Daniel Fast Verses Moses Diet

I believe that fasting can be a very powerful tool if done with pure intentions, in our private relationship with Christ. As it says in the Bible, (Matthew 6:17,18) "But when you fast...(fast)so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." There can be much bodily healing, cleansing and devotion that can come as a result of the fasting process, as proven in the Bible. It will also jump start certain bodily organs--such as the liver, stomach and intestines that regularly do cleansing, but can retain unwanted "sludge" so inconspicuously as our daily meals slither on through.

Fasting can restart our thought process dramatically. In our current society, our minds can get overpowered in feeding the dependency of the caffeine/yeast/sugar/fats that our bodies normally get on a regular basis, that we don't have the clariety to FULLY focus on life, much less our faith walk. As seen with many people who need their choice of drink or candy bar snack each day; our minds can get so pre-occupied with getting our next "food fix", that we don't realize how much of the day we spend thinking about that, rather than about our mission for Christ. A fast helps "reset the table" for our "daily feast" with the Lord.

There is a current "fasting" trend that is hitting the blog, twitter and facebook realms very heavily in the past few months. Here's just one of the many BLOGS I've read on it: THE DANIEL FAST. Tweeting about the Daniel Fast? Here you go: TWITTER! There is even a FACEBOOK Daniel Fast web page that you can join the ranks of: FACEBOOK . Here is a quick run down on the fast from http://www.daniel-fast.com/about.html :
1. Only fruits and vegetables 2. Only water for a beverage 3. No sweeteners or breads 4. No yeast 5. no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals

I believe that this fast is a great example of a "modified fast" (as opposed to HARDCORE fasting, just involving water) for a short period of time. People do it to restart their bodies, while looking forward to their return of "normal life eating". People feel good consuming vegetables and fruits which are plumb full of detoxers, vitmins and minerals, along with magnesium that is a natural bowl cleanser. However, in long term eating, our body was made to function at it's best, alongside these vegetables, in "protein" mode; the greatest resource of this being from the complete protein found in meats, especially clean beef. Hence, the reason for our "canine teeth" given to us by God, and the reason God gave us to "EAT ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A SPLIT HOOF DIVIDED IN TWO and that chews the cud. Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat ANY THAT HAS FINS AND SCALES" Deuteronomy 14:6,9 Why did God take the time to suggest a food guideline? As a suggestion towards discovering good health for use in being a superior Christ follower. Without complete proteins and clean animal fats, our bones/joints will get frail and our muscle, organ and blood cells will not rebuild themselves properly. Many people are finding themselves to be anemic and deficient in iron because of their lifestyle fasting of consuming mostly just fruits and vegetables.

While I retain my stance that the Daniel Fast is a blessing to both onself and God for short periods of time; I strongly believe that a lifestyle eating habit change can be a more effective tool to serve God in the long run. With the Daniel fast, you have a set goal to "look forward to" in returning to processed foods; with a Moses Diet...that's the way life is....take it or leave it. With the Moses diet, it's pretty much the EXACT SAME THING as the Daniel Fast, but you retain optimal health through the continued eating of UNPROCESSED dairy and CLEAN grass-fed meats, and occasional NATURALLY-OCCURING sweeteners which are full of trace minerals if consumed raw (honey, maple syrup). Then, on the Moses Diet, you are so close to already doing a DANIEL FAST, that you may find it more benificial to do a water fast to be cleansed from impurities for short, but meaningful periods of time.

SO....What is the Moses Diet? Here's an excerpt from my previous BLOG POSTING, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT:

In Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb, pg 27, he writes, "Moses ate HONEY, OIL, COW BUTTER, MILK OF SHEEP, LAMBS, RAMS and GOATS, SHEEP, and GRAPE JUICE(Deut. 32:13-14).... He ate plenty of QUAIL (Ex. 16:13)"...and in future tense, refers to "the increase of the fields", or PRODUCE. At 120, Moses still had the strength and eyesight of his youth" pg 26.

"Then God said, 'I give you EVERY SEED-BEARING PLANT on the face of the whole earth and EVERY TREE THAT HAS FRUIT WITH SEED IN IT. They will be yours for food.'" Genesis 1:29

"You may EAT ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A SPLIT HOOF DIVIDED IN TWO and that chews the cud. Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat ANY THAT HAS FINS AND SCALES. You may eat ANY CLEAN BIRD." Deuteronomy 14: 6, 9, 11

So, what is the biggest difference between present day Christians, many sickly at ages 40, 50, 60, etc, and Moses? Our diet and the diets of our parents and grandparents--what we eat, and in the forms we eat it. From all of the above verses, one can understand how to get many of the nutrients our bodies need: by eating Unsprayed FRUIT & Vegetables, RAW Wholemilk DAIRY, most CLEAN (ORGANIC) MEATS, raw natural sweeteners, raw nuts/seeds, ColdPressed oils and WHOLE GRAINS in their MOST NATURAL STATES-- the foods that God intended us to eat.

Contrary to popular belief, God does not mention and Moses did not ingest things like: sugar, high fructose corn syrup, growth hormones and immunizations in beef and dairy, soda-pop, preservatives, enriched flour, vegetables and fruits that are genetically altered, pesticides, herbicides, chemical dyes or MSG.

So, in contrast, the Daniel fast is eating the foods God specifically created for us for a short period of time, then returning to a typical American diet. The Moses Diet is eating the foods God specifically designed for our bodies day in and day out, only VERY occasionally eating out/eating the typical American diet. Fast food, candy bars, pastry products, sugar cereals, bottled drinks, etc are the exception, rather than the daily/weekly "norm". Please consider a Moses Diet, instead of just Daniel Fasting here and there. While fasting is good to restart the body, the Moses Diet was designed to sustain it. If you take your daily diet a step further, along with your choice of fasting style a step further....you are THAT much closer to your biblical ancestors and to you Savior's lifestyle!

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

Aaaaah, Sugar, Sugar

WARNING: This video is STRICTLY for entertainment--no educational aspect to it whatsoever! (Well.....I guess it DOES make an interesting connection between sugar and the harmful effects it has on the human body!!)

"The chemical formula for cocaine is C17H21NO4. Sugar’s formula is C12H22O11. For all practical purposes, the difference is that sugar is missing the 'N', or nitrogen atom... Sugar has 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, 11 oxygen atoms, and absolutely nothing else to offer.' ..."

"...Today we have a nation that is addicted to sugar. In 1915, the national average of sugar consumption (per year) was around 15 to 20 pounds per person. Today the average person consumes his/her weight in sugar, plus..... corn syrup"

Both of the above quotes were taken from http://macrobiotics.co.uk/sugar.htm

Contrary to popular belief, sugar doesn't stay in your body only long enough to go through your bloodstream and digestive tract. Sugar can be stored for years as deposits in organs, bones, teeth, muscle tissues, and fat cells--leading to associated health problems in us. What we put into our body on a daily basis, can affect our health and disposition for the remainder of our lives, along with being passed on to our children at the cellular level!

How processed forms of sugar can effect the human body:

• lower the immune system
• negatively effect pancreatic function leading to diabetes
• turn into fat cells leading to obesity
• has even been found to have a positive correlation to 8 forms of cancer: colon, breast, rectum, ovary, prostate, kidney, nervous system, and pancreas (Haas EM. The Detox Diet, 1996: 48-55)
• spikes and drops blood sugar levels throughout the day, which can contribute to several health problems that you wouldn't suspect a connection to sugar: anxiety, aggression sleeplessness, emotion problems, overeating and problems controlling the good bacteria/bad yeast levels in our digestive system.

Believe it or not, the damaging effects of sugar on the body are supposed to closely mirror that of cocaine, except the damages from cocaine are detected faster and take less time to reverse. (it take years to reverse health conditions associated with sugar, but it IS possible with a certified master herbalist)

Yes, it may SEEM like you could quit eating sugar/simple carbohydrates if you "chose to", but actually TRY doing it! People who have gone through all-forms of sugar detoxing (processed white, corn syrup, simple carbs, etc) for weeks at a time, have complained about crawling the walls with anxiety, along with having withdrawal symptoms of headaches, exhaustion, excess hunger, anger, heat flashes, fevers, loose stools, and heightened cravings. If a "food" can do this to me when I decide to quit eating it, my conscience tells me it's probably more of a "drug" than a food. So, why is it legal and IN virtually everything processed that we buy from the grocery store? I assume they keep it legal to appease to consumers, sellers, and processors! Imagine if they pulled all the foods off the grocery store shelves containing processed forms of sugar--there would be a shocking out cry from society! But, there would also be a decrease in the "need" for immunizations, clinics, medications, and "diets"! It is IN almost everything, to attract the customers who have a "sweet tooth".

Since the average person consumes 20-25% of his/her calories from some form of refined sugar(Lick the Sugar Habit, Nancy Appleton, PhD), let's take a closer look at what sugar does to the body:

"If you were to look at a drop of your blood under a microscope following sugar consumption, your white blood cells become increasingly immobile based upon the amount of sugar consumed. The more sugar, the less protection the body has against illnesses. During our 'sugar celebrations' (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Super Bowl, Valentines and Easter), the body really gets overloaded," (and may take several days to recover, while in the mean time, lowers your immune system, playing host to bacteria and viruses.) Could this be A CAUSE of why people tend get more colds, viruses, bacterial infections, and the flu....rather than getting them just because it's "colder" outside and we're indoors more? If you think about it, "The average American kid consumes 330 pounds of refined sugars every year--that's nearly half a pound a day--by way of soft drinks. A body in good health will have the stamina to handle such a challenge (a soda now and then), but the average kid is drinking 3-7 cans a day!" so, if we INCREASE this amount as we go to celebrations that promote eating and snacking (most of the time on sugary ones) the results may bring along more sickness than normal--taken from Health Quarters Monthly newsletter.

"Even if we meet the RDA of vitamins and minerals, but we also eat sugar, the sugar changes our body chemistry and our cells can't fully benefit from the vitamins and minerals. For example, researchers have found that ingesting sugar increases the rate at which we excrete calcium. Calcium depletion makes bones fragile and leads to osteoporosis." (Lemann J. 1967, Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 70:236-45)

This week we took a look at the effects of processed sugars on the human body, which "is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God 1 Corinthians 6:19. In the following weeks, we will take a look at sources of processed sugar, alternatives to sugar, and things we can take to help our bodies deal better with sugar, if we plan to occasionally eat it.

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

Why Organic?

PLEASE PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER TO BOTTOM RIGHT BEFORE LISTENING TO THE VIDEO. THANKS!!

Why Organic???

This question comes at our family from all angles, at all times. Yes, this video may be a humorous, but there is some truth in it. Although people try to save money here and there in their grocery bills, is this really the place we should be trying to conserve our money in? You may not think there is a connection between foods and health, but I encourage you to checkout the mind-blowing, life-changing full-length movie You Are What You Eat , and visit my BLOG link here as well. (you can purchase it at the website: http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp/Buy%20The%20DVD, or borrow it from our family if you live in the Sioux Falls vicinity--although there is a waiting list!)

Foods didn't have to carry a label of "organic" in the past.....additives have been slowly added over the past century without our initial consent, and without long-term studies on their possible effects! Pesticide, herbicide, & fungicide chemical sprays--even food coloring can be added without your consent (red apples, strawberries, etc can legally be sprayed with chemical coloring for added appearance, because if it's not organic, there are no regulations against this!) In fact, foods can be genetically modified by producers now days, and not have to be labeled as such! In the BIBLE, it reads: "In all your ways (including diet!!!) acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:6, 8. If we are eating foods that have chemical sprays on them or have been genetically modified, we are not eating foods that are purely God's creation--which makes it difficult for one to argue that we are COMPLETELY acknowledging Him in eating it.

But we know these additives are in there, and our bodies will hold us accountable for what we put inside them on a daily basis. HOWEVER, IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR PEOPLE TO OVERLOOK THESE ADDITIVES OR THEIR EFFECTS ON THE BODY, though, since 150 YEARS AGO FOOD DID NOT INCLUDE THESE ADDITIVES! But, that doesn't mean our body will be OK with it over the course of our lifetime! The liver, which was designed in us to filter toxins from the body, can get "full" or "sluggish" and thus show signs of breakdown, even at early ages. God created our livers to be only SO resilient, and we already breathe chemicals daily in the air as exhaust, bug sprays, yard sprays...not including then, the chemicals on our foods and medications we ingest.

Flavor: our daughters are used to eating organic fruits and vegetables and can tell when they're non-organic by the taste. We had gone to an "event" where someone gave them individual packages of what they thought to be "organic carrots", or so we were told. The girls each took a bite out of a carrot, and gave me various reasons why they didn't want to eat it, "mama, this doesn't taste right", "Mommy, this is icky", and our 15 month old took a bite, spit it out and let the package fall to the ground as she walked away. I wouldn't call this being "choosy" or being "spoiled", but rather "aware". They know what doesn't taste right or natural as the way God made it...as I did in the past without realizing it! I never much like raw vegetables or fruit...I needed the natural sugars from being cooked mask the chemical taste--by cooking or sauteing vegetables and fruit, you can acheive a taste to overpower the chemical sprays. Now that I eat organic, I can find myself actually grabbing for a bowl of raw broccoli, bag of raw carrots, or even a raw asparagus spear or two for snacks and actually enjoying it!

Allergic reactions: my sister had gone through most of life not eating certain vegetables because she would get a scratchy and swollen throat soon after wards. Seeing how our girls benefited from organic vegetables in improving their health, she decided to take a chance and buy an organic package of carrots while shopping one day. She was so thrilled to be able to finally eat carrots without any health problems resulting! No matter how much you try to "wash off" chemical spray residue, it has been a part of the fruit/vegetable since it's beginning, and is then a part of it's very core!

Dairy and Meat: (apology for the graphic explanation...didn't know of any other comparison) if a woman nursing a baby can pass medications down through her milk, why do people think this is any different from cow's milk and dairy? I once heard that one glass of non-organic milk can have as many as 40 different hormones, antibiotics and medications in it from all the different farm co-ops that produce/mix their milk together. AGAIN, just because you heat treat it to kill the GOOD and BAD bacteria, this doesn't mean you can filter out those additives that are a part of the core product. My nephew that I watched for the first 3 years of his life was born with a severe dairy allergy, and can now safely drink organic dairy because of working with a master herbalist and since organic dairy has no additives. Many people with dairy intolerance might find themselves being able to drink raw or organic milk just fine, because the source of their sensitivity lies within these additives/processing methods as well.

Dairy hormones can lead to early onset of puberty and can create problems with imbalances as an adult (you would not believe all the cases of people writing in with questions on hormone imbalances and problems--chances are that you know someone!) Antibiotics can, over time, create an increase in antibiotic resistance and also lead to yeast problems in children and adults, which causes a host of health issues ranging from yeast infections, skin disorders, infertility, along with many, many others. (You don't think you or your family has a problem with this? Please decide after you view the 4th quote down in this BLOG: Quotes from "He's Not Autistic, But..." by Tenna ... )

Just because something is generally accepted by society, does not mean it is the best thing to do, or that it is pleasing to God. We acknowledge Christ in our daily lives with prayer, fellowship, singing/humming, attire, parenting, marriage, finances, Bible reading, and actions--why not our stomachs as well?

STILL not convinced? For further explanation of additive effects, please check out this Dr. Mercola newsletter that was published just this week: Monsanto's Roundup Residues Cause Cell Damage

******None of the above statements have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All of the information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. This BLOG should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

The "EXTRAS" In Our Home

(In my BLOGS, PINKS are LINKS, click on them to find more info)
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.
I struggled in trying to find a verse to relate to today's topic, and what came to mind was this one, only because of how common it is for people to have common things in their house that can be hazardous to their health....but taken in small amounts go virtually unnoticed. Just because a substance doesn't show IMMEDIATE effects, does that make it any safer? Well, in my book the answer would be "no". If someone told me that rat poison would not bother me when rubbed on my skin in small amounts, and instead would soften my skin, make it look younger and make me smell good--I'm still going to stick to my safe products, even if I never see vibrant or sweet-smelling skin!

Whether there is truth in the beauty comment or not, it is irrelevant since I know at what expense I would be obtaining this beauty at! I may not notice IMMEDIATE signs of the poison and I may get healthier "looking" skin! But taking what knowledge I know about poison, I am not going to take that chance. The same goes for any lotions, cleaners, lip balm, perfumes, antacid relievers, room fresheners, fabric softeners, etc.....if you can't pronounce the ingredients, or if they contain artificial ANYTHING, I would be hesitant to use it if you haven't done an in-depth study on the long-term effects YOURSELF. Yes, they say they tested them, and you would like to trust everyone, but it says in the BIBLE: Psalms 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. THERE ARE SAFE, NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO THESE THINGS, but you have to search for them!

• ROOM FRESHENERS, PERFUMES, LOTIONS: essential oils are natural, and were used in the BIBLE for several purposes: (Exodus 35:28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.) There are several pleasant smelling essential oils in nutrition stores that even have "testers" that you can smell before you buy: LAVENDER, JASMINE, ROMAN CHAMOMILE, and GRAPEFRUIT, are great for body scents as perfumes and for mixing into natural lotions; CINNAMON LEAF, PEPPERMINT, LEMON, work great in PLUG-IN ESSENTIAL OIL DIF FUSERS. Natures Sunshine even has an inexpensive CITRUS FRESH DIFFUSER KIT, that comes with 3 oils and a diffuser. The difference between essential oils and "common" room fresheners, perfumes and lotions is that they are not made out of chemicals that accumulate over the years to cause body function disruptions and health problems. They are used in the Bible, and are beneficial to the body. Here's a great ESSENTIAL OILS GUIDE!(click on words!)
• CLEANERS: I use clear, cheap/gallon Vinegar with my laundry in the rinse cycle as a fabric softener and to get out any chemicals that my natural laundry soap missed. This also works well as a window/glass cleaner or a paste mixed with baking soda to scrub grimy spots. I also use an ENZYME SPRAY that is plant-based and breaks down the molecular structure of food stains, deodorizes anything, and works great as a toilet cleaner by breaking down the "crud". We use SUNSHINE CONCENTRATE for basically all the rest because I absolutely love the fresh smell it has and the multiple uses it carries with it: a bubble bath that leaves no bathtub ring, a shampoo that doesn't irritate eyes by shutting off tear duct sensors like Johnson's "no tears", a cleaner for anything indoors or out, a dish soap, and a laundry booster and detergent. MIRACLE II SOAP is also a very versatile soap, being used from anything in the bath to the laundry to the dishes! It also was made with PRAYER as an ingredient, how cool is that.... Here's the link: MIRACLE II SOAP
• ACID RELIEF: Our girls and I love STOMACH COMFORT CHEWABLES, or TUMMY YUMMIES as our girls call it. It not only aids in digestion, but also promotes it by gradually building enzymes instead of breaking them down like commercial antacids do. Although, keep in mind that everyday heartburn is a warning sign God gives our bodies that we are lacking enzymes from eating processed foods.
• ENZYMES: Most people avoid these because they aren't sure how they work, or which ones to pick. In truth, they are essential to maintaining good health because you need enzymes in order to break down foods to get the nutrients out! Our body should naturally have these, but in many cases, these enzymes are destroyed by our processed food choices, so then have to be supplemented or else seek assistance in re-building them from a natural health practitioner. Natures sunshine offers an ENZYME BROCHURE to cover the types, and how each type of enzyme works. Basic FOOD ENZYMES provide a blend of these essential enzymes. Otherwise there are: PROTEASE for breaking down protein, HI LIPASE for breaking down lipids, or fats, and LACTASE for breaking down lactose. Viruses and bacteria can actually LIVE in our intestine for days at a time, thus keeping the symptoms around. When our 2 year old daughter was diagnosed with RSV by her doctor and was told she'd take 5-10 days to get over it, I began reading up on natural remedies. I gave her enzymes to break down the virus as I had read. By the next day she was feeling better and was fully recovered by day 3! Don't underestimate the power of Enzymes!
• SADNESS, EMOTIONS, TRAUMATIC EVENTS: I absolutely love my "EMOTIONAL SUPPORT" Drops and carry them in my purse everywhere, and when I travel. It helps with not being able to sleep due to too many thoughts and stress, it helps in coping with funerals and death (helped me immensely in my grandmother's death this past month!), it helps with not bawling like a baby over sappy movies, it helps in dealing with break-ups...basically anything that causes sadness! Try it out! Take 3-5 drops for a quick fix, take 5-10 drops hourly for traumatic events--made completely out of the herbs: Blackberry, Buckthorn Bark, Ginseng, Nettle, Oat Groats, and Violet flower essences.
• MUSCLE ACHES, HEAD ACHES, ANTISEPTICS: I love my Epsom salts, and always have a container in our bathroom cabinet to put in baths to relax and to soak painful extremeties! Pick them up for under $10 while you're grocery shopping or at any convenience store. Also, FORMULA 303, found at many nutrition stores, works as an aspirin would--muscle spasms, nervousness, stress headaches, back and body aches--only with safe and natural ingredients!
• SILVER SHIELD: helps with skin problems and itchy irritations or can be taken internally to assist with detoxification and cleansing to rid the body of allergens and sensitivities. We also use this as a spray-on moist, to kill moldy areas of our house since we live in a 1910 home.
• Chapped lips, cuts and scrapes, diaper rash, dry, irritated skin calls for: CALENDULA OINTMENT! Yes, you green thumbs will recognise that Calendula officinalis is actually the flower MARIGOLD, so YES this ointment is made out of something natural! Just be sure to check if has petroleum in it if you get it from somewhere other than the link!
• SNACKING, A SWEET TREAT and a MEAL REPLACEMENT: These wonderful "Quest" Protein Shakes have a permanent place on our kitchen cupboard shelf for a number of reasons! Our family loves these TASTY "treats" as a non-sugar snack replacement for ice cream shakes, for a quick high protein breakfast to keep tummies full for hours, and to substitute for when we are unable to have meat for a meal (just add a few fruits or veggies to give you your daily need!). Our bodies need such a large amount of protein daily to repair and maintain body tissues, and children need large amounts to grow well and develop proper body systems! I have compared it to commercial protein shakes, and it doesn't even compare! These shakes have a naturally low sugar content (check the label for "sugar grams": ours has 1.5, derived from a natural herb sweetener called stevia!), a large amount of protein, has a full spectrum of amino acids, is derived from WHEY--a product known to be used in past decades to heal a number of health ailements, and is low glycemic--so metabolically balanced! Right now they have a special of buy one container, get half off of the next...chocolate, vanilla, berry, banana and orange flavors. If you would like me to put in an order for you, I would love to combine shipping with mine to save us both money. Otherwise, call toll-free 1-877-543-3522 and ask for Harold as a new customer. I have had multiple conversations with Harold, the maker of "Quest", over the past months and have found him to be a very personable, professional and trustworthy person!

Well, I think that is a good start for now. I will be going into these more specifically over the next few months, but at least for now you have a list you can go over to see what changes you can afford or wish to make. One helpful hint that was passed on to me by a reader: they bookmark the different lists I have given to you as a resource for easy finding! Just click on the title, and then the individual http address for that particular BLOG pops up on the top. Add it to your favorite addresses to view later when you are ready to add another item to your herb drawer, medicine cabinet, childrens snack cupboard or extras closet! Enjoy and thank you for reading!!!

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

Herbs 101

Before Beginning, please read or review: "my medicine cabinet" BLOG (click on words) for background knowledge!



Ezekiel 47:12"Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Herbs can be compared to foods, but not medications. They are not made out of chemicals like most medications, but rather work as a "super-food"---assimilating quicker and working deeper than most any food can. Specific herbs support, feed and cleanse the body, working GRADUALLY to eliminate built-up toxins and re-build vital tissues, thus producing noticeable changes. The speed at which you notice the change is directly influenced by the nutrients you regularly ingest, the level of damage on the tissues present, and the inherited capabilities of your body. As the body cleanses, it will generally remove these through the bowels...producing softened or loose stools. However, if the respiratory system cleanses, it will come out in the form of mucus from the sinuses or lungs, which makes it quite natural and a blessing to have a runny nose....the body is cleansing itself from an intruder!

Herbs provide a nutritive substance to the body, something that no drug can do. Pharmaceuticals were originally derived from herbs, but are now mostly made out of chemicals, producing "relief" to the body by sending it into shock. Since the body cannot recognise a medication as a food, the stomach sends it directly into the circulatory system, instead of through the proper channel of the Liver, which was designed in us to filter toxins before allowing them to go on to the vital organs of the body. The drugs by-pass all the filtering systems, and thus do "as they please" to other parts of our body. Symptoms of Medication usage are gradual, and most likely start as small side effects: dependency over a long period of time (either needing it daily or here and there a few times....but it will increase as the use increases), by gradually starting other symptoms that will become visable in a few months or few years time, or by leading to another need of a medication.....thus finding at age 60 how easy it is for people to be on 5-10 medications daily!

We know from the Bible that Herbs have been given to us for healing purposes. So, you may be asking... "Do I go out and find a leaf in my yard to rub on?" No, not exactly, although if you have an herb garden, it may be beneficial with the right plant! Herbs can be bought in several forms: I have bought it in dried bulk, capsules, liquid, teas, tinctures, extracts, salves, and in root form--depending upon what you would need it for. They can be used for building and maintaining bodily tissues by feeding and cleansing the body. If you go through a natural health practitioner as I do, you would be given a "healing program" to rid the body of a specific problem, and told what form to buy the herb in. When going straight to the source of the problem, you will be eliminating the symptoms as well! Otherwise, with a little herb knowledge from a book like: Prescription for Herbal Healing: A Reference to Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies by Phyllis A. Balch, you can try to treat "symptoms" of health problems as they arise. But, please keep in mind that you are only relieving symptoms--not the SOURCE of the problem, so you will continue to exhibit symptoms to relieve once again, shall they arise.

• My daughter, Sage, was given a dried bulk herb next to her bedside in a "breathable" material that she would breath throughout the night as she slept when she was 9 months old...thus helping her to sleep better. Worked like a charm! That was the first night she slept through the night since she was born.
• My other daughter, Sophie, was to swallow CORNSILK HERB CAPSULES to treat a bladder/urinary tract infection this past year. She never got an antibiotic for it, but only used cornsilk capsules and cranberry juice to treat it. She recovered within a day and was happily bouncing around again! I also relieved INFECTION this past fall with a specific herb capsule .... I had thick red infections lines running up about 4 inches from my fevered and hard infection spot. I took GOLDEN SEAL, every hour for about 2 days when I found myself to be fully relieved of symptoms!
• I have always had asthma attacks and breathing problems, up until starting to eat organic foods these past few years.....now I very rarely will have difficulties, unless I breath in chemicals like varnish or harsh cleaners. When I do have breathing problems, I will use the LIQUID form of LOBELIA ESSENCE from Natures Sunshine , to rub on my lung area...getting complete relief within 10-15 minutes by taking Co enzyme-Q10 as well, if it's a really bad one.
• Teas are used by our house for several reasons: illnesses, building immunity, constipation, sleeping better, or for improving brain functioning like my dear husband. Hy-Vee Health Market has a wide variety of Celestial Brand Herbal Teas that help relieve many types of health issues.

Now that you know what forms that herbs come in, I'm going to share with you the herbs I always keep on hand, and would encourage you to BUILD UP TO having this list as well, if you desire to treat symptoms and illnesses with herbs. I put them as links to the Natures Sunshine Website, only because I know the company upholds a high, Christian standard for finding and processing herbs. You may buy these herbs from most ANY company you desire, but keep in mind, if you do not know the company's morals, they may be selling you an herb with fillers and little nutrition--when I have an infection, I want to be able to trust that the Golden seal herb I buy will be potent enough to fight it off and not allow the infection to get worse! I will gladly order it for you with my discount, and not charging you anything beyond what I pay myself, otherwise you are free to pick up these herbs at any nutrition store. I would not reccomend buying herbs at conveinence stores.... if you decide to go "cheap" you may have side effects from the fillers they put in them, along with your health issue you took the herb for in the first place!

GOLDEN SEAL -- taken daily to build immune system, take hourly to work as a Pro-biotic to fight infection
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL--Take 1-2 after eating processed foods and chemical exposure to help absorb and rid the body of toxins and foods difficult to digest
BIFIDOPHILUS FLORA FORCE (ACIDOPHILUS) -- take each evening to improve overall immune system functioning by putting good bacteria into intestines. Aids digestion.
BLACK WALNUT CAPSULES and BLACK STRAP MOLASSES(1 Tbl)-- works together to eliminate sugar cravings if taken throughout the day, helps relieve yeast infections if taken hourly. Black Walnut also RIDS the BODY of PARASITES.
Abundant blessings CALENDULA SALVE-- soothing, healing and rebuilding properties for skin problems; be sure it does not contain petroleum!!
PSORIAFLORA CREAM --found at most nutrition stores--use for itchy, red, irritated, dry or eczema skin....this even got rid of a huge fungus/Ringworm patch I got diagnosed with and tried using before the drug prescribed!
FENUGREEK & THYME Capsules --Supports the respiratory system, relieves congestion by thinning mucus, soothes irritated respiratory tissue. Take hourly for congestion relief.
LBS II CAPSULES & LB EXTRACT(liquid for kids)-- Herbal Laxative, encourages regularity (your intestines can hold 3 typically-sized meals worth of food, so you should be eliminating 3x a day so that the toxins you breathe, and processed foods you eat do not "sit" in bowels to cause future colon problems). Only sold by Natures Sunshine.
LIQUID CHLOROPHYLL --Helps strengthen cells and cleanses blood system. We mix 1 tsp a day to drink in water, since we do not get chlorophyll naturally from eating a lot of raw vegetables. We drink a Tabl. of this with water to ease the stomach with indigestion or flu-like illnesses. Interestingly, the chlorophyll molecule is chemically similar to human blood, except that its central atom is magnesium, whereas that of human blood is iron.
MAGNESIUM COMPLEX--promotes musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health, especially during exercise. Provides relief to muscle aches. Take 1 a day to maintain bodily functions, or else take 2-3 at a time for muscle aches. (The heart, brain and kidneys cannot function without adequate levels of this nutrient)
COLLOIDAL LIQUID MINERALS -- Found in raw vegetables and fruit (if organic) otherwise one can get it from city water and non-organic foods at the expense of also ingesting chemicals to have to go through the liver. We use a "REVERSE OSMOSIS" unit that strips the water of everything, and then add in a TBL. to each gallon of R.O. water to replenish stripped minerals. Can also be put directly on skin BURNS to relieve pain. Will maintain proper thickness/thinness of BLOOD.

You know your body best, what your greatest needs are ..... so maybe start with that particular herb and build up as you gain knowledge or have different symptoms of a health problem! Good Luck, and may the LORD be with you on your journey to better health!!!

IN CHRIST, WHOL-E-HERBSTER

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent practitioner. ******

You Are What You Eat--Part 2

Note to reader: when reading something that is very "off" to what you have traditionally believed in, it is only natural to get defensive and discount information. However, please take to heart this Bible verse: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," James 1:19. Please read this BLOG in its entirety, and know that the writer originally had these thoughts as well. Thank you.

In Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb on pg 24 & 25, it says "Do not be a fool about disease. Find out the truth (2 Tim. 2:15) and then live by it (Jn. 8:32)" and also "The body does not produce disease. All disease has a cause behind it (Prov. 26:2). All disease is caused either by something entering the body which should not be there (toxins, chemicals, germs, smoke), or by vital nutrients being deprived from the body, or by a combination of the two. The cause of degenerative disease is nutritive by nature. (The answer to children who are born sick or diseased is to be found in the state of health of their parents:" "He (the Lord) punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:7 )

WOW! HOW POWERFUL IS ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS ARE! Of course, if we all followed this idea, then we would have to be held accountable for our own health--and IT IS EASIER to follow the modern idea that our health is what just HAPPENS to us instead. BUT let's, forget the past and look to the future: you can be the only one to improve the conditions your body is currently in by how you continue to eat!

Now, please do not take any of this out of context, because I am not judging anyone, and I do not say that so-and-so has this health problem because of what they eat...I am a very compassionate person towards people who are suffering! I grew up knowing full well what is was like to be living in an achy, sore and diseased body....ask any one of my school friends how sick I was! I ALSO realize that some people have not connected eating habits to health, while others listen to what many other people in this country say about our health, and still others received diseases from past generations....why condone what I was doing myself only a few years back? After all, only a 3 years ago, I used to make cinnamon rolls every Sunday morning for breakfast, while alternately buy donuts for other days, order pizza at least once a week, make boxed meals the rest of the week, and enjoy snack cakes and cherry coke throughout the week as afternoon snacks. (The phospheric acid, alone in soda drinks decalcifies the body, Tabb, pg 53)

One believer may say, "well, we are not under the dietary laws of the Bible anymore, so why would God disagree with us ingesting 'common food' nowadays?" That is true for salvation purposes, but for sanctification and Service purposes the dietary laws still have a purpose. "The dietary regulations of the scripture are not legally binding on the Christian as concerning salvation. A Bible believing Christian would not think of putting tobacco....into the temple of God (our bodies)....why not? These defile the temple! But is that not the same argument we should use concerning the eating of unclean (foods)?"(pg 97, Tabb) For in the Bible it reads:, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" 1 Corinthians 6:19 and when we eat these foods to gratify our desires then our bodies will start to break down at an earlier age than intended.

SO when some people say "God, I will follow you with all my heart and all my soul and keep your commandments," what they may actually mean : "God, we will keep your commandments by praising you, reading the Bible, going to church, and we will ask you to bless our meals, but when it comes to the food itself, all bets are off. I can't give up the foods I've been eating for __ years, much less deal with those cravings I'll get from not eating them! So during my meal time just close Your eyes until I'm done eating the foods You wouldn't agree with." Most people don't even realize that they are asking God to bless the chemicals, preservatives and other additives included in our highly processed food nowadays when they pray for God to bless the food they choose to eat....God would probably not agree with these things we put in our bodies, so why should he bless it? IT IS ONLY NATURAL FOR PEOPLE TO OVERLOOK THESE ADDITIVES OR THEIR EFFECTS ON THE BODY, though, since 150 YEARS AGO FOOD DID NOT INCLUDE THESE ADDITIVES! The additives have been slowly added over the past century without our concent, and without long-term studies on their possible effects! But we know they are in there, and our bodies will hold us accountable for what we put inside them on a daily basis.

It is surely a choice given to us, and it may seem impossible with the lifestyles we are currently living in. However, we can take comfort in knowing that everyone first started out as we are .... with our ancestor's genes, in a world full of foods that harm us rather then heal and prolong our lives. The good foods are out there, you just have to search for them! But keep in mind, it is not the meal itself that will cause long-range health issues, but the regular diet of eating them back-to-back that will take off years of your "intended length" of life God gave you! So, making a slow transition, while eating these things occasionally will not harm us, if we start doing it in moderation instead of on a daily basis.

Yes, it was quite a lifestyle change to how I eat now, but I now feel better than I ever have, while also being able to fulfill my purpose in life better and for a longer time! I'm not saying that I won't die of cancer, heart disease or another problem, but I am doing my part to considerably lower my chances of these things happening to me. Do your part and your maker will smile at you for your efforts!

The book Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb has over 900 scripture references in it and is a study of God's methods of preventing and curing all degenerative disease. I absolutely LOVE my copy of the book, and would encourage you to purchase a copy for yourself as well by clicking on the book title link. For only $7, it's such a valuable resource to have on hand!

In Christ, The Whol-E-Herbster

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent medical practitioner. ******

You Are What You Eat--Part 1

PLEASE PAUSE MUSIC PLAYER IN LOWER RIGHT-HAND COLUMN

I found the above trailer at: http://www.foodmatters.tv/index.html. It has valuable information in helping us to understand how our bodies are designed, along with the effects of the foods we put into it. Keep in mind, we all have to start in the same place...with our ancestor's genes, in a world full of processed foods.

In the BIBLE, it reads: "In all your ways(including diet!!!) acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." Proverbs 3:6, 8. In the book Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb , he writes "It is the will of God that his servants remain in perfect health until the day they die, serving him to the fullest." (pg 26)

But, he also writes, "It is not in God's revealed will to keep anyone physically well nor mentally alert without that person eating proper food designed by God for human consumption." (pg 53) In relation to this: In the BIBLE, it reads, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children." Hosea 4:6

So, by discovering knowledge about the kinds of foods that God mentions in the Bible to eat, and following his suggestions, we should pro-long our lives and bring health to our bodies? It only makes sense to do this since we follow all of His other commandments! What types of food does God mention in the BIBLE to eat, then? Here is what I could find:

"Then God said, 'I give you EVERY SEED-BEARING PLANT on the face of the whole earth and EVERY TREE THAT HAS FRUIT WITH SEED IN IT. They will be yours for food.'" Genesis 1:29

"You may EAT ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS A SPLIT HOOF DIVIDED IN TWO and that chews the cud. Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat ANY THAT HAS FINS AND SCALES. You may eat ANY CLEAN BIRD." Deuteronomy 14: 6, 9, 11

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself." Ezekiel 4:9 (EZEKIEL 4:9 is a brand of bread and cereal available in Health Food stores that our family buys. Its creation is based on this verse and made of whole grains, so it's very nutritious.)

In Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb, pg 27, he writes, "Moses ate HONEY, OIL, COW BUTTER, MILK OF SHEEP, LAMBS, RAMS and GOATS, SHEEP, and GRAPE JUICE(Deut. 32:13-14).... He ate plenty of QUAIL (Ex. 16:13)"...and in future tense, refers to "the increase of the fields", or PRODUCE. At 120, Moses still had the strength and eyesight of his youth" pg 26.

So, what is the biggest difference between present day Christians, many sickly at ages 40, 50, 60, etc, and Moses? Our diet and the diets of our parents and grandparents--what we eat, and in the forms we eat it. From all of the above verses, one can understand how to get many of the nutrients our bodies need: by eating FRUIT, DAIRY, VEGETABLES, most MEATS, and WHOLE GRAINS in their MOST NATURAL STATES-- the foods that God intended us to eat.

Contrary to popular belief, God does not mention and Moses did not ingest things like: sugar, high fructose corn syrup, growth hormones and immunizations in beef and dairy, soda-pop, preservatives, enriched flour, vegetables and fruits that are genetically altered, pesticides, herbicides, chemical dyes or MSG. So, when we put all these extra "yummies" into our body, we open ourselves up for possible disease and health ailments. Our family occasionally struggles with avoiding these foods, as well, but it makes it easier when you cook more at home, look for better-quality restaurants to occasionally eat at, and buy organic foods, since these types of foods are required by law to be in their most-natural states. It does get tight on the budget, but look at it as an investment in your future, and your child's (or future child's) days to come.

In my next BLOG, we will take a closer look at degenerative disease and what the Bible says about it. Please check back!

The book Be Healthy and Happy by Dr. M.H.Tabb (click on words to see book to buy) has over 900 scripture references in it and is a study of God's methods of preventing and curing all degenerative disease. I absolutely LOVE my copy of the book, and would encourage you to purchase a copy for yourself as well by clicking on the book title link. For only $7, it's such a thought-provoking resource to have on hand!

In Christ, Ms. Salubrious

******The information in this BLOG is strictly for educational purposes. It should not be used to treat, diagnose, or prescribe for a condition you feel you may have. If you have any health concerns, you should see a competent medical practitioner. ******