Messages from Mandi Volume 3, Issue 3 Winter 2006

My Christmas Wish for You The Gift of Food It has been said that “nothin’ says My Christmas wish for you, my friend lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven.” Is not a simple one Holidays are a time for family, friends, For I wish you hope and joy and peace and food. Many of our fondest Days filled with warmth and sun memories are of the holiday season and the time spent with family and friends. I wish you love and friendship too When families and friends are together, Throughout the coming year usually food is part of the festivities. Lost of laughter and happiness Any food that we prepare thoughtfully To fill your world with cheer and creatively for someone else – or for ourselves – is a gift. A big part of that May you count your blessings, one by gift is the comfort that that food gives. one What food has given consolation in And when totaled by the lot times of trouble, worry or illness? What May you find all you’ve been given food has brought strength and hope, a To be more than what you sought feeling of well-being, of love? What was the recipe? Who prepared it? Just May your journeys be short, your thinking about those foods – and those burdens light cooks or bakers – can bring that feeling May your spirit never grow old back all over again. May all your clouds have silver linings This is the time of year when we And your rainbows pots of gold remember the recipes and traditions that are part of our ethnic and religious and I wish this all and so much more family heritage. Celebrate with friends May all your dreams come true and family the gifts this season brings. May you have a Merry Christmas friend Sources: 24 Food Programs by Lynne Martin Erickson And a happy New Year, too… Author unknown New Year’s Tradition In the United States, many people see out the old year and ring in the new year with parties, football, and watching the January is National ball drop at Times Square in New York City. New Year’s Day can also be a Cervical Cancer time to relax and enjoy the start of a Awareness Month promising new year. For many Americans, black-eyed peas For 2006, in the United States, it was are traditionally eaten on New Year’s predicted that 10,370 new cases of Day. They are believed to ensure health, invasive cervical cancer would be wealth, and peace for the coming year. diagnosed. 3,710 of these women were Blackeyes rank among the highest of predicted to die from this disease. the edible legumes in protein and other Cervical cancer is a serious threat. nutrients essential for energy and good Cervical cancer tends to occur in health. Black-eyed peas are delicious midlife. Half of the women who are fresh or dry. diagnosed with cervical cancer are Nutritional Facts: between the ages of 35 and 55. It rarely Serving Size: 1/2 c., frozen, boiled occurs in women younger than 20 years Calories: 112 old. Although cervical cancer does not Protein: 7.2 g. usually affect young women, many older Carbohydrates: 20.2 g. women do not realize that they still are Dietary Fiber: 5.4 at risk of developing cervical cancer as Cholesterol: 0 they grow older. Slightly over 20 percent of women with cervical cancer Black-Eyed Peas and Ham Hocks are diagnosed when they are over 65 2 lbs. dried black-eyed peas years old. 2 small to medium ham hocks Early detection via health screenings, 6 cups water such as pap tests, are an important step 1 large onion, coarsely chopped in decreasing the risk of dying from ½ tsp. crushed red pepper cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is ¼ tsp. sugar found and treated early, it often can be Salt, to taste 100 percent cured. Since 1995, the Pick over the peas and rinse well, then number of deaths from cervical cancer soak in cold water overnight. Place ham has declined significantly. The main hocks in large kettle with water, bring to reason for this decrease is the use of pap boil, and cook for 1 ½ hours. Drain peas tests to find cervical cancer early. and add to the ham hocks. Two examinations can help you Add onion, red pepper, sugar, and salt. discover cancer early: a pap test and Add more water if needed to cover peas. pelvic examination. A pap test or pap Cover tightly and simmer slowly 2 hours smear is a procedure used to collect cells or until peas are tender. Serve with hot from the cervix. After the cells are cooked rice and cornbread. Serves 8. collected, a health care professional will Sources: look at those cells under a microscope. http://www.edenfoods.com/issues_goodfood_newyears.html The pap test has been the most http://southernfood.about.com/od/blackeyedpeas/r/b181231b. htm successful screening test ever in Simply Good Food, Texas Cooperative Extension preventing cancer. Food Values of Portions Commonly Used by Jean A. T. Pennington Many people confuse pelvic exams and pap tests. During a pelvic exam, a health care provider looks at and feels When found early, cervical cancer can your reproductive organs, including the often be 100 percent cured. If the cancer uterus and the ovaries. A pelvic exam is a little more advanced but hasn’t will not find cervical cancer at an early spread to the lymph nodes or elsewhere, stage and cannot find abnormal cells of the survival rate is still 92 percent. the cervix. That is why the pap test is Being tested for this disease is very conducted just before the pelvic exam. important because you have a great Pelvic exams may help find other types chance of surviving the disease if caught of cancers and reproductive problems, early. Do this for yourself and for your but only pap tests can give information family and friends. Taking charge of on early cervical cancer or precancers. your health now can lead to a healthier The American Cancer Society tomorrow. recommends that all women should Sources: begin cervical cancer testing about 3 Courtney J. Schoessow, Extension Program Specialist – Health, Texas Cooperative Extension years after they begin having vaginal Texas Cooperative Extension Family and intercourse, but no later than 21 years Consumer Sciences website: http://fcs.tamu.edu old. After that, a woman should have a pap test and pelvic exam every year. Women who are 30 years old or older Soy – Good for Your and have had three normal pap test results in a row may get tested every 2 to Bones 3 years. However, if you have certain It is well known that milk is good for risk factors such as HIV or a weakened bone health, but did you know that soy is immune system because of an organ also good for your bones? “Soy milk is transplant, chemotherapy, or chronic often fortified with calcium and is an steroid use, you should continue to be alternative to cow’s milk for people who tested yearly. If you are over 70 years are lactose intolerant or choose to be old and have had three or more normal vegetarian” says Dr. Sharon F. Robinson pap tests in a row and no abnormal pap of Texas Cooperative Extension. Look results in the last 10 years, you may for other soy foods like soy yogurt, soy choose to stop having cervical cancer cheese, and soy frozen desert when testing. Women with a history of shopping. To determine if the soy food cervical cancer, HIV, or a weakened you are purchasing is fortified with immune system should continue to have calcium check the Nutrition Facts label. testing as long as they are in good Soy is also good for the bones because health. soybeans naturally contain calcium. A If you‘ve had a total hysterectomy one cup serving of cooked soybeans, (removal of the uterus and cervix), you also called edamame, has about 260 mg may also choose to stop having cervical of calcium. Soybeans are a healthful cancer testing unless the surgery was vegetable or snack option and can be done as a treatment for cervical cancer found in the produce section or frozen or precancer. Women who have had a food section of many grocery stores. hysterectomy without removal of the Information, including recipes, from the cervix should continue testing for United Soybean Board is available at cervical cancer or precancer, following http://www.soybean.org/. the previously mentioned guidelines. Research is underway to determine if a component of soy, called isoflavones, is protective of bone health. “Until more Calendar research is forthcoming, it’s best to January: New Year’s Day 1 follow the new food guide, called Nutrition Programming 9 MyPyramid, when selecting foods,” says Senior Center Robinson. Soy foods can be found in Alzheimer’s Disease 9 the milk, vegetable and meat & beans Support Group MyPyramid food groups. Information Bailey County TEEA 16 about the new food guide is available at Diabetes Support Group 16 http://mypyramid.gov/. Bailey County Junior 18-20 ______Livestock Show Messages from Mandi is a publication of the Bailey County February: Nutrition Programming 6 Extension Service Senior Center Alzheimer’s Disease 13 Support Group

Bailey County Extension Agent – Family and Consumer Bailey County TEEA 20 Sciences Diabetes Support Group 20 The information given herein is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension is implied.

Bailey County Extension 306 West Second Muleshoe, TX 79347