Addiction Recovery Training Launched in New Zealand

Source: The Health Connection Newsletter | 4th Quarter 2021 New Zealand Pacific Union| South Pacific Division On November 6-14, New Zealand Pacific Union (NZPUM) hosted the Adventist Recovery Ministries Journey to Wholeness training. According to Ann Johansen, addiction counselor in New Zealand, addictions have been an ongoing issue in New Zealand as it is around

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Reaffirming Adventist Church Response to COVID-19

This document has been produced by the General Conference Administration, Biblical Research Institute, General Conference Health Ministries, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department, General Conference Office of General Counsel, and Loma Linda University Health. It builds on the immunization statement voted in April 2015 and affirms both this latter statement, and the information on the

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Vaccination: Biblical-Theological Reflection

Jiří Moskala, ThD, PhD Dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University Professor of Old Testament Exegesis and Theology The word vaccination does not occur in the Bible as is the case with many other important health terms like vitamins, transfusion, high blood pressure, kidney transplant, injection, pills, carbohydrates, biopsy, body temperature, blood clots,

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Equipping Leaders in Palliative Care

From May 21-23, ESD Health Ministries and Angelia Clinic (Ukraine) sponsored a virtual conference themed “Outpatient Palliative Care: More days to live, more life to days!” In many countries, relatives and even health practitioners are unable to provide the comfort and competent care needed by seriously ill loved ones in their last moments.

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COVID-19 & Future Pandemics Symposium

Source: The Health Connection Newsletter | 4th Quarter 2020 Chiapas, Mexico | Inter-America Division (IAD) How do we prepare ourselves for a future pandemic? This was one of many questions discussed at a virtual symposium in September 2021. The discussion was virtual but the concerns are real. The event was organized by the of the

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Agents of Healing: Light in a Dark World

Source: The Health Connection Newsletter | 1st Quarter 2020 We all have witnessed the rapid contagion of the novel coronavirus around the world, causing the World Health Organization (WHO) to call it a pandemic on March 11. Amidst the almost unreal impact on the lives of most people around the world, health professionals have received

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XDR Tuberculosis

Q: Is the XDR form of tuberculosis as dangerous as the media made it out to be in the recent episode of the man who traveled by air after being told not to? Or is this much ado about nothing? A: We believe you are referring to the Andrew Speaker case, which has global ramifications. Andrew

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Vitamin E

Q: Is supplemental vitamin E helpful in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease (especially strokes and heart attacks)? A: There has been an ongoing debate about this issue for a number of years now, with conflicting advice being offered to date. However, a recent study was done using a computerized search of seven large trials

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Review of the China Study

In 1905 Ellen White described the diet our Creator chose for us as a balanced plant-based diet including foods such as grains, fruit and vegetables, and nuts (1). Such a diet provides physical and mental vigor and endurance. She also recognized that such a diet may need to be adjusted according to the season, the

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Pernicious Anemia 2

Q: What is the treatment for this kind of anemia? A: Pernicious anemia results from the inability of the body to absorb vitamin B12 taken in food or any oral form. It is therefore necessary to give vitamin B12 injections on a regular basis for life. These injections are given into the muscle. If the anemia

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FactSheet: Detox Diets

Introduction: Detox diets, cleansing diets, and other procedures that claim to remove toxins from the body have become popular in recent decades. Celebrity doctors, media personalities, and next-door neighbors promote the idea that specialized combinations of juices, herbs, and supplements can help people lose weight and treat a wide range of conditions without the use

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FactSheet: Vegetarian Diets

For over 150 years Adventists have advocated a vegetarian diet for good health. The original diet given to us by the Creator was a vegetarian diet consisting of various plant foods. Scientific evidence accumulated over the past half century has shown conclusively that a well-balanced vegetarian diet is not only nutritionally adequate but also conveys

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FactSheet: Paleo Diets / Low Carb High Fat Diets

The Paleo Diet (PD) is a trendy weight loss diet that’s popular in magazines, diet books, websites and cookbooks.  It is also known as the Stone Age, Paleolithic or hunter-gatherer diet.  The PD is essentially a low carbohydrate, high fat diet, similar to the low carb Atkins Diet of a few years ago. The PD

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Fact Sheet: Vitamin B12 for the Vegetarian

Why is vitamin B12 important? Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, required for DNA synthesis (and ultimately cell division), maturation of red blood cells, and the synthesis of myelin sheaths around nerves in the body. Sources of vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is of special interest to vegetarians, particularly total vegetarians, since it is found only

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Fact Sheet: Safety of Soy–Myths and Facts

Summary Despite the fear mongering about soy via the internet, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that soy foods can be part of a healthy balanced diet.  Soy foods have anti-inflammatory properties and they lower LDL cholesterol levels, blood pressure levels in hypertensives, and also reduce the risk of some cancers.  They improve kidney function and

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Best Fats or Oils

Q: What fats or oils are the best for me to use? I am trying to improve my family’s diet by methodically implementing changes in what I buy. A: You are the kind of mom who is so wise by making incremental changes that your family will hardly notice, yet will do them so much good.

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Alzheimer’s Disease

Q: I am concerned that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is increasing. I have also heard that the popular cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may decrease the chances of getting Alzheimer’s. I find that I sometimes struggle to remember words or names; should I be worried, and should I ask my physician

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Adults and Youth Come Together for Youth Alive Training and Conference

On August 26-31 the Southern Africa Indian Ocean Division held a Youth Alive Training and Conference in Maun, Botswana. Union leaders for youth, health, and family Ministries from various Countries joined youth leaders for the facilitator’s training. Once equipped, facilitators led out in the Youth Alive Conference small groups that followed. GC and Division Health,

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World No Tobacco Day (May 31)

Source: The Health Connection Newsletter | 1st Quarter 2019 Every year on 31 May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), highlighting the health and other risks associated with tobacco use, and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2019  is “tobacco and lung health.”

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Building Resilience In Youth

Source: The Health Connection Newsletter | 2nd Quarter 2019 According to the United Nations (UN) there are 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world. They estimate this is the largest youth population that ever existed. Sadly, many of these young people live in risky environments and are often

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