Active Lifestyles 08/19/21 Telegraph/Intelligencer

Striving for an overreaching greener lifestyle, earth

Active Lifestyles Staff

What’s inside

ACTIVE LIFESTYLES PUBLISHER Denise VonderHaar dvonderhaar@hearstnp.com (618) 656-4700

3 Cover story: Striving for a greener lifestyle

ACTIVE LIFESTYLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF jill.moon@hearst.com (618) 208-6448

6 For Your Health: Make a relaxed health goal

7 Wrestling with 5 Dear Dietitian: your emotions Calcium for bone about cancer density diagnosis

ACTIVE LIFESTYLES ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Carole Fredeking carole.fredeking@hearst.com (618) 463-2500 ACTIVE LIFESTYLES COORDINATOR Regina Harbison rharbison@thetelegraph.com (618) 208-6433

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ON THE COVER: Minerva Stalker, 79, who everyone knows as Minnie, of Godfrey, is a retired teacher who worked at St. Ambrose School and retired in 2010. She and spearheaded a recycling program there in the early ’90s and started the Environmental Action Club at the school.

Striving for an overreaching greener lifestyle, earth ‘Some teachers called me ‘Mother Earth’

By Jill Moon

jill.moon@hearst.com

prompts us to buy, buy, buy, and get the latest fashion. So many of the clothes we buy are thrown away and not even re-used.

“A lot go to third-world countries and so many are made with oil-based fibers. The growing of cotton is very pesticide intensive. Farmers in India grow a lot of cotton we use, and are in the cycle of buying GMO seed from Monsanto and working with Roundup in their fields. I have gotten some organic cotton shirts and they are just great.”

“So it’s good to buy used clothing when you can,” she said. “There’s a lot of nice resale stores that have popped up.”

Stalker also uses rags for all of her cleaning and has composted for more than 30 years.

“Before this year, because of COVID, it might take me a year to go through paper towels,” she said. “I make a rag out of something when something wears out.“ Stalker’s interest in wellness also led her to become a massage therapist after she retired.

She went to massage school at Lewis and Clark Community College, where she also took a class in essential oils.

When she was still working at St. Ambrose, a parent organization during teacher appreciation week gave 15-minute chair massages.

“That was very refreshing,” she said. “It struck an interest in me but I didn’t decide to do it until retirement. I’d wanted to take some more art classes but I played tennis on the day those were offered. There were two spots left in ‘Intro to Massage,’ so thought I’d just take that.

“I liked that intro, and they’re great teachers at Lewis and Clark, I give them high kudos.”

Stalker also has great genes.

Her mother lived to nearly 100 years old.

Active Lifestyles August 2021 3

GODFREY — Before “going green” was trendy, Minerva Stalker, who everyone knows as Minnie, helped start a movement in Madison County.

“I’ve always been interested in the environment,” said Stalker, 79, who was a teacher at St. Ambrose School and spearheaded a recycling program there in the early ’90s. She retired from St. Ambrose in 2010. She also started the Environmental Action Club at the school.

“Some of the other teachers called me ‘Mother Earth,’” she recalled.

An educator who worked for Madison County used to visit schools and taught environmental practices.

“That’s how I kept in the loop,” Stalker said. “At one time, Madison County was far and above (in recycling) in the state, before others did it. That’s when we started the ‘bag-and-drag’ program. I recall that Pride Inc. started a center for aluminum, paper and other materials.”

In 1994, Stalker became involved with the home marketing-based products Melaleuca.

The 30-plus-year-old business, Melaleuca, strictly relies on word-of-mouth referrals to market its products. When a customer shops online at Melaleuca, a percentage of their purchase is paid as a commission to whoever referred them.

“Melaleuca is mostly tree tea oil. The oil comes from Australia,” Stalker said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is an essential oil

that comes from steaming the leaves of the Australian tea tree.

When used topically, tea tree oil is believed to be antibacterial.

Tea tree oil is commonly used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, lice, nail fungus and insect bites, according to www.mayoclinic. org.

“It has good qualities to it, and that’s why this company has been around for so long and been successful,” Stalker said.

“Melaleuca manufactures and sells almost 500 products from toothpaste and lotion to vitamins and sports nutrition items,” she said. “That’s what really caught my attention, just how many products Melaleuca offers. And these are products people use every day, like dish soap and laundry detergent.

All those things can be found online.”

Stalker also became a member of Green America.

“I’ve always been interested in responsible companies for investments,” Stalker said.

“Green America puts out a magazine and has a lot of information online. It gives me a lot of information about what’s happening in the world, as far as getting our earth back to being greener, social investment and ‘greenwashing,’ which is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are more environmentally sound and they’re not.”

Social investment is an investment that is considered socially responsible due to the nature of the business the company conducts.

“The magazine gives a lot

of information on companies’ practices, such as Chipotle using non-GMO products,” Stalker said, “and whether companies use child labor and pesticides that they use that children might be exposed to. Green America is how I keep abreast in all that.”

She enjoys the benefits of her Green America membership first of all because of the environmental education it offers, secondly because it offers recipes for homemade products such as laundry detergent, which Stalker makes herself, and these homemade products are usually a lot cheaper than commercial products, and third because it keeps her informed of legislation, such as lawsuits, like against Monsanto and its Roundup product.

Stalker also recommends to those who are interested in product ingredients that there is an 800 number on labels where consumers can call for a material safety data sheet, or MSDS, of all the ingredients in consumer products.

“One thing to look for, which I’m concerned about now, is many chemicals might not kill you, but have hormone disruptors, and those can lead to birth defects and such,” she said. “So many women suffer from hormonal imbalance to begin with.

There’s a thing called poisonous personal care.”

She also recommends the “National Green Pages,” a directory of companies striving to be safe and green, at www. greenpages.info. The businesses featured in Green Pages have earned Green America’s Green Business Certification. More information about Green America can be found at www.greenamerica.org.

“I strive for an overreaching greener lifestyle,” Stalker said.

“Among the worst industries is the fashion industry, which

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Dear Dietitian

Breathe Easie

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Calcium needed for bone density

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Dear Dietitian, upper limit for calcium intake is I am 60 years old and I’ve always 2,000 mg for men age 51 or over; been health conscious. I eat right for women the same age, the upper and exercise three times a week. limit is 2,500 mg.

Recently, I’ve read that too much Vitamin D also is essential for calcium may increase your risk of a calcium absorption. This vitamin heart attack. Is this true? Also, how can be obtained from sunlight, formuch is too much? tified milk, and fatty fish like mackMedResources the ofpremier MedResources is the premier is provider home oxygen Mary erel and tuna. It also is added to Dear Mary, soy milk, juice and fortified cereals. and sleep therapy equipment including CPAPs and and BiPAPs. provider of home oxygen How many times did It is always best to have therapyProgram equipment you hear “Drink your milk” your calcium needs met by Oursleep Clinical Respiratory includes: including when you were a child? Milk diet. One simple reason for and BiPAP’s. ● State-of-the-Art Sleep Center with CPAP’s is a good source of calcium, this is you are less likely to on-site for fittings, assessments with which is needed for healthy ingest excess amounts of the and education for all oxygen and bones. Our bodies will build mineral this way. Most of us Our Clinical Respiratory Program includes: CPAP/BiPAP patients. bone until about age 18. don’t drink a gallon of milk After that point, we must a day or eat 10 cups of kale. ●State-of-the-Art Sleep Center State-of-the-Art Center ●●Top ofState-of-the-Art the line equipmentSleep with an Center consume adequate amounts McCrate Another option is a 50-50 on-site assessments forfittings, fittings, assessmentsand excellent selection offittings, accessories of calcium in our diet or use plan. Get half your calcium on-site forfor assessments with and supplies. supplements to maintain needs in your diet and take education for allforoxygen and and andeducation education oxygen and for allalloxygen and healthy bones. a supplement that contains 500 mg CPAP/BIPAP patients CPAP/BiPAP patients. ● Enhanced outcomes through a There is controversy among of calcium.

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www.medresources.com Active Lifestyles August 2021 5

gen to survive, resulting in a myocardial infarction, or heart attack.

For adults, the recommended daily allowance of calcium is 1,000 mg up to age 50. That amount increases to 1,200 mg a day for women over 50 and men over than 70. Why the age difference? When women go through menopause, the amount of estrogen in the body significantly decreases. Estrogen is needed to hinder bone breakdown.

While testosterone in men serves the same function, there is no sharp decrease in this hormone as there is estrogen in women.

How much is too much? The

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Make a health goal as relaxed as summer: one small change

By Dr. Graham A. Colditz

6 August 2021

Active Lifestyles

Siteman Cancer Center Special to Active Lifestyles

In our social media-driven world, it’s the big stories and the spectacular images that can often grab the most attention. And it’s not just in topics like news, politics or sports, but also in areas that are more personal, like health and wellness. Spend just a few minutes scrolling through our phones, and we may see popular posts about 1,000-mile bike rides, jaw-dropping yoga poses and eight-course vegan gourmet meals.

While such stories can certainly be inspiring, they also need to be kept in perspective. Because, really, when it comes to our health, it’s not big changes and one-time efforts that are often most important, it’s the day-to-day, steady steps we take over time.

And that’s great news for those of us who juggle work, school, kids, pets and any number of other commitments. There’s real power and real health benefits in making small, achievable changes to our behaviors. Such changes are easier to get started and easier to keep up than large, daunting challenges.

And that also makes them more likely to become ingrained, healthy habits that we can then further build upon in the future.

So, as we settle into

these long, and hopefully enjoyable, mid-summer days, it can be a naturally good time to pick one relaxed health goal to work on through the rest of the season. And it can be anything, really. Just try to be specific about what you want to accomplish, and make it something you feel you can keep up over time.

“One of the most common pitfalls in setting goals is making them too broad or Colditz unrealistic,” says Liz Salerno, a biobehavioral scientist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “I don’t pressure myself to go from being inactive to running a marathon in two months!”

While keeping your goal focused, you can also be as creative as you want.

There are many different paths to improving health and well-being. Start by thinking about something general you may want to work on — like your food choices, how active you are or how you deal with stress – then pick one small goal that can help you get there. And don’t be afraid to keep it fun. It’s

summertime after all, and we’re coming out of a long and stressful pandemic.

Some ideas to get started: • Tend a plot in a public garden two days a week • Roller skate or ride bikes with friends once a week • Take a dance class two days a week • Take a meditation or stretching class two days a week • Volunteer to help maintain local parks and paths once a week • Drink one fewer sugary drink each week • Eat an extra piece of in-season fruit two days a week • Grill veggie or meat-alternative burgers rather than hamburgers at summer barbeques • Make appointments for you, or your kids, to get caught up on doctor visits and vaccinations (not fun, but very important) Try to keep your goal up through summer. If you get off course, don’t worry. Just try to get back on track, and if you need to, modify your goal. Likewise, if you need to add

a little extra to a goal to keep up your motivation, that’s great, too.

Adjusting along the way can be key to being successful with a new behavior, says Salerno.

“Our progress towards a goal is almost never linear, so we have to be patient with ourselves as we work toward it.”

The relaxed energy of summertime offers a great opportunity to make some low-stress strides toward improving our health. And even though they may not trend on social media, they can still have important benefits.

“Oftentimes the small baby steps we make don’t feel groundbreaking,” says Salerno. “But they are.”

It’s your health. Take control.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention. As an epidemiologist and public health expert, he has a long-standing interest in the preventable causes of chronic disease. Colditz has a medical degree from The University of Queensland and a master’s and doctoral degrees in public health from Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

For Active Lifestyles

Wrestling with your emotions A cancer diagnosis creates a variety of feelings OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center Special to Active Lifestyles

Active Lifestyles August 2021 7

ALTON — When it comes to cancer, most people think about physical pain that is often associated with a diagnosis. But the emotional toll that comes with this serious disease can many times be just as devastating.

Those feelings can range from fear to denial, anger, sadness and more.

And the wave of emotions tends to change hourly, daily and even minute to minute. A cancer diagnosis now becomes all-consuming for both the patient and perhaps loved ones as well.

“With the initial cancer diagnosis immediately comes shock,” says Jill Deno, oncology nurse navigator, OSF HealthCare. “Patients grieve the loss of the normal, of your expected, your routine and almost immediately after a cancer diagnosis all of your normal is replaced with labs, scans, biopsy appointments, and your life suddenly revolves around cancer.”

One of the biggest hurdles for

anyone diagnosed with cancer to deal with is feeling overwhelmed by the news. It’s not abnormal to worry about your future, the disruption cancer will cause in your life, the feelings of helplessness, financial concerns as well as the impact that your health issues will have on those close to you.

“I think as cancer patients we find it really difficult to talk about our feelings and emotions with our families,” says Deno. “We find that we want to be strong to protect them and be brave to protect them. Our families want to do anything and everything they can to protect us and, unfortunately, they can’t fix cancer or take cancer away.”

Deno, who is also a cancer survivor, encourages patients to find ways to cope with their emotions. For example, build a support group of people you feel comfortable talking to; find ways to relax such as meditation, guided imagery and exercise; and choose when and how you want to talk about your cancer.

“The new normal is going to be

different,” says Deno. “It might be better than your previous normal, but it’s okay to grieve those losses and then moving on to finding hope and encouragement from your family, your community, your caregivers, and finally, just victory or settling into, “this is how I will live the rest of my life with this diagnosis. There’s a lot of emotions that you experience when going through a cancer diagnosis, treatment and even into survivorship.”

If you find that you’re still struggling emotionally with your diagnosis, it might be time to seek help.

Start by speaking to your doctor or someone you can confide in.

“We don’t want to just treat your cancer, we want to treat all of you,” says Deno. “If you feel it’s too hard and getting too heavy to carry, ask your treatment team for support.

There might be support groups, medications, different tricks and tips, and even just talking with someone on your support team might be enough.

But no one needs to carry that burden alone, and if it’s too heavy to carry, than it’s time to get help.”

CANCER.

What will happen to my children?

Will I see my daughter get married?

How can I improve my chances?

We’re here to navigate you through the uncertainty that comes with cancer, providing treatment in a safe environment designed to reduce stress. You’ll have an experienced team, including a nurse navigator, focused on your physical, mental and spiritual needs throughout your individual journey.

We’re ready to fight with you. Because for all of us – it’s personal.

Hear Brandie’s story and connect with a nurse navigator at osfhealthcare.org/personal BRANDIE, OSF HEALTHCARE CANCER PATIENT