PROTECTING YOUR VISION

* Lifestyle changes are sometimes needed to protect your eyesight. First of all, eat right. A healthful diet in green leafy vegetables, fish, fruit, and other foods high in antioxidants helps against age-related eye diseases.

* Watch your weight. Obesity has been linked to the progression of eye disease and cataracts, diabetes and glaucoma.

* Exercise. Regular physical activity lowers the eye pressure linked to glaucoma and reduces the diabetic retinopathy's progression.

* Control blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol level.

* Shield your eyes. Wearing sun glasses and a hat with a wide brim protects you from ultra violet rays and delays cataracts.

* Smoking is associated with all four eye disorders and drinking should be limited because it is known to increase the risk of cataracts. Cataracts are cloudy areas in an eye's lens formed by the clumping of heavy proteins as we age. "A comprehensive eye examination can be taken and a tiny probe be inserted that enables the physician to have the patient's cataract removed," says R. Linsy, a professor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Harlem but if you can read and watch TV you do not have to have a cataract removed. It is an individual decision.

THE KINDNESS DEED

I saw you smile and felt your care,
Your sweet and sincere deed,
You planted deep within two hearts,
Some lovely kindness seeds,
Then angel bells rang from Heaven,
Though silent felt so good,
Heaven's angels sent them back to you,
That said, "I knew you would."

Each kindness seed grows flowers too,
And daily joy bells ring,
Both hearts will feel this sincere joy,
The happiness it brings.

You gave a hug of sympathy,
When someone tripped and fell,
You helped them to rise up again,
Again we felt Heaven's bells.
Each seed will grow more lovely flowers,
In the Garden of both hearts,
Lighting up those sincere smiles,
As they blend their joyful parts.

You've helped others rise again,
Again we feel Heaven's bells.
Flashing lovely flowers around,
Throughout Earth's hills and dells,
Lighting up both Heaven and Earth,
Together tunes all hearts.
Each seed will grow still more flowers,
And we all can play a part.

THE DENTAL MSSIONARY

This week on October 7th my sister Helen Krueger, who spent 52 years in Ivory Coast, Africa as a dental missionary celebrated her ninety second birthday. The event was celebrated with friends and family where she now lives in Kamloops, British Columbia. For more information on Helen's life, roll back to my post dated May 14, 2013. One of the most interesting things about Helen is that she never asked for financial help from friends and family or anyone else. One of her main supporters was the Keyes family (they helped her with board and room through high school.) Our small school near Orion, Alberta, a one room country school taught only through grade 8, and Helen and myself were helped through high school in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I also did housework and child sitting for another family for board and room in order to attend city school. Both families were nice to be with.

Helen went to Toronto to take a course in dentistry after realizing that most people in that African area had no access to dental work because they did not have money for the 65 mile bus ride to get to the nearest dentist and no money to pay for dental services. An Alberta dentist bought a new set of dental tools for Helen and she traveled back to Ivory Coast and when home there she walked to the villages or pedaled a bicycle or rode the French official's horse some days. The last few years she was given a car on loan that may still be in use in Ivory Coast. She reminded me that the $30.00 a month I sent was used for gasoline, for in those days everything was all paid for with cash.

Our nieces, the Harper girls are in Salmon Arm and Helen and I had helped to save them paying the interest needed for borrowing the money. I was unable to get to Kamloops for her birthday celebration because of a previous medical appointment made sometime before but family and friends were there and Chinese food was brought to the care home where she now lives. By the way, the medical doctor that day gave me a clean bill of health. She agrees with Dr. Weill that the vitamin D3 should be taken every day. There is too much sugar and salt in modern processed foods.

FIGHT FAT BEFORE 40

In our blog advice of September 3 we were tapping into the power of foods to arrive at the proper weight for maximum health. According to the words of Andrew Weil, MD, the founder and director of the Arizona Centre of Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, "It is nearly impossible to get enough vitamin D from food alone. Most people should be taking vitamin D3 every day so get your vitamin D level checked, and then start taking 2000 international units of vitamin D3 every day."

Dairy products are a well recognized source but avoided if you have lactose intolerance. and milk sugar could create a deficiency. Eat a mix of the following foods: canned salmon with bones, 12 ounces, sardines 8 ounces, tofu, 6 ounces, calcium fortified milk substitute, 3 to 5 cups Dark greens and broccoli are also good substitutes. If you opt for a calcium substitute, a reasonable amount would be 500 mg per day in divided doses of calcium citrate.

The type of soil and organic fertilizer used in it will add to the nourishment of the foods we eat.

THE FALL SEASON HAS ARRIVED

Today our news programs are reminding us that it is time for snow tires to be placed on all cars in B.C. or else place chains in our trunks when using B.C. highways. Many businesses had to make changes or delays in their plans for this weekend when a sudden thunderstorm moved in early Saturday morning at 1:30 AM and some stores closed for part of the day. That gave us all some extra time for reflection. A Bible verse to be renewed this and every season can be found in the book of Psalms 133, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity. It is as the dew from heaven," spoken of in King Solomon's song. If we prefer New Testament words we can go to Romans 13:8, "Owe no man anything but to love one another. For love is the fulfillment of the law." The weather created extra excitement very early Saturday morning at 1:30 AM. I was sitting typing at the keyboard when I noticed it seemed kind of stuffy and went to open the window. Just at that moment a rattle of hail pounded the window and the double sliding exit doors. My plan had included going to M.C. College for getting a hair trim. Many businesses were closed that day. My phone rang at 9 AM. "This is Stephanie calling" a pleasant but unfamiliar voice said. "We would like to change your hair appointment to next Tuesday. Stephanie is one of the students attending at the M.C. College. It was the same name as my lovely grand daughter in law. There is a dramatic change in weather but still no overnight frost in Vernon.