It has been said that March can come in like a lion and go out like a lamb — or vice versa. What this really means is that March is a transition month and the weather can be unpredictable.
So, it is probably appropriate that this month we are focusing on a part of the body that can be, on occasion, unpredictable — the digestive tract. Who of us has not had an upset stomach, gas pains, or felt your intestines roiling around, creating an anxious feeling that is not exactly an ache or a pain, but a deep discomfort? You might say that this part of your body can be “stormy.”
There is evidence to suggest that cancer of the colon is on the rise, especially among younger people. The American Cancer Society is now recommending that people start screening for colorectal cancer at age 45. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that the incidence of ulcerative colitis is also increasing.
We hope that the short essay “Gravy in our attitudes: Paying attention to the colon,” will start you on the path of thinking about and caring for your colon, and that you will find the tips for “protecting your colon” helpful.
Speaking of unpredictable, we are highlighting life insurance in this issue, and ask you to think carefully as you read the article, “Preparing for the unthinkable.”
We hope our humor section gives you a chuckle, and we’ve also included a couple of brainteaser puzzles to challenge you. May this unpredictable month of March bring you through to the warmth and new life of spring.
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Preparing for the unthinkable
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Why you should consider life insurance
It’s always the right time to think about life insurance. If you are among the 41 percent of Americans who do not have life insurance, you should learn why it's important to think about purchasing a policy. If you do already have coverage, you might want to review it, and consider whether you have enough.
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Paying attention to the colon
Think of eating and digesting as a series of dramatic actions, a storm of activity, going on inside your gastrointestinal tract. Food is positioned by the tongue so it can be chewed into something that will fit into the esophagus. Muscles in that 10-inch tube contract in a symmetrical downward action, called peristalsis, to propel the food into the stomach.
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Some things you can do to keep your colon healthy
Limit red meat, stay away from processed meats
According to the American Cancer Society, the risk of colon cancer rises 15 to 20 percent if you eat 100 grams (3.5 oz.) of red meat or 50 grams of processed meat (like hot dogs or sausage) each day. Two 4-ounce servings per week of red meat are okay, as well as an occasional “treat” of sausage or a hot dog.
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Semicolon
I recently had part of my colon removed. Now I have a semicolon.
Position
What do computer programmers and elderly-care nurses have in common?
They both worry about the position of colons.
Riddles
1. The number of frogs in a pond doubles every day. If the pond reaches maximum frog capacity on the 16th day, on what day is the pond 25% full of frogs?
2. You are standing outside a room, which has three light switches next to its closed door. The switches control three lights inside the room, and you need to know which switch controls which light before you go in. But once you open the door, you can’t try the switches again. So how can you figure out which switch is connected to each of the lights?
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For your long-term care needs
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Brethren Insurance Services offers Long-Term Care Insurance all through the year.
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If you're interested in purchasing coverage, you should know that eligibility for benefits is determined by the inability to meet at least two of these six activities of daily living
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bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, continence, or transferring. Cognitive impairment can also trigger benefits.
It's difficult to think about the fact that a debilitating condition or a disabling injury might leave you unable to care for yourself, or that when you reach your twilight years, the time will come when you will need some extra care. Long-term care insurance makes sure that you will get the care you need. It helps assure that the cost of your custodial care will not eat up your savings. Finally, and this is one of the best things about LTCI, it can help protect your children and other relatives from having to use their resources to care for you.
Brethren Insurance Services offers Long-Term Care Insurance for all members and employees of the Church of the Brethren and their family and friends; and also for employees of Church of the Brethren-affiliated agencies, organizations, colleges, and retirement communities and their families and friends.
If you are interested in obtaining this coverage, contact Brethren Insurance Services at
insurance@cobbt.org
or 800-746-1505 for a free, no-obligation proposal.
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Church of the Brethren Insurance Services provides the following products - dental, vision, basic life and accidental death & dismemberment, supplemental life and AD&D, dependent life and AD&D, long-term disability, short-term disability, voluntary accident insurance, and Medicare supplement for eligible Church of the Brethren employees.
Dental, vision, and Medicare supplement coverage may also be available for eligible retired Church of the Brethren employees.
For eligibility information, call Connie Sandman at 800-746-1505, ext. 3366, or contact your human resources representative.
Medical and ancillary plans (named above) may be available to Brethren-affiliated employer groups.
Long-Term Care Insurance is available for all members of the Church of the Brethren, their family and friends, and employees of Church of the Brethren-affiliated agencies, organizations, colleges, and retirement communities.
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A not-for-profit ministry of
Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust Inc.
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Contact Us
1505 Dundee Ave
Elgin, IL 60120
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