Fasting

You may wonder what are the benefits of fasting besides feeling  hungry.I was surprised to find out myself how good it is for both your spirit and body.Fasting is a wonderful way to improve your health and draw closer to God.Some of the physical benefits of fasting are the fllowing;

1) Weight loss

2) Increases your energy

3) Cleanses your body of toxins

4) Improves hormonal balance and glandular health

5) Strengthens your natural defenses and immune system

6) Improves mental clarity

7) Stimulates Cell Growth

8) Makes you look and feel younger

9) Can heal minor health issues(sometimes major ones too)

10) Good Moods are elevated

There are many “Spiritual Benefits of Fasting” according to Maryiln Hickey.I could not have said it better so, I will direct you to this article she has written;

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/prayerandcounseling/intercession/hickey_prayerfasting06a.aspx

And Lastly I would like to share a video testimony of Doug’s experience with fasting.

Raw Foods

It is always best to eat foods in the natural state it was created. When food is cooked and processed it loses vital nutrition and enzymes along the way.A great way to incorperate these raw foods into your daily diet is to make delicious smoothies.I went to a food demo last Saturday and they made the following smoothie.I thought it tasted very good and plan to make it at home this week.Here is the recipie if you would like to try it.

Green Smoothie with Superfoods

1 Granny Smith Apple

1 Stalk of Celery

1-2 Dates pitted

1″ piece of Ginger Root or more to taste if you like it

Juice of 1/2 of Lemon

12 oz of Filtered Water

4-8 leaves of Kale (without the stem)

1/2 med Avocado

2 tsp. Spirulina

1 tsp. raw Cacao Powder

1 Tbsp Hemp Seeds

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

Wash and cut the apple and celery into sizes that your blender will be able to handle and place in blender.

Add dates, lemon juice, ginger root and water. Pulse and blend wee to liquefy.

Gradually add kale through hole in top of blender and blend to your liking.

Towards the end add the avacado and blend well.

At the very end add the cacao powder, spirulina, hemp seeds and coconut oil and blend well.

Indoor Air Quality

I just read a great article on Jason Cairns’s blog about healthy houseplants that actually help to clean the air in your home.

It is a good idea to include some of these plants in you home decor,so you and your family will experience a healthier living environment.

http://organicjar.com/2009/1917

Why Water?

Water is the most important nutrient necessary for the body to function properly. The human body is composed of over 60% water.Water cleanses the body of toxins and helps to circulate essential nutrients and oxygen to all your cells. Each person should try to drink 1/2  their body weight in ounces of water per day to stay well hydrated.It can be a difficult task at first but in a short time you will begin to feel a major change in your overall health.Some of the reults you will experience from optimal water intake are the following;

Skin becomes younger and healthier looking

Greater stamia and mental clarity

Prevention of  infections

Lose weight, build muscle and burn fat

Reduce pain in and lubricate joints and muscles

Decrease dizziness and headaches

Improve elimination and digestion

Decrease your risk of a heart attack

The following link will give you more information about the value of drinking water.

The Water Cure    http://www.watercure.com/index.html

Super Soup

I have a great recpie I would like to share with you…I have renamed it Super Soup because it a simple, healthy soup that taste’s great!

Ingredients

16 oz can of green beans

1 cup chopped celery

1 zucchini, sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cups of V-8 juice

2 cups of spring water

2 cups of chicken broth

2 tbsp. raw honey (to sweeten if desired)

1 tsp paprika

Preparation

Combine ingredients and simmer for at least one hour or until vegetables are tender. Add seasonings of your choice to taste.

Enjoy….. and let me know what you think after you have tried it.

Ray’s Weight loss

I decided to write a post about weightloss because my husband(Ray) is trying to lose weight and we are learning a lot about it even as I speak.Recently Ray was at the doctor, and he told him he needed to lose weight and highly reccomended the Weight Watchers program.The doctor said it was working for his wife and it was the only thing that she tryed that helped her.He began the program on Friday January 7,2011 and has already lost over 10lbs.I would like to keep you updated on his progress over the next few months and will be posting details and photos.

Spiritual health!

I believe the single most important aspect of health is spiritual.Every person alive lives in a body and has a mind and a spirit.Our bodies will someday pass away, but our spirit will live forever.Making peace with God will change your physical and mental health dramatically. If you are not sure how to do that just pray and ask Him to help you. You will find that God is very real and able to make Himself known to you.The day I found this out for myself everything in my life changed and my spirit  became whole.Only then could I make a quest toward totalhealth in every area of my life.It has been a wonderful and exciting journey.