Life and Health Seeker

Chapatis, Rotis, Flat Bread--Quick and Delicious

2011-03-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

Chapatis, Rotis, Flat Bread, you name it, it's quick, delicious, and actually nutritious. As I mentioned in a former blog, I learned about chapatis from Garcha, a friend from India who was in my English class. Just lately, I was talking with a lady from India at our usual gasoline stop, and we got to talking about chapatis, or "rotis" as some call it. She gave me a web site to visit to learn how to better make the flat bread. The first address she gave me was but the second one gave better help: .

At the Youtube site I watched Manjula as well as another lady make the bread. I learned from both what I was doing wrong and two ways to have better success. I'll see if I can describe it to you in my own words. The first part was almost the same except for the amount of oil used. The second part was almost the same except for the final heating. So here goes.

Using one cup of whole wheat or unbleached flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and about 1/2 cup of water mix together in a bowl, kneading until it forms a smooth ball. You want a soft dough, not too wet and not too dry. If too wet, it won't roll out, and if too dry it will crumble. Manjula puts about two or three drops of oil on her fingers to facilitate the kneading. The other lady put about a teaspoon of oil into the flour and a few drops into the bowl where she was working the dough. When the smooth soft dough is formed pull off little pieces about the size of a small egg, roll the pieces in the palms of your hands until they are small smooth balls.

Place a ball of dough on your bread board and roll out thin. Lightly dip the dough into a bowl of flour when needed to keep it from sticking to your rolling pin or the board. Have a crepe pan ready, heated on medium--test it with a drop or two of water to see if it sizzles up--and put your flat bread in the pan. Watch for a change of color and little bubbles. Using a pancake turner, flip the bread over to the other side. When that side shows little bubbles, flip it back again. You should see some small brown dots here and there on both sides. Here's where things get quite different.

Manjula immediately takes her pancake turner and pressing lightly keeps turning the bread around in a circular motion while it puffs up. When puffed, she takes it off the heat and onto a dish where she brushes some ghee (clarified butter) or oil on it.

The other lady has a low rack on her glass top stove which is about one inch high and on which she puts her crepe pan. She uses tongs for flipping, and for the last flip, she pulls out the crepe pan while holding the bread and plops it right on the rack. Immediately it puffs up like a balloon, and she then places it on a plate and brushes it with ghee or butter or oil.

I challenge you to try it, and don't get discouraged if it doesn't turn out at first. It takes practice, but it's well worth it.

=================================This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Chapatis

2011-02-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

While teaching English as a Second Language in British Columbia, Canada, I met Garcha, a lady from India, who invited me to her house to learn how to make chapatis and to have lunch.

She mixed one teaspoon of salt in two to three cups of flour, then added just enough water to make a soft non-sticky light dough. Then she divided the dough into about 1/4th cup size pieces. Each piece was rolled out into a circle about 1/8” thick on a lightly floured board. It was interesting to see how she used her rolling pin in almost a circular pattern.

The flat circle of dough was lightly toasted about 15 seconds on each side and then placed directly on a gas stove burner top right above the low flame. Immediately the dough puffed up like a balloon. She quickly turned it to the other side for a brief moment and then placed it on a plate. The puffed chapatti sank into a light soft bread, ready to use as a spoon to scoop up a delicious red lentil stew.

Trying my skill at making chapattis at home was somewhat of a challenge, as I have an electric stove. I couldn’t put the dough directly on the electric burner and tried using a rack. My best method I found was to use a dry cast iron fry pan and to turn the chapatti several times while baking. With that method I get pretty close to a “puffball” effect. I think I may try putting them in a hot oven like I do when I make pocket bread.

It would be interesting to hear what results some of you readers might have had in making chapattis.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Acid - Alkaline Balance

2011-01-25T19:55:00.000-08:00

A healthy body is an alkalized one. As we metabolize our foods, we produce acid wastes. When our body doesn't get rid of them when it should, these wastes are reabsorbed back into the body via the colon, from there to the liver, and then into the tissues. Too much acidity clogs our bodies and can cause an attack in joints, muscles, glands, and organs in the form of pain and disease.

The body has a natural cleansing mechanism, and it seeks to get rid of acid toxins. Eating more alkaline forming foods can aid the body to do this.

Also, our bodies build up an alkaline reserve from our eating more alkaline forming foods than acid forming ones. If in the digestion process we have immediate release of mineral elements, the alkaline elements neutralize the acid ones. If more acid forming foods are eaten than alkaline forming ones, the body draws on the alkaline reserve to neutralize the acidity properties. If the reserve is depleted and used up, the build up of acidity promotes sickness, and if not corrected, death.

It's interesting to note that a predominately alkaline or acid condition generates energy or lack of it.

In order to increase the alkaline reserves in the body, it is recommended that one eat a 80/20 percent ratio of alkaline versus acid forming foods. Even on the time of Hippocrates, this was used to help heal an unhealthy condition.

The next time we'll go into which foods are more alkaline or more acid forming. See you then.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Acid - Alkaline Balance - 2

2011-01-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

We ask, "How important is this matter of acid and alkaline foods? Does it make a difference in our health?" The answer is, yes it does indeed. In his book, "The Normal Diet," W.D. Sansum, M.D., has this to say: "The living body is always slightly alkaline. If the tissues of the body become acid to the slightest degree, death occurs, and serious illness results long before the alkalinity of the body has been reduced to the neutral point."

Body wastes are acid and must be eliminated or else they accumulate in the tissues and bloodstream, a threat to health and even life itself. The problem is having excess acid in the body. We need some acid, but the alkaline solutions aid some of the vital life processes. They constantly are concerned in the work of neutralizing excess acid residues. That's the danger--excess acid residues.

In order for the alkalies to not be deleted, there is a need for constant replenishment through ingesting more alkaline foods than acid. Otherwise, sickness and ultimately death can happen. Competent authorities state the average person's diet should consist of 75%-80% of alkaline forming foods and only 20%-25% of acid forming foods if optimum health is to be maintained.

Lists of acid forming and alkaline forming foods vary. In general, the grains and proteins are more acid forming, while the fruits and vegetables are more alkaline forming. Here are two sample lists:

Acid Forming Foods

Barley                          Bread                            Buckwheat
Cheese                         Cherries                        Corn
Cereals                        Crackers                        Cakes
Cookies                       Cranberries                   Egg white
Egg yolk                     Flesh foods                    Fish
Fowl                           Gelatin                           Hominy
Lentils                        White & w.w. flour        Grains
Peanuts Plums    Prunes
Rice                            Shrimp, etc.                   Macaroni
Oatmeal Oysters Reptiles

Alkaline Forming Foods

Acidophilus    Almonds                         Apples
Apricots                    Artichoke                       Asparagus
Avocados    Bamboo shoots    Bananas
Beans, all                  Beets                              Beet greens
Brussel sprouts Buttermilk (soy or dairy)
Cabbage                   Cantaloupe Carrots
Cauliflower    Celery    Chard
Chestnuts Cherry juice     Citron
Coconut                   Collards                          Cucumbers
Currants Dandelion Dates
Eggplant     Endive    Figs
Garbanzos                Grapes or juice               Greens
Grapefruit                Guavas                            Honey
Kale                         Kohlrabi                          Leeks
Lemons    Lemon juice    Lettuce
Loganberries            Mangoes                         Maple syrup
Milk (dairy or soy) Melons                            Mushrooms
Olives                      Onions                            Oranges
Parsnips                   Peaches                           Peas, all
Pears                        Peppers (green)              Pineapple
Potatoes                   Pumpkin                         Radishes
Raisins                     Raspberries                     Rhubarb
Rutabagas      Sauerkraut Spinach
Soybeans     Soy flour    Squash
Strawberries      Tomatoes and juice    Turnips
Sprouted seeds        Watercress                        Grasses

No attempt has been made to arrange the items in order of acidity or alkalinity. Some are strongly one way or another while others are only slightly so.

Most people eat too heavily of meat, eggs, bread, pastries and for too lightly of base forming foods, and most people are sick or half sick! It's interesting to watch what food choices people make and compute their acid-base balance. What do you think yours is?

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

How to Make Your Own Delicious, Nutritious Raw Nut and Seed Mylks

2011-01-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

~by Guest Blogger, Cynthia Zirkwitz

When my husband and I first started being seriously vegan we purchased alternative “milks” such as soy milk, rice milk and occasionally, almond milk. I never did much like the taste of soy milk so was quite relieved to find out that soy is not a optimal food for healthy people, in fact, can be quite toxic, and that many of the commercial soy milks are made from non-organic, GMO soy beans. The other alternative milks were usually “okay” but came in packaging with the ability to shelve the product for THREE YEARS– hardly what you would call ‘fresh’ and not likely to have much redeeming nutrition after that length of time.

Alternative milks also cost quite a bit more than fresh, home-made.

Now I regularly make mylks. All that is needed is a stash of good organic raw nuts or seeds (sometimes I use a combination– sunflower and sesame are a good match; fresh-made almond mylk is luxury; brasil nut mylk is decadently delicious), a blender (a VitaMix is nice, but isn’t really necessary), water of course, some add-ins like vanilla and/or sweeteners: stevia, raw honey or soaked dates are great and a Nut Mylk Bag to strain the blended product so that you end up with a creamy, milk-like homogeneity. The left-over fiber can be incorporated into lots of raw dehydrated recipes, such as cookies and burgers.

The video that follows provides additional clear, hands-on directions. As always, have fun and be blessed with the resulting good health! (See Brigitte Mars’ recipe for Almond Milk at the bottom of this post for an idea of proportions of ingredients to use)

Brigitte Mars’ recipe for Almond Mylk:

1 cup almonds, soaked overnight
1 quart water
1 tablespoon raw honey or 2 dates, soaked 20 minutes

Rinse the nuts in a colander to remove enzyme inhibitors

Combine all ingredients in a blender and liquefy. Then strain through a sprout bag or a paint strainer bag (available at paint or hardware stores). Pulp can be saved to add to casseroles, cookies or other dishes.

Note: These same directions can be used for making cashew, hazelnut, pine nut, sesame, sunflower, walnut, hemp seed, or pumpkin seed mylk.

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Cynthia Zirkwitz is an avid Blogger blogger currently focused on "moving house" in the blog-o-sphere-- moving her Raw Genesis blog from its old home on Wordpress to its new home on Blogger. If you visit, please excuse the present lack of comfy furnishings-- they're on their way!

Wonderful Couscous

2011-01-18T10:52:00.000-08:00

While at a pot-luck dinner at church, I ate a casserole that had flavor galore. So I asked the lady who made it, what it was and what the recipe was. She said, "Oh, it's couscous, a vegetable couscous dish." Oh joy, she had gotten the recipe out of a book that I owned as well.

Later I discovered that couscous is a pasta made from hard wheat middling, mistakenly thought of as a grain. The common form is pre-cooked, the traditional form, which is brown, takes longer to cook. It resembles a small rice when cooked.

I bet you would like to know the recipe I mentioned, wouldn't you? It's from a book entitled "Nutrition for Life" by Darlene Blaney, copyrighted in 2002. Since, it is copyrighted, I'll just give you my version:

Saute chopped onion, garlic, celery and carrots in a small amount of water until crispy soft. Add chopped steamed kale or collards. In a different pot boil twice as much water as couscous used, salting to taste. Combine the veggies and couscous and add some olive oil. Season with basil, dill, tarragon, or similar seasonings. Some like to add nutritional yeast flakes or chicken like seasoning. There you have it.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Fighting MRSA with Raw Honey

2010-10-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON — Doctors at Georgetown University Hospital are using a sweet solution to help fight infections like the deadly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Almost three years ago, Josh Pennington suffered a quarter-size cut on his foot that never healed.

Doc Attinger worked on it a few times and almost had it healed, but "it would never stay healed,” Pennington said.Pennington and plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Attinger tried everything from topical treatments to skin grafts, but the blood vessel in Pennington’s leg was permanently damaged.”The injury damaged the blood supply permanently to his anterior leg where the wound was, and as a result, there wasn’t enough blood for the wound to heal,” Attinger said.

When a friend suggested that Pennington try using honey, an old home remedy, he was game, and it was perfect timing. Attinger and the hospital’s Center for Wound Healing was piloting a new program using MediHoney, a special, medical-grade honey that’s used as a dressing for wounds and infections. It’s made from an especially potent form of honey called manuka honey.”We don’t know why this honey works well, but it has antimicrobial capacities that other topicals don’t have,” Attinger said. “It may also stimulate, inhibit proteins that stop the healing. So it has a lot of things that we don’t understand, that we’re first discovering.”

Pennington started using the honey in December. Doctors said the wound has shrunk almost 300 percent.

Attinger said since the program started, they’ve treated about 40 patients with MediHoney and have seen positive results in 75 percent of them. They’re also finding it’s helping patients with MRSA infections, which are resistant to many antibiotics and can be fatal.Attinger said he believes Pennington’s wound might finally heal thanks to the honey.”I suspect that this is going to do it,” he said. “It will heal the whole wound completely.”Manuka honey is a dark honey from New Zealand. Household types of honey might work, too, but doctors said they’re finding best results with manuka.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Did you Say Coffee Grounds?

2010-09-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, coffee grounds! A lady came into a newspaper office and showed one of the girls her healthy two-inch high squash plants she started from seed. They stood up, looking strong and healthy in their pie dish bed.

Then she told her story. She planted the seeds in some soil and watered them faithfully. Only one or two showed any promise. Finally, she sprinkled some coffee grounds around in the dirt, and in a couple of days they all sprang to life, much to her surprise.

Furthermore, they grew into strong plants and produced a fine crop.

We all know that coffee isn't good for us, but I guess with squash plants it's a different scenario.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Slow Cooker Pineapple Upside Down Cake

2010-09-13T20:22:00.000-07:00

Wanting to use up some pineapple, I thought of a recipe in my slow cooker book that elicited rave comments at the potluck dinner after church. I love the slow cooker principle to "fix it and leave it". Nobody at the potluck could believe that it was baked in a slow cooker. There are a lot of other delicious recipes in my cookbook, "Fast Cooking in a Slow Cooker" by Joann Rachor. Oh yes, the recipe:

Stir together the following first 4 ingredients in the cooker:

2/3 cup pineapple juice or orange juice
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon oil (I used olive oil)
5 canned, pineapple rings (I used fresh pineapple)
1/4 cup sliced, slivered or chopped almonds

Stir together the following ingredients in a bowl:

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/3 cup cane juice crystals, fructose or sugar
2 teaspoons Energy Baking Powder (I used Rumford)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Stir in the oil with a fork, then mix in well with fingers

3 tablespoons of oil (I used olive oil)

Quickly stir 1/2 cup water into the flour. Drop around in tablespoon
amounts.

Cover the cooker (a round 5 to 5-1/2 qt. with a hand towel or 2 layers of paper towels. (My cooker has a steam vent
so I just put the lid on without a towel.) Bake until the top is lightly browned. Place a plate over the cooker and quickly, but carefully, invert the cooker so that the cake drops onto the plate.

Baking time on low is approximately 3 to 3-1/2 hours. You'd love her cookbook. She has many more recipes that are different and delicious, even a pizza! You can get a copy here:

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

God's Word Brings Trapped Miners Hope

2010-08-31T12:23:00.000-07:00

The 33 Chilean miners trapped over 2,000 feet underground on August 5, 2010, are still alive. Praise the Lord! A supply shaft has been made to send them food, water and medical supplies.

The latest items sent are miniature 3" x 5" Bibles along with magnifying glasses to help read them. One miner said that God's Word gave him faith that he would leave their underground prison.

The Bible gave hope. Psalm 40 was highlighted in each Bible, part of which reads, "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit...and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps."

Mining experts say it could take four months to rescue the men. Let's pray for a continued miracle that the time will be much shorter than that.

For more information on this story, click here.

Aren't you glad God has preserved His Word through the centuries so that we might have hope and encouragement and instruction!

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Simple Remedies

2010-08-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Nils Thingvall, http://www.turbidwater.com

Today I was talking to a friend about my lower back pain. I strained a muscle or two somewhere along the way. The pain wasn't constant, but given a certain position, it could be sharp and wrenching. She surprised me with a simple remedy to try and said that it was good for all kinds of pain such as arthritis or sprains, etc. Her suggestion was to take some cabbage leaves, roll a rolling pin over them to get them soft and moist. Then place them on the sore place, covering them with a wrap to hold them in place. Leave the poultice on for several hours or overnight. I mean to try it and see if it works.

Another remedy recommended to me by another friend was a hot and cold treatment. Moist heat on the back for three to five minutes with a cold rub down for a minute. Better yet, get in the shower and do a hot and cold number on the back.

My husband's favorite remedy for backache or shoulder ache is to take a couple of Alka-Seltzer tablets in a glass of water and, as he says, "away you go."

As I mentioned in another post, I've found that a thin slice of garlic taped onto a mole and freshened morning and evening for three days can clear a mole. Another friend told me about that one.

In my younger days, I had some little pill like white heads on the area between my eye and nose, and a doctor said to gently rub them with pumice powder on a damp wash cloth every other day. Sure enough, they went away.

Just some simple remedies with a little punch.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

To Salt or Not to Salt

2010-06-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

We need salt for optimum health, but not the common table salt. That kind of salt isn't balanced with essential mineral elements as are found in whole natural sea salt. Without this balance, we run out of electrolytes needed for cell repair and rejuvenation.

Salt obtained from salt mines or dead seas is not complete with all the right proportions of minerals needed for promoting life. Such salt has lost some of its trace minerals. In contrast, pristine sea salt contains at least 82 trace minerals. In comparison, sodium chloride in sea salt is around 84% with that in mined salt being around 98%. Mined salts, not having a balance of needed trace minerals, are not the best choice for good health.

It's best to put salt on food after cooking, for boiling salt destroys its iodine, which is necessary for many metabolic and hormonal body functions. One doesn't need to worry about getting too much natural sea salt, because, being balanced, the body excretes what it can't use.

So if you want good balanced health with cell repair and rejuvenation, use natural sea salt.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Garlic Tips

2010-05-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

For a delicious open-end sandwich, plus a boost to your immune system, try crushing garlic on some sourdough bread sprinkled with olive oil. Top that with avocado and tomato slices, sprinkle with Celtic sea salt and eat away. It's yummy, nutritious, and immune healthy.

Have a sore throat? Feeling like a cold is coming on? Try this remedy. It's like an antibiotic but without the side effects. Blend 1/2 an onion and 2 cloves of garlic in 1/2 cup of water. Strain the juice (the pulp can be used later in cooking), stir in a teaspoon of either sucanat, brown sugar, raw sugar or date sugar. Put two tablespoons of the juice mixture in a glass of water and drink it down. Four hours later, drink one tablespoon of the mixture in a glass of water and continue to do so every four hours for a day or two, or until you feel better or can't stand it anymore. Actually, it is quite pleasant tasting and soothing to the throat. Keep stored in the refrigerator.

This one blew my mind away. Skeptical at first, I'm a believer now. Cut a slice of garlic clove the size of a troublesome mole you might have and tape it on the mole with a piece of cloth tape. Most any tape will do. Refresh the spot with a new garlic slice and tape morning and evening for three days, a total of six applications. Wait for a week and see if the mole doesn't disappear. If need be for a stubborn skin disorder, try applying the garlic a second go-round. I think you'll be amazed at the results.

*Image courtesy of Eyup Salman whose wabsite is www.korsanreklam.com.

================================= This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Trust in Divine Power

2010-01-31T20:59:00.000-08:00

There is a Scripture text that reads, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Our minds are closely connected to our bodies and can influence on whether we get sick or not. I know for myself, to allow worry to take hold will invariably bring on sickness.

Disease can sometimes be brought on by imagination, and for sure an unhealthy imagination can aggravate it. I've experienced such situations when by imagining the worst, my condition worsened. Many diseases result from mental depression. Grief, anxiety, guilt, discontent, distrust, all are effective to encourage the break-down of life forces which in turn leads to decay and death.

On the other hand, courage, hope, love, sympathy, faith help to promote health and a longer life. To have a contented mind and a cheerful spirit helps bring on better immunity to disease. As Scripture says, "A merry (rejoicing) heart doeth good like a medicine."

Achievement of this spirit of love, joy and peace comes from connecting one's self with Jesus Christ, surrendering your life to His loving care. He invites us "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29) "Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." One of the greatest burdens we bear is the burden of sin and the guilt it brings. Because of Jesus' payment for our sins by His death on the cross, we can come to Him in confidence, knowing that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

I remember when our daughter died at 44, leaving a husband and two young boys. It was so hard to take, and I knelt by my bed and prayed to God, "Please let me feel your comforting arms around me." And while I didn't feel a physical touch, His comfort filled my soul as He reminded me that she was safe for eternity, the enemy couldn't touch her, and I would see her again soon when Jesus comes to take His own to heaven.

Have you ever read that promise in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18? It's a thrilling one: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

I love the way a well-known educator put it: "Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burden, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon your Burden bearer. Circumstances may separate friends, the restless waters of the sea may roll between us and them. But no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the Saviour. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer. Greater than the love of a mother for her child is Christ's love for His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in His love, to say, 'I will trust Him; for He gave His life for me.'" (The Ministry of Healing, pp. 71-72)

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This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Rest - 2

2010-01-27T20:10:00.000-08:00

Last time I talked about starting the day in a restful way by taking time to read the Bible and pray. I find this a necessary part of my day. Things just seem to go smoother when I set aside that special block to connect with the Creator.

There is another rest that refreshes, a weekly one, given by God to us, and that is the Sabbath rest of 24 hours each week. You can read about it in Genesis. It was part of the creation week God established in the beginning. It was included as part of the ten commandments given to Israel at Mt. Sinai, with the injunction that it be remembered. The rest it affords is not only physical, but emblematic of the spiritual rest we have in Jesus as our Saviour. We trust in His work of salvation for us on the cross and in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
We can't make ourselves good, but we can consent to let Jesus do it. What a relief that gives!

No muscle works continuously without any rest. Take our heart, it rests between every beat, for about 1/10 of a second. But deprive it of that rest, and you're in serious trouble. Exercise and rest compliment one another. I've heard it said that an hour of sleep before midnight is worth two hours after midnight. I find myself tired sometimes in the middle of the day, and just a short 20-minute nap refreshes me considerably. In fact, I wake up automatically in about 20 minutes from such a nap. They say that a 15-minute nap in the middle of the day is worth about 45 minutes at night.

Some folk find it hard to go to sleep at night. One lady who worked in a doctor's office complained about this. The doctor suggested that she take a brisk two-mile walk in the evening outdoors. She did, and wonder of wonders it cured her sleeplessness. Another idea is to slow down and do relaxing things an hour before bedtime. You might try a soothing tub bath soak to help relax. One thing that I like to do is to read to my husband while he rubs my feet. It puts us both to sleep. My words get slowed down, slurred, stopped, and then we know it's time to slip under the covers for a good snooze.

Regular sleep time is important. Our bodies are made to function best in regular cycles for eating, sleeping, etc. The vigorous, happy people I know usually have a set time to go to bed--early. Going to bed late and getting up late is a poor way to live.

Also, I find that sleeping on an empty stomach makes for better rest and a more wide awake feeling the next morning as does having the window open some. The fresh air makes for a more refreshing sleep.

So rest your soul by reading God's Word, praying to HIm and trusting in Him. Give Him your worries and cares. Relax in His love. He really does love you.

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This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Rest

2010-01-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed that when you are sick, you usually want to go to bed? Rest is one of the best healers known to mankind. The animals who get sick usually go to a quiet place and rest. Isn't it strange that almost any book one reads about remedies doesn't mention rest.

The lack of rest when one is well leads to sickness. Here are a few principles about rest:

First, one can rest by just changing what they are doing. Different muscles are used; a different way of thinking takes place, and thus relaxation comes.

We can train ourselves to relax. I can't help but think of when lying on the chiropractor's table and he says to relax how I just go limp. But you don't have to lie down to rest. Just taking a walk out-of-doors and breathing in the fresh air brings rest, especially as you thank God for His blessings and ask His help and guidance for any duties you face just ahead. Believe He hears you and will grant your request. As the saying says, "Let go and let God". As you do this, a restful, calming spirit will be yours.

Our world is in a go-go whirl. Many are striving to "get ahead" and so go at a such a fast pace that their health is imperiled. Nervous breakdowns occur. Remember the acronym JOY, standing for Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. Peace of mind is not gotten by always being in a hurry, and hurry often comes from worrying about tomorrow's problems and trying to solve them today.

Try starting your morning with prayer and reading in the Bible. There are many Bible reading schedules available. One of my favorite ones is the One Year Bible. It has portions of the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs for each day. By the end of the year, I've read the Bible through. Then I begin again. It's surprising how each time the Bible is read, one can gain new thoughts and ideas about God and life. It is not something to be read speedily like a novel; rather taking time to think about what is read can give new insights about God, sin, and how it relates to one's own life. And of course, since the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit, one needs to ask for His help in understanding it.

Do have a restful day!

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This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Candida Yeast Remedies

2010-01-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have been searching most everywhere for help on Candid Yeast Infection problems. For sure we know that sugar is out, and we're trying to keep carbohydrates that produce high blood sugar out, but in finding something to help kill the yeast I came across this video on YouTube that was interesting. Dr. Group gives four suggestions at the end that I think we'll try. Mainly they are mycozil, oregano oil, colloidal silver, and lateral flora.

A friend of mine I talked to on the phone today told me of a probiotic product and testimonials that said persons were able to get relief from Candida Yeast Infection just by a strong probiotic. The idea is to give a lot of good bacteria to the intestines that crowd out the bad bacteria. We're going to step up our probiotic intake and see how we do.

Meanwhile, in trying to make a carbohydrate dish with either brown rice or millet, which are carbohydrates that are low in producing blood sugar...

I came across a good recipe for a brown rice waffle:

Soak 1 cup of long grain rice overnight or at least two hours in 1-1/2 cups of water

Place in blender, water and all with 1/2 cup of nuts or ground sesame seeds.
Blend until creamy.

Now add 1/2 cup cooked brown rice, 1-1/4 cup more water, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Blend again.

Pour gently into a hot stick-free waffle iron and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on the number of watts your iron uses.

I find that an 850 watt waffle iron takes about 8 minutes.

Of course, we are working at keeping up the water drinking and the outdoor exercises also figure in the all-round health and wellness we all desire. See you next time.

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This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

What's for Dinner!

2010-01-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

My poor husband has all the symptoms of Candida Yeast overgrowth. From what I learned, to get rid of it he must first "starve" it and then "kill" it. Starving it means to leave off all sugar, and sweet fruit. He can eat grapefruit or Granny apples, but no oranges or bananas (his favorite) or pineapple. Also, he's to leave off any sugar producing starches like potatoes (another favorite), wheat, oats, barley, rye (ouch, that means no old country black bread, another favorite).

Can you imagine what it is like to only be able to eat millet and brown rice for starches! Fortunately, he can eat all the vegetables he wants, trying to keep most of them raw. (He's not into raw leafy green salads too much) Poor guy, he's tired a lot and has lost weight.

The killing of the Candida Yeast overgrowth is to use garlic and oil of oregano, olive leaf extract and things like that.

When he found this out, we had just come from the grocery store with a pineapple, oranges, bananas, and some lettuce. When I eat a banana in the morning, I try to hide it, eating it on the sly, coz I don't want him to see me and yearn for it. Mostly I try to eat what he needs to eat, but the other day I made sourdough bread. It was too good to not eat some of it, and felt sorry for him and slipped him a small piece.

I'm so glad how that sourdough bread turned out. It was the first time that I succeeded at making my own starter with just flour and water left to make its own culture. I got the how-to from the internet at a web site by S. John Ross. The piece was titled "Sourdough Baking: How to Begin" and "The Basics". If I copied it right, his web address is: www.io.com/~sjohn/blue.htm

I like variety in my meals, so I'm racking my brain to think of different ways to use brown rice and millet. I pray about it and I'm blessed with answers. For dinner today, I made brown rice waffles, using raw soaked rice, cooked rice, salt, stevia, and olive oil. For a topping I made a cashew gravy (which was more like a soup without the flour I usually use) and added some steamed chopped carrots and spinach which thickened it nicely. That and a salad was dinner, except then Hubby wanted an egg, so I poached some.

The hardest part of menu planning is that Hubby is allergic to soy and doesn't do well with legumes, and so what do I serve him for protein?? I'm not a meat eater, and he isn't that crazy about it either because of all the disease and chemicals one encounters. All that's left is an egg, seeds and nuts. Having had a heart attack 12 years ago and double by-pass surgery, he shouldn't be eating meat and eggs anyway.

It's time to think about breakfast before going to bed. Maybe Spanish Millet would be good, or that would probably be better for dinner as Spanish Rice. M-m-m, then what to do with the millet... Think I'll sleep on it for now.

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This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Nutrition-2

2010-01-12T20:07:00.000-08:00

Last time I talked about keeping our meals simple. This means the diet should not be impoverished, but nourishing. That's the only way to have good blood which is needed to have good circulation which is needed to have good health. This requires some careful study and thought.

One source of information I found very helpful was from Australia by Barbara O'Neill. She is a nutritionist and nurse, and I believe also a naturopath. Her website is . She has a DVD series of her lectures which cover not only nutrition, but lifestyle requisites for health and vitality. She uses a white board and diagrams on how the body functions, giving reasons for her recommendations. I find her DVDs exceptionally good.

She suggests two meals a day are better than three and that each meal should include fibre, fat and protein: Fibre as in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fat as in coconut oil and olive oil (she spreads olive oil on her bread and sprinkles a little Celtic sea salt on it--I've tried it, it tastes good!), and protein as in nuts, seeds, and legumes (of which there is fibre as well). If a third meal is taken, it should be light so as to be digested before retiring, to give the stomach a rest. It might consist of a piece of fruit and a slice of toast, or some salad and a cracker. I think you get the idea.

She says that white sugar, white bread, and white rice--basically refined foods--are a no, no, and can do a real number on your health. Greasy fried foods are also to be avoided and meat, fish and fowl. Vegan style is best, even eliminating dairy and poultry. It takes some study and planning to do it right, but it is well worth the effort.

For breakfast, we usually eat two to three kinds of fruit, with some whole grain items such as waffles, cereal, muffins, toast, rice or millet. I make a fruit topping with my blender or sometimes cashew gravy to go over the waffles or toast. I like to sprinkle some coconut over that. Then we each have some raw nuts, as much as can be held in our palm with the fingers closed over it. I might put a little olive oil over my toast with a sprinkling of Celtic sea salt. For milk on our cereal I make a cashew or almond milk of 1/4 cup nuts or seeds, 1/3 cup cooked rice or similar, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 3/4 teaspoon of Celtic sea salt blended with 3 to 3-1/2 cups of pure water.

Our second meal consists of a large vegetable salad, a steamed veggie with a nut or legume pattie or loaf and maybe a starch such as potato, brown rice or pasta or bread. That, with another small handful of nuts is very filling and lasts a long time. As a dressing for the salad, I like olive oil, lemon juice and Bragg's Liquid Aminos along with a sprinkling of Italian seasoning. I'm referring to extra virgin, first cold pressing olive oil.

That's all for now. Talk to you later.

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This post is the personal opinion and experience of the writer. I am not a medically trained professional. Please take responsibility for your own health and wellness and consult with a qualified health care professional if you have health concerns.

Nutrition

2010-01-11T20:54:00.000-08:00

Enjoyment or suffering can be traced back to obedience or transgression of natural law. Paul talked about this in Galatians 6:7: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." When we indulge in unhealthful practices, we will experience sickness and possibly death. Conversely, when we choose to exercise good health habits, we can experience vibrant well-being.

Proper nutrition is one of the most important items we need to follow. I think of the old computer term "GIGO"--garbage in, garbage out. Fortunately, God has not left us in the dark. The first diet given to man consisted of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables. (See Genesis 1:29 and 3:18) These foods, prepared as simply and naturally as possible are the most nutritious and healthful. They give better endurance and stronger intellect than a diet that is more complicated and stimulating.

It was not in God's plan to have us eat the flesh of dead animals, to take the life of another creature for food. He wants to bring us back to that original diet and so have healthier bodies and minds that can communicate and fellowship with Him better. What we eat does affect our minds, believe it or not. Haven't you felt foggy minded when you had a digestive upset? I know I have.

We can eat the right foods in a wrong way, too, by making a complicated dish out of it that is difficult to digest. The best way is to eat simple food prepared in a simple way. By this is meant simple, healthful food, raw or properly cooked without a lot of spices, grease, flesh meat, or complicated mixtures.

Raw food is good and should be eaten in larger proportions than warm food. We need both kinds. I heard once that a raw carrot provides more vitamin C than a cooked one, and a cooked carrot provides more vitamin A. But that aside, eating only cold food takes vitality away from the rest of the body to heat up the food in the stomach before it is digested. And there are ways of warming raw food without destroying enzymes. More on that later.

It is also helpful to eat fewer items at a meal and eat them with thanksgiving. A cheerful heart aids in digestion as well.

So, preparing simple, nourishing meals will provide much toward healthy, happy family and guests who dine at your table. Proper nutrition takes some care and thought, but it is well worth the effort involved. Next time we'll discuss some more about the topic. See you then!

Air

2010-01-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

Without food, man would perish in a month or two. Without water, he can't make it more than a few days. But without air, he's done for in a matter of minutes. Air is one of the most vital elements for our existence.

Many people suffer from sicknesses that are caused in part by a lack of oxygen, a big problem being they don't breathe deeply enough. A contributing factor is a lack of good posture--standing or sitting straight so the lungs can have room to fully inhale and exhale.

Not only the brain, but all organs of our body need oxygen to function. Our blood is the transporter of oxygen throughout the body. When we breathe deeply of good fresh air, it provides the red blood cells with oxygen, which is carried to all the tissues. Without oxygen cells begin to die, and in that state are subject to becoming cancerous.

A good way to start the morning is to step outside and take ten deep breaths of fresh air. One exercise I heard about that is supposed to give energy was to take in a deep breath for five counts, hold it for twenty, and breathe out for ten. As you breathe out bend over and give a little cough to completely exhale all the air in your lungs. I have found it invigorating.

Some folk, like myself, live where the winter days can be quite cold. I try waiting until the middle of the day and then go out for a two-mile walk to the little country store and back. About half way there I start feeling a little extra warm as my metabolism speeds up. These walks help lift my spirits on a dull day, and are just plain invigorating. If a day is too nasty, I can open my window a little and walk on the treadmill.

One lady who worked in a doctor's office complained of insomnia. The doctor suggested she go out and walk for a couple of miles each evening before retiring. She did it and was amazed at how such a simple remedy could solve her problem.

Wounds heal more quickly in fresh air. I found that out when at high school graduation I slipped and fell, hitting my shin against a concrete step. I kept a bandage on it, but found it wouldn't heal. It wasn't until I left the wound open to the air that it finally healed up. I still have a faded scar to remind me of that time.

In Genesis 2:7 we read that God formed man from the dust of the earth and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." God desires an intimate connection with man, which is as vital as the air we breathe for an abundant life. "In Him we live and move, and have our being." Acts 17:28.

So go out each day and breathe in life-giving fresh air, and take time to connect with your Creator God. He desires that you might have life (eternal as well as temporal) and that you "may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Temperance

2010-01-03T22:47:00.000-08:00

Temperance. What is it? I like the definition "abstaining from that which is harmful, and using wisely that which is good." The dictionary definition is, "moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control."

Supposing you had a one time interview with the President, what would you talk about? The Apostle Paul had this opportunity when he, a prisoner, was given an audience with the Roman Governor Felix. The incident is recorded in Acts 24:25: "And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance (self-control), and judgment to come, Felix trembled and answered, 'Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.'"

Amazing! Paul thought temperance was that important! And it affected Felix so that he trembled and sent Paul away so he would feel more comfortable.

At the New Year, many make resolutions that never get off the ground, resolutions to stop drinking alcohol, to quit smoking, to never eat a whole box of chocolate candy late at night, or two bags of potato chips at one time. Maybe resolutions are made to spend more time with the children or not waste time watching soaps. And then those resolutions are broken and it seems useless to make resolutions at all.

There is hope. Paul wrote to the Galatians about the fruit of the Spirit of God as a gift to everyone who gives their life to Christ: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control); against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22, 23.

So you can see it's what we are rather than what we try to do. And it's a gift from heaven, yours for the asking.

We have a wonderful God who wants the best for us: "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11.

It all boils down to having a relationship with our Heavenly Father, spending time with Him in His Word (the Bible), talking to Him in prayer, surrendering your life to His molding and letting Him make something beautiful of your life.

Sunshine

2009-12-30T20:15:00.000-08:00

As a babe, my husband, Arthur, was raised in the far north of Alaska at Point Hope, where there was very little sunshine. As a result, he suffered gratly from digestive disorders and slow growth. He needed to absorb vitamins and minerals, a big one being calcium, but not getting enough Vitamin D from the sunshine, caused him misery big time. He was constantly sick with one malady after another.

In those days, about the only main food supplement they knew about was cod liver oil. This was readily available, but for some reason his mother declined to give it to him. When they came to the lower '48 on a furlough, Arthur got better food and lots of sunshine, which allowed him to gain some weight. His digestion straightened up and his bones grew better. Unfortunately, when they returned to Alaska for another government assignment to the Aleutian Islands, it wasn't long until he was sick again.

Later, the family returned to the mainland permanently, and Arthur was able to get well. What a difference a change in diet and more sunshine made!

You've probably heard it said that exposure to sunshine was dangerous and could cause skin cancer. Naturally, one can overdo anything and possibly get cancer. If you are afraid of that, it might encourage you to note that recent studies have discovered that Vitamins C and E can help protect against skin melanoma. Besides a healthy diet, daily exposure to some sun each day is actually quite important to our health and to just feeling good. Even as little as 20 minutes a day of sunshine on one's face can do wonders for a person.

Some benefits of sunshine are mental alertness, help with different types of depression, and lower cholesterol. Sunlight also helps in speeding up the body's circulation, which aids in getting rid of toxins; and increases white blood cells, which are germ fighters. Even a small amount of sunshine kills bacteria.

Sitting behind a closed window to get your sunshine eliminates 95% of ultraviolet radiation, so it's best to open the window for direct sunlight. It's not wise to depend on an artificial way of exposure to sunlight, such as a tanning bed. In fact, too much exposure to such can increase the risk of getting skin cancer.

One scientific paper reported that sunlight can benefit one with a calming and pain-easing effect for arthritis. Years ago a wise man, under inspiration from God, said, "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun." (Ecclesiastes 11:7)

Electrolytes

2009-12-29T22:21:00.000-08:00

Electrolytes help keep fluids balanced in our bodies and cells. They are essential carriers of water, oxygen, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients between the blood, muscles and other tissues. Our bodies use water to transport nutrients all throughout the body. Electrolytes help the nutrient rich fluids penetrate into our cells.

An electrolyte is a mineral that can split into two electrically charged ions when it dissolves in fluids such as blood plasma or water. As it separates into two ions, it interacts with other ions. These combinations are in continuous motion, always changing, and in doing so produce energy.

In long periods of vomiting, or diarrhea, or high fever, electrolytes are destroyed and fluid imbalance occurs. Likewise, when one sweats too much from overworking or exercising, similar results happen. Interestingly, electrolytes can also be flushed out of the body with drinking too much water! Though most people don't drink near enough, rather than too much.

When one is stressed, the increased activity of their organs and glands uses up minerals accordingly, and this diminishes electrolytes as well.

Mineral electrolyte deficiency commonly is from minerals lacking in the soil from which we get our food. Two possible solutions are to better mineralization of soil or else to take a good mineral supplement. The most common way to get electrolytes is in mineral salts such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium. A rich source is in natural unprocessed sea salt. Sea water has about 60% sodium chloride, but also many trace minerals that balance it out, whereas regular table salt is all sodium chloride and imbalanced.

There are some fruits and vegetables that are high in electrolytes: kiwi, bananas, corn, green beans, carrots.

So if you are feeling less energetic, try putting one grain of Celtic Sea Salt on your tongue followed by a 10 ounce glass of water and give your electrolytes a boost.

More on Water

2009-12-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

When we go to the coast my skin soaks up the water like a sponge. Here on the east side of the State of Washington, the weather is so dry that it only takes a dayt for the ground to look dry after a rainfall. Walking on the beach, breathing deep of the fresh ocean air, fills me with good things.

It's amazing how much our skin is able to absorbn water--almost as muchg as we get by drinking water. Buyt don't count on showers for your hydration; you still need to drink water as well.

Of course, the skin doesn't decide on whether the water it is absorbing is full of contamination or not, so it pays to know in what kind of water you are bathing or swimming.

Water (and salt) is needed to help your body digest food. Drinking eight to ten ounces of water half an hour before eating helps the stomach prepare for digestion of food. Also, using water that has natural minerals is to be preferred to distilled water. One way to get around the lack of minerals in distilled water would be to put a grain of Celtic Sea Salt on the tongue before drinking the water.

Problems with acid reflux, constipation, heart burn, and ulcer pain have been relieved by drinking more water. It's amazing the illnesses that can be reduced just by drinking more water! One lady complained that when she drank water her legs swelled. She apparently wasn't absorbing the water she drank. When advised to put a grain of Celtic Sea Salt on her tongue before drinking her water, she found that the minerals in the salt helped her body to absorb the water in her cells and her leg swelling went away. The same process can help one from having to urinate so often when drinking water.

The kidneys are constantly flushing out toxins that build up in our bodies. If they don't have enough water, the urine isn't able to properly flush out the toxins that the kidneys are filtering. One's urine can be a great indicator of toxic build up in the body by cloudiness or a yellow color. What to look for is urine that is clear, pale yellow and odorless. Likewise, urine that is a dark yellow and has a strong smell is a pretty good sign of health challenges.

If you are experiencing muscle cramps, try soaking in a bath of salt water, using a bath sea salt or Epson salts. That is a way of getting your muscles hydrated again.

Remember to drink half your weight in ounces of water and notice the difference in how you feel. Next time, we'll explore electrolytes.

Water

2009-12-16T18:46:00.000-08:00

Just as we need food every day, we need water as well. In fact we can go longer without food than we can without water. Did you know that lack of water can affect our body systems in a harmful way, as in: the joints, brain, skin, lungs, kidneys, blood, heart, circulation, digestion, elimination, muscles, connective tissues.

During the holidays, as we were all leaving our friends’ house to go to church, my husband suddenly got dizzy and fell near the front door, hurting his knee and hand. When we helped him into the house he was still dizzy sitting down or lying down, but minutes after giving him two glasses of water, the dizziness went away.

Another time, when I was having digestive distress, I tried drinking a glass of water, and received relief in record time.

So often we take care to see there’s enough oil in our cars so the engine runs smoothly, but neglect drinking enough water so our joints are lubricated. Water and water soluble nutrients are needed to help the cells build cartilage needed between the joints to keep bone from rubbing against bone and causing irritation and inflammation.

Our brains are almost 75% water. Keeping it hydrated can help to eliminate conditions such as headaches, dizziness, depression, mental fogginess.

The lungs are continually expelling water in each breath we take, and when we are dehydrated, they still try to expel the same amount of water as when we are hydrated. This causes confusion in the lungs as they seek to accommodate with breathing patterns that can lead to shallow rapid breathing, wheezing, coughing, which could eventually promote conditions such as asthma down the road.

Imagine what it would be like to have to slog through mud when you wanted to go anywhere. It would slow you down quite a bit, wouldn’t it. The same thing can happen to the blood stream when it doesn’t get enough water. And the blood is the main way that nutrients are carried to all parts of the body. Without water all the body systems have to work much harder, and you know what happens when something is worked hard—it breaks down sooner than when given good care. You’ve heard of varicose veins, high or low blood pressure and cholesterol. Dehydration is a contributing factor.

Next time we’ll talk some more about water. Meanwhile, have a glassful.

Exercise

2009-12-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard the expression, "Use it or lose it". There's a lot of truth in that. The body was made for movement. I remember reminding my 99-year-old mother to drink her water and to walk about the assisted living facility where she was staying. She protested a little but tried to comply, bless her heart. And I do believe it contributed to lengthening her life.

Exercise can be fun when you do it with music. While there are quite a few exercise DVDs out there, I choose a simple regime of stretching, weight lifting, jumping on the trampoline, walking on the treadmill, and taking a 1-1/2 to 2 mile walk each day. On Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, I start out with stretching, then lift some 3-pound weights and jump on the trampoline. If I have time, I walk a mile on the treadmill and then later walk about another mile up the county road in front of our house. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I start out with stretching, then do an exercise program that Canada put out for their women in the service, finishing off with the trampoline and if there's enough time, the treadmill.

The stretching exercises I use are on a DVD entitled "Stretching with Jacques Gauthier and Dorothee Lavoie" The description on the DVD case reads "It makes no difference how old you are or what condition you're in...This complete program of 15 exercises is specifically designed for maximum results" If you're interested in getting the DVD, the information given is I find them good for loosening up for the rest of the exercises.

I got some arm weight exercises from a local gym. The trainer gave me about six papers from his notebook. On the trampoline, I run in place, holding 1-1/2 pound weights for 500 counts (each time the left foot hits the trampoline is one count), then, putting the weights down I jump in place for another 100 counts, both feet together. The Royal Canadian Air Force XBX Plan is what I use for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday routine, instead of the weight lifting exercises. The book I have was reprinted last in 1973, so if you wanted a copy, it might be on Google.com or maybe Information Canada at Ottawa. They start you out at a lower level and gradually build up the exercises according to your age. I got up to Level 30 on chart 3 and have stayed there, which is for ages 26-30.

So there you have what I do and have found beneficial. Whatever exercise program you decide to follow, go after it with gusto. You'll be way ahead in your health and will feel a heap better than if you don't.

Raw Kids in the Kitchen

2009-11-02T00:20:00.000-08:00

~by Guest Blogger, Cynthia Zirkwitz

Finally, children, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable –

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –

think about these things. Phil 4:8 NIV

Are there sweets 'landmined' in various niches and crannies of your house? If so, have you noticed a difference in your children’s behaviours and physical affects? Have they noticed a difference? (Some “new” behaviours and affects might be tummy aches, sniffles, sore throat, hyperactivity, whininess, aggression, toothache, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, hives, itchiness, bladder infections, bad breath, pimples, cold sores, canker sores, fatigue, etc. etc.) All that sugar and other not-good-for-you stuff can cause havoc for the immune system too of course. Perhaps it is time to start reverting back (or introducing) a healthier way of eating. You don’t have to go whole hog here, but nourish with some good fresh, ripe, raw veggies and fruits and trash the leftover sweeties (sugar-infused holidays are always coming up, nobody will suffer deprivation for long, right?)

To make things more fun, here are a couple of links for delicious, de-yummy raw kid recipes to try… the first is from a raw uncookbook for kids 6-12 that you can watch by scrolling about 1/2 to 3/4 down the screen to the video that shows the two little girls who are helping their mom with the prep of some fantastic afterschool snacks– orange nutballs. The other link is for a recipe for delicious ‘strawberry ice creem‘ that is almost too tasty to be believable as a ‘living’ (healthy) food. Both recipes are sweet without any added processed sweeteners. Notice how you feel providing truly healthy treats for your little ones!

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Cynthia Zirkwitz is an avid Blogger blogger. You can find her posts at Raw Genesis.blogspot.com and Gotta-Be-Gluten-Free.com

Eight Laws of Health

2008-03-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

There are eight simple laws of health that can enrich anyone's life. They can be written as an acronym NEW START:

Nutrition
Exercise
Water
Sunshine
Temperance
Air
Rest
Trust in Divine power

Some people like to add two more:

Attitude of gratitude
Benevolence

Commenting on nutrition, a simple way to plan meals is to have a breakfast of fruits and grains. For lunch, or some people call it dinner, have a large salad with a small amount of protein food. Then at supper, have a smaller meal of one steamed veggie, a raw veggie and a slice of bread. Or, make it a fruit meal--one or two raw fruits and a piece of toast, or maybe popcorn.

Simple and likely to cause you to lose weight if you need to.

Next time, I'll touch on Exercise. See ya!

Healthseeker