Beauty, Hummingbirds and the Back Porch

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My husband and I were relaxing on our back porch one morning recently, enjoying our usual bowl of oatmeal and quiet before the day begins.  Our ‘back porch’ is really a deck, but I like the old fashioned term back porch – it sounds much cozier.  Suddenly, a loud buzz near my ear broke the […]

A Love Affair That’s Killing Us

It’s a love affair that’s killing us.  America’s love affair with convenience and fast food, that is. Our society has forsaken the ways of our forefathers who ate what they hunted or raised, for the modern convenience of fast, easy, highly refined, processed, fat-laden foods.  Even though the cost of these foods is relatively inexpensive, they come with a hidden but much higher price tag: our health.

Americans are more obese, more disease-ridden, take more medicine and are less active than ever before.  Our elderly population is suffering at an alarming rate from diseases that most of us consider to be just a part of the ‘natural aging process.’  Wouldn’t it be great to know that we don’t have to end like that – that we can enjoy life and live it to the fullest until we die at a ripe old age of natural causes?  The obvious answer is yes!

I’ve been reading the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and he provides some staggering statistics about the American diet:  “Americans currently consume about forty-two percent of their calories from fiberless animal foods and another fifty-one percent from highly processed refined carbohydrates and extracted oils.  Almost half of all vegetables consumed are potatoes and half of the potatoes consumed are in the form of fries or chips.”  Eat to Die would be a great title for a book about the typical American diet.

People groups who consume most of their calories from unrefined plant foods have low death rates from major diseases and are rarely obese.  Americans, on the other hand, consume only about ten percent of their calories from plant-based foods and have around an eighty percent death rate from killer diseases!  Yes, our love affair is killing us.

I love the term ‘nutrient dense’ foods, and I really wasn’t familiar with it until I read Dr. Fuhrman’s book.  After reading a few chapters, the light bulb came on for me.  I realized I was eating nutrient deficient foods and was “digging my grave with a fork and knife” to quote one of his chapter titles.

Dr. Fuhrman suggests that we eat ninety percent of our diet in nutrient dense food (see his website or book) and ten percent of everything else.  The Standard American Diet (SAD – yes, it is sad) recommends eating 8-11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta and a mere five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, a real recipe for disaster.

I decided to give Dr. Fuhrman’s way of eating (I won’t call it a diet) a try.  I worried about my low blood sugar, food cravings, heartburn that I get from certain vegetables and fruits, my sweet tooth and a host of other issues.  I am happy to report that after the first week my food cravings disappeared, I never once had an issue with low blood sugar, my heartburn disappeared and I am not missing sweets!  I’ve also lost 11 pounds in the month and a half that I’ve been eating nutrient dense foods and have much more energy.  Have I gone off any?  Yes, a couple of times when we were having family get-togethers.  I hated the way I felt afterwards and so it was easy to get right back on.  I’m looking forward to more weight loss and feeling even better.

Look up the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ and you will find different answers as to its origin.  However, most agree that it simply means eat good food and you will be healthy – eat bad food and you won’t.  To that I add a hearty amen!

Now, if I would just start exercising…but that’s another blog for another day.

Have you had good success with healthy eating?  Please share in the comments.

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Tips:

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”Benjamin Franklin, from the 1735 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack

Healthy tip for today (for your body): Make sure that you get your nutrients from whole foods in their natural state and don’t depend on supplements to make you healthy.  They are called supplements for a reason – they are supposed to be a supplement to a healthy diet. Also, when eating fruit make sure you eat the whole fruit as opposed to just the fruit juice.  You need the fiber and other benefits from the whole fruit that you won’t get in juice only.

Wealthy tip for today (enrichment for your soul): “Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”  Psalm 118:29  A heart of gratitude is essential to a healthy lifestyle.  According to a 2007 study done by researchers at the University of California – Davis, feeling grateful can positively influence your well-being and quality of life.  Make a list of all the things you are thankful for.  Your spirits will be lifted in no time!

Wise tip for today (for the brain):  Not only do walnuts kind of look like the brain, they are good for the brain – just as our Creator intended.  Walnuts contain many of the nutrients, especially omega-3s, that our brains need for proper functioning and improving memory.  Be sure to eat the brown skin on the shelled walnuts even though it may taste a little bitter.  This flaky outer layer also contains many vital nutrients.  In addition, walnuts seem to increase your levels of melatonin, a hormone which regulates sleep.  Try a snack of walnuts before bedtime and your brain will thank you for the good night’s rest. I like to eat walnuts as a snack, but they are also great in salads, oatmeal and many other recipes.

Walnuts – food for the brain.

It’s All About Relationships

Detouring a bit from my ‘I Want to Be Healthy’ blog – well, not really.  Having loving relationships is a huge part of your health and well-being.

July 16 would have been my mom’s 94th birthday and her 75th wedding anniversary.  She married my father on her 19th birthday.  Mom was a tried and true Proverbs 31 woman.  She went to heaven went she was 83 years old and one of my nieces read Proverbs 31 at her funeral.  When it came to the verse that says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed,” all of my brothers and sisters and I stood up without prompting and remained standing during the rest of the reading. She was a blessed woman and it was our way of paying a final tribute to our mother.

These beautiful words that Solomon penned thousands of years ago truly describe my mom:  ‘Who can find a virtuous woman? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her;  so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar.  She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household…Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.’  from Proverbs 31

The words ‘She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household’ have special meaning to me.   When I was growing up I don’t ever remember a morning that I didn’t wake up to the smell of coffee brewing, bacon sizzling and biscuits baking!  Although I couldn’t smell them, there was always a platter of freshly scrambled or fried eggs on the table and sometimes a bowl of gravy and sliced tomatoes.  I don’t know how early mom had to get up to prepare those delightfully delicious breakfasts for us but it was well before daylight.  I never once heard her complain.   After breakfast, no one got up from the table because we knew it was time for our daily devotions.  She read from a book called Our Daily Bread and then the suggested daily Bible reading.  Mom always finished by praying for all us and the pressing needs of the day.  I will always cherish those memories.

One such morning in 1968, mom was praying for our brother, Mike, who had been wounded in Vietnam.  We knew he was back in the states but we just weren’t sure when we would hear from him.  Just as mom finished praying, the phone rang and she said (before she answered the phone), “It’s Mike!”  She picked up the phone and sure enough it was!  We were all jumping up and down and yelling, so much so that Mom had to tell us to be quiet.   I’m sure I didn’t think about it at the time, but looking back I am in awe of the answers that came as a result of my mom’s prayers.

‘Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.’

It really is all about relationships!  Love you, Mom!

My mom and dad in the 1940’s.

A Clarification of Sorts

First of all, I want to clarify something I put in my very first blog.  I mentioned that if I ate healthy that I would be healthy, or at least be healthier.  And I believe that.  But I also know that what I wrote is an oversimplification of the health epidemic we face.  We live in a fallen world and disease happens.  It can strike suddenly or take many years in its process.  I have family and friends who’ve had cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, diabetes, arthritis, brain tumors, mental illness, depression, dementia – well, you get the picture.  I did not want to imply that by simply eating healthy we won’t get sick.  However (don’t you love the possibilities in that word), eating the natural foods that God created and intended for us to eat will certainly give us a fighting chance to live healthy lives.  I’ve seen several photos on Facebook whose captions read, “If it comes from a plant eat it; if it’s made in a plant don’t.”  Or I like this one, “If God made it eat it; if man made it don’t.”  While these make us smile, they are very good rules.

Another clarification:  I never want to give anyone the impression that I am better than they are because I have chosen to eat healthy.  I know people who do that, and it’s not pleasant.  I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, but what I do know is that all good health, regardless of how we attain it, is from God.  James said in the New Testament:  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  Health is certainly a good gift.  We should accept it as such and never take it for granted!

Now that I’ve cleared that up, my next blog will be entitled “The Love Affair That’s Killing Us”.   Stay tuned…

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise Tips:

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”Benjamin Franklin, from the 1735 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack

Healthy tip for today (for your body):  Health experts agree we need omega-3 fatty acids.  The body doesn’t make them so we have to get them from foods.  Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and may help lower the risk of many killer diseases such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer.  They also appear to be essential in brain function, memory and performance.  Foods high in omega-3’s are fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, and can also be found in algae, krill, some plants and nut oils.  Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include fatigue, poor memory, dry skin, heart problems, mood swings or depression, and poor circulation.  The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least 2 times per week.  Most people don’t get enough omega-3’s so it’s important to check with your healthcare provider about a proper supplement.  I take Barlean’s Fresh Catch Fish Oil and I get it at Earth Fare. It is orange-flavored and doesn’t leave that fishy aftertaste.  Again, check with your healthcare professional before taking any supplements.

Wealthy tip for today (enrichment for your soul):  “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Mark 8:36-37.  The most important things in life are not things at all.  They are people and relationships.

Wise tip for today (for the brain):  More about brain exercises.  Last time we talked about toweling off in a different way after your bath or shower.   Try these simple tasks to exercise your brain:  Next time you are driving to a familiar place take a different route.  Also, try brushing your teeth with the opposite hand.  Or memorize one phone number in your cell phone.  These simple challenges help build new associations in the brain.  The old saying “use it or lose it” certainly applies to our brains!

Facial regimen straight from the kitchen!

Bonus Tip (for your outer beauty):  In my last blog I mentioned that I would share what I put on my face after cleansing with baking soda.  Well here it is right from the kitchen –   after rinsing the baking soda off, I slather my face with honey!  It’s so yummy and I always lick my lips!  Seriously!  (I have a friend who always says things are ‘delicious’ – well this is delicious!)  Leave it on for 5 minutes then rinse off with lukewarm water. The natural antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the honey are great for your face.  After drying, I use my next kitchen ingredient – olive oil!  I put just a little in the palm of my hands and gently rub all over my face.  My skin always feels silky, soft and smooth after my baking soda/honey/olive oil treatment!  Try it, you’ll love it!

I Want to Be Healthy

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I’m just going to say it:  I want to be healthy.  There, I’ve said it.  I want to be healthy.  That’s my blog title.  One day I hope I can say, “I am healthy,” but until then it’s I want to be.  I like reading health tips online, finding healthy recipes, watching health shows and […]

My grandchildren

My Grandchildren