Well,
Just got done a 3 day swift water technician's course. What a blast!! You know for being scared of white water, I have to say I did have a lot of fun. What has any of this to do with health? Plenty!
Most of the people at the course were very fit. I realized the better shape I am in the more things I can accomplish. Because, I have been swimming daily for two weeks prior I was ready and able to do things I would not have been able to do before. BUT, I was sore. I tried to get fit too fast, and my muscles are letting me know about it.
Exercise needs to be consistent! Daily, Weekly, Monthly, each has it's place, but the daily aerobic exercise it was gives you endurance to go farther, faster.
So KEEP it UP!
Stay fit and you can get more done with less energy and less pain after.
Experience the Power of Nutrition,
AP
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Fasting and Cleanses
Excerpts from Health Quotes 'n' Notes: Fasting
Introduction
Fasting is both for the body and the mind. And below is a compilation from different sources on Why we should Fast, How to Fast, etc. from the physical and the spiritual aspects.
Why Should We Fast
For General Health: Fasting promotes detoxification. As the body breaks down its fat reserves, it mobilizes and eliminates stored toxins. Fasting gives the digestive system a much-needed rest. After fasting, both digestion and elimination are invigorated and helps to actually shrinks the stomach- not in a harmful way, but restoring it to its normal size. People tend to be satisfied with less food after fasting. Fasting promotes the resolving of inflammatory processes, including painful inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis. Fasting quiets allergic reactions, including asthma and hay fever.
Fasting makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions. Many people have overcome tobacco and alcohol addictions by fasting, and even drug addictions. Fasting rapidly dissipates the craving for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other drugs. Fasting is the perfect gateway to a healthful diet and lifestyle. Going on a fast gives you the motivation and enthusiasm to make a fresh start and commit yourself to a new and better way of life. (Several scientific resources available - do a search for yourself.)
For Healing: There are some who would be benefited more by abstinence from food for a day or two every week than by any amount of treatment or medical advice. To fast one day a week would be of incalculable benefit to them. CD 189 The sufferers in such cases can do for themselves that which others cannot do as well for them. They should commence to relieve nature of the load they have forced upon her. They should remove the cause. Fast a short time, and give the stomach a chance for rest. CD 190 In cases of severe fever, abstinence from food for a short time will lessen the fever, and make the use of water more effectual. But…not allow him to be restricted in diet for a great length of time until his system becomes enfeebled. While the fever is raging, food may irritate and excite the blood; but as soon as the strength of the fever is broken, nourishment should be given in a careful, judicious manner. If food is withheld too long, the stomach's craving for it will create fever, which will be relieved by a proper allowance of food of a right quality…If there is a great desire expressed for food, even during the fever, to gratify that desire with a moderate amount of simple food would be less injurious than for the patient to be denied. CD 190
For Faith: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Mt 17:21 Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances...In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith--faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work--can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities & powers. DA 431
When Fasting is not Appropriate
When We do not choose right: The only hope for those who practice vile habits is to forever leave them if they place any value upon health here, and salvation hereafter. When these habits have been indulged in for quite a length of time, it requires a determined effort to resist temptation, and refuse the corrupt indulgence. The Mr. -, mentioned, had practiced these habits so long he seemed to have lost the control of himself… This man had gone so far he seemed to be left of God. He would go into the woods and spend days and nights in fasting and prayer that he might overcome this great sin, and then would return to his old habits. God did not hear his prayers. He asked God to do for him what had been in his power to do for himself. He had vowed to God, time and again, and had as often broken his vows, and given himself up to his own corrupt lust, until God had left him to work his own ruin. ApM 27
Those who have an impoverished diet: I have been informed that you have taken but one meal a day for a period of time; but I know it to be wrong in your case, for I have been shown that you needed a nutritious diet, and that you were in danger of being too abstemious. Your strength would not admit of your severe discipline ...I think that you have erred in fasting two days. God did not require it of you. I beg of you to be cautious and eat freely good, wholesome food twice a day. You will surely decrease in strength and your mind become unbalanced unless you change your course of abstemious diet. CD 191
Too Long or improper: It is true that there are unbalanced minds that impose upon themselves fasting which the Scriptures do not teach, and prayers and privation of rest and sleep which God has never required. Such are not prospered and sustained in their voluntary acts of righteousness…These are almost sure to become sickly. But Christ and true godliness are health to the body and strength to the soul. 1T 556 You are not called upon to fast forty days. The Lord bore that fast for you in the wilderness of temptation. CD 189
How to Fast
Eat sparingly of simple food: The true fasting which should be recommended to all, is abstinence from every stimulating kind of food, and the proper use of wholesome, simple food, which God has provided in abundance. Men need to think less about what they shall eat and drink of temporal food, and much more in regard to the food from heaven, that will give tone and vitality to the whole religious experience...Now and onward till the close of time the people of God should be more earnest, more wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom, but in the wisdom of their Leader. They should set aside days for fasting and prayer. Entire abstinence from food may not be required, but they should eat sparingly of the most simple food. CD
Abstinence from food: When Christ was the most fiercely beset by temptation, He ate nothing. He committed Himself to God, and through earnest prayer, and perfect submission to the will of His Father, came off conqueror. Those who profess the truth for these last days, above every other class of professed Christians, should imitate the great Exemplar in prayer. CD 186
Yield the Mind: The spirit of true fasting and prayer is the spirit which yields mind, heart, and will to God. CD 189
Need Sincere Repentance: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6, 7 …seasons of fasting and prayer are indeed necessary; but they must be accompanied with sincere repentance and decided reformation. Without such contrition of soul, these seasons only increase the guilt of the wrong-doer. The Lord has specified the fast He has chosen, the one He will accept. It is that which bears fruit to His glory, in repentance, in devotion, in true piety. 4BC 1150
All references used with permission.
For other resources on fasting please check out The Ultimate Lemon Cleanse Book
Introduction
Fasting is both for the body and the mind. And below is a compilation from different sources on Why we should Fast, How to Fast, etc. from the physical and the spiritual aspects.
Why Should We Fast
For General Health: Fasting promotes detoxification. As the body breaks down its fat reserves, it mobilizes and eliminates stored toxins. Fasting gives the digestive system a much-needed rest. After fasting, both digestion and elimination are invigorated and helps to actually shrinks the stomach- not in a harmful way, but restoring it to its normal size. People tend to be satisfied with less food after fasting. Fasting promotes the resolving of inflammatory processes, including painful inflammatory syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis. Fasting quiets allergic reactions, including asthma and hay fever.
Fasting makes it easy to overcome bad habits and addictions. Many people have overcome tobacco and alcohol addictions by fasting, and even drug addictions. Fasting rapidly dissipates the craving for nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and other drugs. Fasting is the perfect gateway to a healthful diet and lifestyle. Going on a fast gives you the motivation and enthusiasm to make a fresh start and commit yourself to a new and better way of life. (Several scientific resources available - do a search for yourself.)
For Healing: There are some who would be benefited more by abstinence from food for a day or two every week than by any amount of treatment or medical advice. To fast one day a week would be of incalculable benefit to them. CD 189 The sufferers in such cases can do for themselves that which others cannot do as well for them. They should commence to relieve nature of the load they have forced upon her. They should remove the cause. Fast a short time, and give the stomach a chance for rest. CD 190 In cases of severe fever, abstinence from food for a short time will lessen the fever, and make the use of water more effectual. But…not allow him to be restricted in diet for a great length of time until his system becomes enfeebled. While the fever is raging, food may irritate and excite the blood; but as soon as the strength of the fever is broken, nourishment should be given in a careful, judicious manner. If food is withheld too long, the stomach's craving for it will create fever, which will be relieved by a proper allowance of food of a right quality…If there is a great desire expressed for food, even during the fever, to gratify that desire with a moderate amount of simple food would be less injurious than for the patient to be denied. CD 190
For Faith: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Mt 17:21 Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances...In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith--faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work--can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities & powers. DA 431
When Fasting is not Appropriate
When We do not choose right: The only hope for those who practice vile habits is to forever leave them if they place any value upon health here, and salvation hereafter. When these habits have been indulged in for quite a length of time, it requires a determined effort to resist temptation, and refuse the corrupt indulgence. The Mr. -, mentioned, had practiced these habits so long he seemed to have lost the control of himself… This man had gone so far he seemed to be left of God. He would go into the woods and spend days and nights in fasting and prayer that he might overcome this great sin, and then would return to his old habits. God did not hear his prayers. He asked God to do for him what had been in his power to do for himself. He had vowed to God, time and again, and had as often broken his vows, and given himself up to his own corrupt lust, until God had left him to work his own ruin. ApM 27
Those who have an impoverished diet: I have been informed that you have taken but one meal a day for a period of time; but I know it to be wrong in your case, for I have been shown that you needed a nutritious diet, and that you were in danger of being too abstemious. Your strength would not admit of your severe discipline ...I think that you have erred in fasting two days. God did not require it of you. I beg of you to be cautious and eat freely good, wholesome food twice a day. You will surely decrease in strength and your mind become unbalanced unless you change your course of abstemious diet. CD 191
Too Long or improper: It is true that there are unbalanced minds that impose upon themselves fasting which the Scriptures do not teach, and prayers and privation of rest and sleep which God has never required. Such are not prospered and sustained in their voluntary acts of righteousness…These are almost sure to become sickly. But Christ and true godliness are health to the body and strength to the soul. 1T 556 You are not called upon to fast forty days. The Lord bore that fast for you in the wilderness of temptation. CD 189
How to Fast
Eat sparingly of simple food: The true fasting which should be recommended to all, is abstinence from every stimulating kind of food, and the proper use of wholesome, simple food, which God has provided in abundance. Men need to think less about what they shall eat and drink of temporal food, and much more in regard to the food from heaven, that will give tone and vitality to the whole religious experience...Now and onward till the close of time the people of God should be more earnest, more wide-awake, not trusting in their own wisdom, but in the wisdom of their Leader. They should set aside days for fasting and prayer. Entire abstinence from food may not be required, but they should eat sparingly of the most simple food. CD
Abstinence from food: When Christ was the most fiercely beset by temptation, He ate nothing. He committed Himself to God, and through earnest prayer, and perfect submission to the will of His Father, came off conqueror. Those who profess the truth for these last days, above every other class of professed Christians, should imitate the great Exemplar in prayer. CD 186
Yield the Mind: The spirit of true fasting and prayer is the spirit which yields mind, heart, and will to God. CD 189
Need Sincere Repentance: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6, 7 …seasons of fasting and prayer are indeed necessary; but they must be accompanied with sincere repentance and decided reformation. Without such contrition of soul, these seasons only increase the guilt of the wrong-doer. The Lord has specified the fast He has chosen, the one He will accept. It is that which bears fruit to His glory, in repentance, in devotion, in true piety. 4BC 1150
All references used with permission.
For other resources on fasting please check out The Ultimate Lemon Cleanse Book
Friday, August 8, 2008
Pauline's Favourite Dessert
Got an email from a newsletter subscriber sharing the following recipe.
Bridge Delight
Dissolve, any flavor of jello powder (yes, you can get VEGAN jello) in one and a half cups boiling water.
Let stand in fridge until partly set, then beat.
Whip cream (or vanilla pudding) with 2 Tbsp sugar
Add, (fold) in to jello, blend well, set aside,
Mix:
2 cups crushed graham wafer crumbs
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsps melted butter
Put half of the crumb mixture into a pie plate or 9" by 13 "cake pan, and spread jello mixture evenly over the crust.
Top with the remaining crumbs. Chill in fridge until firm.
ENJOY!!
From Pauline.
Bridge Delight
Dissolve, any flavor of jello powder (yes, you can get VEGAN jello) in one and a half cups boiling water.
Let stand in fridge until partly set, then beat.
Whip cream (or vanilla pudding) with 2 Tbsp sugar
Add, (fold) in to jello, blend well, set aside,
Mix:
2 cups crushed graham wafer crumbs
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsps melted butter
Put half of the crumb mixture into a pie plate or 9" by 13 "cake pan, and spread jello mixture evenly over the crust.
Top with the remaining crumbs. Chill in fridge until firm.
ENJOY!!
From Pauline.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Updated website - NEW recipes.
We've updated our website!
Two new recipes: Carob Chip Cookies and Squirrels.
Check it out at our recipe page.
Two new recipes: Carob Chip Cookies and Squirrels.
Check it out at our recipe page.
Optimal, Acceptable, Avoid & Omit
So many times we wonder if it is okay to have that cookie the neighbour offered, or should I let my son stay up late to visit a relative passing through. General questions relating to our lifestyle and what should or shouldn’t we do comes up often. Well as Jim and I discussed and studied the matter, it comes down to four categories: optimal, acceptable, avoid, and omit.
The optimum lifestyle is what we all should be aiming for on a regular basis. This is where the Maker of our bodies would have us to have full health both body and mind. Such things as be in bed by 9:00pm each night, eat a completely vegetarian diet, eat simple foods as close to natural as possible, avoid sugar, and so on. I will not give an exhaustive list, because I think each person must search it out for themselves. Albeit to say one should consider all the natural laws and find the underlining principles and apply those as best as possible. Some of which are as follows: Avoiding harmful things, drink lots of water, eat proper diet, get good rest, exercise, proper stress management, sunlight, fresh air, scheduled day, and so on. Each one is vital to good health.
So what about those circumstances that happen to most of use. Desiring not to offend a new neighbor or wishing a little treat for our children. Where do we draw the line?
Lets talk about the acceptable, avoid, and omit categories. A definition of acceptable would be: that which is satisfactory. I remember in grade school our marks were not A, B, C but I for incomplete, G for Good, F for fail, and S for satisfactory -- in other words you can do better. (Incidentally these words were often attached to my report card with the S.)
So what things would you include in this category? Again the circumstances may determine this. Example: You are visiting some relatives who offer you some cookies ‘they baked just for you’. You don’t see these relatives more than one or twice a year and they don’t know much about your new health principles. Well there are several choices - two of which are:
1. Say no, and explain you’ve learnt certain foods can lead to health problems . . . .
2. Say sure, just one because you made it simply for me.
Both of these choices can be right and wrong. Am I making it complicated? Not really. Perhaps it is in the attitude. It is not a sin to eat a little sugar or in between meals on occasion. (By the way it is a sin to overeat -- potluck anyone?) But what if you are fighting the flu? Now you may want to think twice about eating that cookie. The main point I want to make is we need to use prayer and reasoning when unsure. There are things you can be sure of, we’ll get to those. Another example: Your church is holding evangelistic meetings and you are up till 10 or 11 pm every night to help with cleanup. While not ideal, it is certainly not going to cause you major health problems. Perhaps you need to ‘take it easy’ the next day, though.
Now the avoid category. I am sure we would all like a list of the ‘acceptable’ things. But it is well known that one food can be hurtful to someone and helpful to another - such as whole wheat bread and celiacs. But as we get closer to the ‘omit’ category, the grey gets darker and we are able to see more clearly what health principles are ‘set in stone’. Avoid includes those foods which are not as beneficial as their possible risks. In this day and age that would be milk, eggs, and so on. If you have allergies it is important you avoid those things to prevent your body from damage. It would also mean avoiding smoke filled rooms, but does that mean you never visit the uncle Charlie because he smokes? NO, of course not. (Although you may politely request a window open very politely especially if you have children with you.) It is also important to realize some things are not as awful as they may seem. Who would thing holding a live scorpion would be safe? As you can see Donna and several others found out at the Victoria Bug Zoo, some things are over dramatized.
The last category is the easiest of all to describe -- those things which we should omit from our lifestyle completely. Smoking, drinking, breaking the commandments, and so on. These things are not acceptable at any time. I have heard it said “It’s ok to eat a little pork or drink a little coffee to not offend a poor suffering family whom you are doing Bible studies with. How then can you ask them to give it up when you come to those principles in the scripture? It quenches the witness. “It is as truly a sin to violate the laws of our being as it is to break the ten commandments. To do either is to break God’s laws. Those who transgress the law of God in their physical organism will be inclined to violate the law of God spoken from Sinai.” 2
Again I wish to reiterate that when it comes to the avoid and acceptable list we should error on the side of humanity. It is better to be a sweet and amiable person and treat others better than ourselves, than to live by ‘rules and regulations’ that are not in ‘stone’. Christ met humanity where they were at. So many people make issues out of mole hills that we are afraid of standing on the mountains. Let us not get off on either side but find the balance God requires of us.
AP
References:
1. 3 Selected Messeges, pg. 287
2. Counsels on Diet and Foods, pg. 17
The optimum lifestyle is what we all should be aiming for on a regular basis. This is where the Maker of our bodies would have us to have full health both body and mind. Such things as be in bed by 9:00pm each night, eat a completely vegetarian diet, eat simple foods as close to natural as possible, avoid sugar, and so on. I will not give an exhaustive list, because I think each person must search it out for themselves. Albeit to say one should consider all the natural laws and find the underlining principles and apply those as best as possible. Some of which are as follows: Avoiding harmful things, drink lots of water, eat proper diet, get good rest, exercise, proper stress management, sunlight, fresh air, scheduled day, and so on. Each one is vital to good health.
So what about those circumstances that happen to most of use. Desiring not to offend a new neighbor or wishing a little treat for our children. Where do we draw the line?
Lets talk about the acceptable, avoid, and omit categories. A definition of acceptable would be: that which is satisfactory. I remember in grade school our marks were not A, B, C but I for incomplete, G for Good, F for fail, and S for satisfactory -- in other words you can do better. (Incidentally these words were often attached to my report card with the S.)
So what things would you include in this category? Again the circumstances may determine this. Example: You are visiting some relatives who offer you some cookies ‘they baked just for you’. You don’t see these relatives more than one or twice a year and they don’t know much about your new health principles. Well there are several choices - two of which are:
1. Say no, and explain you’ve learnt certain foods can lead to health problems . . . .
2. Say sure, just one because you made it simply for me.
Both of these choices can be right and wrong. Am I making it complicated? Not really. Perhaps it is in the attitude. It is not a sin to eat a little sugar or in between meals on occasion. (By the way it is a sin to overeat -- potluck anyone?) But what if you are fighting the flu? Now you may want to think twice about eating that cookie. The main point I want to make is we need to use prayer and reasoning when unsure. There are things you can be sure of, we’ll get to those. Another example: Your church is holding evangelistic meetings and you are up till 10 or 11 pm every night to help with cleanup. While not ideal, it is certainly not going to cause you major health problems. Perhaps you need to ‘take it easy’ the next day, though.
Now the avoid category. I am sure we would all like a list of the ‘acceptable’ things. But it is well known that one food can be hurtful to someone and helpful to another - such as whole wheat bread and celiacs. But as we get closer to the ‘omit’ category, the grey gets darker and we are able to see more clearly what health principles are ‘set in stone’. Avoid includes those foods which are not as beneficial as their possible risks. In this day and age that would be milk, eggs, and so on. If you have allergies it is important you avoid those things to prevent your body from damage. It would also mean avoiding smoke filled rooms, but does that mean you never visit the uncle Charlie because he smokes? NO, of course not. (Although you may politely request a window open very politely especially if you have children with you.) It is also important to realize some things are not as awful as they may seem. Who would thing holding a live scorpion would be safe? As you can see Donna and several others found out at the Victoria Bug Zoo, some things are over dramatized.
The last category is the easiest of all to describe -- those things which we should omit from our lifestyle completely. Smoking, drinking, breaking the commandments, and so on. These things are not acceptable at any time. I have heard it said “It’s ok to eat a little pork or drink a little coffee to not offend a poor suffering family whom you are doing Bible studies with. How then can you ask them to give it up when you come to those principles in the scripture? It quenches the witness. “It is as truly a sin to violate the laws of our being as it is to break the ten commandments. To do either is to break God’s laws. Those who transgress the law of God in their physical organism will be inclined to violate the law of God spoken from Sinai.” 2
Again I wish to reiterate that when it comes to the avoid and acceptable list we should error on the side of humanity. It is better to be a sweet and amiable person and treat others better than ourselves, than to live by ‘rules and regulations’ that are not in ‘stone’. Christ met humanity where they were at. So many people make issues out of mole hills that we are afraid of standing on the mountains. Let us not get off on either side but find the balance God requires of us.
AP
References:
1. 3 Selected Messeges, pg. 287
2. Counsels on Diet and Foods, pg. 17
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