The LILI Letter - September 2023

September,

Yeah baby! Cooler temperatures, beautiful scenery with the autumn foliage bursting on the scene, along with the scents, tastes and sounds of fall. A favorite month before the weather turns colder and the days get shorter. I hope you make the most of this month, I plan to! We celebrate Labor Day and the autumn equinox, AKA first day of autumn.

In good health,
Jennifer James

Success story… sort of

This time of year nudges me into a more contemplative mode. I walk through our halls here at the hospital and reflect on all the people I have known and the changes that have taken place. I hike with my group most weeks and reflect on the trails we’ve enjoyed and the folks who’ve joined us. I look back on my life and what I’ve celebrated, learned, suffered and experienced. The family, friends and acquaintances who have come and gone in my life. My dear friends from childhood, college and previous jobs. How our world has changed. How our community has changed. How the seasons go through their paces year after year, some hotter, some colder and wetter, but they always show up.

Looking back on all of this reassures me that the future may not be as bleak as we may assume. There are more good people in the world than evil, things generally work as opposed to not working, and many of us are trying to do the right thing. This is not a perfect existence, it wasn’t meant to be, otherwise how we could we learn compassion? As we move into autumn, let’s reflect on our choices and whether they move us towards kindness and compassion, or away from it, including compassion for ourselves. The future of humanity may depend on it.

Do you really know… corn?

Corn is actually a grass, and was first cultivated in southern Mexico 10,000 years ago. It had become so widespread that it was grown in Maine by the time the first European settlers arrived in the Americas. It was taken to Europe and is now cultivated worldwide. There are multiple varieties grown for different uses. It is used for animal feed, biofuel, industrial materials, and human cooking oil, syrup, flour, popcorn and sweet corn. It is the third largest food source on the planet that comes from a plant. Impressed? Nutritionally it is high in dietary fiber and antioxidants. Try the two recipes below.

Corn — Food, Fuel, Animal Feed | Britannica

Get organized!

The story goes, a dear family member moved into assisted living after her husband died. When she cleaned out her refrigerator she found six jars of mustard, all with a little bit in each jar. To prevent this from happening to you, make it a habit to regularly take stock of and clean out your refrigerator. This is not a job I look forward to, but it is necessary. With the price of groceries, it will save us money from not wasting food we forgot about, or duplicating an item we already have on hand, like mustard. It will save time while hunting for an ingredient if we have a designated place for everything.

For cleaning and organizing your refrigerator (and freezer), do the following:

• Remove all the food.
• Place the highly perishable foods in a cooler.
• Toss any expired food.
• Dump any leftovers that are older than 4 days or freeze.
• Remove all drawers and shelves, clean with hot soapy water, rinse and dry.
• Wipe out the sides, door, top and bottom of the refrigerator and freezer.
• If you have time, vacuum off the coils that accumulate dust.
• Make sure the temperature is 40 degrees for the refrigerator, and 0 degrees for the freezer. You may need a thermometer for this.
• Wipe off any containers before putting them back into the fridge.
• Place milk and eggs in the back of the refrigerator, as they are quite perishable. If your refrigerator has an outer door for milk, ensure this area is 40 degrees.
• If your refrigerator has a deli drawer, store cheeses, deli meats, etc. there.
• Place condiments in the door. Produce goes in the crisper drawers.
• Label and date leftovers if you don’t expect to eat them right away.
• On the day before garbage collection, dump any expired or spoiled food and put in the garbage can/dumpster. This will keep odors out of the kitchen.
• Take stock of the food in the refrigerator and freezer before buying groceries.

I found most of this information from the Iowa State University Extension website. They sponsor a “Spend Smart-Eat Smart” program which is chock full of helpful information, recipe ideas, a grocery budget calculator and so on. Check out the Iowa State University Extension website. You will not be disappointed.

Be kind

I recently interacted with a pharmacy technician and medical assistant. When my prescription had not been called in correctly to the pharmacy, I did not get upset when I was told this in the pharmacy drive-thru. Back home, when I realized I had left my debit card at the pharmacy, I did not get upset. I called to see if they had it, but no one would pick up the phone. I did not lose my temper. I drove back to the pharmacy to pick up the debit card, and did not get upset with the same technician who blamed himself for not giving it back to me. I told him we both forgot. I called the clinic where my physician practices to request a corrected order, and did not get upset with the person who answered the phone. She was very helpful and I thanked her sincerely.

This is a major win for me, since I am not always this nice, but what really got my attention was the behavior of these two people. They seemed to be cringing, waiting for me to “let them have it” by yelling at them, or worse. They seemed very relieved it did not happen. It made me sad. It showed me that dealing with angry customers and patients is probably something they suffer through regularly.

We get so focused on our own stuff we forget that everyone else is probably struggling with things in their own life. Do we really need to take out our frustrations on these folks? Or anyone else for that matter? Granted, I am guilty of doing this, I am not the shining example here. I have some work to do, but that experience made me vow to be a kinder person.

The low-down on lipedema

This is a condition I knew very little about until recently. It affects around 11% of women and tends to run in families, therefore likely genetic. What is it? It is the symmetrical deposition of fat in the legs, hips and behind. It sometimes involves the arms. The feet and hands are unaffected. The lower body can be much larger than the upper body, especially in the later stages of the disease. It has characteristic patterns of fat deposition, and the texture of the fat is not soft, but hard and bumpy. The folks who suffer from this may have chronic pain and fatigue. Moving is a chore, especially if they have enormous legs in the later stages of it. Diet, exercise, weight loss medications and surgery do not affect it. Do an internet search for photos of this condition, and I’m sure you can think of people you have seen with it.

Lymphedema can also increase the size of the legs, but due to a completely different cause. This is from fluid building up in the lymphatic system, which has its own circulatory system. Lipedema can cause lymphedema in the later stages, as it can interfere with the circulation of lymph fluid. Lipedema is often misdiagnosed as obesity or lymphedema.

Treatment involves compression, massage, and a specific type of liposuction. Liposuction results last about five years. A healthy diet and exercise, in whatever form they can tolerate, is helpful too. Health insurance often does not cover liposuction for treating this.

This goes back to the “Be Kind” section. If you see someone with this condition, hold your judgment. They may not have much control over how their body looks, and moving can be very difficult for them. They are likely fatigued and in pain. Please have compassion for them.

Lipedema: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)

Lipedema: Symptoms, Treatment, Diet, Causes, and More (webmd.com)

Lipedema | Stanford Health Care

Polenta

Polenta hails from Italy. It can be used as a base for vegetable dishes, pasta sauces, seafood and so on. Very simple to make. This is my version of many versions found online. Once prepared, it can be baked or friend in squares.

1 cup of whole grain corn meal
4 cups of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
6 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

1. Bring the broth to a rolling boil in a heavy pot or saucepan.
2. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal.
3. Turn the heat down to a simmer, and continue whisking for 2 minutes, or until it sinks to the bottom of the pot.
4. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until it is creamy, around 30 minutes. Add a little more broth if it seems too thick. Add the black pepper.
5. Divide into 6 portions.
6. Sprinkle each with a tablespoon of parmesan cheese and drizzle with teaspoon of olive oil.

Calories per 1/6 recipe: 185

Easy corn on the cob

Cut off the tip and the bottom of the cob, above where the husk attaches. Microwave for 2-3 minutes, depending on the wattage of your microwave. Roll in a dish towel and let it steam for a few minutes. When cool enough to handle, pull off the entire husk, the silk should come with it. Enjoy!

Calories: 160 for a large ear

September LILI class & support groups

“Losing It & Loving It” weight loss/wellness class

September 14-December 7

Thursdays, 6-7 pm (first class 6-7:30 pm)
Heart Center Conference Room
ORMC Medical Plaza, 425 E. 5350 S., Suite #200
Cost: $150

To register: ogdenregional.com or call (866) 887-3999

Questions: Jennifer.James@Mountainstarhealth.com (801) 479-2133

Support Groups

Mondays, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Heart Center Conference Room,

ORMC Medical Plaza,
Suite #200
Free to LILI graduates

"We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison