Foods with sugar in them.

Those of you who have been avid readers of my weekly column may have remarked that I have not posted any articles for a few weeks. On the other hand, you probably haven’t even noticed, having been focused on other more interesting things.  My lapse was caused by internet difficulties followed by extreme lethargy, but as these are not good enough reasons for deviation, I apologize.

This week, I shall be discussing the downsides of a diet high in sugar intake, together with ways and means of watching our sugar intake. This article does not purport to address control of blood sugar by those who are diabetic- for information on that, please contact your health care professional.

Sugar contains empty calories-low in nutritional value- that will make us fat. Obesity increases the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. There is also some recent research suggesting that excessive consumption of added sugar may directly increase the chance of type 2 diabetes, regardless of weight. Sugar also leads to dental cavities.

No more than ten percent of our diet should come from added sugars. Most processed food contains added sugar, and we should, therefore, read labels carefully before we make our purchases. Brown and white sugar, corn syrup, corn sweetener, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, honey, maple syrup, malt syrup, maltose, and molasses all count as added sugars, although the glyclemic index of honey and maple syrup is lower than sugar (they don’t raise your blood sugar as much) and they are more nutritious (honey is said to have medicinal qualities and contains manganese, iron and riboflavin; maple syrup is rich in zinc, manganese, manganese, calcium, iron, and potassium).

A big source of sugar in our diet is sodas, which we should avoid as much as possible. We should choose fresh fruit rather than fruit-flavored drinks or even fruit juice which has a high concentration of natural sugar. If you or your children drink fruit juice at all, make sure it is 100%. Don’t allow sweetened drinks to replace water and milk, especially for children, who need the calcium for their developing bones. Children are as susceptible as adults to the diseases mentioned above, especially because of their tendency to like sweet things like candy, sodas, punches and sugar-laden cereals specially formulated for and targeted at children.  We as parents have a duty to be firm with our children and discourage them from eating and drinking sugary food and drink, since God has given us the wisdom to distinguish good from bad.

We should also avoid simple or refined carbohydrates like white flour and white rice, which are high in sugar, and choose whole grains as much as possible. Millet, amaranth and quinoa are examples of whole grains, but unless the label reads “whole” in front of wheat, corn, barley, or rice, these grains have been refined. Please read my column posted on January 10, 2010, for more information on reading labels and the dangers of refined carbohydrates.

Sugar substitutes are not necessarily the answer either. There is evidence to show that they don’t help us lose weight and may, in fact, contribute to weight gain. This may be because artificial sweeteners can be many times as sweet as natural sugar and consuming them may upset our ability to judge natural sweetness.

Foods with sugar

Chemical sweeteners may also be unsafe. For example, saccharine was eventually declared dangerous, years after it was said to be safe. Even though current studies have not linked chemical sweeteners conclusively to health problems, it’s probably best to avoid them. More natural alternatives to sugar are Stevia which is a herbal sweetener, made from the leaves of a South American plant, and agave nectar or syrup, produced in Mexico from the agave plant. I personally don’t care for Stevia because it has a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste.

Talking about sugar, my daughters and I worked on an edible art project last weekend, for a contest at the girls’ school on Monday, March 1. You were allowed to make anything as long as it was edible!  My older daughter, who is in third grade, and I put in a parent/child entry (you could also do a child entry either on your own or with other girls).  The contest was for 2nd to 5th graders but my six-year old helped us a lot! The cupcakes that you see in the pictures represent different countries around the world, and the idea behind our project was to show a world of peace, hence the depiction of the peace sign.  I hope that you recognize the American, Nigerian and other flags!

I am glad to report that the project won first prize. We serve a wonderful God! This might seem like a triviality- we are talking about an elementary school art project after all- but to me this is a testimony of God’s care for us. The preliminary idea for the peace theme came to me in a dream or vision.  I saw the big peace sign and almost immediately after conceived of the peace in the world idea. My daughter and I then had to work to flesh out the idea and figure out how to implement it- it took us several days of brainstorming and research, but I was insistent that we not deviate from the vision and that this idea would win the top prize!  I was convinced that the idea came from God and He worked it out in the end so that the vision was preserved in the execution. The final piece of information to help us to complete the project in accordance with God’s vision came from a friend, Tanya.  I had telephoned her to ask for ideas on implementation because I know next to nothing about baking. Without my having told her about the original vision, she gave a suggestion that provided finishing touches to seal the vision! It shows how much God is interested in even the little details of our lives.  He has us inscribed in the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

The downside of the contest for me was that after the entries had been judged and the winners announced, we were allowed to eat up all the entries.  I most definitely did not follow my own advice about avoiding sugar. I gorged myself! What a lot of fun, though! I have since renewed my vow to watch the things that I consume, as befitting God’s temple.

The testimony that I narrated above reminds me of the time our youngest child was invited to a birthday party.  We got a present for the girl but our daughter wanted to add to the gift a small white teddy bear of hers with a red bow around its neck.  Initially I tried to discourage her, saying that we already had an adequate gift and asking if she would not miss the bear, which was a favorite.  She insisted she wanted to give the bear to her friend.  Anyway, when I came to pick her up at the party, she showed me a prize that she had been given for winning one of the party games.  It was a large white teddy bear, with a red bow around its neck, the exact replica, in a bigger size, of the bear that she had given away! Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor!  Our child demonstrated the principle of giving, even though I had tried to dissuade her, and showed how God blesses us bountifully in return. We should take to heart Jesus’ warning in Matthew 18:2-6 (NIV) that “unless [we] change and become like little children, [we] will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

As we continue our Christian walk, may the Prince of Peace teach us how to be generous, live in unity with one another, and give us the courage to carry out our goals and do His perfect will.

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I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

In this column, we have been discussing healthy nutrition and how we should care for our bodies, since the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Last week, we talked about how we should avoid eating processed foods.  This week, we will discuss our fat intake.  When we hear the word “fat”, we immediately think of “bad for us” In fact, not all fat is detrimental to our health, and there are “good fats” as well as “bad fats”. Even though good fat has various health benefits, those of us trying to lose weight should watch the quantities that we consume because any kind of fat is high in calories and can compromise our effort to lose weight. However, including some healthy fat in your diet will help your food taste better, which will encourage you to stick to your weight loss plan, help you absorb certain nutrients from vegetables, and can improve your overall health.

Good fats: Not All Fat Is Bad.

The following food sources of fat are healthy for our bodies:

• Olive Oil: This nutrient-filled oil lowers bad cholesterol and blood pressure, and is good for your heart. Canola and sunflower oil are also good for you.
• Avocados:  This fruit is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that keep eyes healthy; it contains nutrients like folate, vitamins C and E, which prevent cancer, and monounsaturated fatty acids, which lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad) cholesterol and can also help you lose belly fat, a risk factor for heart disease and some fertility problems. Avocado also contains high levels of potassium, protein, and vitamins B6, E, and K, and fiber.  Limit yourself to eating one-quarter to one-half an avocado a day because it is high in calories.
• Oily fish: Oily fish, like wild Alaskan salmon, tuna and mackerel, contains omega 3 fatty acids which are good for your heart, helps maintain a healthy pregnancy, reduces inflammation, improves your brain health, ameliorates your mood and protects against depression. It may also protect against cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  Fish like salmon also contains lean protein and Vitamin D, which boosts immunity and memory. The American Heart Association recommends that we eat at least two servings of fatty fish a week. Canned wild Alaskan salmon is almost as good as fresh. However, you should avoid eating fish that is high in mercury, especially if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.  Tuna steaks, king mackerel and swordfish are among those with the highest amounts of mercury.  Wild salmon is one of the safest choices.  For more information on safe fish, go to ewg.org/safefishlist.
• Nuts: Almonds contain bone-building calcium and stress-relieving magnesium, which may also help relieve bloating and breast tenderness; walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and may reduce cholesterol, help brain function, aid better sleep, alleviate stress, fight cancer and prevent heart disease; pistachios contain heart healthy potassium.
• Low fat /fat-free milk and yogurt: They both contain calcium and protein. Greek yogurt is especially rich in calcium and good for our bones and the fat-free version has twice as much protein as regular yogurt. Fat-free Greek yogurt is also high in probiotics, cultures that help ease irritable bowel syndrome, and may boost immunity.  You should have at least three servings of dairy a day, and Greek yogurt is a good choice.

Bad fats: Be Vigilant, Avoid These!

The following fats clog your arteries, increase your blood cholesterol (adding to the LDL cholesterol produced naturally by your body), lower your good cholesterol, and can lead to heart disease and stroke:

• Saturated fat, present in animal products like poultry, red meat, animal fats, butter, cream, cheeses, and other dairy products made from whole and 2% milk,. Foods from plants that contain saturated fat include coconut, coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter.
• Dietary cholesterol contained in foods from animals (see examples under saturated fat above.)
• Trans fatty acids which are found naturally in various animal products and may be worse than saturated fat.
• Other trans fatty acids which are caused by the hydrogenation process. Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fat, found in baked goods with long shelf life, margarine, shortening, and most processed food, are fats that are solid or semi-solid at room temperature, created when hydrogen is added to unsaturated fat like corn oil. These kinds of trans fats are even more harmful than those that occur naturally.

Here are some practical tips to help you avoid and/or replace bad fat with good fat:

• Use olive or canola oil to cook, and cut down on the quantity of oil used.
• Select butter over most margarines. Butter, even with its saturated fat content, is healthier than most margarines as they typically contain trans fatty acids, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fat. However, some soft margarines or spreads (Smart Balance is an example) pass the “bad fat” test and should be used in lieu of butter (read the label carefully before purchase).
• Avoid frying meat, poultry, fish, plantain, potatoes, and yam.  Try grilling or baking instead, using an olive or canola oil cooking spray.
• Remove skin and trim fat from poultry and red meat before cooking; skim fat from stock or use a fat separator to remove fat before using the stock to cook.
• Choose fish and lean poultry; cut down on red meat. Sirloin, tenderloin and grass-fed beef are, however, relatively low in fat.
• When buying ground meat, lean ground beef contains much less fat than regular ground turkey or chicken, which includes fat and skin. “Extra-lean” turkey is your safest bet, but if you can’t find it, buy at least 92% lean ground beef.
• Buy processed foods made with non-hydrogenated oil rather than partially hydrogenated, hydrogenated or saturated fat.
• Avoid French fries and other commercially fried foods, and baked goods like doughnuts, cookies, cakes, crackers, muffins and pies which are typically high in trans fat.

It is crucial that we follow the above health tips, and ensure that our spouses and children do so, too. I hope you will join me again next week to as we continue examining ways that we can improve the bodies that God has blessed us with.

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I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

 ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

We continue this week discussing healthy nutrition and how we ought to take care of our bodies, being temples of the Holy Spirit.

We should avoid eating processed foods. What exactly is a processed food?  A broad definition, found in Wikipedia, defines it as the transformation of raw ingredients into food or food into other forms for consumption. For example, removal of an unwanted outer layer, like the peel of an apple or a potato, or the slicing of a potato, would amount to processing by that definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processed_food.) A narrower, and more practical, definition for our purposes would be that “processed food” is that which contains ingredients that are not natural, which has been chemically altered through additives like flavors, flavor enhancers, binders, colors, fillers, preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, etc., or which has been manufactured (http://health.amuchbetterway.com/how-do-you-define-processed-food/). The consumption of food containing these kinds of additives may have adverse health effects.  At the same time, processing, although it has its benefits, frequently decreases the nutritional value of food. Fresh food usually contains a higher proportion of valuable naturally occurring (and not synthetic) vitamins, enzymes, minerals and fiber.  Heat, for instance, destroys Vitamin C, and canned vegetables would, therefore, have a lower proportion of natural Vitamin C. 

Whole grains, for example, are better for us than refined grains like white flour and white rice. They contain fiber to regulate our systems and B-Vitamins to boost our brain and provide energy.

If you are trying to lose weight, whole grains are especially beneficial as they keep your blood sugar more stable than refined grains and enhance fat burning.  They are also digested more slowly than refined grains, and keep you full longer.

There are nice tasting whole grain alternatives to your food favorites, like pasta, bread, rice, and even waffles and pancakes.  Instead of eating white rice, try brown rice, which comes in long grain, short grain, jasmine and basmati.  Giving up white rice, for me, is akin to pulling out all my teeth. Those who know my eating habits and preferences well know that I can eat white rice three times a day. Variety for me amounts to eating jollof rice instead of white. However, I have no real excuse because whole grain versions of rice are actually quite tasty. Instead of giving up white rice, or white bread, all at once, you could try gradually supplementing your diet with the more healthy kind.  Speaking of jollof rice, brown rice holds its own very well in the dish and gives it a lovely texture.   If you are feeling particularly adventurous, experiment with other grains like bulgur wheat and quinoa.  

We should avoid other processed foods and drinks like junk, fast and sodium-high foods like donuts, cakes, pastries, cookies, potato chips, fries, pizza, sodas and canned food. Eat healthy snacks like fresh fruits, carrot and celery sticks (without the accompanying and customary dips), whole grain pretzels, whole grain popcorn, nuts (in small quantities because they are high in calories), dried fruits like raisins (within moderation because they are high in sugar) and Greek yogurt (which you should sweeten with fruit, avoiding added sugar).

I will provide one word of caution: watch the labeling on the processed products that you do buy.  You should buy products with ingredients that state whole wheat or whole grain (compare enriched wheat which is actually refined flour). If you are concerned about price, Asian Stores and wholesalers like Sam’s Club sell whole grain rice at fairly reasonable prices. In addition, avoid ingredients like hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fat, trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives.

Transforming the way we eat is a gradual process, but taking those little steps will be of long term benefit to our health.

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 I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Happy New Year!  I pray that 2010 will overflow for you with God’s divine favor, love, peace, joy, prosperity and excellent health. Last week, I talked briefly about God’s mandate, in the Bible verses quoted above, to take care of our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit, and about my personal commitment to make healthy living a priority for 2010.

I am glad to report that I have already taken small steps to further my pledge. Between Tuesday and yesterday, I have done three walking/running sessions, each of the last two covering six miles, as part of training for half-marathon (13.1 mile) races (for more information, visit www.charmcityrun.com). I began exploring the idea of training for a half-marathon eighteen months ago, but it was not until last week, Tuesday, that I finally undertook the first outing. During my first session, I would have thrown in the towel but for God’s grace! I arrived a few minutes late at the Goucher College race track in Towson where I had planned to meet up with the rest of the training group and our coach. I encountered a woman who told me that our team mates had already headed out. We set off together, jogging at a low pace, to look for the other trainees.  However, I appeared to have chosen one of the coldest and most bracing nights so far of this winter for my first half-marathon training attempt!  After a few minutes, my companion said to me, “You may run ahead if you’d like.”  I replied truthfully, “I can’t.” At that point, I was breathless and frozen solid, I needed to go to the bathroom, and I was beginning to re-examine my decision to participate. After approximately ten minutes, she began to take the lead- what she had really meant earlier was, lady, I really don’t want to proceed at your snail-like pace, and since I have graciously offered that you don’t have to slow down on my account, likewise, you won’t mind if I take off and leave you behind.  In any case, after several more minutes, she was far ahead of me, and because it was immediately apparent that I would never catch up with her and I had no idea where she was going, I decided that I would reduce my speed, walk as far as the entrance to the campus, which was a good distance away, and then walk back to get my car. 

As I heaved, huffed and puffed on my way back to the car, I came across several groups of runners all racing in the opposite direction, some of whom said “hi” and waved at me in an annoyingly cheery and unflappable manner. Each time I saw a group approaching, I would start to run and put on a cheery and unflappable face; as soon as they went past, I stopped running.  However, when I got to the car, I discovered that I couldn’t bring myself to leave, as that seemed to amount to an unacceptable admission of defeat. I set out again along the route that I had just completed; to abbreviate this tedious tale, I eventually did locate my trainer and team mates and I made the decision that I would stay the course.     

 Making Good Food Choices

I gave my word that, this week, I would start sharing some tips on how to make better food choices. We have documented examples in the Bible about individuals making food choices that were beneficial for them. In Daniel 1:8-15, we read that Daniel requested vegetables and water for himself and his companions instead of the rich food and drink consumed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, which resulted in healthier appearance and better nourishment for them.

Certain foods we will find are key in fighting disease. We should make it a priority to consume nutrient packed fruits and vegetables. Anti-oxidants like flavonoids and vitamins A, C and E, keep brain cells in prime condition, neutralize free radicals that damage them, and improve memory. Blueberries and spinach are examples of powerful anti-oxidants. The B vitamin folate (found in kale and spinach)) also improves brain function and helps prevent birth defects. Lycopene, another anti-oxidant, may reduce the risk of some cancers.  Lycopene is found in tomatoes, especially when cooked or processed, and better absorbed when eaten with healthy fats (I will provide information about healthy fats in a future column.) Beta carotene, found in tomatoes, apricots, mangoes and carrots, may help fight heart disease and protect eyesight. Isothiocyanates, contained in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, fight breast cancer.

Generally speaking, the darker the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients it contains.  For example, a cup of spinach has about three times as much folate, and nearly eight times as much beta carotene as a cup of ice berg lettuce. However, iceberg has more potassium than arugula lettuce, and romaine has even more, so you should mix dark and light green leaves for maximum protection from disease.

Now that you are totally confused, you only need remember one rule of thumb, which is that colorful fruits and vegetables contain a range of anti-oxidants and nutrients. For maximum effect, on a daily basis, eat a variety of fruits like blueberries, plums, grapes, pineapple, guava, apples, kiwi, and oranges, and vegetables like spinach, broccoli, eggplant, squash, red cabbage, bell peppers, and carrots.

It is worth mentioning that anti-oxidants are also contained in dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, reducing inflammation which may lead to heart attacks. Enjoy one to two ounces a day (look for chocolate containing 70% cocoa). Green tea is rich in flavonoids which improve mental performance and may help with weight loss. Coffee also contains anti-oxidants, but be careful about your caffeine intake and choose decaffeinated as far as possible.

Next week, I will continue my discussion of nutritionally beneficial foods. I will leave you for now with the following exhortation from the Apostle Paul:

Hebrews 12:1 

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

As you set off to achieve your targets for 2010, whether those goals pertain to improving your Christian journey, ameliorating your eating habits, exercising or losing weight, I pray that God will give you the endurance to persevere in spite of any obstacles, the determination to succeed, and the stamina to keep going even when you are weary.

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Eat and drink in a manner beneficial to your body

I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV) tells us:

 ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Our Pastor George Akhigbe recently taught us the difference between the “reality” of certain symptoms of ill health that we perceive, and the truth, which is that as children of God, we can lay claim to perfect health by virtue of the fact that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, died for our sins, and that by His stripes, we are healed.  (I Peter 2:24.) If we exercise the power that we possess as children of God to decree healing in our bodies, we will be healed.   My brothers and sisters in the Lord, I put it to you that we can ensure that “reality” lines up with the truth by obeying God’s mandate, which is that we take care of our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit. We pray for healing and flock to healing and deliverance services, when the truth is that we have the power of healing in our hands, not just by decreeing in prayer that our bodies are healed, but, in certain situations, by taking the necessary actions to aid healing, and even to prevent ill health in the first place.

We need to grow spiritually and strengthen our inner minds. In addition, when we are weary and weak, God will rejuvenate us and we will soar like eagles (Is. 40:29-31). However, we have to play a role in taking care of ourselves physically. It is our sacred duty as Christians, in whom the Holy Spirit resides, to pay attention to our bodies, which is God’s temple. This is the mandate that God gives us; we do not have a choice in the matter if we wish to be obedient children of God. As we go about our work building the Kingdom of God, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves so that we will have the strength and health to be effective in doing God’s work. 

If we ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, He will grant such to us (2 Chronicles 1:8-12). We have to use the wisdom He gives us accordingly to do the following things:

• Eat and drink in a manner beneficial to our God-given bodies and make healthy nutritional choices in food preparation and consumption
•  Get adequate rest
  • Exercise
  • Minimize stress; and
  • Lose weight, if necessary, and maintain a healthy weight.

At the end of October, I presented a seminar paper in Chicago on Taking Care of the Temple of God: Making Wise Nutritional Choices.  I am ashamed to say that in recent months, I have barely practiced what I preach.  I have found, like the Apostle Paul, that “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Romans 7: 18, NIV).  I can relate to what Paul says in Romans 7:23 (Amplified Bible):

²³But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh].

I am almost certain that some of the poor health symptoms that I currently perceive in myself, like painful knee joints, would go away if I consistently followed God’s directions for healthy living. However, with 2010 fast approaching, I have determined to make a permanent commitment to healthy living. I hope that you will make a similar determination to make changes in your life where necessary.  Join me every week as I offer guidance on how we should take care of ourselves, and also share with you my struggles and triumphs in taking care of the precious temple of God. Next Sunday, I will discuss how to make wise nutritional choices.

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Dr. Maureen Muoneke, doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was a speaker at the Daughters of Zion annual conference – “Oil in My Lamp”. During her brief talk she focused on issues related to women’s health.

She began by telling women (and everyone in general) the importance of identifying stressors in their daily life, “Good sleep, good nutrition, and exercise are important for women to incorporate into their daily lives.”

Understanding Family History

It is important to know your family history.  Many people from third world countries typically tend not to have a full picture of their family medical history. In women’s cases this could be family history of breast cancer and other cancers and diseases that plague women.

“If you don’t know your family history of diseases, then it is imperative to take advantage of the preventative procedures available for women”. These include regular doctor and gynecologist check-ups, breast self-exam, Pap smear, etc. It is important to become knowledgeable about health conditions so that we don’t become victims of myths that especially plague the African cultures.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

DOZ members consulting Dr. Muoneke

Prevention is better than cure, and second opinions are always encouraged, especially when in doubt.

Uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers are key diseases that can be prevented by a 5-minute visit to the doctor. Cervical cancer is one of the more dangerous because it is asymptomatic (meaning a patient carries a disease or infection but experiences no symptoms).

Fibroids in the uterus are very common in women between the ages of 25 and 45. If untreated, fibroids can cause so much bleeding leading to organ damage. It can also impinge (or invade) upon the bladder or bowel.

A number of the women present had a lot of questions to ask. One of them was related to the Gardasil vaccine for teenage daughters. Dr. Muoneke stated that giving this vaccine to teenage daughters can greatly reduce the likelihood of contracting cervical cancer at a later age.

She also talked briefly about menopause, and the impacts it has on older women. It generally causes a lifestyle change, and she discussed how women can prepare for it, and get through it.

Dr. Muoneke and Pastor Funmi Akhigbe

___________________

Original notes compiled by Bade Adedayo

Maureen N. Muoneke, MBA, M.D., FACOG is a doctor of Obstetrics & Gynecology who practices in Ellicott City Maryland. Her practice, Women’s Care, LLC is located at 9055 Chevrolet Drive, Suite 102 Ellicott City, MD 21042.

Disclaimer: Everything discussed on here is for informational purposes. It is recommended that each person consults with their doctor or primary care physician to learn more about issues discussed here or before taking medical decisions.

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