Thursday, June 30, 2011

Craving a Cheese Burger is just God saying, "Go ahead, it's good for ya!"


So you craving a Cheese Burger?
Here's a recipe that'll knock your socks off!
Tastes good and is good for you!






Some important facts about eating Beef:
It must be grass fed, not from a feed lot.
It must be antibiotic and hormone free.
I like 20% fat in my Burger. (I'll tell you why, when we discuss saturated fats and Cholesterol)
The best Burger on the planet is to buy a chunk of grass fed Chuck Roast and have your Butcher grind it up for you. Tasty, juicy, healthy, and just plain as good as it gets!


We need to eat red meat, whether it's Beef, Buffalo or other wild game like Elk or Deer three times a week. Not three times a day! Keep your proportions in the 3 to 5 ounce range per meal. No More, got me?!!! The rest of the week your options are Free range Chicken or Omega 3 rich fish like Sockeye Salmon, Tuna etc., Notice Pork is not an option. God said don't eat it!

The fat building and health destroying elements in a Cheese Burger are:
  • Processed Cheese – don't use it – use real organic cheeses
  • The bread – use sprouted wheat breads or buns, not white or whole wheat
  • The mayonnaise – Ease up on that stuff. There are plenty of healthy and tasty alternatives to bad fat mayo. Shop around
  • Everything else in a Burger is healthy and beneficial to your body!!!!



We're gonna flavor Organic Beef or sweet, Beefy Buffalo (Bison) with smoked cheese and smoky barbecue sauce. Instead of melted on top fold the cheese inside the burger. Cheese is used here to season the meat, adding moisture and smoky flavor inside the burger. Wild rice bulks up the serving size (and adds vitamins and minerals), while keeping it lean. Plus the flavor and chewy texture are a wonderful complement to the meat. If you can't find Buffalo in your store, substitute 20% fat, Grass fed, ground beef.

4 servings
Active Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes



Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground buffalo, (bison) or, one pound grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free, Beef
  • 1/2 cup cooked wild rice, (optional)
  • 1/2 cup shredded smoked cheese, such as Cheddar, Gouda or mozzarella
  • (NOT Processed Cheese !! It's the processed cheese that's killing you. Buy Organic dairy products. Get real Cheese! Your health is worth it. After all, if it's gonna kill ya, why eat it at all)!
  • 2 tablespoons smoky barbecue sauce, divided (Use the stuff without cornstarch. Remember to read the label. Or, make your own, my preference)
  • 1 tablespoon paprika, preferably sweet Hungarian - Organic
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic - Organic
  • 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt (Healthiest and I think best flavor)
  • 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon sweet pepper relish, or pickle relish (pickle relish is really good for you)!
  • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish - Organic
  • 4 sprouted wheat hamburger buns, toasted , This is the kind of Bread God intended for us to eat. I get the Ezekiel brand from “The Good food Store,” my local source of organic food.) tastes great.
  • 4 slices tomato - Organic – Heirloom if you can get em.
  • 4 thin slices sweet onion, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla Sweets – Organic
  • 4 leaves Romaine or Red Leaf lettuce – Organic – (Raw fresh Spinach works here as well)
  • An  topping option I like, is the addition of a Green Chile Salsa.  Home made or store bought; heat it a bit, it brings out the flavor of the Chile's.  Very healthy!

         



Preparation

  1. Preheat grill to medium.
  2. Place meat, rice, cheese, 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce, paprika, mustard, garlic, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Gently combine, without over mixing, until evenly incorporated. Form into 4 equal patties, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.
  3. Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, relish and horseradish in a small bowl.
  4. Oil the grill rack (Coconut or Extra Virgin Olive oil only), (see Tip). Grill the burgers until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 155°F, 5 to 6 minutes per side.
  5. Assemble the burgers on buns with the barbecue mayonnaise sauce, tomato, lettuce and onion.

Tips & Notes

  • Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the barbecue /mayonnaise (Step 3) for up to 5 days.
  • Tips: Be sure to plan ahead for cooking the wild rice—it takes 40 to 50 minutes. To cut down on cooking time, look for “quick” wild rice—a whole-grain rice that cooks in less than 30 minutes—or “instant” wild rice that's done in 10 minutes or less.
  • To oil a grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.) When grilling delicate foods like fish, it is helpful to splash a little extra virgin Olive oil on the meat.

Nutrition

Per serving: 434 calories; 19 g fat ( 7 g sat , 2 g mono ); 65 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrates; 29 g protein; 5 g fiber; 721 mg sodium; 301 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (25% daily value), Iron (20% dv), Calcium (15% dv).
Carbohydrate Servings: 2
Exchanges: 2 starch, 3 1/2 lean meat, 1 fat


This recipe is intended for grilling the meat only, not frying. Frying meat is for survival situations only, you know like when your lost in Antarctica with Bear Grylls. 

Use a charcoal starter that uses paper to get them burning. Avoid using petroleum based charcoal lighter fluid. It'll kill ya!

Try this kids next time you got a craving for a Cheese Burger you're gonna love it!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Beef, it's Good for You, God Said So!


So . . . What's up with Beef?
Is Beef good for you or not?

The quick answer is yes!! Unequivocally YES!!

Is it fattening and does it cause heart disease?


Read On . . . .
. . . And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32


To get some understanding on the Beef issue, we need to go back to our Godly foundation; His word.

In other words, what does God, our Designer, have to say about beef?  

In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, God CLEARLY says, we may eat any animal that has two characteristics. They must chew the cud and have cloven hooves. Last time I checked, cows fit that description!

Now God, being God, (THE SUPREME BEING), doesn't always tell us why He lets us do some things and not others. Go ahead, just try questioning Him about stuff. Remember when you tried that with your Dad? Bet it didn't work out too well did it?

What we do know about God is that everything He does, concerning us, is for our GOOD. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life and that more abundantly!”

With that, I could end this discussion right here. For some of us, if God said it that's good enough.

But for those of you who may not, yet, acknowledge God, or who need a Beef explanation, I will continue, and tell you what man, thinking he discovered this on his own (Tee Hee), and science (god of the evolutionists) have learned about eating Beef.

Know what? It turns out, science has proven, it's just like God said. If it chews the cud and has a cloven hoof, you can eat it, and it's good for you! We just need to eat Beef that's Designer approved, in the amounts we need. Not the amounts we want.

The definition of Gluttony is eating for gratification. God wants us to eat for health and to fuel our bodies.

Guess what, when we eat for gratification (our way), we get old, fat, sick, and die. When we eat for health and to fuel our bodies (God's way), we maintain proper body weight, we don't prematurely age, our chances of getting sick are greatly reduced, and we live longer, happier, and more productive lives.

How much of a genius do we need to be, to make the right decision?!   Jesus said it this way, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other things we seek, will just be added!” Amazing Huh?

Anyway, about beef:

God created man with perpetuity in mind. In other words, when He made us, He made us to function in a non-changeable way. What was true about our digestive system and bodily functions 6000 years ago, is still true today. God made us in His image. He does not change; neither do we.

With this truth in mind, it shouldn't surprise you when you have a craving for a cheese burger.

We were made to eat Beef then, and we're still meant to eat it today!

All meat eating animals have some things in common. One of them is this; meat eaters manufacture Hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. It's there to digest meat. Non meat eating animals do not have the ability to generate Hydrochloric Acid.

Hmm, the first rule of science is that all things being equal, the simplest explanation is probably the truth.

Other meat eaters have hydrochloric acid making capabilities, so does the human animal. By Jove, I believe God intends for us to eat meat! Seems like the simplest answer to me, doesn't it seem that way to you? Elementary my dear Watson!

What has changed, is the quality of the Beef available to us now.

6000 years ago, corporate agriculture, genetic engineering, chemical pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics and hormone injections, designed to up production and profits, did not exist. Our greed has made us stupid, spoiled a God given source of protein, and turned it into a source of disease.

We took an animal designed to eat grass, removed it from pasture, put it in a feed lot, stressed it out of it's mind, fed it the ground up remains of other bovines, and then, we shoot them full of antibiotics to keep their reproductive organs and udders from disease!  Disease caused by the growth hormone we first injected them with.  All that, to speed up production of meat and dairy products just to get the almighty dollar. We're poisoning our food and killing each other to get rich!  How dumb is that?

The Human Body requires 22 essential amino acids to rebuild itself. Yes that's right, God made our bodies to heal themselves and my experience has shown, if I put the right fuel in, my body will do just that. It will heal itself!!

Four years ago, the last Doctor I saw, told me I only had 3 months to live.
I quit taking the 14 different drugs the Doctors had me on, learned to eat right, (Gods Way), rest properly, put Him first in my life, and well, I'm still here and I'm healthy!! God said it would work like that in His Book.  You know what, He wasn't lying!!

Our bodies can make all but 8 of the essential Amino acids we need, from fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and grains. We need red meat, fish, and dairy to get the other 8!  Amino Acids build body organs, muscles and nerves. The body also converts amino acids into proteins to combat invading protozoa, bacteria, and viruses.

If just one of the essential amino acids is missing, the body is not capable of synthesizing the other proteins it needs – no matter how much protein you eat!  Animal proteins are our only complete protein source!


When we don't get the essential amino acids and proteins we need, we begin to lose Myocardial heart muscle, contributing to heart disease.  Healthy Beef doesn't cause heart disease, it helps to prevent it!

Three key amino acids necessary for the health of our brains and nervous systems are methionine, cysteine, and cystine. These are abundant in eggs and red meat (Beef).

So now we've established that eating “properly raised” Beef is good for you (from God's design parameters, and from science) and we know that modern production Beef is not healthy. It's the source of all the disease and death being blamed on the Beef God created.

So, where do we find good Beef and how much should we eat.

I'll cover that in tomorrows “The Way to Health” Blog. I'll also tell you how to make a Cheese Burger that will satisfy your craving and bring health and Gods blessing to your life.

See ya tomorrow. Come hungry!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Importance of Good Water



It takes around 3,000 liters of water, converted from liquid to vapor, to produce enough food to satisfy one person's daily dietary need.


This is a considerable amount, when compared to that required for drinking, which is between two and five liters.


To produce food for the 6.5 billion or so people who inhabit the planet today requires the water that would fill a canal ten meters deep, 100 meters wide and 7.1 million kilometers long – that's enough to circle the globe 180 times!



Fifty years ago, the common perception was that water was an infinite resource. At that time, there were fewer than half the current number of people on the planet. People were not as wealthy as today, consumed 6 times fewer calories, and ate less meat, so less water was needed to produce their food.



An assessment of water management in agriculture was conducted in 2007 by the International Water Management Institute in Sri Lanka to see if the world had sufficient water to provide food for its growing population. It assessed the current availability of water for agriculture on a global scale and mapped out locations suffering from water scarcity.



It found that a fifth of the world's people, more than 1.2 billion, live in areas of physical water scarcity, where there is not enough water to meet all demands. A further 1.6 billion people live in areas experiencing economic water scarcity, where the lack of investment in water or insufficient human capacity make it impossible for authorities to satisfy the demand for water.



The report found that continuation of today's food production and environmental trends would lead to water crises in many parts of the world. To avoid a global water crisis, farmers will have to strive to increase productivity to meet growing demands for food, while industry and cities find ways to use water more efficiently.



Water is sooo important for our health and welfare. You can live for three or four weeks without food, but without water, only about 3 days!



We like to believe that we in America have pure drinking water, but do we? Lets examine some facts.



Our bodies are approximately 70% water. We need water to keep our bodies properly hydrated and functioning and an optimum level. Water helps to flush waste and other toxins through our system. Without it we “clog up” become constipated, acidic, and fatigued.



Water increases endurance and energy. It aids in digestion and regulates body temperature. Water facilitates muscular and nervous system activity. Water, my friends is the river that flows through us, transporting nutrients and removing toxic wastes.



Water from taps is generally not good for drinking. Again, think twice and you will be the genius in your family.



Our drinking water in America travels through miles and miles of pipe to get to us. Much of that pipe is old and in disrepair. Rusting and leaking. It picks up microscopic impurities like pesticides, industrial waste, heavy metals, and parasites to name just a few. Many of our older Elementary through High School buildings and many of our older public buildings, like old court houses etc., still have lead pipe in the water systems.



Most city tap water has added chemicals like chlorine and fluoride.
  • Sodium Floride is used in Rat poison,
  • The Canadien Dental Association advises that fluoride is harmful!
  • Most of the fluoride (fluosilicic acid) used to fluoridate U.S. Water systems comes from the fertilizer industry and may contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.



The answer; drink purified water.



To drink purified water you have to take the responsibility to get your water tested and then install appropriate methods for purifying your water. Don't trust some one else to do it!



Purification options are: Distillers, sediment filters, activated carbon filters, kinetic gegradation fluxion filters, reverse osmosis. There are water filteration systems that also ionize water, my choice. This gives you the option of setting the cotrols to produce alkaline water. Very healthy!



If you think drinking bottled water is the answer, think again. Most production bottled water sold in the U.S. Today is just tap water. It is bottled in a #7 plastic bottle. Look on the bottom of the bottle if it has the #7 on it, it is there by law to inform you that the plastic bottle holding your water contains a compound used in ink, adhesives, vinyl floor tiles, and paint called phthalates.



This stuff is known to leach out of the plastic and into the water. These plastics also contain BPA.



These substances are known to cause male offspring to exhibit female characteristics, develop small or abnormal reproductive organs, are associated with early puberty in girls, and miscarriages in women. UMMMM GOOOOD!!!



Look for bottled water that is certified purified with these designations on the bottom of the bottle #5PP, #2HDPE, or #4LDPE. That's the only safe way to drink bottled water kids.



I personally drink “Essentia” bottled water. It is certified purified, infused with electrolytes, and has an Alkaline pH of 9.5. I get it at my local health food store and request it at every convenience store I go into. They are starting to carry it. Look for it.



Nutritionists recommend 2 to 4 litres of water each and every day as being minimum for optimum bodily function. I imagine it's different for each of us. Some need as much as 8 litres of water depending on weather temperature and level of physical activity.




Kids you can't get enough water in the tank, so do your body (Temple) a favor and give it lots of pure agua

Friday, June 24, 2011

Everybody Wants to Eat Like a King

Henry the Eighth

When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you; And put a knife to your throat
If you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies,
For they are deceptive food.”
Proverbs 23:1-3




Items at a Feast of Henry VIII



Black Pudding
Another popular dish -- still served in parts of England -- was black pudding. This sausage is made by filling a length of pig's intestine with the animal's boiled, congealed blood.

Boar's Head

A boar's head, garnished with bay and rosemary, served as the centerpiece of Christmas feasts. It certainly outdoes a floral display.

Roasted Swan
Roasted swan was another treat reserved for special occasions, largely because swans were regarded as too noble and dignified for everyday consumption. The bird was often presented to the table with a gold crown upon its head. To this day, English law stipulates that all mute swans are owned by the Crown and may not be eaten without permission from the Queen.

Vegetables


Perhaps the only type of food Henry and his court didn't consume to excess was vegetables, which were viewed as the food of the poor and made up less than 20 percent of the royal diet.

Marzipan
A paste made from ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites and flavored with cinnamon and pepper, marzipan was occasionally served at the end of a meal, although desserts weren't common in England until the 18th century when incredibly elaborate sugar sculptures became popular among the aristocracy.

Spiced Fruitcake
The exception to the no dessert rule was during the Twelfth Night banquet on January 6, when a special spiced fruitcake containing a dried pea (or bean) was served. Whoever found the pea would be king or queen of the pea (or bean) and was treated as a guest of honor for the remainder of the evening.

Wine and Ale
All this food was washed down with enormous quantities of wine and ale. Historians estimate that 600,000 gallons of ale (enough to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool) and around 75,000 gallons of wine (enough to fill 1,500 bathtubs) were drunk every year at Hampton Court Palace.

There is a video on YouTube showing someone shopping for one weeks worth of food to feed King Henry. It will amaze you! Henry suffered from Gross obesity and gout among other things. He died a painful and smelly death. Three shopping carts full of Pork, Beef, and mutton.  70 pints of Ale (he didn't drink water) @ shopping carts of white bread.  I thoroughly studied Henry's eating habits and decided not to reveal them in and effort to keep you from throwing up!

His diet was a version of the Standard American Diet (SAD) High in animal fat, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
Vegetables and fruit were almost non existent in his diet.

Now I understand the warning of Proverbs 23:1-3. Rich people's delicacies will kill you if you eat them.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Beans, Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit, the More You Eat, the More You Toot




A quick easy recipe guaranteed to give you everything you need pertaining to life and Godliness!
High fiber, high protein, meaty flavored, and nutrient rich soup that tastes out of this world!
Try it you'll like it.
Truly a meal God will bless!

Ingredients:

4 cups organic Chicken Stock ( home made is best)
1 cup organic Beef Stock
2 cups purified water
4 cups Navy beans
1 cup Garbanzo beans (Chickpeas)
1 cup canned Black Beans
3 boneless Chicken Breasts (Free Range, antibiotic and hormone free)
3 Organic Carrots Peeled and chopped to suit
2 Large Celery stalks chopped to suit
1 Large Anaheim Pepper seeded and chopped to suit
1 medium sweet Onion chopped to suit (I like Vidalias or Walla Walla Sweets)
2 boiled and peeled Organic Tomatoes
Celtic Sea Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 teaspoon Thyme
1 teaspoon Oregano
Several good grinds of Grains of Paradise
7 cloves of Garlic finely chopped
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tablespoons Organic Butter.
1 cup organic Tomato Sauce.
(If you like a little more spice add your favorite hot sauce to taste.)


Soak your beans over night. Make sure they are covered with water.
Chop up your vegetables
Place the Olive oil in the bottom of a large pot – medium heat
When oil is hot, dump in the vegetables and the butter, add salt and pepper. Sweat for 3 to 5 minutes
Add Stock and water. Bring it to a boil and then add your beans and spices, (not the canned Black beans, they go in in the last 20 minutes of cooking time) After boiling, reduce to simmer, cook covered for 1 hour.
Uncover, add in chopped chicken breast, cook uncovered for 1 hour. After 1 hour begin to check beans for doneness they should be soft and chewable, but just a bit crisp. Add your can of Black beans and boiled peeled and chopped up tomatoes. Reduce heat to a low simmer for ½ hour. Ring the dinner bell!

This is awesome with Corn bread!

It doesn't get any healthier than this, and it is filling, for those of you on a reduced calorie diet.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

God Wants You to Prosper in Your Body and Be in Health


A Wiener a day makes you one ? . . . or as they say, “you are what you eat.”



Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 John 1-2 KJV

I've heard the prosperity preachers refer to this scripture many times and in their interpretation they are correct. However there are other elements involved than just money and possessions.

I believe the Holy Spirit is telling us that in the same way our spirit prospers by feeding on the Bread of Life, the Word of God, it is His will that we be in physical health by feeding our bodies according to the food guidelines in His word.

It doesn't take too long, reading the labels of most processed foods, to see how much poison we put in our bodies every day.

We need to quit winking at sin by feeding our taste buds and not our bodies! What is gluttony? It is eating for gratification, not health. The old, Why do you do, what you do, truth. Remember, God looks on the heart.

The people In Jesus' day, in Israel, ate approximately 6 times less food daily than Americans do today,
and were healthier!

The Jews were the only people, the only nation, to escape the ravages of the Plague, the Black Death that ravaged all other countries in the Middle East and Europe. Why? Because they followed God's guidelines for health and hygiene. At the time of the Plague, germs were unknown. But God's health rules knew all about them. Well, after all He is God isn't He?

European nations, and particularly the Germanic ones, decided that because the Jews weren't dieing from the Plague like every body else, they had to be the ones who infected the rest of the world! The beginning of much of the world wide hatred of the Jews that persists to this day!

People, the Jews were just obeying God. I know, what a concept in this day and age of free will and God is my cosmic gopher!

Well He aint that, and following His guidelines, precepts and commandments will bring health in mind and body just as it does our spirit. In fact the three are intertwined. To keep any one of the three healthy and performing at the optimum level, takes paying attention to the welfare of the other two.

So, if you want to prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers you better start paying attention to what you eat and drink. You also need to learn the discipline of proper rest. I'll save that for another story.

A bit of truth for you

Components of a can of Soda Pop: *

Phosphoric Acid – can interfere with the bodies ability to use calcium, leading to osteoporosis or softening of the teeth and bones. It also neutralizes hydrochloric acid in your stomach, which can interfere with digestion, making it difficult to utilize nutrients.

Sugar - Increases insulin levels, which can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, premature aging, and many more negative side effects. (Primitive Polynesian cultures had no dental decay until refined sugar was added to their diet)

Aspartame - So you think diet soda is the answer? Aspartame is used as a sugar substitute in diet soda. There are numerous side effects associated with Aspartame consumption including: brain tumors birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders, epilepsy and seizures.

Caffeine - Coffee drinkers pay attention here. Caffeine, in drinks, or from any source for that matter causes jitters, insomnia, high blood pressure, irregular heart beat, elevated blood cholesterol, vitamin and mineral depletion, breast tumors, and birth defects.

Tap Water - is the main ingredient in bottled soft drinks. It can carry numerous chemicals including chlorine, trihalomethanes, lead, cadmium, and various organic pollutants.

Sodas also contribute to body toxicity. They contain artificial colorings, especially yellow dye No.5 which has been shown to promote attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. It also causes hives, asthma, and other allergenic reactions.

The chemicals in sodas break down into even more toxic by-products once ingested, taxing the liver and causing headaches, depression, lethargy, auto-immune disorders, and low thyroid function.
Also they can lead to low blood sugar and diabetes.

So if you had the guts to read all of that and still think God will honor prospering you in health as well as your spirit if you are drinking that stuff and eating other foods you know aren't good for you? I gotta say NOT!!

We eat all this stuff, get sick and then wonder why God doesn't answer our prayers for healing. Go figure . . .

God give us the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to see that you have prepared a way for us to be healthy.

* Cherie Calbom MS


What Kind of Gas Ya Got in the Tank?


Think they fill this up with regular?
NOT!!


Why is it we can understand the need for premium fuel in our toys but not in our own bodies?!!

The reason people get fat, sick and die is because they wouldn't know good fuel if it jumped up and bit 'em in the rear end! They also think, to lose weight, and be healthy, you need to eat less food!

Try that the next time you want to drive your car 100 miles but only put enough gas in for a fifty mile drive. Or, what if you decided your car was too heavy, so to lighten it up, you decided to put only one quart of oil in instead of the 5 or 6 required to keep it lubricated?

No guys, health, weight loss, strength, and endurance don't have anything to do with how much you eat as much as they do with what you eat!

If you are one of those people who eat the SAD (Standard American Diet) yes, you might want to consider eating less, before it kills you!

But, if you take the time to learn how your body was designed to operate (every winning drag racer does this, they know every jot and tittle about how their vehicle runs and what it requires to run at it's optimum best) what kind of food it needs and then begin to set new eating and drinking goals for yourself, you'll start burning up the “track” in no time!

My Blog, www.thewaytohealth.blogspot.com will teach you the elements of real eating and drinking. It will teach you to “fuel” your body, not clog it up with “sludge”

Obesity is totally related to poor eating habits. Not necessarily because we eat too much, but because we don't know enough about what we should be eating, or why we should be eating it.

I've covered this before, but I think it bears repeating. Your body creates fat to protect your organs from toxic substances you put in it by eating wrong foods.

The body stores toxins in the fat and in your cleansing organs. The Liver, Bladder, and Kidneys. Why do you think Alcoholics die from Sclerosis (rotting) of the liver? Alcohol is a poison. The Liver is trying to keep it from killing you. Alcoholic behavior overloads the Liver and your body creates fat to deal with the overload. Eat and drink the right stuff, and your body wont need the fat. It will get rid of it.

Diets and dieting were created not because they work but because it is the only way to deal with a bad diet. If your fuel is wrong, the old scooter just wont run well. Duh!! Therefore you need to cut back. If the fuel is right, according to engine specs, lookout, it's gonna run like a bandit! Kids, it's not rocket science. Pay attention to what you are putting into your body not how much!

If you are eating the right stuff you can eat all you want. Your metabolism will kick in, your body and mind will operate the way it was designed to operate. You will be healthy and you will lose weight.

Symptoms of toxic overload (wrong fuel):

Headaches, constipation, bloating or gas, heartburn or indigestion, nausea, fatigue, frequent colds or flu, puffiness or dark circles under the eyes, arthritis or painful joints, congestion, shortness of breath, runny nose or sneezing, clogged sinuses, Asthma or Bronchitis, water retention,
dark, cloudy, or strong smelling urine, Hives, rashes, or dry skin, Acne, pimples, mood swings, cellulite, anxiety, fear, nervousness, sleeplessness, depression, confusion or poor concentration.
(Oh, and by the way, if you are working out but not fueling properly, you are headed for a crash, not if, when).

Ask your self, am I suffering from any or all of these symptoms. If the answer is yes . . . you are not running on all cylinders. You aint going to win any races. You're using the wrong fuel.
Come on man, If you'll just think twice you'll be the genius in your family.

Ever hear of “Top Fuel Funny Cars” Want to be like one? Here's how . . .

Begin with realizing, if you're gonna win you got to know what kind of fuel to put in the tank and what kind not to.

It starts with following a few guidelines for eating and drinking.

They are:

I always start tuning my bikes and cars by checking the Owners Manual. There's one for our bodies too, it's called the Bible.

Don't worry so much about how many calories, but whether they are good calories. You've got to put in enough fuel to get you to the finish line.

Take responsibility for your own health. You can't trust anyone elses motives in this age of the “all mighty dollar”

Be knowledgeable about what you eat and drink. Read about nutrition. Read the labels on the foods you eat; You'll be surprised to see just how much poison you're putting in.

Stop letting your taste buds be the only factor in determining what you eat.

Drink at least 2 liters, preferably 4, of filtered water, every day. Water is 70% of who you are. It is also one of the main pathways your body will use to rid itself of toxins.

Stop listening to “Food Marketers” they don't care about your health. They care about your wallet.

Ask yourself the next time you're sick, and go to the Doctor, “Why didn't he/she ask me about what kind of fuel I'm putting in my body?” (Your mechanic does when you take your car or bike in for a tune up.)

Add these foods to your diet:

Whole unprocessed food, You know, the kind that doesn't come in a package, a can, or from the clown at MacDonald's.
Organically grown food
Fresh vegetables
Raw nuts and seeds
Whole and sprouted grains
Fresh fruits
Free Range Poultry
Fish
Grass fed Beef, no antibiotics or hormones
Organic, free range eggs (Omega 3)
Plenty of alkaline foods, Green leafy vegetables
Good fats and oils, organic Butter, Extra Virgin Olive oil, Coconut oil, (not margarine or vegetable oils)
Plenty of purified water (not the kind in plastic bottles) Look at the bottom of the bottle, if it has the #7 stamped on it, it means it contains BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) a carcinogen (cancer causing agent).   BHA is a  petroleum product used as a food preservative and an ingredient in some plastics, typically bottled water and plastic wrap.  If you see BHA on the label of packaged food, put it back, it's poison!
Minimize or avoid stimulants, caffeine and alcohol.

That's a good start guys to getting the right fuel in your tank.

Keep checking my Blog if you really want to win the race!! 

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Dietary Fiber

Dietary Fiber

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
1 Corinthians 9:16


Most of us haven't a clue how many grams of fiber we get from our diets on a typical day. Yet for many Americans, this number should be doubled.



The American Dietetic Association reports that most of us don't even come close to the recommended intake of 20 grams to 35 grams of fiber a day. Americans' mean fiber intake is about half that --14-15 grams a day.

The SAD (standard American diet) is based on our taste buds. What we have been conditioned to believe “tastes good” Not what is good for us. Before we can get healthy that idea has to be changed. Fiber is good for you and will keep you healthy. Without it you will gain weight and eventually embrace disease. It's up to you. Our fiberless diet, I believe, is the number one cause of Type 2 Diabetes.

Eating a higher-fiber diet, as part of an overall healthful lifestyle, may play a role in a healthful BMI (body bio mass index) One study found that people who ate more whole grains and total fiber consistently gained less weight over 12 years than those who ate less fiber. Another study found that people with low-fiber diets were more likely to be overweight than those following high-fiber diets. "Weight control advice for American women should place greater emphasis on consumption of fiber," notes one of the studys researchers, Megan McCrory, PhD.

That's not surprising when you consider that we get fiber from 'roughage' like fruits, vegetables, sprouted whole grains, nuts/seeds, and beans. The typical American isn't exactly loading his or her plate with these foods (you'd be hard-pressed to find a fruit, vegetable, whole grain, or bean in your average fast-food value meal).

The main action of dietary fiber is to change the nature of the contents of the gastrointestinal tract, and to change how other nutrients and chemicals are absorbed. Soluble fiber binds to bile acids in the small intestine, making them less likely to enter the body; this in turn lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Soluble fiber also diminishes the absorption of sugar, reduces sugar response after eating, normalizes blood lipid (fats) levels and, once fermented in the colon, produces short-chain fatty acids as by products with wide-ranging physiological activities. Although insoluble fiber is associated with reduced diabetes risk, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.


The disadvantage of a diet high in fiber is the potential for significant intestinal gas production and bloating. Constipation can still occur if insufficient fluid is not consumed with a high-fiber diet.



This table explains the benefits of Dietary fiber still further.

Table legend

Color coding of table entries:
  • Both Applies to both soluble and insoluble fiber
  • Soluble Applies to soluble fiber only
  • Insoluble Applies to insoluble fiber only

Dietary fiber functions and benefits

Functions Benefits
Increases food volume without increasing caloric content, providing satiety May reduce appetite
Attracts water and turns to gel during digestion, trapping carbohydrates and slowing absorption of glucose Lowers variance in blood sugar levels
Lowers total and LDL cholesterol Reduces risk of heart disease
Regulates blood sugar May reduce onset risk or symptoms of metabolic syndrome and diabetes
Speeds the passage of foods through the digestive system Facilitates regularity
Adds bulk to the stool Alleviates constipation
Balances intestinal pH and stimulates intestinal fermentation production of short-chain fatty acids May reduce risk of colorectal cancer
(Wikipedia)



Studies done in the 1970's began the media frenzy on “High Fiber diets. The studies were done by a Doctor studying the effects of high fiber diets on certain “primitive” African peoples. It was found they had almost no diabetes, constipation, colon cancer, or irritable bowel syndrome. His studies supported the idea that high fiber diets account for good intestinal health.

With the ever present baseline desire for the accumulation of wealth (not health) in this country the Marketers jumped on the band wagon and using un-sprouted grains, and cereals, high production, low cost per dollar of profit foods) began their assault on the American public with the “Bran Flakes = good fiber sales pitch. Only problem with that is, the African people studied, ate almost no grains and absolutely no Bran. The grains they did eat were the sprouted type. (More on that later)

Un-sprouted Grains and especially Bran, have been shown to be high in Phytates. Phytic acid is an anti-nutrient that actually carries nutrients, especially minerals, out of the body, rather than help to process them. Phytates are a major contributor to poor health in Americans who believe eating a lot of Bran type cereals is healthy for them.

What are sources for healthy, low carbohydrate dietary fiber?
Broccoli, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, soaked or sprouted seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes, berries and other small fruits, and fruits and vegetables with edible skins. I also highly recommend eating Chia
and Flax seeds. They are a source of mucilaginous fiber which has all of the above benefits of other good sources of dietary fiber and will reduce inflamation in the lining of the gut.
(“The Makers Diet” Jordan Rubin)



Here's a tasty little recipe to quickly up your fiber intake:



Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup whole organic milk (organic = no antibiotics or hormones added – grass fed cow or goat
  • 1/2 cup organic yogurt or kefir (I prefer the kefir)
  • 1/2 banana, peeled and chopped
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons flax seed
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
  • I like to throw in some Blackberries if I have them.

Directions

  1. In a blender, blend the milk, yogurt/kefir, banana, , flax seed, honey, and strawberries until smooth.
This is a good transitional drink for the sake of taste, but as you get more disciplined, start using vegetables. Green Stuff. It will not only up your fiber intake but will lower the acidity of your body to a more alkaline PH which facilitates better health, energy, and uptake of nutrients.
Juicing is a good quick and tasty way to get the benefit of a lot of fruit and vegetables, however I can not emphasize the necessity to train yourself to eat these, in their raw form,at every meal.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The Soup That Changed a Nation






It's another rainy cold day in Montana today so I'm thinking about soup. Lentils are one of the most nutritious of the legumes and definitely one of the places to begin if you are wanting to change your eating habits from our SAD American fare (devised by Money Changers) that is killing us, to a diet that will give you “life and that more abundantly” as Jesus promised.



What are Lentils?



In the Bible:

One of the most important foods in the Israelite diet was the lowly lentil. Esau sold his inheritance for the famous "mess of pottage," a dish of cooked lentils and some bread!


Lentils are complex carbohydrates, a nutritional category known to have substantial health benefits because they regulate the body's metabolic system. Complex carbohydrates help your body to be balanced, to prevent diabetes, and stave off feelings of hunger longer than most other foods. Lentils are rich in vegetable protein and fiber, nutritional weapons in the fight against colorectal cancer, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure.


Moreover, lentils help fight obesity by making you feel full longer, thus keeping you from overeating and snacking between meals. The ancient Romans also prized lentils for their health benefits. They used lentil dishes to cure diarrhea, for example.



Lentils are Legumes, related to beans and peanuts, and to some, comparable to dried split peas in appearance, although they are not as sweet. Botanists believe they originated in the Near East and were likely one of the first domesticated crops there. This is important given their nutritious nature. Like beans they have a high protein content, about 26%. They are also high in iron, and vitamin C.



People grow lentils throughout much of the world, and you’re most likely to find them in dried form. When they’re harvested, they’re removed from pods, making them essentially seeds of the lentil plant. You’ll find them in many varieties and in a plethora of colors. Many may be familiar with slightly tan colored or green versions, but you can also find them in various shades of red, orange, golden and even black.

There’s not significant difference between the varieties in terms of taste, though some lentils are somewhat nutritionally superior to other forms because they tend to have a higher dietary fiber content.

Green and Black Beluga Lentils have the most fiber though all lentils are a more than adequate source of fiber.
Lentils are a superior food! A Power food! In addition to being composed of about 26% protein, a single serving of lentils, about half a cup (about 113 grams) uncooked, has 60% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of iron, 67% of the RDA for vitamin B1 and a whopping 31 grams of dietary fiber!


(I'm going to write about fiber tomorrow so stay tuned. You'll be surprised what fiber will do for your body. It's not just to keep you from being constipated; which by the way, is a major characteristic of the SAD diet).






To make the World’s Best Lentil Soup Recipe you will need:
Ingredients
  • 2 fresh tomatoes
  • 200g (1 cup) sprouted lentils
  • 2 onions
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 1.25 litres (5 cups) vegetable stock
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • fresh or dried basil
  • seasoning
  • olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon Coriander
  • ½ teaspoon Cumin
  • Salt and Pepper to taste. (I like Kosher or Celtic Sea salt)


To Make Lentil Soup
  1. Place the fresh tomatoes in a pan of very hot water for 1 minute, fish them out with a slotted spoon and peel away the skin. Set them aside for use later on.
  2. Peel and roughly chop the onion and rinse the lentils in a colander.
  3. Cook the onion in a little olive oil in a large saucepan, until golden.
  4. Add the lentils, tomatoes, stock, basil, Garlic and seasonings and stir well.
  5. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for about 30 minutes.
  6. Blend the soup, adjust the seasoning and if necessary, thin it down with a little more stock or tomato juice. I like Organic Strained Tomatoes, “Passata di Pomodoro” from Bionaturae, This is the stuff in every knowledgeable Italians kitchen. Shhhh that's a secret.

I like to add a little chicken to the pot sometimes. Steam or boil one or two organic chicken breasts chop em up and put em in the pot for the last 30 minutes of simmering.

Try it, you'll like it, God will like it, and your body will love you for it.











Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Relationship Between Toxins and Fat


Toxins have everything to do with why we are overweight



It is estimated the average American, eating the Standard American Diet (acronym SAD), carries 5 to 10 pounds of accumulated toxins in their cells tissues and organs. Those are the toxins that have escaped the bodies natural defense system. That is, to create fat, to store the toxins in. That's right the body creates fat to store stuff it can't process! It does so in an effort to keep the poison out of our organs.

Are any of these foods in your diet:

Donuts, muffins, bagels, cream cheese, coffee (more than a cup a day), processed lunch meats (high nitrites, they cause colon cancer), chips, sugar laden soft drinks, Fast food burgers with extra cheese, french fries, candy bars, margarine etc. These + too much meat and potatoes with little or no vegetables, fruits, or legumes are the major food sources of the SAD diet of most Americans.

The result of practicing such a diet is the accumulation of toxic substances requiring the body to burn up energy reserves to make fat to store the toxins in.

Brings to mind a Proverb or two, “There is a way that seems right to a man but the end of that way is death.” And, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.”

What do we know about the food we eat? Shouldn't we know something about it, in light of the fact we are the temple of the Holy Spirit?


Toxic = Of, pertaining to, affected with, or caused by a toxin or poison: a toxic condition.
acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous: a toxic drug.

Toxic substances weaken and congest our organs, digestive tract, and our elimination system.

Toxins come from the environment (pollution), unhealthy food choices, internally, as a by product of metabolism (endotoxins), exposure to chemicals, pesticides, drug residues and by-products, heavy metals, food additives (processed foods), yeasts, fungus, and parasites. Toxins, if unchecked will clog up our system like a plugged up drain, cause sickness and even death.

Hydrogenated oils, oils that have been injected with Hydrogen (is hydrogen a food?) i.e., vegetable oils, canola oil, peanut oil, safflower oil and margarine are not processed in the body nor are they eliminated, they are stored in fat!  Science has shown, through a process called oxidation, these oils are the culprit causing hardening of, and clogging of, the arteries, not cholesterol as previously suspected.

(Suggestion: use only Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin olive Oil, or antibiotic and hormone free Butter. They are the healthy oils.)

Want to lose some excess body weight without killing yourself on a treadmill? Want to avoid disease?
Get rid of the toxins by becoming knowledgeable about what you eat. Then make the right choices and Just Do It!

If, we seek God about what we are to eat,  then up our intake of vegetables, fruit, and legumes, and reduce or eliminate our bondage to the SAD diet we will lose toxins and body fat and avoid disease. Simple huh?!!! We don't have to do it alone, Jesus will help because He wants us to be healthy more than we do!

Remember, when you go to the market to follow these simple truths and rules:

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

  1. Marketers are not interested in your health Their bottom line, and motivation for being in business is production and profit. Human nature, being what it is, do you think they have your best interests at heart?  (Be wise as Serpents)
  2. Read the labels of everything you buy.  (Knowledge)
  3. Get to know what's toxic and what's not  (Ditto)
  4. If it's on the label and you identify it as toxic, leave it right where you found it and move on. (Reject the evil)
  5. Buy Certified organic fruits vegetables and legumes as much as you can afford it. (Accept the Good)
  6. Realize any vegetables, fruits, or legumes you buy, that are not organic, may be genetically produced, have residues of pesticides, and will have reduced or no food benefits. (You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.)
  7. Wash, thoroughly, all non organic foods before ingesting. Wash the organic ones too. (Clean not Unclean)
Fail to follow these rules and we will continue to store toxins, create fat, and get sick. Toxins not hidden in fat generally will be found in the Gall bladder, Kidneys, Skin, and Bone Marrow.

I had a sister-in-law who died from Bone Marrow Cancer related to pesticide exposure.

My brother, just had a malignant tumor removed from his kidney. To date, he still has not done anything about what he puts into his body. Please pray for him!

Kids, God says, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.” He also says in proverbs, “With all your getting, get knowledge.”  Then, in James we are told to be doers of the word, not just hearers.

I don't think He wants us to be ignorant about food and health do you? Don't you think it's time to get on with the WHOLE program. Remember, Love the Lord with all your strength (body), with all your mind (the thoughts will, and emotions), and with all your soul (the eternal part).

May God heal us from the top of our heads to the tip of our souls, I mean toes, and may He give us a desire to do our part. AMEN

Friday, June 10, 2011

Some Goodness for Ya!



Anybody ever tell you to eat your vegetables? 

Well, they're right! vegetables give us good things;  most importantly, enzymes that help to process and digest food (increased metabolism) which reduces the storage of body fat!  Vegetables are the richest source of readily available vitamins and minerals there is! 

Enzymes are lost in cooking; the heat kills 'em.  Juicing, and eating fresh fruits and vegetables is the ONLY way to get them and you've got to have them for optimum health.

Yep, just eating your vegetables, in appropriate amounts, will reduce your body fat!

Vegetables also reduce the acidity of our bodies, making it a health friendly. alkaline environment.  Our bodies should be neutral or slightly alkaline for disease resistance, strength, endurance, and over all good health.  An acidic system, which is all you can have without the vegetables, will only lead you to the Doctor and making his mercedes payments.

Don't like vegetables you say? Get a juicer!

My morning glass of juice recipe. 
One glass = All day energy, detoxification, and more health than you can get by eating a truck load of Grocery store food.

4 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 medium cucumber, 1/2 a beet, a 1 inch piece of Ginger root, 1/2 a lemon, a handful of Parsley, and a shot of Kefir for protein. 
In an efficient juicer, it makes two 8 oz servings.

I use a Jack LaLaine Juicer available for $90 from Wal-Mart. The best investment, in your health, you could ever make.