Wow - 2018 is here! Can you believe the holidays are over and we are already beginning a new year? The Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation is moving full steam ahead into 2018, and I am excited about the upcoming events and opportunities for raising colon cancer awareness that are just around the corner! Our largest annual fundraiser, the Chattanooga Rump Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Walk, is scheduled for Saturday, March 10th, and our planning committee is busy making sure this will be the best event yet! The annual Southeast Moparty event, benefitting GCCCF, is also in the planning stages, and is scheduled for Mother's Day weekend in May. Read on for more details on these events and volunteer opportunities, and enjoy the other tips and information within our newsletter this quarter! I would like to conclude by saying we could not do what we do without you; so, as always, thank you for your support and help as we work together to spread the message that Colon Cancer is PREVENTABLE, TREATABLE and BEATABLE!
With warm wishes for a happy and healthy new year,
Kayse Rigsby
Executive Director
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GCCCF was busy in 2017! Here is a breakdown...
Healthfairs - 7
Fundraisers - 2
Volunteers - 45
Billboards - 11
Funds Raised - $32,643
Donations Received - $5,558
People Reached - PRICELESS!!
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As members of Congress continue to work on healthcare policy, it is critical that they hear from the people those policies would impact. As representatives of the colorectal cancer community, it is important that we educate and encourage our elected officials to support the fight against colorectal cancer. (Source: fightcrc.org)
https://give.fightcrc.org/washington/events/call-congress-2018/e140770
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Benefits of Adding Fiber to Your Colon Healthy Diet
Many of us make New Year's resolutions each year that include eating right, exercising and being healthier. Dr. Shauna Lorenzo-Rivero, Colorectal Surgeon with University Surgical Associates, and GCCCF Board Chair shares these tips for adding fiber your diet to eat COLON HEALTHY in 2018...
Most physicians would recommend a diet which is high in fiber and low in saturated fats as a healthy diet. Sometimes, based on a patient’s particular diseases this may need to be modified. Having just finished the holidays, we know that turkey is a relatively lean protein as long as it baked and not fried. But let’s discuss fiber. Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids lowering total cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. It also slows down the absorption of sugar which helps to regulate blood sugar in those with diabetes. Insoluble fiber passes through the intestines completely intact and is responsible for preventing constipation, removing toxic waste from the colon, and balancing the acidity in the intestines. Both types of fiber are found in fruits and vegetables.
The FDA recommendation for the average person is 25-35 grams of fiber a day. You might be surprised how much you need to eat to achieve this. For example, if all you ate were apples, it would take 8 to fulfill your daily requirement. A typical thanksgiving dinner has only 8 grams of fiber, but over 700 calories if you only ate one helping of each item. Green bean casserole seems like a good choice since it is a vegetable, but a ½ cup serving is 51% fat, 39% carbohydrate, 10% protein and only has 3 grams of fiber. Cranberry relish is made from a fruit, but a 1 cup serving has no fiber. If you ate the same amount of real cranberries, you would be eating 4 grams of fiber. Ninety percent of your daily fiber intake should come from the foods you eat. Increase your fiber intake gradually to avoid discomfort from gas and bloating.
Therefore, adding an over-the-counter fiber supplement can help us achieve our fiber goal. No more than ten percent of your daily fiber intake should come from a supplement. There are many products on the market. Check the labels to make sure you are taking an appropriate dose. For example, 1 tsp of Metamucil has 3.4 grams of fiber, but 1 capsule only has 0.5 grams. You would need to take 6 capsules to get the same dose as 1 tsp of the powder. The total grams of fiber for each supplement are listed in the chart below.
Table 2. Fiber Supplements Comparison
Type of Fiber Brand Name Total Fiber
Psyllium Metamucil 3.4 gm/tsp
Konsyl 6 gm/tsp
Methylcellulose calcium Citrucel 2 gm/tsp
Polycarbophil Fibercon 0.5 mg/capsule
Konsyl capsules 0.5 mg/capsule
Fiber works in combination with water to “bulk” the stool. This does not mean you will have a heavy or muscular stool, but rather, a light and fluffy one. The fiber works to draw water into the stool to make it soft. If you do not drink enough water, the fiber you eat will not have the desired effect. Instead, it will make your stool hard. Fiber normalizes your stool by absorbing the excess water from diarrhea and bringing in water from the body to make hard stools softer. You should drink eight 8 oz. glasses of water or half your body weight in water every day.
Fiber remedies a myriad of bowel troubles: diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, fissures, and diverticulosis to name just a few. So when you plan your healthy eating goals for 2018, keep fiber in mind and have a healthy and happy year!
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The 2018 Rump Run is scheduled for Saturday, March 10th, and will be here before you know it!! Many opportunities are available for you to be involved...
- Become an event sponsor
- Volunteer at the event
- Honor a loved one who fought or is fighting colon cancer, or remember a loved one who lost their fight with this disease with a race course sign
- Make a donation
To find out more information about any of these opportunities or the event itself, visit us online at www.rumprun.com.
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Tax season is among us, and for many, this can be overwhelming. Jones Krogh, a certified public accountant with HHM Wealth Advisors, and GCCCF Treasurer, offers these tips for your 2017 taxes.
Tax Deadline
- The deadline to file your 2017 federal income tax return, or file your extension, is Tuesday April 17, 2018.
Charitable Donations
- Don’t forget non-cash contributions you made to organizations such as Goodwill, and the Salvation Army.
- You must obtain written substantiation from the charitable organization for all charitable donations in excess of $250. The GCCCF provides the required documentation to all donors. If you need a receipt, please email the foundation by clicking here.
Sales Tax
- If you had any large purchases in 2017 such as a car, boat, or new home construction, you may be able to deduct the sales tax paid on these items.
IRA and Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution deadline
- April 17, 2018 is also the deadline to make contributions to your traditional or Roth IRA, or HSA, accounts for the 2017 tax year.
- The IRA contribution limit is $5,500, and is increased to $6,500 for participants 50, or older.
- The HSA contribution limit varies based on single or family coverage, and age. A contribution to an HSA is tax deductible.
Free Federal Filing
If you need the services of a highly qualified tax professional, please contact George Wilmoth, CPA. He is the partner-in-charge of tax services for Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough (HHM). George can be reached via email at gwilmoth@hhmcpas.com, or 423-756-7771.
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ABOUT GCCCF
The Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation (GCCCF) is a 501(c)3 organization, dedicated to conquering Colon Cancer through Awareness, Access and Advocacy
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