From the Earth...

Adam, the first man, is given his name because the letters ADaM comes from the Hebrew word ADaMa, which means earth. That's b/c he was made from the ground, the earth.

Hebrew is a Semitic, Afro-Asiatic language in which words are made up of root letters.

Well, I heard in a class this week something peculiar in reference to food.

Know the story of Joseph and the brothers, etc? When Joseph was in Egypt and rose to a high position, feeding everyone during the famine, the word food is called "SHeVeR." This word is related to the word "niSHBaR." Nishbar means break.(The b and v are interchangeable) See the similar root leters of SHVR? (capitalized)

Is that why we say "break-fast?" and "let's break bread?"

Hmm...

Secondly, the word for bread is "LeCHeM." And the word for war is "miLCHaMa."

Thirdly, the word for sustenance/food is "maZoN." And the word "cli ZaN" means weapon of war.

Do you see a theme here, folks? Breaking, War, and weapons. All associated with fighting...

Why is that?

Is it b/c food comes from the land, and land is a major reason why people war against each other?

Is it b/c the word bread/sustenance refers to money, and we KNOW people will kill for money?

Is it b/c food can be so controversial, and people are constantly arguing about what's good, what's bad, what will make you gain weight, bla,bla,bla?

Is it b/c eating the right foods is such a struggle that you have to fight with yourself and even the society around you to do it?

Perhaps it's all of the above.

And there are people who manipulate the ground, so to speak, to produce food that will actually kill you. All the while, saying that it's GOOD for you. They are very cunning...

Well, then I guess we're at war.

But we needn't be sulky and pessimistic. Triumph is within our grasp if we've got the right mind set and the right weapons.

Firstly, we have to remember who we are. Every person is like ADaM, from the earth. So, it's crucial to remember that the closer we can keep the foods we eat to the earth, the healthier we will be. It doesn't mean we won't be eating processed food. After all, bread is processed. It comes from wheat grain, right?
But it does mean increasing the amount of natural foods we eat. If we are what we eat, and the amount of "earthy" foods is too low, then we are in serious jeopardy.

If we can steadily eat more fruits; eat more vegetables; eat more grains; eat more fish; eat more lean meats (Each according to ones' means, taste, diet, etc) then we can win.

Secondly, eating healthy can be SO MUCH FUN! Have you ever made your own salad from scratch? Have you ever baked your own cookies? You know you have, and it's 10x more delicious b/c you made it. Having a positive attitude is key in this battle. We're not perfect, so let's not mope around b/c we didn't eat well, or we didn't have time to make something. Do better the next time.
Turn it into an adventure. Snoop out the closest health food store. Try a new recipe. Get a new cookbook if you have the cash. Do what YOU can.

Behold, these are our weapons! Believing in ourselves, remaining positive/happy, striving towards healthier eating, our pantry of yams and potatoes, the health food store on 11th street, the vegetable section in the supermarket, the recipe website, etc.

Not very fancy? It doesn't have to be.

And it's not enough for me to be healthy alone. Like the earth, like an ecosystem, we are like one. We are intertwined. For me to be at my best requires that you are striving towards health. And for you to be at your best means I must strive towards health.

Your health and joy enlivens me, and vice versa.

You are my weapon,

and I am yours.

And together we will be victorious.

G-d bless!

PS: Check out the other battlefronts at whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com (post re: Goliath (among others)) and blackfirewhitefire.blogspot.com (post re: Breakfast anyone (among others))

Mmm...Eye Candy

"How many are Your works, G-d, You made them all with wisdom; the earth is full of Your possessions" Psalms 104:24

What is Cholesterol???

What is cholesterol? I hear the word thrown around a lot, but what IS it exactly?

Cholesterol is steroid, which is a lipid. Hmm, what's a lipid? It's a large molecule in the body that comes as waxes, fats and hey, steroids!

Cholesterol is produced in the liver, and it forms other steroids, the sex hormones, and helps make Vitamin D. It also maintains the structure of cell membranes.

We know how water and oil don't mix, right?

Well, cholesterol is waxy, and blood is "watery." So, the way cholesterol gets around in the blood is by attaching itself to a protein and voila! You've got your lipoprotein! (There's the "good" cholesterol, HDL, and the "bad" one, LDL.)
LDL, or low-density protein is considered bad b/c it's the one bringing cholesterol to our arteries which, we're told, leads to heart disease.

But let's zip into the world of arteries and check out the scene...

When the cell membranes in the arteries becomes damaged, cholesterol gets sent to the rescue to basically patch up the holes and cracks. That is it's job-to maintain structure. So, if my blood cholesterol is too high, it means I'm needing a lot of cholesterol to protect myself from damage. But why the damage?

Sally Fallon, author of Nourishing Traditions refers to cholesterol as the police force. If you've got a lot of crime going on, you're gonna need the police frequently. But you can't blame the crimes on the police! You've got to smoke out the real culprit...

And taking a drug to prevent the liver from producing cholesterol is like turning off the alarms and giving the police a vacation! Not too smart.

So, why all this cholesterol? What are the "crimes?"

Well, firstly if someone has poor thyroid function, she's gonna have high cholesterol levels. The NY Times reports that about 15 million American have UNRECOGNIZED thyroid disease, often mistaking it for something else. Symptoms can include weight gain, dry hair or hair loss, fatigue, depression, abnormal menstrual cycles, etc.

Poor thyroid function can occur when the diet is high in sugar and low in usuable iodine, fat soluble vitamins, and other nutrients. (There can also be a genetic factor.)

Whoa.

Secondly, ruptures and damage to the artery walls occur when there's a lack of vitamins and minerals and instead a lot of processed foods, oxidized cholesterol, and the deadly trans fats that cause the body to need lots of repair.

When you think trans fat, think margarine...

Thirdly, high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid, seem to be related to plaque build-up, an indicator of heart disease. This may be caused by a Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Ok, so I understand abit more what cholesterol is. Aside from other uses, it's my alarm, my police, my band-aid, and I need it.

But I need vitamins and minerals to ensure that my alarm doesn't go off and to make sure my body remains strong. That means eating more of the good stuff: Green, leafy vegetables, fruits, and throwing in eggs in the mix. Folic acid, and vitamins B6 & B12 are our targets, in this case. They break down homocysteine.

These are the power-packed, butt-kickin' foods G-d has already made for us!!!

Plus, natural sea salt is a good source of usuable iodine. I know there's table salt with iodine added, but NATURAL sea salt has not been refined, and at this point the less refined, the safer we are!

G-d bless!

Check it out yourself...

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4677

http://www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/hypothyroidism/risk-factors.html

http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Cholesterol-Cell-Membrane.html

Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon

The Sunny Side of Eggs

Eggs are breaking free from their past reputation as being a high cholesterol food.
Whereas in previous years, folks were discouraged from eating too many eggs, it's now ok for people to eat eggs several times per week, reports nutritionist Tamar Shriger.

Dr. Bruce Griffin from the University of Surrey led a study where two groups of overweight but healthy people were put on a reduced calorie diet. One group was given two eggs per day to eat; the other had no eggs. Along with losing weight, both groups' blood cholesterol went down.
Indeed, other research are showing that eating cholesterol-rich foods like eggs does not necessarily raise blood cholesterol levels.

In the US, Americans eat two/three eggs per week-which is considered low compared to other countries!

What's so great about eggs?

It's high quality protein. It contains choline a B vitamin that helps with brain function and health. And for pregnant women, choline is crucial for the fetus's brain development. Choline also keeeps the cholesterol moving in the bloodstream. Plus, there's fatty acids EPA and DHA that are involved in the functioning of the nervous system.

Eggs also contain carotenes (natural pigments with anti-oxidant properties). Lutein and zeaxanthin helps prevents cataracts and other eye problems in the elderly. And (is there more?) eggs also contain fat soluble vitamins A and D.

Note: Fat soluble means that the body absorbs these guys in the present of fats. So, eggs should be enjoyed with some fat, like extra virgin olive oil. (The best kind of oil, y'all!)

Just beware of powdered eggs. They are dehydrated eggs and although they have a longer shelf life and cheaper price, they've also got harmful oxidized cholesterol-which we are trying to avoid in the first place...

Check out
http://www.physorg.com/news139156140.html

Whfoods:Eggs

G-d bless!

Martin Luther King's Day

A hero
A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

Where would we be without our heros? Thank you!!!

Talc Powders

BEWARE of powders containing talc. They may smell fresh. They may look great. But do not be fooled. Talc is made from mining talc rocks and despite processing, it still contains carcinogenic/ cancer-causing fibers.

"Numerous studies have shown a strong link between frequent use of talc in the female genital area and ovarian cancer."

"Talc miners have shown higher rates of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses"

Why on earth the FDA has not banned use of talc is beyond me.

The Cancer Prevention Coalition headed by Dr. Samuel Epstein submitted a petition to the FDA last year.
I can't say I'm holding my breath considering that a complaint was made back in 1997 by Senator Edward Kennedy that the FDA should place a warning label on talc-containing products. And nothing was done...

Don't despair, y'all because there are talc-free powders out there, ie. Crabtree and Evelyn (Gotta read the labels!) There are certain Avon body powders that are talc free that I use. Can paying a few more bucks for health compare to contracting a deadly illness?

Hey, how much powder do we need anyways??? Imagine if we STOPPED using these dangerous products? Imagine if we only used powders that were safe for us and our families?

Less sales for carcinogens.

Producers would be forced to comply and offer safer, talc-free products.

Check out PreventCancer.com

G-d bless!

Salmonella Outbreak in Peanut Butter Products

There's a salmonella outbreak in US linked to peanut butter/ peanut paste found in products: cakes, cookies, and ice cream. People are urged to avoid eating these products until more info comes in. There's 470 people in 43 states that have gotten sick, 90 who had to be hospitalized. And 6 related deaths. An FDA spokesman stated that peanut butter sold in jars seems to be safe.

For more info, check out
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090117/ap_on_re_us/salmonella_outbreak

"Food for Thought"

"Attractive, colorful, and health promoting food is to my stomach what music is to my ears, what flowers are to my eyes, what kindness is to my heart, and what love is to my spirit."

Edith Rothschild, Nutrilicious: Food for Thought and Whole Health

The Doctors

I went to my friend's house the other day to get my hair re-braided. I admit I was excited b/c she has a TV, and I could now watch some shows that I haven't seen for a while, ie. Oprah.

Anyways, I got to watch a tv show called The Doctors. It consisted of four doctors discussing health issues and offering advice, etc. There was an ER physician, a gynecologist, a pediatrician, and a plastic surgeon. Pretty comprehensive, hunh?

Granted, they talked about a lot of interesting topics, ie. vaccination, obesity, etc. It was fascinating. However, I think it would be much better for people watching if the panelist didn't only consist of allopathic doctors. Allopathic is western science. Western science deals a lot with pathology-finding diseases/problems.

Imagine a show that also includes naturopathic doctors. Naturopathic medicine deals with prevention of illness and employs more natural remedies.

People would get a broader view of issues that concern them and therefore have more options. Indeed, in the show, there was a guest physician condemning vaccinations. (I personally have no opinion on the matter; I haven't learned enough about it). But it was basically several allopathic minds against this lone voice. The issue didn't seem really fairly presented. What would a naturopathic doctor have said on the matter?

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for allopathic medicine. When there's illness or problems in the body, it can save your life. My own family members have been saved from really bad suff, like cancer. And in fact, there seems to be a movement that combines both allopathic and naturopathic medicines-which is how it should be!

Well, I won't be seeing another episode for another couple of months, until my next hair appointment that is. If anyone knows about a show that includes both kinds of medicines, I'd love to know about it.

G-d bless!

"Wouldn't mind taking a stroll myself...."

There's an idea that the best place to meditate/pray is in the fields. The city, full of folks occupied with their worldly concerns ie. getting money etc., has a "worldly" energy, a materialistic aftertaste.

When praying or meditating in the fields, however, it's written that all the vegetation "join" in one's prayer and increases it's power and effectiveness.
The energy is more pure.

These days, going out in the fields can be dangerous, especially at night. However, if there's a park you know is SAFE, why not spend a few minutes there? Breathe some fresh air, appreciate the miracle of nature around you, and whisper, sing, or even shout out some words of prayer and thanks to your Creator.

If I can't get to a park, then even in my own home, I can try to get to that inner place that's spiritual, pure and seperate from my cellphone bills, etc. That can be big challenge b/c as I sit in my room, I can't help noticing that I need to sweep, and that I still haven't called my girlfriend back...Or how can you take those few moments when little Sarah is crying for attention AND there's a pile of laundry to fold?

But know that even a little bit goes a long way!

I'm trying to learn how to quiet and center myself even when I'm in a room-full of people. For example, just before my baby nephew attempts to use me as a ladder to get to who knows where, a quick prayer for help might just save me! lol

I once observed a father, attempting to control his over-tired and highly active kids, tell them to try remaining quiet for 5 minutes. A visiting friend who had experience in meditation, commented that the father was teaching the children the beginnings of meditating: to be still and quiet. After 30 seconds, the kids were bored stiff and resumed bouncing off the walls.

But that inner place is there.
That inner place full of vegetation, buds, petals, seeds, life, and love is there.
In you. In me.
And it's accessible.
So, why not take a stroll in our park?
Even if it's just for 30 seconds...

G-d Bless

Search for Truth

I came across a story in Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions about a nutritionist named Adelle Davis. She advocated wholesome eating, publicly denounced the food industry, and was regarded as controversial for some of her views.

She had a few appearances in the Johnny Carson show. In one show, the host asked her for a rule of thumb for healthy eating. She said, if it's advertised in the media, don't buy it. The tv station blocked out her comment, and so the public never heard that statement.
Was the tv station right to do that?
Maybe they HAD to do it. How could they dare mess around with the advertisers that give them their business?
Anyways, it's no secret that the media can manipulate what we see and hear.

But we have to be discerning in the information we let ourselves be fed. Things can be doctored up to make us believe x,y,and z OR to prevent us from knowing a,b,c. Even research and statistics can be manipulated.
In our search for truth we've got to read, read, and read some more. And ask questions. And to know who is the one giving out the info.
I do believe that if we look for truth, G-d will help us find it...