Good Health God’s Way

1. A sliced Carrot resembles the human eye including the pupil, iris, and radiating lines. Science indicates that carrots help protect the vision, especially night vision. WHFoods: Carrots

2. A Tomato has up to four chambers and is commonly red. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and helps prevent heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer and more. Tomato juice can also reduce the tendency toward blood clotting. WHFoods: Tomatoes

3. Grapes hang in a cluster that resembles the shape of the heart. The stronger the color of the grape is, the higher the concentration of phytonutrients. Grapes prevent heart disease and reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots. WHFoods: Grapes

4. Walnuts resemble the brain, mimicking the wrinkles and folds of the neocortex. Research suggests that walnuts may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Walnut – Wikipedia The high concentration of omega-3 fats in walnuts promotes healthy brain function. WHFoods: Walnuts

5. Kidney Beans, true to their name are kidney shaped. They provide nutrients that are helpful to the human kidneys. Kidney beans contain molybdenum, which helps sulfite oxidase to form and is responsible for detoxifying sulfites WHFoods: Kidney beans. Animal research has shown that chronic renal failure has been associated with oxidative stress Sulfite-mediated oxidative stress in kidney cells.

7. Avocados were used by the Aztecs as a sex stimulant and the Aztec name for avocado was ahuacatl, meaning “testicle” History of Avocados. An extract of avocado impedes the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. WHFoods: Avocados

8. Figs have a rich history and often been referred to as a sexual food, this is partly symbolic due to the appearance of the fruit. Figs are loaded with seeds and when halved, many note a resemblance to female genitalia. The Hindu name for fig is anjeer and research has shown that anjeer is helpful for sexual weakness Ficus carica – medicinal plants. Figs have also been mentioned as a source helpful for male fertility and motility. Health-info.org

9. Oranges, Grapefruits and other Citrus fruits have been compared to the appearance of female mammary glands. These fruits contain nutrients that are helpful in the fight against breast cancer. Health Benefits of Citrus Limonoids Explored

10. Sliced Onions resemble skin cells and contain quercetin. Studies have shown when treated with a combination of quercetin and ultrasound at 20 kHz for 1-minute duration, skin and prostate cancers show a 90% mortality within 48 hours with no visible mortality of normal cells. Quercetin – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

11. Sweet Potatoes resemble the pancreas and have a low glycemic index count, which is beneficial for diabetics. North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission

12. Olives resemble ovaries and may help reduce hot flashes in women going through menopause. WHFoods: Olives Research indicates that Olive Oil may reduce ovarian cancer by 30%. ACS: Olive Oil May Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk

It’s been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish… all before making a human. God made and provided what we’d need before we were born. These foods are best and more powerful when eaten raw. God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

	A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye… and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
	A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
	Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
	A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums.  Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
	Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
	Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
	Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this?  It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (mo dern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
	Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
	Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actual ly bal ance the glycemic index of diabetics.
	Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries
	Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just l ike the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
	Onions look like the body’s cells. Research shows onions clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. Garlic also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

The Benefits of Eating Together

The Family Who Eats Together Stays Together

– By Becky Hand, Licensed & Registered Dietician

Come and get it!” It may be dinnertime, but when was the last time your family sat down and enjoyed a mealtogether? With music lessons, ball practice, play rehearsal, and work schedules, it can be tough. Rounding up the troops for an evening meal can be almost impossible! However, research is beginning to show that eating as a family has great benefits for your children and teenagers. Here are 8 more reasons why you should try to sit down together 5-6 times a week, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being
Conversations during the meal provide opportunities for the family to bond, plan, connect, and learn from one another. It’s a chance to share information and news of the day, as well as give extra attention to your children and teens. Family meals foster warmth, security and love, as well as feelings of belonging. It can be a unifying experience for all.  

Get into Shape on the Cheap!

We’ve all done it.  We get motivated to get into shape and join a gym.  Some of us even go so far as to purchase equipment for our homes. (I for one had the AbRoller, unsuccessfully begged for my mom’s AbLounge, purchased resistance bands and a balance ball, and gave away a thigh master!  Shall I go on?) Slowly but surely we find excuses not to go to the gym and the treadmill becomes a laundry basket.  Enough with the excuses.  We’ve got to get into shape.  Even in tough economic times we can accomplish this task.  With a little determination and savvy we can become healhly while being frugal.

• Take advantage of free online resources.  If its motivation that you lack, the 50 Million Pound Challenge is a great way to get healthy.  You can join a team and support each other.  There are tools for creating meal plans, tracking your activity and much more.  NutritonData.com will help you determine the amount of sugar, heavy carbohydrates, saturated fat, etc. can be found in the foods in your diet.  The Real Age newsletter is also an awesome tool.  You can receive great tips directly in your inbox.  You can get tips on clearing your sinuses all they way to losing weight for colon health.
• T.V isn’t all bad. Fit T.V and other networks have numerous workouts that you can take advantage of if you have cable or satellite.  They offer bellydancing, yoga, aerobics and much more.  If you don’t have cable PBS or your local access channel probably has something to offer.  Check your local listings.  (Be sure to check with your physician before starting any exercise routine.)
• Get moving! Start walking or running.  If you live near the beach, walking without shoes can be a great aerobic activity.  Remember to use proper shoes for both walking and running.  Joe’s NewBalance Outlet is a great online resource for reputable walking and running shoes at prices to fit even the recession budgets we now have.   Start off the pace slowly for both running and walking to avoid any injuries.  Jumping rope and calesthenics are also very beneficial if your are looking to strengthen your body.
• Become a fish. Or at least develop a love of water like a fish.  Increasing your water intake is the least expensive and most beneficial change you can make for your lifestyle.  Staying hydrated is vital for our proper physical function and can improve our mental functioning as well.
• Eat more often! That’s right, I said it.  You should increase the frequency or your meals but you must decrease your portions.  Small meals eaten more frequently allow the body to efficiently metabolize what you eat.

The contents of SistersoftheFaith.com, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on SistersoftheFaith.com (”Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on SistersoftheFaith.com.

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God Created Health Poem

On our path to total physical wellness, it is hard to turn down those foods that have contributed to our unhealthy lifestyle.  Sometimes it seems when you are trying to do right, there is always something there to entice you to eat the wrong thing.  I found this story; it is very humorous, but  it speaks to the struggle of eating the right foods.

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach; red, yellow, and green vegetables of every kind so that Man and Woman would live long healthy lives.

Then, using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Satan said, “You want chocolate with that?” and Man said, “Yes!” and Woman said, “While you’re at it, could you add some sprinkles to that too?” and they gained 10 pounds. Satan smiled.

So God created the healthful yogurt so that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. But Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them; and Woman went from a size 6 to a size 14.

God said, “Try my fresh green salad” and Satan brought forth Thousand Island Dressing, buttery croutons, and garlic toast on the side; and Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them.” But Satan brought forth the tempting deep-fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big that it needed it’s own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.

God then created a fluffy white cake named Angel Food Cake and said, “It is good.” Satan created a chocolate cake named Devil’s Food Cake and said, “But mine is better.”

As a result, God brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. But Satan created cable TV with a remote control so Man would not need to toil with changing channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the great flickering blue light- and gained more weight.

Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrients. And Satan peeled off the leathy skin, sliced the starchy center into chips and deep fried them- and Man gained more weight.

God then gave lean beef, so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. But Satan created McDonald’s and it’s 99 cent double cheeseburger. Then Satan said. “You want fries with that?” And Man said, “Yes…SUPERSIZE THEM!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery- and Satan created HMOs…

Source:  http://www.pratherwellnesscommunity.com/profiles/blogs/god-created-health-poem

“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.’” (Genesis 1:29)

Vitamins

Why They Matter

Vitamins and minerals are substances your body needs for normal growth and functioning. Some facilitate crucial chemical reactions, while others act as building blocks for the body.

Nutritionists call vitamins and minerals “micronutrients” to distinguish them from the macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that make up the bulk of our food. While micronutrients are vital for the proper processing of macronutrients, they’re needed in smaller quantities. Think of it this way: If macronutrients are the gas in your engine, then micronutrients are like the motor oil, coolant, and battery fluid.

Micronutrient deficiency can lead to acute diseases with exotic names like scurvy, pellagra, and beriberi. Deficiency diseases were common in the U.S. until the 1940s, when the FDA-mandated fortification of common foods like bread and milk. These diseases are still common in many poorer countries.

Maintaining a Healthy Diet

It’s easy to get enough micronutrients from your food if you maintain a healthy diet, Audrey Cross, PhD, associate clinical professor of nutrition at Columbia’s School of Public Health, tells WebMD. But most people fail that test; they’ll eat two or three servings of fruits and veggies per day rather than the recommended five. That’s why Cross (and many other nutritionists) suggest a multivitamin as a sort of nutritional safety net for many of their patients.

But it’s just a safety net. So-called “whole foods” like veggies and whole grains contain fiber and a host of other important nutrients that can’t be adequately delivered through pills. In fact, scientists are still finding new “trace elements” in whole foods that may someday be labeled essential to health — but aren’t found in any pill.

“There are literally thousands of these compounds, and we’re just scratching the surface on knowing what their role is,” says David Grotto, a registered dietitian and spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. “We’re sending the wrong message if people believe they’ve got everything under control and if they’re taking vitamins while eating a horrible diet.”

Choosing a Supplement

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when looking at the dietary supplement shelves of a health food store or even your local supermarket. While many of the health claims are unproven or downright bogus, some supplements may be useful for some groups.

Major multivitamin makers typically produce different varieties for men, women, children and older folks. Picking a pill that fits your group makes sense, says dietitian Grotto, as the optimal level of various nutrients varies by age and sex. For example, premenopausal women need more iron than children or the elderly, he says.

But the elderly have a harder time obtaining adequate amounts of vitamin B-12 from natural sources, so the need for supplementation may increase with age, says Lynn Bailey, a University of Florida nutritionist who teaches courses on vitamins.

Folate, or folic acid, is key to preventing birth defects (such as spina bifida), Bailey says. Bailey says all women of childbearing age should ensure they get 100% of the RDA of folic acid through fortified food or a multivitamin.

Calcium and Vitamin D

Calcium supplements are also important for certain age groups, Bailey says. The Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, recommends that adolescents get 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day. One cup of milk or calcium-fortified orange juice contains about 300 milligrams of calcium.

Other sources of calcium include cheese, tofu, yogurt, vegetables, and beans. A typical calcium supplement may contain 500 milligrams or 600 milligrams of calcium. Bailey gives her 15-year-old son a daily calcium supplement at dinnertime. People over 50 should get 1,200 milligrams a day of calcium to ward off osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), Bailey says.

Federal dietary guidelines recommend that the elderly, the homebound, and people with dark skin boost their vitamin D intake with both fortified foods and supplements to reduce the risk of bone loss. Vitamin D helps with absorption of calcium; often calcium supplements will also contain vitamin D. (The full federal guidelines, updated in 2005, are available at www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.)

Special groups such as smokers, pregnant women, or people recovering from traumatic injury may need additional supplements, Cross says. Decisions to take supplements beyond a multivitamin are best made with your doctor or registered dietitian, she says.

The evidence is strong that a healthy diet can ward off chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. What’s less clear is if big intakes of particular micronutrients can boost that preventive effect further.

There is promising evidence that the mineral selenium could prevent a variety of cancers, says Alan Kristal, DrPh, associate chief of cancer prevention at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. But beyond selenium, the data aren’t promising, Kristal says. For example, there’s no solid evidence that taking large doses of antioxidants like vitamins B or C have any beneficial effect.

Controversial Health Claims

As you seek the proper multivitamin or dietary supplement, it’s best to keep your guard up. The supplement industry is relatively unregulated, and you can injure or even kill yourself with “natural” products bought at your neighborhood supplement store.

Many health claims attached to multivitamin formulations are doubtful, but harmless. Some men’s multivitamins contain extra lycopene, a substance once thought to prevent prostate cancer. But Kristal, the cancer specialist, says support for that claim is waning. “If indeed lycopene did anything, [supplements] don’t have enough to make a difference,” he says. Multivitamins aimed at women are often spiked with green tea or ginseng extract; the effect of these on weight control is yet unproven.

More dangerous are recommendations of vitamin megadoses to treat obesity, depression, carpal tunnel syndrome or other problems. At best, megadoses are a distraction from real treatments for these problems, experts say. At worst, they can cause injury or death.

So-called fat-soluble vitamins — that is, vitamins A, D, E, and K — accumulate in the body, making overdosing a real threat. Vitamin overdoses have been associated with liver problems, weakened bones, cancers, and premature mortality.

Until recently, water-soluble vitamins such as B and C were considered nontoxic, even at high doses. But now evidence is emerging that B-6 megadoses can cause serious nerve damage, Bailey tells WebMD.

Despite the warnings, the quest for a magic pill plunges ahead. Cross chuckles when patients show her weight loss supplements that claim wondrous effects “when taken in combination with a sensible diet and exercise.” Her response: Wouldn’t a sensible diet and exercise do the trick even without the supplement?

Rainbow of Produce

The colors of fruits and vegetable hints at their nutrients.  Paint a palette each day to get the nutrients you need.

THE GREENS

Green vegetables contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and Beta-carotene. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity. Asparagus and artichokes are good sources of rutin, which maintains a healthy circulatory system.  the lutein found in leafy greens is shown to be beneficial to eye health.

Examples of the green group are:

• Artichokes
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cucumbers
• Green Apples
• Green Beans
• Kale
• Okra
• Peas
• Spinach 

THE YELLOWS AND ORANGES

Beta-carotene is the soure of the sunny color of carrots, yellow bell peppers, oranges, and sweet potatoes.  The body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system.  Citrus fruits, like oranges are not a good source of vitamin A, but vitamin C and folate, B vitamin that helps reduce the risks of birth defects.

Examples of the yellow/orange group are:

• Apricots
• Butternut Squash
• Carrots
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Mangoes
• Oranges
• Peaches
• Pears
• Pineapple
• Pumpkin
• Sweet Coren
• Sweet Potatoes
• Yellow Bell Peppers

THE REDS

Red bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit contain lycopene, a carotenoid known to help prevent heart disease and certain cancers, especially prostate cancer.  Lycopene in foods containing cooked tomatoes, such as catsup and spaghetti sauce and a small amount of fat are absorbed better than lycopene from raw tomatoes.

Examples of the red group are:

• Beets
• Blood Oranges
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Radishes
• Rasberries
• Red Apples
• Red Bell Peppers
• Red Cabbage
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

THE PURPLES AND BLUES

Members of this group owe their colr to anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that may help ward off short-term memory loss and some age-related disease.

Examples of the purple/blue group are:

• Beets
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Plums
• Prunes
• Raisins

THE WHITE GROUP

White fruits and vegetables are colored by pigments called “anthoxanthins.” They may contain health-promoting chemicals such as allicin, which may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and may help reduce risk of stomach cancer and heart disease. Some members of the white group, such as bananas and potatoes, are good sources of the mineral potassium, too.

Examples of the white group are:

• Bananas
• Cauliflower
• Garlic
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Parsnips
• Potatoes
• White Corn

“And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.’” (Genesis 1:29)

Sources:  Everyday Food, January/February 2009

http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/fruits-vegetables.shtml

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn595w.htm