleman, Superior, San Carlos, Globe, and Miami. We have also expanded our clinical services to Young, Superior, and Kearny and want the name to encompass the region we serve.

Since you are adding the words “Regional Medical Center,” does this mean new services, more doctors, a bigger facility? Our healthcare facility is dedicated to bringing needed services to our region.  As our Medical Staff Development Plan calls for added services, we strive to bring a broader array of services to the region.  We have recently added a Urologist to the staff and are currently in the process of bringing a full-time Oncologist and Cardiologist to the staff.  Yes, as our services grow there are plans for a facility expansion, also.

Are you changing the name to change the image of the hospital? Our organization’s image is determined by the successes of our employees and how well they handle the healthcare for the people of the region we serve.  A name change does not enhance or impair the quality of service provided within the walls of our facility.  CVCH employees are compassionate and dedicated individuals who strive every hour of every day to make a difference in the health and well-being of the people in our region.

Why didn’t you change the words “Cobre Valley?” The word “Cobre” is Spanish for “copper.”  The communities of the region we serve exist because of the region’s long history of copper mining.  “Cobre Valley” was preserved to honor the commitment and fortitude of our copper miners and the natural resource of copper our region is known for world-wide.

When will the new name take affect? We are anticipating “Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center” to become official upon the arrival and completion of the large rock to be located just as you drive up to the hospital.  We anticipate this to happen about the second week of March, 2010.

Does a regional hospital have other access to grant funding? As we become more regional, the more possibilities of grant funding we can apply for.

Is some other hospital buying this hospital? No.  “Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center” is doing exceptionally well and will still be under the management of Brim Healthcare.

Is anyone being laid off? No.  This is strictly a name modification and will have no effect on employment.

Will my records be kept through the name modification? All records will remain intact. This name modification will have no effect on patient records.

The transition the hospital has gone through the past 100 years has been astounding:  From a “tent clinic” in 1910, a miner’s hospital in 1913, a community hospital in 1980, and today, a regional medical center. The accomplishments are a result of the dedicated and compassionate workforce the hospital has maintained throughout the years.  Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center is dedicated to continue its mission:  “To develop and maintain a healthcare delivery system that serves the region with quality, efficiency, and compassion.”

The following is an excerpt from a news letter which went out from John’s Hopkins.

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime.

3 When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could  be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system..

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply…

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg’s aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes.. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are
known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,
un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and
acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax
and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

1. No plastic containers in micro.

2. No water bottles in freezer.

3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin
chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don’t freeze your plastic bottles
with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr.Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Cast le Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons. Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.