Mind, Body, and Spirit

We're glad you asked! While we want to inform you as best we can about your pension plan and other details regarding the World Ministries Center, we also want to provide you with individualized support in various areas of ministry. We want to be a guiding resource for the things that affect your mind, body and spirit. We want you to live an enriched life and we hope that some of the things posted to this page will be informative, encouraging and inspirational.

We received one of those picturesque e-mails that describe an individual interviewing God. The question was asked of God, “What surprises you about mankind?” One of the responses was, “That they lose their health to make money, and they lose their money to restore their health.” How true that is in many cases! Except with people in ministry, the motivation is not usually about money, but the desire and commitment to share and serve Christ, as Christians are supposed to do. Many say that the position of pastor does not involve many occupational hazards, but if this is true, why are ministers among those groups associated with the highest health insurance costs?

Based on the experience of our past denominational health plan, as well as the continuing concerns of conferences facing rising claims and premiums, ministerial wellness is asserting itself as an issue within our denomination. The rising health costs that keep moving premiums up and the lack of attention to prevention are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. When wellness is mentioned, many times it’s not considered a priority by church staff because they are too busy in the work of ministry to stop and give it any thought. Their committed lifestyles are serving Christ! However, many times they are riding on virtual exhaustion.

We live in a time when there are more wellness resources available than at any other time in history. The aim is to capture a moment in our lives to cause a positive lifestyle change and improve health. Yet many of us have become complacent to what can literally add years to our lives. What can be done to help those who serve God make wellness a priority? We would like to hear from you on this topic. If you have made a successful lifestyle change, what motivated you and what resources do you recommend? If you continue to struggle in this area, what can we do to encourage a fresh proactive approach? No matter what your situation, your feedback will help inform us as we aspire to uphold those who serve so faithfully and equip them to both minister more effectively and enjoy happier, healthier retirement years. Contact Us to leave your feedback.

“Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:13, NLT)

Here are some additional scriptures to remind you to keep your mind, body and spirit turned toward Christ...

Many of us are "weighted" more on one side or the other in different areas of our lives. But, the Bible teaches us that for every purpose, there is a season and a time. Do you have balance?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Everyone knows that eating right and exercising are great ways to control your weight. But here are some other tips to help you slim your waistline.

Eat breakfast. It’s true – regular meals and low-calorie snacking helps prevent the “famine/feast” behavior. Great start: Fill up first thing with an energizing high-fiber cereal, some whole-grain bread and fruit.

Post a list of small projects on the refrigerator. Then, whenever you’re bored and tempted to snack, tackle an item from your list instead. The result: The distraction will help you curb those cravings.

Serve yourself half the amount you would usually eat. Some people tend to eat everything in front of them. Fool your eyes: Your eyes can fool you into thinking you are hungrier than you really are. Make less food look like more by using smaller plates.

Keep burning fat and calories by doing regular aerobic exercise such as walking, biking or swimming. One advantage: Doing aerobics raises your metabolism during the workout and for hours afterward – the longer the session the better.

Bite into a pickle or a lemon. Advantages: Pickles and lemons don’t have any measurable calories, and the sour taste can help curb your appetite. Don’t have either? Curb the urge to eat by brushing your teeth.

Take time to enjoy your food. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to realize that you’re full and give the body the signal to stop eating. Slow your meal: Put your fork down between bites; chew slowly; and savor each flavor and texture.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Wholeness Wheel

As Christians, we understand the values of rules to guide us in living a life of faith. Maintaining health and wholeness is essential in making the most of the life we were given. Here are some suggestions for being intentional about your health and wellness.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s easy to see how people seeking healthy options at the grocery store get derailed in their efforts. After all, how does the average shopper know what dextrose actually is, or what percent daily value is really saying? For the health-minded consumer, today’s complex nutritional labels can ruin even the best intentions.

With nearly 30 years of experience as a registered dietitian, Martha Rardin has helped countless people interpret food labels to shop healthier for themselves and their families. Here is a guide to help you make wise food choices on your next trip to the store. Rardin includes her own practical advice and tips.

Start at the top
Reading nutritional labels can be time consuming. Fortunately one of the most important pieces of information you need is listed at the top – serving size. It’s key because calories are tied to serving size. By understanding how many servings you are eating, you can avoid unknowingly doubling or even tripling your calorie intake.

“Nutritional information, including calorie content, applies to one serving,” said Rardin, who is also director of nutrition and dietetics at Hendricks Regional Health. If a bag of chips has 150 calories per serving and contains three servings, eating the entire bag means you have consumed 450 calories, she explained.

But don’t get too calorie-crazy, she advised. “Just think of calories like you would money,” she said. “You don’t want to blow it all on one big item. You want your calories to be an investment in your health, and that means choosing foods high in nutrients and not empty calories like those found in junk food and desserts.”

The number of calories the average American eats every day has grown over the past 20 years by about 150 calories, enough to theoretically pack on an extra 15 pounds every year.

Fats are not created equal
More and more evidence is pointing to the fact that bad fats, which include saturated and trans fats, increase the risk for many chronic conditions. Good fats, which include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, lower the risk.

“Staying away from all fats isn’t healthy,” said Rardin. “Some fats are essential for your body to function properly, and certain ‘good’ fats have a lot of benefits – particularly for cardiovascular health.”

“Look at the total fat content as an umbrella, and underneath it are the different types of fats,” explained Rardin. “When something is low in one type of fat, it may not be low in other fats or calories.”

Saturated fats, which usually come from an animal source, are the ones you want to avoid.

Trans fat is made when food markets add hydrogen to vegetable oil – a process called hydrogenation. Trans fats increase heart disease risk because they lower your good cholesterol (HDL) and raise your bad (LDL). When shopping, only choose foods with zero trans fat.

Polyunsaturated fats are healthier fats that come from vegetable products such as corn, soybeans and even fish.

Monounsaturated fats may have the most healthful properties, and come from sources like olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil and nuts.

Be cautious of percent daily values
Nutritional labels list percent daily values for certain nutrients based on a daily diet of 2,000 to 2,500 calories. The problem is not everyone has the same nutritional needs.

“Percent daily values are confusing because they take a one-size-fits-all approach,” explained Rardin. “They don’t take into account if a person is sedentary or active, or if they have an existing health condition like high blood pressure, which would require they eat less sodium than what the average person might eat.”

However, percent daily values can help you compare similar foods to determine which has more nutrients. “The best approach is to remember that everyone’s daily calorie needs are different, so take percent daily values with a grain of salt,” Rardin said.

Look to your leaders
Many vitamins and minerals are important for good health, but you won’t find all of them on most nutritional labels. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not in there.

“Certain vitamins, like A, C, and D, and other nutrients like calcium and iron are what we call the leader nutrients,” Rardin said. “If you are selecting foods that are high in those, they will also tend to be higher in other nutrients as well.”

Keep some carbs
Fad diets have given carbohydrates an unfair reputation. Healthy carbs, which come from fruits, vegetables and whole grains, are actually your body’s best energy source.

Dietary fiber is a healthy carb with many benefits to your digestive tract and even your heart. Most Americans aren’t eating the recommended amount of fiber, which is 14 grams for every 1,000 calories you consume.

“If you want to increase the fiber in your diet, look for the phrase ‘whole grain’ on the label,” advised Rardin. “The term ‘multi-grain’ doesn’t actually mean the food is high in fiber.”

Limit sodium
Be careful of convenience foods such as boxed or canned meals and frozen dinners. They can make it hard to keep your sodium below the recommended 2,300 milligrams per day.

Instead, choose fresh foods and retire your salt shaker. Try seasoning your foods with herbs, spices, and other vegetables such as onions and peppers for a low-sodium flavor boost.

Reduce your sugar intake
Sugar doesn’t have to be the enemy, but reducing your intake can help you cut calories and provide room in your diet for more nutritious choices. Many foods are now made with less added sugar. Here is what the labels mean on these foods:

However, seeing these phrases on the label does not necessarily make the food a healthier choice. These items can still be high in calories and/or fat. If you compare the entire label, the sugar free items may actually have as many or more calories than the regular version, and usually cost more.

Use these tips to make food labels work for you. To learn more about nutrition visit hendricksregional.org and search for “healthy eating.”

Adapted from HealthLine – a publication of Hendricks Regional Health, Danville, Indiana

Look up information about health issues, calculate your BMI, take a Nutrition Quiz, find out how much you have to exercise to work off that piece of cheesecake you had for dinner and much more on Anthem's website:

Check out what Indiana's governor is doing to challenge Hoosiers to lead a healthier lifestyle:

Find out what the USDA has to say about increasing your physical activity and take a look at the new food pyramid: