American Indian Living Magazine: Interpersonal Relationships

Letter from the Publisher

When we look back through our days, we find enjoyment, love and peace as we remember relationships. As humans, relationships build us, save us, inspire us and make life fun. Healthy relationships provide for healthy lives. There is not much better in life than having friends, family, and a Creator that you can talk with anytime, about anything. Research is clear that a person living a life with healthy relationships gets through life better and lives longer. Our hope is that this issue of American Indian & Alaska Native Living will introduce you to new healthy relationships and add to your good health.

sgeñ∙noñˀ naesaihwiyosdik goñdahgwih

Robert Burnette Onondaga

Volume 13, Issue 1

American Indian & Alaska Native LivingTM magazine is a biannual publication whose content is designed to enhance the health and wholeness of the indigenous populations of North America. It is published by the Native Ministries Department of the Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations and the National Congress of American Indians.

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Robert Burnette

Assistant to the President, Director of Native Ministries, Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

EDITOR

Caroline A. Fisher, M.A.

SENIOR EDITORS

Jim Landelius, M.A.

Assistant Director, Native Ministries

Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

David DeRose, M.D. Medical Consultant

HEALTH CONSULTANT

Joni Bokovoy, DrPH

CULTURAL EDITOR

Jay ganeñˀdo∙doñˀ Meacham

LAYOUT / DESIGN Julie Burks

COPY EDITOR Joan Rupe

WEBMASTER

Stephen Carlile

American Indian LivingTM, Volume 13, Issue 1

PUBLISHED BI-ANNUALLY BY Oklahoma Native Ministries Department of the Oklahoma Conference of Seventh-day Adventists P.O. Box 32098, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 405.721.6110

www.okadventist.org

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A T I O N O

Choice »

The first step toward improved health is making consistent healthy choices, which turn into habits and lead to lifestyle improvement.

Rest »

More than getting a good night’s sleep, healing rest means making space in your day to relax, and taking a day once a week for restoration.

Environment »

THE CREATION HEALTH MODEL: 8 Principles for Healthy Living C R E

We were made for a garden, but we live in a jungle. Environment is the space outside of us that affects what happens inside of us.

Activity »

There are three kinds of physical activity and three dimensions to physical activity. Combine them, and you’re on your way to good health.

Trust »

Our faith, beliefs, and hopes affect our health. A trusting relationship with the Creator empowers and enriches every aspect of life.

Interpersonal Relationships »

Positive relationships contribute to good health, while toxic relationships can destroy it. So, seek to give and receive unconditional love.

Outlook »

Outlook not only colors how you look at life, but research suggests attitude can influence your health and even impact the progression of disease.

Nutrition »

Food is the fuel that drives your whole system. Eat for energy, eat for mental clearness, eat for long life. After all, your health is worth it.

The good news is insulin resistance CAN be reversed!

Diabetes Undone explains how and why a person becomes insulin resistant and how to reverse this condition using simple, basic, lifestyle choices. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that you can experience dramatic health improvement, be free of medications, and even reverse the disease itself with a healthy lifestyle.

Understanding the power in your lifestyle is the crucial first step in reversing type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. People can begin to reverse diabetes, right now, immediately. All without outrageous cost, without drugs, and without surgery.

Diabetes Undone is produced by Life and Health Network, a 501c3 non-profit organization with a goal to simplify what it means to be healthy. lifeandhealth.org

Relationships Interpersonal

What do we mean by “social connection” or “social connectedness”?

In the broadest sense, it means interacting with other people, such as friends or relatives.

These connections will not be the same in every respect for any two people, although ideally these connections should generate a similar sense of openness, generosity, and goodwill. Although they take work, good relationships are one of our greatest blessings. Is there anyone who really cares for you, or feels close to you, or loves you, or wants to help you? Is there someone you can confide in? If so, then according to some studies, you may have three to five times lower risk of premature death and disease from all causes than those who don’t have these kinds of relationships.1

Perhaps the best known example of the link between social connectedness and health has been seen in Dr. Dean Ornish’s intervention for reversing heart disease. When most people think of this program, they tend to think of low-fat diets, exercise, and meditation. But if you ask Dr. Ornish about the most important part of his program, his answer might surprise you, because he identifies it as interpersonal relationships. Dr. Dean Ornish, in his book Love and Survival: The Scientific Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy, writes that “I’m not aware of any other factor in medicine – not diet, not smoking, not exercise, not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery – that has a greater impact on our quality of life, incidence of illness, and the premature death from all causes than does love and intimacy.” Jeff Levin, epidemiologist, puts it this way, “…experts have singled out love as foremost among the human emotions capable of promoting and maintaining health and achieving healing.” Dr. Bernie Siegel, Yale physician and author of the best-selling book, Love, Medicine and Miracles, affirms the power of love: “Unconditional love is the most powerful stimulant of the immune system. The truth is love heals.” Dr. Siegel works with cancer patients to help them experience the blessings of love and other positive emotions.

THE ROSETO EFFECT

Social support is probably one of the least focused on areas of health, and yet it has one of the most powerful influences. It can come in the form of a spouse, a close-knit family, a network of friends, a church, or other group affiliations. Even a connection to animals can have a powerful, positive effect on one’s well-being. The link between social support and health is very strong. “So many studies have supported this powerful link that it has been given a name – the Roseto effect.” The name comes from a study that spanned fifty years in the little town of Roseto, Pennsylvania. Researchers discovered that the incidence of coronary heart disease in Roseto at the beginning of the period was about half that of the two neighboring towns, despite the same risk factors in all three locations.

What was the difference? Researchers discovered that Roseto was settled by a tightly knit group of religious immigrants from Southern Italy. During the first thirty years of the study, they were characterized by a high level of social connectedness: extensive intermarriage, strong family ties, and a supportive, nurturing community. The researchers hypothesized that this high level of social connectedness might buffer residents from heart disease and early death. This was shown to be true when, in the 1960s and 1970s, the cohesiveness of the community began to weaken and the heart disease rates in Roseto climbed to the same levels as those in the other two communities.

Drs. Syme and Berkman have co-authored what many consider to be the definitive study on social support and the risk of death. The Alameda County Study is one of the most quoted studies in the field of health. “Statistically, under the topic of social support, this is one of the strongest areas under study,” says Dr. Syme, professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley and one of the leading experts on relationships. This study, which dealt with more than seven thousand people followed for 40 years, showed:

• People classified as lonely and isolated had three times higher mortality rates.

• People with many social contacts had the lowest mortality rates.

• The amount of social support was the best predictor of good health.

In this study, the association between social and community ties and premature death was found to be independent of the more powerful predictors of health and longevity: age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, self-reported physical health status and health practices, i.e., smoking, alcoholic beverage consumption,overeating, physical activity, and utilization of preventive health services. Those who lacked social ties had an increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, and all other causes of death. Many other large-scale studies have replicated and confirmed the results from the

Alameda research. Each gives additional valuable information regarding the effects of social connectedness on the quality and length of our lives. The data gathered in these studies includes all different types of populations (tens of thousands of participants) and many different countries.

“FRIENDLY” IMMUNE BOOSTERS

More friends can mean fewer illnesses. An interesting study illustrates how connecting with other people can boost our immune system. Volunteers were given nasal drops containing rhinovirus – the virus that causes the common cold. Almost all of the people exposed to the rhinovirus were infected by it, but those with more friends were less likely to develop signs and symptoms of a cold. Another study involving elderly people showed increased immune function in terms of both natural killer cells and antibodies after weekly visitations by friends or relatives. Lack of connection has been found to

reduce suppressor T-cells and is associated with recurrence of some illnesses. Researchers at Ohio State University College of Medicine found that women who perceived their marriages as satisfying and supportive had better immune defenses (higher % T-cells, and more helper lymphocytes) as well as less depression and loneliness. On the other hand, negative social interactions can weaken the important functions of the immune system. The immune system is less effective when one is in conflict with a spouse or companion, even when one is otherwise happy.

TOUCHY FEELY

Touch is one of the most basic expressions of social connectedness. Hundreds of studies over the past forty years have helped us better understand the powerful effects of physical touch. In one study in which tactile/kinesthetic stimulation was given to preterm babies, researchers found that touch was very powerful. The touching or stimulation consisted of body stroking and passive movements of the limbs for three fifteen-minute periods per day for ten days. The touched-and-moved babies averaged a 47% greater weight gain per day. They were also more active and alert during sleep/wake behavior observations. Finally, those babies who had human touch and movement had a hospital stay six days shorter than those who weren’t touched in the same manner, which yielded a cost savings of approximately $3,000 per baby!

Interestingly enough, observations made by researchers decades ago as they watched groups of monkeys provided additional information on the power of touch. University of Wisconsin researchers Harry and Margaret Harlow compared monkeys who were raised together in cages with monkeys whose only social contact came through seeing, hearing, and smelling other monkeys. The Harlows found that the monkeys who did not have touch or actual body contact with other monkeys grew up with a variety of emotional abnormalities. As these monkeys grew older, early self-aggression turned into aggression against other monkeys. Perhaps most striking was the example of how mothers behaved with their young. Mothers who grew up without touch showed less warmth and affection toward their offspring; some were actually hysically abusive to their babies.

Many years ago a now famous research study was done at an orphanage. The researchers wondered why at that particular orphanage the children were living, while at the other ones children seemed more likely to die. They found that the assistant at the orphanage where the children weren’t dying simply hugged and held the children!

Touch is very important to our health, and it doesn’t have to be dramatic or uncomfortable to make a difference. An unusual study was conducted in a university library. As

“Touch is very important to our health, and it doesn’t have to be dramatic or uncomfortable to make a difference.”

they left the library, students were stopped and asked how satisfied they were with the service they had received. What the studentsdidn’t know was that the study wasn’t about the library – it was about touch. The library clerk had received specific instructions that half the people checking out were to have their hands touched as they got their cards back. They were touched just lightly, almost imperceptibly. But, however casual and meaningless this contact may have seemed, the researchers found that the students who had been touched had much higher opinions of the library service than those who were not touched.

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

A qualitative synthesis of over 100 resiliencyrelated studies revealed that resilient children tend to have all of the following factors, which are related to social connection: good social skills and support from mentors or peers; a close connection to family; and a caring relationship with a caregiver. Aside from these, resilient children have positive self-esteem, a good sense of the future, and clear expectations and achievement in school. The scientific evidence of how connectedness protects also shows up in the growing body of research on adolescents. In 1997, a massive capstone study was launched, collecting data from ninety thousand teens and eighteen thousand of their parents across the United States. The one word that encapsulates all this research is connectedness. In short, kids who feel connected to family, church, school, and community are far less likely to participate in risky behaviors than those who don’t have tight connections.

OLD AGE

Last, in the longest continuous study in the world on aging, Dr. George Vaillant and colleagues found that a warm relationship with our spouse is an excellent predictor of aging well. The fact that social connection is an excellent predictor of healthy aging has been well supported in many other studies. In one study, a team of researchers found that over 2,800 Dutch citizens, ages fifty-five to eighty-five, were positively affected by loving relationships. Specifically, they found that those who perceived themselves as being surrounded by a loving, supportive circle of friends decreased their death rate by approximately half when compared with those who did not feel the close

POWER TIPS:

Improve Your Relationships

Consider these practical suggestions for improving social health and your life expectancy.

• INVEST IN FRIENDSHIPS: Take time to meet new people and renew old friendships.

• Stay in contact: Meet often to do things together to enrich your social and emotional life.

• INVEST IN YOUR MARRIAGE: Or, if unmarried, develop a close confidant – one you can share your most private fears and worries, your successes, your joys.

• JOIN A GROUP: Community, church, and social organizations provide a way to meet new people and develop caring friends.

• VOLUNTEER: Many social organizations need volunteers. It’s a great way to stay involved in helping other people, while finding social outlets for yourself.

• LOOK FOR SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES: Or create them yourself. Come up with things to do with others: invite them over or go out to dinner, go biking or hiking together, join the choir, volunteer, take a class, look for someone else who needs a friend or who needs some kind of help.

• INTERACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE: Don’t isolate yourself. People are always more important than things. Time with family and friends can bring you your best moments and help you enjoy a long and fulfilling life.43

social support. Another study found that older individuals who perceived their social support as impaired were 340% more likely to die prematurely from all causes.

THE ENDURANCE OF THE GLOW

One study showed that what older adults contributed to their social network had more to do with their health than what they received from it. In other words, the more they gave, the more they received. Another important research study found that 95% of those who had regular personal contact with the individuals whom they helped were blessed with a feel-good sensation which became known as the “helper’s high.” Nationwide surveys indicate that close to 90% of committed volunteers say they are healthier or as healthy as others their age. Another study’s participants commented on “the endurance of the glow,” or the helper’s high. Amazingly, of those who commented, most say that the glow kept returning when they remembered helping. Volunteering is a blessing that “keeps on giving” back to the giver.

She can smile again!

Health Disparity Event

BY JIM LANDELIUS & CAROLINE FISHER

RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES OF SEMINOLE AND WEWOKA, OKLAHOMA, WERE INVITED TO A FREE DENTAL AND VISION CLINIC AT WEWOKA WOODS ADVENTIST CENTER IN WEWOKA ON APRIL 2, 2003.

The clinic was sponsored by Life & Health (https://learn.lifeandhealth.org) under the direction of Danny Kwon and American Indian & Alaska Native Living magazine (AIANL). Chief Lewis Johnson of the Seminole Nation promoted the clinical services on the Seminole Nation website (https://www.sno-nsn.gov), and in less than 24 hours, all of the appointments for both the optical and dental services were totally full with a waiting list for both. Eight dentists and seven optician volunteers gave eye exams and disbursed eyeglasses; cleaned and extracted teeth;

Medical screening before seeing the dentist.

Finding the right optical strength.

Dentists working on patients.

and replaced cavities with fillings. Patients felt comfortable as they were evaluated and served by a team of professionals with some receiving multiple services from doctors in both fields, such as eyeglasses and dental services. AIANL will reaching out to residents in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area with the same services from September 22-24, 2023.

Glaucoma testing.

Dental work in progress.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY MANG LIAN

LONELINESS: A Growing Health Concern

My friends were on time. I went outside to welcome them. The first few to arrive excitedly greeted each other, hugged, joked, and chatted. As others arrived, I soon realized I would have to gently nudge them to get them into the house so we could get started. Once inside the house, a similar thing occurred. As the hostess, I had a hard time getting them from the living room sofas to the table to dine on the supper I had prepared. The chatting and laughing continued, this time in small groups of two or three. “I might have to warm the food again,” I thought to myself. It seemed like they hadn’t seen each other in years. It was then it occurred to me: this group of mostly single women were bonding and connecting in a way that almost seemed therapeutic. Seven of us had come together to celebrate the birthdays of two ladies. But I soon realized that it was for more than that we had gathered. We were all craving in-person, social connection.

At another celebration two months later, through conversing with each other, it became obvious to all of us that most of us were experiencing social isolation; bluntly put, we were lonely. Our socioeconomic statuses were pretty good; from outward appearances, physically and spiritually we were in good shape and standing; mentally, for the most part, we seemed okay. Socially, though, we

were struggling- struggling silently with loneliness! Most of us were siloed and longing for in-person, social interaction. What did we do about it? We shared our feelings with each other and started putting systems in place to connect with and support each other.

Is loneliness unique to my group? No! U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy was sounding the alarm in 2017 that as a nation, we are suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. He came to this conclusion while on a listening tour to find out people’s health concerns during his first tenure as U.S. Surgeon. While investigating common health issues such as diabetes, opioid addiction, depression, anxiety, and heart disease, he unexpectedly discovered a more insidious problem: loneliness.1 As he began researching loneliness, he realized that it was much more common than he had thought. This led to his writing the book Together, in which he explores the healing power of connection. Let’s delve deeper to gain a better understanding of loneliness.

What Loneliness Is and Is Not

“Loneliness is an emotion that comes from a lack of social connection.” 2 It is a normal human emotion that anyone can experience, regardless of age or background. “But, at the center of

1 Jena McGregor, “This former surgeon general says there’s a ‘loneliness epidemic’ and work is partly to blame,” The Washington Post, October 4, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2017/10/04/this-former-surgeon-general-says-theres-aloneliness-epidemic-and-work-is-partly-to-blame/.

2 “Loneliness.” CDC.gov, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/howrightnow/resources/coping-withloneliness/index.html

SUSAN GAY, M.A.ED., MCHES®

our loneliness is our innate desire to connect.”3 A person experiencing loneliness may feel isolated and disconnected from others.

Loneliness is not a human failing. We are social beings, created for community, connection, and interaction with others. The causes of loneliness may be different for each person. Some examples include death of a loved one; divorce; severing of a romantic or other close relationship; loss of a job; incarceration; relocation leading to separation from family and friends; retirement; illness, and, yes, as most of us experienced during the last two to three years, a pandemic.

Difference Between Loneliness and Solitude/Aloneness

Though he or she may be isolated or disconnected from others, a person experiencing loneliness has a desire to connect and bond with others, especially with those whom he or she shares things in common. In contrast, solitude is the experience of being alone. A person who values periods of solitude (aloneness) has the desire to be alone. Solitude is as important as interaction and connection. Periods of solitude allow us time for reflection and helps us foster our own health and wellbeing. In our fast-paced, instant-digitalconnection age, solitude allows us an opportunity to remove ourselves from the many distractions and activities constantly clamoring for our attention. Solitude is peaceful, pleasant, and refreshing. It allows time for us to be reminded of our identity,

as opposed to our many roles and responsibilities. When we emerge from periods of solitude, we are likely in a better position to interact and connect with others. From my observation, many people seem afraid of solitude. It’s almost as if we are running away from ourselves when we have to be constantly plugged into our devices, or into activities and other people.

It’s important to recognize that a person can be alone without experiencing loneliness. On the other hand, persons can experience loneliness, even while they are in the company of others. The difference between the two has to do with our feelings and desires to connect or not connect with others. From our conversations with each other, it became clear that what my friends and I were experiencing was loneliness because we had the desire to connect and felt socially isolated and disconnected. We had had times when we enjoyed our solitude, but the prolonged lack of in-person, social interaction with others who share common interests fueled our loneliness.

The Stigma of Loneliness

It’s not easy for most of us to admit we are lonely. We usually have to listen to how others express their feelings or observe people to uncover loneliness. In society, it’s still far too common and easier to share about our physical health than about our emotional and mental health; thus, to admit to experiencing loneliness may seem like we are admitting to being a social

outcast or being deficient in some way. In our group, none of us initially said we were lonely; it was through expressing our feelings and desires, as well as by observation of our interaction with each other that we were able to deduce the core issue.

Digital Connection vs. In-person Human Connection

One of the tragedies of the digital age is reliance on technology—especially social media—for connection. Undoubtedly, technology has its advantages and place; actually, a debt of gratitude is owed to social media platforms, like WhatsApp, YouTube, and Zoom for helping us stay in touch through the pandemic lockdowns and other protocols that were meant to keep us safe. The problem comes when we rely constantly on social media to connect us, overlooking the necessity and value of in-person interaction and connection. The ability to touch, hug, sit next to a loved one, share a meal across the table from each other, etc., could never be substituted with emojis, digital jargon, acronyms, video calls, or instant messaging. A 2018 survey conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation/Economist examining loneliness and social isolation found that 58% of Americans view the increased use of technology as a major reason why people feel lonely and

socially isolated, though many said social media either made their feelings of loneliness better (31%) and worse (27%).4

Loneliness Can Affect Our Health

A diagnosis of loneliness may not be found in our health records or reported as the cause of death on a death certificate; yet the health habits that are associated with the diagnosis of a chronic disease (diabetes, obesity, heart disease), or reported as the cause of death by suicide or an opioid or heroin overdose may in fact be associated with loneliness.

People who experience loneliness may develop habits and engage in activities that can lead to poor health outcomes and, ultimately, death. One in five Americans (22%) say they always or often feel lonely or socially isolated, frequently with serious consequences.5 The serious consequences reported include negative impacts on their mental health (58%), physical health (55%), personal relationships (49%), ability to do their job (33%), thinking about harming themselves (31%), and committing a violent act (15%).6 In an interview with National Public Radio to discuss his book Together, current U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy shared, “I found that people who struggle with loneliness, that that’s associated with an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and even premature death.” 7

4 Craig Palosky, “KFF/Economist Survey: One in Five Americans Report Always or Often Feeling Lonely or Socially Isolated, Frequently With Physical, Mental, and Financial Consequences,” August 31, 2018, https://www.kff.org/other/press-release/survey-onein-five-americans-report-loneliness-social-isolation/

5 Palosky.

6 Palosky.

7 Rachel Martin, “In 'Together,' Former Surgeon General Writes About Importance Of Human Connection,” interview by Rachel Martin, Morning Edition, NPR, May 11, 2020, audio, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/11/853308193/in-togetherformer-surgeon-general-writes-about-importance-of-human-connection

"The bottom line is this: we need each other!"

What You Can Do to Reduce Loneliness

The adage, “No man is an island” still rings true in the twentyfirst century and in a post-postmodern world. The bottom line is this: we need each other! We were created for interaction and connection with the Creator and with other human beings. We thrive when there is a balance of solitude and meaningful, healthy connections through interpersonal relationships. When we overlook or ignore this balance, we do so to the detriment of our mental, physical, spiritual, and social health. It’s worth remembering that health is holistic. Though we often place most emphasis on the physical dimension of health, the other components of health are intertwined and equally important. Let’s look out for each other! Let’s seek to meaningfully interact with those around us at work, in our neighborhoods, places of worship, schools, colleges, universities, with friends and family, and even with the stranger in passing (even through a smile or kind gesture).

Here are some tips to help us foster the healing power of interaction/connection:

1. Make it a point to look out for those who are new to your job, place of worship, college, neighborhood, etc. Get to know them. Invite them to eat or hang out with you or with you and your group.

2. Pay special attention to those around you who may be experiencing traumatic events in their lives, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, breakup of a romantic or other close relationship, illness, job loss, or relocation as refugees, etc. Make time for such individuals periodically and, if possible, do something kind for them, reminding them they are not alone.

3. Look out for those who may be carrying heavy burdens or responsibilities such as caretakers, parents or guardians of children with special needs, those dealing with family members with addictions or who are incarcerated, those who have mental health issues, who misuse substances like alcohol and drugs, as well as those who are themselves incarcerated. For those who are incarcerated, write them a letter, or mail them a book or money, if these are allowed. Look for ways to help ease the burden, while being careful not to create dependency or to enable certain behaviors.

4. Catch up with old friends. If you live in the same area, plan some time to meet with them in person. If not, pick up the phone, and call them, or do a video chat. Though emails and text messages have their place, in-person, visual, and voice connection are more personable.

5. Listen to others to understand and to connect with them. React with compassion, gentleness, and kindness, even if you have to set boundaries.

6. Connect through random acts of kindness. Greet a stranger, smile or wave in passing, wait and hold the door open for someone not far behind you. Brief, pleasant interactions and exchanges with others can positively impact anyone’s mood.

7. Treat others how you would like to be treated if you were going through the experiences listed above. When others perceive you truly care about them, connection and interaction become meaningful, as opposed to superficial and perfunctory. Let’s seek to reduce our own and others’ experiences of loneliness. My health, your health, and their health might just depend on it!

Susan Gay, M.A.Ed., MCHES® is a program manager at Southern Plains Tribal Health Board in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. By professional training, she is a health educator and a Master Certified Health Education Specialist.

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN HEALTH CARE:

The Power of RELATIONSHIPS

BY SOUTHCENTRAL FOUNDATION

Alaska Native and American Indian people across the country are aware of what can be accomplished through collaboration and community engagement, and there is no field where these values are more important than health care. Southcentral Foundation’s (SCF’s) Nuka System of Care is an Alaska Native-owned and operated health care system providing health care and related services to approximately 65,000

Alaska Native and American Indian people in southcentral Alaska. SCF

was incorporated in 1982 under the tribal authority of Cook Inlet Region, Inc (CIRI). CIRI is one of thirteen Alaska Native Regional Corporations established in 1971 when Congress passed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

SCF is designed and built by and for customer-owners (SCF’s term for patients). Customer-owners form strong relationships with their care providers who they partner with on their journey to wellness. With customer-owners at the forefront of decision-making within the organization, all programs and

service offerings are based on customer-owner needs. Customerowner feedback drives all changes and improvements. SCF works to ensure the values of the community are respected throughout the health care system, and one way it does this is through its Operational Principles.

SCF’s Operational Principles were created using feedback and direction from customer-owners. The thirteen principles define characteristics of the relationship-based Nuka System of Care, providing a framework for process and system redesign.

"Learning circles are not new and have been used by indigenous peoples for centuries."

SCF’s Operational Principles spell RELATIONSHIPS, and are as follows:

• Relationships between the customerowner, family, and provider must be fostered and supported. SCF works at an organizational level to support the building and maintenance of relationships, not only between providers and customer-owners, but throughout the entire organization. SCF offers training to all employees to teach the communication and relationshipbuilding skills needed to effectively support customer-owners in achieving wellness. One example of this is SCF’s Core Concepts training, which is based on the Alaska Native value of sharing and listening to story. This three-day training has been implemented successfully by several organizations, with support from SCF to reflect the values of the communities served.

• Emphasis on wellness of the whole person, family, and community including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. SCF works to maintain a continuum of services that address facets of wellness in partnership with customerowners. For example, SCF has integrated behavioral health consultants into primary care, making behavioral services accessible for customer-owners on the same day requested. SCF has also implemented approaches to trauma-informed care within its primary care clinics, residential and

outpatient behavioral health, and the Family Wellness Warriors program. One program provided through Family Wellness Warriors is Arrigah House, which explores the impact of our stories, including adverse childhood experiences and generational and historical cycles of harm. Participants explore healthier ways of relating in a safe, peer-led space.

• Locations that are convenient for customer-owners and create minimal stops to get all their needs addressed. This principle governs many different aspects of SCF, from facility design to the provision of services in remote and rural areas. SCF’s facilities are designed with the idea that customer-owners should be able to easily access all the services they need without having to visit multiple locations. For customer-owners in rural areas, SCF providers visit regularly, use telemedicine, and maintain community health centers, so customer-owners can access services without having to travel extensively.

• Access is optimized and waiting times are limited. SCF structures its services to minimize wait times for customer-owners. For example, primary care providers do not schedule each day fully, instead leaving some appointment slots open so customer-owners can have same-day access to services if they choose. SCF’s integrated behavioral health consultants

do the same thing, with a majority of their appointment slots being open for immediate access.

• Together with the customer-owner as an active partner. SCF recognizes that, outside of acute or emergency care, individuals control their own health. SCF works to engage customer-owners as much as possible, partnering on the journey to wellness and supporting healthier choices. By understanding their values and health goals, SCF can provide high-quality health care effectively.

• Intentional whole-system design to maximize coordination and minimize duplication. Everything in SCF’s system is designed to facilitate coordination and collaboration, both with customerowners and within the system itself. For example, SCF’s integrated care teams sit together in open workspaces so team members can easily communicate with each other. Pharmacists and behavioral health consultants are co-located so they can collaborate with care teams as needed. Other departments in SCF, such as pediatrics, dental, etc., also provide care through a similar team-based structure. SCF also maintains its Functional Committee Structure, a group of four standing committees made up of employees from across the organization who have the authority to make changes without needing to consult senior leadership.

"There is something very powerful about feeling heard, being known, and also knowing that everyone has a story with light and darkness that has shaped who they are."

Nuka System of Care conference attendee

• Outcome and process measures continually evaluated and improved. SCF continually tracks both measures related to customer-owner health and system performance, to determine service and organizational effectiveness. Aggregate data about customer-owner health, without Protected Health Information, is used by SCF to assess care team performance and determine where improvements need to be made. This data, along with other measures for process and quality improvement, is available on SCF’s Data Mall, an internal system that any

employee can use to support improvement projects. SCF is transparent with data so that different areas of the organization can learn from what is working well.

• Not complicated but simple and easy to use. SCF works to ensure an experience that is customer friendly. SCF provides options to customer-owners so they can access care conveniently; for example, telehealth options for customer-owners. SCF also offers MyHealth, an online system customerowners can use to access information about upcoming appointments, clinical record

summaries, certain lab results (excluding sensitive results that need to be discussed with their provider), and more.

• Services are financially sustainable and viable. SCF focuses on controlling costs as much as possible while providing highquality care for customer-owners. SCF places focus on primary care and partnering with customer-owners to improve their overall wellness so that health problems (that require more costly care such as Emergency Room or Urgent Care) are less likely to develop. In the five years after establishing SCF’s Nuka System of Care, SCF saw a 44% decrease in ER visits. ER visits are currently below the 75th percentile for the Healthcare Effectiveness Data Information Set (HEDIS)’s benchmarks where lower is better.

• Hub of the system is the family. Based on community feedback, SCF places focus on family wellness, making it one of its four corporate goals. To support family wellness, SCF empanels families to the same provider. By fostering relationships with families in health care, providers are able to build lasting relationships with customer-owners and future generations. SCF has many programs and services dedicated to family wellness. SCF operates the New Generations project, which is designed to promote the wellness of customer-owner children, from birth to 8 years old, by engaging the community and creating a coordinated system approach to support overall wellness. SCF also implemented the Aging Well initiative, which aims to promote wellness and optimize care for Elder customerowners.

“I am learning to be a better father and break the cycle of abuse.”

– Father, Family Wellness Warriors training participant

• Interests of customer-owners drive the system to determine what we do and how we do it. At SCF, change and improvement is driven by customerowners. SCF continually collects feedback from customer-owners to determine what they want from their health care system, and how the system can change and adapt to provide improved services. SCF has many ways it collects feedback from customer-owners, including postappointment surveys, a 24-hour hotline, social media, gatherings, advisory committees made up of members of the community, and more. Fifty-five percent of SCF employees are customer-owners. This is strength of SCF as the voice of customer-owner employees is vital to hear when making changes. SCF then incorporates all the feedback into the strategic planning process and various improvement efforts.

• Population-based systems and services. SCF provides many different services to the entire community of customerowners it serves. Services are designed to ensure capacity can meet the needs of the population. These include various vaccinations and cancer screenings. SCF also maintains a Health Education department, which keeps the community updated on seasonal health information and topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and offers a variety of programs related to weight loss, tobacco cessation, diabetes education, and more.

• Services and systems build on the strengths of Alaska Native cultures. Every aspect of SCF’s Nuka System of Care is based on Alaska Native cultures and values. The relationship-based care provided by SCF’s Integrated Care Teams is rooted in Alaska

SCF’s Operational Principles are based on the voice of the Alaska Native and American Indian people served by the health care system. One way that new ideas at SCF are evaluated is by determining whether they are in alignment with the Operational Principles. They are always considered before any improvement ideas are acted upon, and if an idea does not align with

the Operational Principles, changes are not made.

SCF’s system of relationship-based care was designed and built by Alaska Native people but maintaining that system in a changing world is challenging. By using the Operational Principles, SCF ensures all changes made to the system are consistent with its vision and mission, and the values of the community it serves.

Health care providers and administrators are invited to learn more about the Nuka System of Care and Core Concepts at the annual Nuka Conference June 12-16, 2023, in Anchorage. For more information, please visit www.SCFNuka.com.

“This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life both personally and professionally.”

– Health care professional, Family Wellness Warriors training participant

VETERANS Prayer

BY ROBERT BURNETTE

Mighty Creator, our sustainer and comforting Savior, how we thank you for the rich blessings and protection we receive. As warriors, we understand the great battle between good and evil. We understand some people are always aggressive, controlling and desire trouble. They bring suffering upon the earth.

We remember the creation you gave us, the peace through unity and the enjoyment of living in love. Some of us are still hurting and lost from war. Some of us feel damaged physically and mentally through war. Our unified prayer is that our fellow veterans will find peace and healing. We pray for those who feel empty, that they may find fullness. We pray for those who feel lost, that they may find you. We pray for those who feel broken, that they may feel whole again. Have mercy, you who made us, and fill us with your peace.

In Jesus’s name.

Start your free 30-day journey to better health today!

Board-certified specialist in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine, David DeRose, MD, MPH, is a practicing clinician and co-author of the best-selling book, “Thirty Days to Natural Blood Pressure Control.” Now, you can learn—and implement—Dr. DeRose’s best tips for the natural control of diabetes and high blood pressure as part of a free 30-day lifestyle program!

After registering, you will receive (via email) the tools needed for your success. Dr. DeRose's class includes four weekly overview videos and 30 daily free videos (each averaging less than six minutes in length).

DavidDeRose, MD,MPH

We are excited that you are starting this journey to better health.

For healthy heart and body, try these plant-based recipes and share them with family and friends. Use them as side dishes or your entree for a tasty, easy meal.

RECIPE ONE

Colorful Quinoa SALAD

Quinoa lends itself nicely to no-oil dressings because of its moist, glossy finish. When served with golden (white) quinoa, the colorful vegetables make a beautiful presentation for potlucks and group functions. This is also a delicious dish for brown-bagging and daily lunches. No matter how you serve it, this salad is a winner!

PREP INSTRUCTIONS:

Yield: 10 (1 cup) servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Chill Time: 30 minutes

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

1½ cups quinoa

2½ cups water

1–1½ teaspoons salt (to taste)

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ cup green onions, sliced ¼-inch thick

1 2-oz. can black olives, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty Level: Easy

¾ cup red bell pepper, diced ¾ cup yellow bell pepper, diced 1 cup garbanzos, rinsed and drained 1½ cup English cucumber, diced small 6 tablespoons lemon juice (or to taste), freshly squeezed

• Put quinoa in a fine-mesh colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Drain well.

• In a saucepan, combine water and rinsed quinoa; stir in garlic powder. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat. Simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for five minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.

• Prepare vegetables and garbanzos while quinoa is cooking and cooling.

• Sprinkle salt evenly over quinoa; add vegetables, garbanzos, and lemon juice. Stir, folding carefully from all sides to blend salt and lemon completely. Taste and make adjustments as needed.

• Chill for 30 minutes. Stir before serving.

CREATED BY Heather Leno

Excerpted from Simply Healthy: The Art of Eating Well, Diabetes Edition by Chef Edwin Cabrera, Sherri Flynt, MPH, RD, LDN, and Erica Hechler, MS, RD, CDE (Orlando: AdventHealthPress, 2019). Used by permission. Copyright © AdventHealth.

CATEGORY TAGS:

gluten-free

high fiber

high protein

low calorie

low carbohydrate / low sugar

low cholesterol

low fat / low saturated fat

low sodium

vegan

vegetarian

whole grain

cholesterol-free

diabetes-friendly

peanut-free

tree-nut free

whole food plant based

NUTRITIONAL DATA:

calories 75.63

fat 1.99g

saturated fat 0.10g

cholesterol 0mg

sodium 370.49mg

carbohydrates 12.45g

fiber 2.37g

sugars 1.56g

protein 2.78g

TWO

From-Scratch Whole Wheat

BLUEBERRY & YOGURT PANCAKES

Far better than a packaged pancake mix, and easier than going out for breakfast (and better for your health). It’s recipes like this that remind you of the days when most food was made from scratch, and actually had taste and reliably good ingredients. Whole grain flour and yogurt provide fiber, calcium and a good source of probiotics. Give the pancake batter a minute or two to activate in liquid before starting the griddle process; it makes for a lighter pancake with more air bubbles.

PREP INSTRUCTIONS:

Yield:5 (1/2 cup) servings

Serving Size: 2 pancakes

Prep Time: 6 minutes

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

1 whole egg

1 cup 1% milk

½ tablespoon canola oil

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons Greek yogurt

Cooking Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder, low sodium

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 cup fresh blueberries

¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ground nonstick cooking spray

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Measure the ingredients.

• In a small bowl beat the egg with the wet ingredients. Set aside. In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients. Mix wet into dry and fold in the blueberries.

• On a hot, flat surface or a griddle, spray with nonstick cooking spray and pour 1/4 cup of the mixture per portion. As bubbles begin to show, flip the pancake to cook the other side. Remove when pancake is golden.

CATEGORY TAGS:

gluten-free

high fiber

high protein

low calorie

low carbohydrate / low sugar

low cholesterol

low fat / low saturated fat

low sodium

vegan vegetarian

whole grain

cholesterol-free

diabetes-friendly

peanut-free

tree-nut free

whole food plant based

NUTRITIONAL DATA:

calories 164

fat 3g

sat fat 0.74g

cholesterol 3.9mg

sodium 101mg

carbohydrates 27g

fiber 4g

sugars 8g

protein 7g

CALENDAR of Events

May 1-5, 2023

NIHB 2023 National Tribal Health Conference

Anchorage, AK

https://www.nihb.org

June 26-29, 2023

2023 Tribal Self-Governance Conference

Tulsa, OK

https://www.tribalselfgov.org/ event/2023sgconference/

September 10-13, 2023

6th Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition St. Paul, MN

https://nativenutrition.umn.edu

June 5-9, 2023

NCAI 2023 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace

Prior Lake, MN

https://www.ncai.org/ events/2023/06/04/ 2023-mid-year-convention-marketplace

National Indian Health Board

National Congress of American Indians

Advancing Native Students in Aging Research is designed for undergraduate students, especially those from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. This culturally grounded course combines short-term, intensive laboratory and didactic courses and mentored pilot research in fundamental, translational, clinical, and behavioral aspects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and the mechanisms of aging with ongoing mentoring to ensure both the launching and the retention of these promising candidates in research careers.

Additionally, this NIH/NIA sponsored course will educate undergraduate students on both the federal government’s policies and community best practices with respect to aging programs and their implementation. Additionally, the course will cover the implications of mechanistic discoveries on biological aging and on improved strategies for understanding and treating ADRD. Through ongoing interactions, the course helps to expand and sustain their independent research careers on the clinical, translational, behavioral, and fundamental aspects of Alzheimer’s and aging.

Advancing Native American Diversity in Aging Research offers dynamic training courses and career advancement strategies that provide a fresh series of daily lectures by Native professional on emerging concepts, followed by extended discussions, laboratory research, technologically intense workshops, and informal seminars over week-long periods.

ADVANCING NATIVE AMERICAN DIVERSITY IN AGING RESEARCH

Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Dates: August 6-11, 2023

Please download the application at http://pdc.magee.edu or email at frontiers@mwri.magee.edu with any questions.

Any student who is accepted will receive a full scholarship which covers room and board and travel.

The Rich Heritage of American Indian and Inuit Medicine

For centuries, American Indian and Inuit communities have relied on their intimate knowledge of local plants, animals, and minerals to treat various ailments and maintain the well-being of their people. Each tribe developed unique healing practices based on the resources available in their region, leading to a vast array of traditional medicines and techniques. Most commonly used natural remedies include herbs, roots, bark, and animal products such as bones, organs, and fats.

In addition to utilizing plants and animals for healing, American Indian and Inuit healers also acknowledged the medicinal properties of certain minerals, such as clay. Various types of clay were employed for diverse purposes, including wound healing, digestive support, and detoxification.

While many medicinal plants, including sage, echinacea, and black cohash, among others, have been used successful by North American Indians and Inuits for centuries, other herbal remedies are now available. One of the most beneficial is curcumin.

Curcumin, a naturally occurring compound found in the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), is responsible for the plant’s characteristic yellow color. A member of the ginger family, turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to address various health conditions, including inflammation, digestive issues, skin wounds, and infections.

The extensive health benefits of curcumin stem from its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help

• Reduce inflammation and alleviate inflammatory conditions such as arthritis

• Improve cognitive function and protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

• Reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease

• Enhance mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety

• Promote wound healing and skin health

However, curcumin’s therapeutic potential has been limited by its low bioavailability, referring to how much the compound can enter the bloodstream and reach its target site within the body. Consequently, companies have developed a variety of “delivery systems” designed to get more curcumin into the body.

The delivery system seen most often is the use of black pepper extract, also called Piperine®. Black pepper extract, which is very different from the black pepper used as an everyday spice, is added to curcumin for two primary purposes. 1) Piperine is an irritant, and the reason it’s added to curcumin is to create microscope holes in your digestive tract to allow more curcumin to get through. So while you might - technically speaking - get more curcumin into the body by using Piperine, you are giving yourself symptoms of “leaky gut” in the process. 2) Piperine will block two enzymes in your liver. These liver enzymes are designed to block toxins from getting through your liver. The Piperine, however, neutralizes the enzymes’ ability to block toxins, giving toxins a free ride through your liver and into your body.

At CurcuminPro®, rather than using black pepper extract, we use unique patented and patent-pending delivery systems. We wrap the curcumin inside either a protein or a cyclodextrin, which is a low-glycemic sugar molecule. This delivery system has two benefits: 1) When you take our CurcuminPro® products, the body sees “protein” or “sugar” - and our bodies like both - and they get a fast pass through the stomach or duodenum (at the top of the small intestine) into the bloodstream, and completely bypass the entire GI system. 2) wrapping a protein or sugar molecule around the curcumin creates a curcumin that is up to 42X more soluble in water (very important, since our bodies are 60-70% water!) and also makes the curcumin taste neutral (many people find curcumin/ turmeric bitter and unpleasant), but since our curcumin has no bitter flavor, we can create fun products like chocolates, drink mixes, and pet products, and are not limited to only having capsules. You can add our products to shakes, smoothies, ice cream, oatmeal, cereal, cookies….and the list goes on and on! Check out some of our recipes on the following pages.

CurcuminPro® Products

CurcuminPro® Complete BCD capsules:

Sourced from organic ingredients and superior quality natural ingredients, Curcumin Pro®’s line of supplements provides a robust combination of complementary ingredients with powerful antiinflammatory, antioxidant, chelation, and adsorption properties to support your overall health. Complete BCD’s proprietary veganfriendly formula allows CPRO® BioSoluble® Curcumin™ to be rapidly absorbed allowing your body to gain the full benefit of the curcuminoids contained within it.

Complete BCD benefits:

• Derived from the finest Organic Turmeric

• Delivers our highest bioavailable level of BioSoluble® Curcumin™

• Supports total-body health with powerful antioxidants

• Helps promote positive inflammatory responses with each dose

• Increased solubility delivers more Free Curcumin into the bloodstream

• Requires NO toxic Black Pepper extracts or artificial fillers for all-natural absorption

• Helps create and maintain healthy glucose levels

• Supports total-body health with powerful antioxidants

• Helps promote positive inflammatory responses with each dose

• Increased solubility delivers more free curcumin into the bloodstream

• Requires NO toxic Black Pepper extracts or artificial fillers for delivery

• No need to swallow pills! Just mix into your drinks, sprinkle onto yogurt, pudding, or cereal, or bake into your favorite recipes (see following pages)

CurcuminPro® UltaPet™ Hip & Joint Dog Food Topper

UltaPet® Hip & Joint is the ultimate supplement for your dog’s health! CurcuminPro® WPI (Whey Protein Isolate) BioSoluble® Curcumin™ is the centerpiece of a powerful combination of ingredients formulated for every aspect of your dog’s health, from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail. All-natural defatted beef liver is infused with MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), Glucosamine, Chondroitin, CMO (Cetyl Myristoleate), TerraPro® Detox Clay, and Bromelain (Pineapple Enzyme). There is no other product on the market today that offers this level of love for your dog.

UltaPet® Ingredient Benefits:

•Offers the highest level of BioSoluble® Curcumin derived from organic Turmeric

•Promotes flexibility

•Tastes GREAT

•Binds harmful toxins

•Supports total-body health with powerful antioxidants

•Promotes an appropriate inflammatory response

CurcuminPro® WPI (Whey Protein Isolate) Bulk Powder

Sourced from organic and superior quality natural ingredients, CurcuminPro®’s line of supplements provides a robust combination of complimentary ingredients with powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, chelation, and adsorption properties to support your overall health. This proprietary formula allows CPRO® BioSoluble® Curcumin™ to be rapidly absorbed allowing your body to gain the full benefit of the curcuminoids contained within it.

CurcuminPro® Complete WPI contains organic curcumin and the highest quality whey protein isolate produced by USA dairy cows

Complete WPI benefits:

• Derived from the finest Organic Turmeric

• Delivers our highest bioavailable level of BioSoluble® Curcumin™

CurSplash® Brain Boost

Golden Flaxseed is a significant source of the two parent essential fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6), that are required for the maintenance of life. “Essential” means that the human body cannot manufacture or synthesize a nutrient by itself, so it must be obtained from the diet, and the fatty acids found in golden flaxseed support the health of the brain, heart, and blood vessels and can reduce inflammation.

Sunflower Lecithin is a fatty natural emulsifier that is rich in choline, which is necessary for brain and heart health, and other essential fatty acids such as phosphatidylinositol, which is important for our metabolism and the structure of all cells. Sunflower lecithin may support healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

CurSplash® Brain Boost

“Superfood” for your Supercomputer”. Doctor formulated and clinically tested, this formula is not only powerful for feeding the brain, it feeds the entire body! After decades of research and scientific investigation, this World Class combination of 100% natural ingredients is arguably the best brain supplement on the market today. The principal structure and functional nutrients in CurSplash® Brain Boost are a polysaccharide, multi-nutrient complex complemented by CurcuminPro® BCD, TerraPro®, BiAloe®, and Annatto Tocotrienol. Every ingredient has been carefully selected based on its individual scientific value and its collective contribution to the efficacy of the product. The results speak for themselves.

CurSplash® Brain Boost Benefits:

CurcuminPro® BCD quickly delivers maximum Free Curcumin into the bloodstream, providing a positive immune response, antioxidants and heavy metal chelation to the body. PAMPA studies show the proprietary delivery system allows for curcuminoids to transfer through the GI and Blood-brain barriers.

TerraPro® is a patented (60/816,827) form of bentonite that helps promote detoxification of insecticides, herbicides, poisons, and heavy metals, without interfering with the utilization of vitamins and other micronutrients, through its negative electrical charge binding capacity.

Annatto Tocotrienol - delta tocotrienol, the delta fraction of the vitamin E family that has the most significant properties for cardiovascular and circulatory health. It features delta and gamma tocotrienols that have been naturally sourced from annatto.

BiAloe® is a certified organic aloe polysaccharide that is the most concentrated and bioavailable version on the market. These polysaccharides are important for all cellular activities, particularly those that lead to optimal immune function.

Stabilized Rice Bran contains more than 450 phytonutrients, over 200 of which are amino acids, cofactors, minerals, and vitamins, that have documented health properties.

Dioscorea supports the synthesis and balance of hormones and may be beneficial for improving your cholesterol levels. Dioscorea contains a range of nutrients, including fiber, beta carotene, and vitamin C, and it also contains molecules called saponins that may ultimately result in its ability to have a beneficial effect on cholesterol and blood sugar levels, although these findings are preliminary and not well-defined at this time.

Tart Cherry is a nutritional dynamo, containing a wide range of nutrients, such as fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, manganese, copper, and vitamin K (a very important vitamin for the brain), which are all important for our health. Consuming tart cherry has been shown in many studies that it helps with insomnia, reduces pain and soreness, and is beneficial for the brain and the immune system.

N-Acetyl-Cysteine is a slightly different form of the amino acid, cysteine, thus giving it antioxidant properties as it replenishes cellular levels of glutathione, the human body’s master antioxidant. Taking N-acetyl-cysteine is a primary way to enhance your glutathione level, which is important for counteracting oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species and neutralizing toxic heavy metals and inorganic chemicals. N-acetyl-cysteine can counteract liver failure from acetaminophen toxicity, and it helps to fight off cases of flu, colds, and lung disease.

Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) is a vitamin-like phytonutrient that has antioxidant properties, has shown preliminary promise in the way it apparently prevents cancer cell proliferation, and also supports a healthy immune system.

Citric Acid is a key intermediary component of the Kreb’s cycle, which occurs in cellular metabolism for energy production in the mitochondria, the engine of your cells. Citric acid also bonds or chelates to minerals and metals, allowing the body to better absorb such molecules as calcium and potassium. Thus, CurSplash Brain Boost contains a unique blend of ingredients that has many documented benefits to help you live a healthier life.

Note: CurSplash® Brain Boost does NOT contain potentially harmful Black Pepper Extracts.

TerraPro® Detoxifying Calcium Silicate Bentonite Clay

Clay has been used for medicinal purposes in Native American Indian cultures for centuries, both internally and externally. Externally, clay has been used as a poultice or compress to heal wounds and reduce inflammation and swelling. Internally, clay has been used to treat digestive disorders, such as diarrhea, nausea, and stomach ulcers. Different types of clay have been used in Native American Indian medicine, including bentonite clay, kaolin clay, and red clay.

TerraPro® is a unique clay formed approximately 13 million years ago in what is now Mississippi. The deposit was formed in a large freshwater sea with volcanic activity, resulting in a calciumrich composite rather than a sodium composite material. Over millions of years, the clay was rinsed by freshwater, which removed heavy metals and dioxins found in saltwater volcanic ash.

This resulted in clay capable of adsorbing heavy metals and toxins, like mycotoxins and aflatoxins from molds, as well as free radicals, ketones, aldehydes (toxins created by drinking alcohol), and viruses like c-Diff (Clostridium-difficile).

The bound toxins are safely eliminated from the body through the fecal stream, keeping vital organs from contamination. TerraPro® is a key component in multiple products offered by CurcuminPro®, such as UltaPet® Food Topper, which uses the clay to bind aflatoxins commonly found in dog food and the cause of numerous digestive diseases. TerraPro® also offers many benefits in the recently launched CurSplash® Brain Boost formula, providing daily support for a healthy body.

TerraPro® provides a rare source of calcium bentonite clay that helps promote detoxification. Consuming clay internally has a long history of use with outstanding health-promoting effects and has been used by various ancient cultures.

TerraPro® Detoxifying Clay is a rare, freshwater volcanosourced calcium bentonite that has had calcium rich water percolate through the deposit for millions of years. This clay deposit is protected from modern contamination by 60 feet of overburden, until the overburden is removed, revealing this pristine calcium bentonite source. This particularly unique smectite form of bentonite clay exhibits powerful absorptive detoxification properties.

Complete TerraPro® Benefits:

• Rich source of minerals such as calcium and selenium

• Will NOT bind water or fat soluble vitamins or other important nutrients

• Quickly suspends in liquids

• Easy to add to your favorite beverage or food

• Specific and selective ionic binding/adsorption

• Proactively supports total-body health

• Binds mold toxins (mycotoxins), free radicals, organic toxins (PFAS, PFOS, PCBs), benzene, alcohols, ketones and viruses that can harm vital organs

• Helps promote appropriate inflammatory responses with each dose

CurcuminPro® Detox

CurcuminPro® Detox is a POWERHOUSE combination of our original patented and proprietary CPRO® WPI (Whey Protein Isolate) and TerraPro® in the world’s first BioSoluble® Curcumin™ Detox Supplement. CurcuminPro®’s patented BioSoluble® formulation accelerates the delivery of essential curcuminoids into the bloodstream at clinical dosing levels of 95% natural curcumin, providing maximum performance in easy-to-swallow capsules. TerraPro® clay is a World Class, rare, naturally occurring Hydrated Calcium Silicate Clay containing highly adsorptive and detoxifying properties. TerraPro® is a patented, GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) clay listed by the USFDA. TerraPro® is 100% organic and GMO FREE and safe for use as a food additive. Each serving (2 capsules) of CurcuminPro® Detox contains 800mg of CurcuminPro® BioSoluble® Curcumin™ and 200mg of TerraPro®.

Detox benefits:

• Derived from the finest Organic Turmeric and a unique calcium silicate clay mine

• Rich source of minerals such as calcium and selenium

• Specific ionic binding/adsorption

• Delivers our highest bioavailable level of BioSoluble® Curcumin™

• Binds heavy metals

• Supports total-body health with powerful antioxidants

• Binds mold toxins (mycotoxins), free radicals, organic toxins (PFAS, PFOS, PCBs), benzene, alcohols, ketones and viruses all of which can harm vital organs

• Helps promote appropriate inflammatory responses with each dose

• Increased solubility delivers more free curcumin into the bloodstream

• Requires NO toxic Black Pepper extracts or artificial fillers for all-natural delivery

• Will NOT bind nutrients in the GI tract

TerraPro® Clay and Alcohol Metabolism in American Indian and Inuit Populations

American Indian and Inuit populations can exhibit a genetic mutation that lacks a key enzyme to properly metabolize alcohol. The result is that an aldehyde (toxin) generated by alcohol goes directly to the gut and is then transported to the liver without the benefit of enzymatic digestion. This activity results in toxic exposure to the liver and pancreas that, over time, can lead to bowel, liver, and pancreas diseases.

TerraPro® Clay has been scientifically proven to adsorb these aldehydes and safely remove them from the body before contact with the liver. CurcuminPro® believes in responsible drinking and being educated on the effects of alcohol and how to support a healthy lifestyle if you choose to enjoy adult beverages such as beer, wine, or alcohol.

TerraPro® clay is your “AB Screen” – your Adult Beverage Screen! Always take TerraPro® Clay before you drink alcohol to give your body the support it needs to process the alcohol, and the protection your liver needs to not be negatively impacted by the alcohol. Please drink responsibly.

TerraPro® Clay is available as a bulk powder that you can stir into a beverage or sprinkle onto food, and in a capsule with CurcuminPro® WPI (Whey Protein Isolate) in our Detox capsules.

Health Information for Indian Country

Native Ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church exists to share the mercy and love of our Creator throughout Indian Country by offering resources to better the mental, physical, and spiritual well being of "every nation, tribe, language, and people." Revelation 14:6

National Indian Health Board

Website: www.nihb.org

American Indian and Alaska Native Living Radio

Website: www.aianl.org/radio

Southern Plains Tribal Health Board

Website: www.spthb.org

National Congress of American Indians

Website: www.ncai.org

American Indian and Alaska Native Living magazine

Website: www.aianl.org

www.nativeministries.org