Orice Walters, Golden K program chairwoman, right, with speaker, Janet Noakes, nutritional educator.

By JOAN JOUPPI

For The Daily News

KINGSFORD — A pleasant January Monday morning found the Golden K members gathering together at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford, ready to begin their week. Bill Roberts rang the bell signaling Alyce Derwinski on piano and Don Pedo at her side to begin the meeting.

Happy birthday wishes to LaVerne Calcari and congratulations to Walter Jensen, who had the winning ticket from the 50-50 drawing. Janet Noakes of Felch was a welcomed guest and the speaker.

Orice Walters, program chairwoman, introduced Noakes, who has a bachelor of science degree with honors in holistic nutrition. She studied in natural health and wellness, herbs and herbal remedies. She is the author of a book, “How to Survive and Thrive When the Power is Out.” She gathered her knowledge from years working in the geriatric health care system and interviewing many “grandmothers.” Their stories, recipes and know-how are documented in her book coming from a time before electricity was widely used.

Today, she and her husband have a herbal garden in Felch Township and bring their years of experience, along with their home-grown goods to the local Farmers Market during the summer months. Noakes noted a quote from Dr. Pickering, “Age is not a matter of years; it is a matter of condition.” She also used a quote from an ancient Chinese proverb, “The man is not sick because he has an illness; he has an illness because he is sick” leading the group into her program on nutrition.

As research continues to discover more about the human body, the public is becoming more aware of the environment, pollution, food toxins, vaccinations, dental fillings and many others factors that are passed on to the children. Children are less healthy today than back in the ’50s. The environment is about 70% of the problem, while genetics are about 30%.

How and why we age is highly influenced by our lifestyle habits. One of the most aggressive sources of disease and aging is stagnation — stagnation of movement and toxins in the body. Ingesting metals such as mercury, takes up to 30 years to completely leave the body.

Smoking, drinking, junk food, work stress, and family stress all contribute to the aging process and if you are told it is just part of growing old, that is a red flag. Listen to your body, watch what you are putting in there.

Read labels. It takes extra time, but your health depends on it. Avoid artificial sugars in food, fructose syrup, corn syrup and processed foods Check the list of ingredients. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are words that should raise an eyebrow. Question how nutritionally valuable is this product.

Also look for “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, ingredients. Fructose syrups, aspartame, cellulose powder, used as a thickening agent in foods, such as cheese, ice cream, salad, dressings, etc.

Noaks had a handout listing the things to beware of further emphasizing the importance of reading labels, know what you are buying and feeding your family. Using your best judgement on what you purchase.

Dehydration is a big factor in good health maintenance. Seventy-five percent of adults are dehydrated and do not know it. At 2% dehydration one feels thirsty, at 5% a person becomes hot, tired, strength and endurance is decreased, at 10%, delirium and blurred vision becomes a problem and at 20% a person dies.

Tap water has chemicals and sometimes fluoride pulsing through it. Seek pure water. Artesian well water is best; they contain minerals but are as pure as we can get in this world today.

Simple nutritional and lifestyle changes can dramatically alter your outcome and it is worth you time and effort to make changes.

The Golden K will meet Monday with the Kingsford Chorale on the program. The Golden Throats are not scheduled to sing until Feb. 5 at Victorian Pines.

Chairman Bill Roberts reminded the members to check their calendars for the special needs children’s Valentine’s party Feb. 10. Members are asked to begin set-up early as the party begins at 10 a.m.