Wa-Rite: slow down biological aging with healthy diet

Wa-Rite is a femaleonly club that meets on Friday mornings from 9-10 in Clubhouse 3, Room 1. Weigh-ins are from 8-8:45. Dues are $10 a year, plus 10 cents upon signing in. LW ID cards must be shown. Women who want support on their weight-loss journey and to meet like-minded people are welcome to stop by no later than 8:45 to weigh-in and complete the registration paperwork.

At the May 23 meeting, members learned that the club lost a total of 23 pounds for the week. The biggest loser was Henrietta Peavy with 2.5-pound loss. She ate vegetable soup daily before 5 p.m., making it her last meal of the day.

Joyce Brannon gave a presentation on type 2 diabetes. She said that being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, and physical inactivity are common risk factors. Over time, if left unattended, it may lead to heart disease, kidney failure and even nerve damage. Brannon said that symptoms can be subtle and may include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed through the A1C blood test, which provides an average measure of blood sugar levels over the preceding 2-3 months. Brannon added that regular exercise, stress management through yoga and meditating, and healthy diet may help to lower blood sugar levels. The weekly food for thought came from the Institute of Health: “Eating (a lot of) sugar can cause your body to age at seven times its natural rate.”

—Jan Friedland

Joyce Brannon