One of the big tricks in weight loss is getting filled up on foods that are high in fiber, no fat, and truly nourishing. Having an apple a day is one way to keep the fat away. Instead of grabbing a sweet (nutritionless) pastry, cheesy (full of fat) piece of pizza, crunchy (transfat) handful of  fried chips, or even a yummy (acidic sugar) chocolate candy bar – try a fabulous, tasty, filling apple that will help to fill you up on less calories and also be good for your weight loss efforts.

There are hundreds of varieties of apples to try – golden delicious, red delicious, Fuji, gala, McIntosh, Granny Smith, and more. Each has a special flavor, a natural hydration system, the energy your body needs, the fiber  to keep you healthy, and  nutrients galore. In fact, there are so many phytonutrients  in apples that are good for you, the scientists haven’t even figured out all the benefits.

Remember the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Well, if you have an apple a day instead of junk food, you can help yourself to keep the fat away. The trick is to find a nice, big one and eat it thoroughly and slowly. Feel the apple juice go down your throat as you completely chew it and relish every naturally sweet and flavorful bite.

The problem is that you might feel too full for your next meal. So, that’s another fat reducing benefit – eating less calories. And, if you wait until you are actually hungry to eat again, you can get some good things done and develop some new interests besides eating. Distraction will be another benefit for losing weight – find a good book, call a friend, do some internet exploring.

Golden Delicious Apple - my Dad's favorite

Since you are eating something truly healthy and nourishing, you will be satisfied for longer than the junk food choices. You will have a sense of personal power and accomplishment that you are doing something good for you. And, speaking of something good for you. Here is an excerpt from the Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds for Healthful Living to help you in your resolve to have better habits.

The apple stimulates all body secretions and is well known not only as a food but as a beverage (apple juice), health tonic, medicine, cosmetic and bowel regulator all in one. The large variety of minerals and vitamins strengthens the blood. Apples also contain malic and tartaric acids, which help prevent disturbances of the liver and digestion in general. It has been reported that where unsweetened apple cider is used as a beverage the formation of kidney stones is unknown. The low acidity of the apples stimulates salivary flow and thus helps to remove debris from the teeth and stimulates gum tissues. Studies also indicate that eating apples daily will reduce skin diseases, arthritis, and various lung and asthma problems. Apples are said to prevent emotional upsets, tension and headaches. The rind of the apple contains pectin, which helps to revmove noxious substances from the system by supplying galacturonic acid. The pectin helps to prevent protein matter in the intestines from spoiling.

Apples have also been recommended for obesity correction, skin eruption, poor complexion, inflammation of the bladder, gonorrhea, anemia, tuberculosis, neuritis, insomnia, catarrh, gall stones, worms, halitosis and pyorrhea.

Wow! That’s a lot of benefit. It’s time to start benefiting in more ways than one. Lose the fat and gain the health. With so many healthy elements in one snack, why choose the junk that has disease-causing toxins in it.

Typically, for the maximum weight loss, you don’t want to overdose on fruit. It’s best to only have two fresh fruits a day as part of your efforts. But, I have heard of some people who go on an apple fast occasionally to cleanse and have better health. They only eat apples for 2-3 days. That’s not a bad idea if you want to take a break from suffering and meal complexities.

Have an easy snack that could even take the place of a meal if you thoroughly chew it bite by bite. You will get filled up on a water-based diet item that will also give you some quick energy and wake you up. Try losing weight with an apple a day.

I’m here to tell you that there are other awesome ways to make a great cabbage salad. You can actually add any dressing that you like to some shredded cabbage. It tastes great with a ranch-type or Italian dressing as well as the usual poppy seed dressing.

Get your favorite dressing and add it the next time you shred up some cabbage. We got invited to a church barbecue and I brought a unique coleslaw made by me, Janet Hailstone. It was made with

• one cabbage, quartered and shredded over a mandolin blade. Then I added some
• liberal amounts of Paul Bragg’s healthy dressing that has extra-virgin olive oil, apple-cider vinegar and some healthy spices. I also threw in
• two large chopped carrots and
• half of an English cucumber quartered lengthwise and sliced that didn’t have to be peeled because there was no wax on them. Then, I
• salted to taste

If you don’t have any dressing, you can make your own mix with some olive oil, fresh lemon juice,  favorite herbs, and salt to taste.

Cabbage is so good for you. Here is some information from my “handy dandy” favorite Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds for Healthful Living by Joseph M. Kadans, Ph.D. It’s pretty old, but it’s tried and true information. You may be able to find this book in a thrift store. That’s where I got mine.

The common cabbage has been highly recommended as a muscle builder, blood cleanser, and eye strengthener. It has also been recommended for the teeth, gums, hair, nails, and bones, as well as for asthma, tuberculosis, gout, constipation, kidney and bladder disorders, obesity, diabetes, lumbago, and for improvement of the skin. Fresh raw cabbage juice has been acclaimed for alleviating stomach ulcers. It is an excellent iron tonic for cases where there is an iron deficiency. In addition to the foregoing listed vitamins and mineral, cabbage contains chlorine and sulphur, which help to cleanse the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Many years ago, cabbage was commonly used for headaches, colic, deafness, insomnia and ulcers.

If you have one of the conditions listed above, try a fresh cabbage salad as part of your weekly menu and see if it helps you out or not. Of course, if you are stuffing yourself with the damaging foods that caused your condition in the first place, you may not see a complete recovery. But, it’s good to know that some freshly shredded cabbage can be made into a delicious salad with the dressing and chopped vegetables of your choice. Have a great day!

Genes are what we get from our parents that determine  what we look like and a lot about who we are. They carry a great effect on the kinds of weaknesses or strengths we will have health wise too. But, are you doomed to your genes to be a permanent victim to certain diseases?

I will say no. My personal health beliefs come from a Word of Wisdom that we have in the church I go to. And, my beliefs are supported by the true science of how a person can actually be healed and maintain a healthy body through proper eating guidelines.

First, I will give you some medical journal information since people often have to hear things from a doctor’s perspective before they will believe anything. I was a walking guide at National Institute of Fitness back in the late 1990′s. I took all of Dr. Marc Sorenson’s classes and have his book Mega Health. I even have a letter he wrote for me to share in my community ed classes about the thousands of people, usually older and overweight, who overcame all kinds of disease with diet and exercise.

One simple concept to understand would be the heart disease dilemma that many people face. If the father had severe heart disease at a certain age, it is no surprise if the son also faces a similar fate when he gets older. But, is the son doomed to his father’s fate, or is there hope?

Here is a section from the concluding parts of the Matters of the Heart chapter from Mega Health, written by Dr. Marc Sorenson.

1. Heart disease is endemic only to those societies whose citizens are consumers of saturated fats and animal products. It is caused by the consumption of those products.
2. Heart disease is virtually unknown among people whose blood cholesterol levels are consistently below 150.
3. When cholesterol levels are below 150, risk factors for heart disease such as hypertension, smoking, sedentary living and high blood sugar cease to be risk factors.
4. Familial (genetic) tendencies toward heart disease are of consequence only to those people who are consuming the products which can cause the disease. Unless these toxins are consumed, no one will ever know who has a tendency toward heart disease and who does not.
5. HDL and LDL levels are important when total cholesterol is above 150. Positive changes in these levels can be produced through reducing or eliminating animal products and saturated fats and through regular aerobic exercise.

This chapter covers information about Tarahumara Indians and traditional Chinese people who had perfectly fine health until they started eating the foods of the American diet rich in animal flesh,  and dairy, as well as the processed junk foods. Then, they get serious diseases too. Animal products are so commonly eaten in excess in our culture.

The book also has an abundance of research and studies taken from medical journals of the correlation of heart disease with wrong diet and sedentary living. Other chapters go over osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and a multitude of other diseases. There is much proof that these diseases are caused by poor dietary choices.

Family habits in eating have more to do with family members suffering similar health challenges than their shared genes. It doesn’t matter what weaknesses you have in your genes. I have seen too many types of diseases reversed from simply eliminating all the animal products to fall for the notion that anyone is doomed because of their genes.

In the Word of Wisdom, there is a greeting to the “weakest of all saints.” Apparently, the Lord is telling us that no matter how weak we are, no matter what genes we have, we can be strong enough to “walk” and “run” and have many other blessings.

Whole wheat growing in a field - wheat has an abundance of all nutrients needed for good health, especially when sprouted.

It’s good to avoid the alcohol, coffee, and tobacco, but don’t ignore the diet of wholesome herbs, grains, fruit of the vine, “things that grow above the ground and things that grow below the ground”.

Yes, the animals are there in order for us to have an abundance for our needs. But, their lives are sacred enough for the Lord to set limits and to say “it is pleasing” to him that we don’t use them unless absolutely necessary (“winter, cold…famine or excess of hunger”).

So, you are not doomed to your genes. You can rise above the lifestyle choices of your family and your culture. The answers are out there if you want to reverse your disease with food.

I get a weekly email from the school where my daughter goes to letting me know the latest health update. I think I’ve only taken the time to look at it twice.  I don’t consider it a big deal, fear or threat.

For one thing, we don’t drink the same milk everyone else is drinking. We drink water at our house. Milk tends to be a carrier for viruses and germs. The taste and thought of it grosses me out. Yuck! -  The worst-for-your-health-ever drink.

For another thing, our main focus for meals does not revolve around disease-causing animal products. We eat whole grains, vegetables, fresh fruits, beans, and generally have a pretty healthy diet.  We get the rest we need,  and everyone gets along really well.

I don’t think my daughter has missed any school this whole year except for maybe a family trip and one or two days of mild symptoms. I don’t have any fears when I see this list.  It just lets me know what everybody else is dealing with.

Health Update:

Community
Influenza
Flu
Strep

School
Stomach flu
Headaches
Strep

Sunday, my husband, daughter, and I watched the first episodes of Highway to Heaven by Michael Landon. He was a great actor, producer, and writer of these “oldie but goodie” shows. My daughter really loved the shows and there were a lot of funny parts.

I remembered how Michael had battled cancer so courageously for so long and how tragic it was to the world that he got cancer and died. I remember at the time, that it didn’t make sense how someone as great as him could have such a terrible death.

He also did all the Little House on the Prairie shows. What an awesome, inspiring set of shows those were and what an awesome, inspiring guy he was/is. His spirit lives on in the spirit world as he awaits the resurrection and day of judgment.

I happened to notice on the three episodes we watched that the foods and drinks portrayed were primarily cancer-causing. It dawned on me that these were the types of foods he probably also ate or that were common in those days. Since he was the one who wrote, directed, and acted in these show, it really made me wonder.

Here are the typical cancer-causing foods I noticed:

• Hot dogs and hamburgers with cheese for the Havencrest rest home barbeque.
• A container of sour cream that he went to get for the lady who was making dinner.
• A large steak in the fridge for the co-star actor who broke into his house.
• Cheeseburgers at the diner they stopped at.
• Cheeseburgers for dinner at the house of the family they visited.
• Soda pop for Michael and the mother of the boy with cancer.

All dairy, eggs, and flesh of any kind have an animal protein that causes cancer to grow (The China Study, by Dr. T. Colin Campbell).  Soda pop is also suspect for cancer development (The Cure for All Cancer by Hulda Regehr Clark). And, we all know that grilling and cooking flesh make it cancerous.

Drink water if you eat cooked starches, such as beans, potatoes, and grains.  It carries out that particular toxin.

Cancer can happen to the best of people. If you eat a lot of cancer-causing foods, it doesn’t matter what a great and good person you are or how much you exercise, you can get cancer too.

I have raised my kids to be friendly and accepting towards all kinds of people. Consequently, some of my daughters happen to have gay friends.  And, for those of us who know gay people personally, we have found that they are great people with fun personalities. One daughter once said that gay guys were the only guys that she felt safe with.

I have been concerned by stories I hear of certain gay people being suicidal or troubled by their confusing gender identity. They deal with a lot of rejection from family and community. It could even happen to a returned missionary, who is devastated by his sudden gay tendencies after coming home. It seems that it could happen to anyone.

I have some information that may prove helpful as to reasons why this can happen and how we all need to be less judgmental and more loving towards all of God’s children.

Possible Causes

1. There have been studies and research to indicate that a poor father/son relationship can contribute towards the son becoming gay.
2. Female hormones are abundant in the cow’s milk of today. The fat in milk, cheese, and ice cream is a huge source.
3. Certain Psychiatrists  (who use hypnotism) and spiritually-sighted individuals say that gay people are possessed by spirits of the opposite gender.

When I meet people who claim to be “gay,” I ask my daughter what she sees on them. There has never been an occasion where she did not see one or more earthbound female spirits attached to a gay man and has always seen earthbound male spirit(s) attached to a gay woman.  This has been not only confirmed by others gifted with spiritual sight, but also by psychiatrists such as Dr. Fiore and Dr. Modi.

Casting out earthbound spirits or evil spirits may not solve all of a person’s problems. These things can leave deep woulds, both emotional and spiritual, and healing often takes time. Some will probably need a support group or at least family support. Some people may need counseling or even psychotherapy…

This information is from a book Conquering Spiritual Evil by Douglas H. Mendenhall

Drop the Judgment

If you are a true Christian, then you know that the Bible says “judge not that ye be not judged.” True Christians will not be in the large and spacious building pointing fingers and thinking they are better than everyone else. They will be at the feet of the “tree of life” enjoying the fruit that brings the most joy and reaching out to love and help others.

“To be or not to be” is a quote from Shakespeare. Each person has a choice and we all need to drop the judgment and learn to love everyone as Jesus did. To judge or not to judge is also a choice and we need to be patient and loving towards the judgmental person too, which can be a more difficult challenge.

One of the reasons I know a lot about health is that I search for answers and know how to find them. I’m picky about what I believe. I don’t believe everything that the medical establishment recommends. I think the knowledge they have is great but limited.

Nobody knows everything, and we all have our limits when it comes to finding a cure for what ails you. I don’t have time to read and study everything that is out there on health information. So, I am very selective about what I do take the time to focus on. It has to ring true with my personal beliefs.

I often open a new book to a random page inside and read what is there, that’s often how I determine if it’s a book I’ll read or buy. I believe I’m guided to the right page that gets to the crux or basic essence of the book. The right books and information come to me in different ways.

But, beyond that there are times when I just don’t know what to do. And, I’m in the middle of a great need for an answer now. There is nowhere to turn, but to the Lord. I pray about my need and answers come that work. For example, I had laryngitis and prayed to know what to do so I could give a talk in church the next day, that story can be found on this link.

Another time, I prayed about what to do about an abscess that was bothering me, I prayed and got this answer that worked. Then, there is the miracle drink that I made under inspiration that revived a very sick neighbor. There are more instances that I share on this blog.

The point I want to make is that none of us knows everything. And, that is why it is so important to look to the Lord for answers. That’s the big secret to finding an answer to everything.  You may think that the Lord wouldn’t let you know the answer you are searching for, but you are wrong. There is a way to find out. And, I am going to share the secret to receiving revelation.

This is the specific procedure that you will need to follow:

1. Inquire of the Lord. You have to ask, and you need some faith to go along with that request. You need to believe that the answer will come. You need to have an attitude of trusting, leaning on the Lord, and looking to Him.
2. Be diligent in keeping His commandments. If you’ve already been keeping the commandments, then your answer will come more quickly and easily. But, if you haven’t been focusing on doing that, it’s not too late. You can start now. You can get on that strait and narrow path, make efforts to do what’s right, and keep the commandments with faith and diligence while you wait for your answer. It will come.

So, what are the commandments that you need to keep. You will have to look within your soul and determine what that might be and what you can do. 

Some basic ideas are to have a devoted faith in Jesus Christ that He is your Lord and Savior, repent of your sins and turn your life to Him, get baptized as a witness that you are willing to follow Him, receive the Holy Ghost in your life and listen to its peaceful and righteous promptings. Then, there are other commandments like the ten commandments and service to help others.

I do know that you don’t have to be perfect to get an answer. I’m not perfect, but I am willing and I do try. And, even when I’m struggling and not doing so good, He still helps me.

Here is an important scriptural promise in the following quote from 1 Nephi 15:11 in the Book of Mormon.

If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

Receiving revelation and finding answers is not limited to just a few special people in history like Moses and Joseph in Egypt. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He cares about you just as much and is just as active now as He was back then.

He is your Father in Heaven and He will send answers to your questions. It may be through a thought, a person, a piece of paper, a book, or another miracle. But, it will come.

I truly know for sure that everything that I have said is true. Do your part and wait with faith for the answer that will come.

Driving to and from work and school everyday, I see people out bicycling, running, jogging or walking. I know that exercising is good for  various health benefits, racing challenges, and weight loss or maintenance. But, it just seems like there should be more worthwhile reasons to spend time exercising in daily life. Why can’t it just be a way of life that includes helping people or yourself in other ways too? Are there strategies to make it more purposeful and a better use of time?

I think that it would be an even wiser use of time if it included extra purpose. Here are some of my ideas to make exercise have a more worthwhile purpose added to it.

• Running to someone’s house to do some needed service like making a meal or cleaning for a sick friend.
• Volunteering to help people move where you will be doing a lot of lifting.
• Getting an active job where you do a lot of walking, bending, and lifting. For example, you could wait on tables at a restaurant.
• Riding a bike to work or to go shopping.
• Cleaning up a storage shed and moving things around to be more organized.
• Organizing and cleaning your house.
• Planting, weeding, and working on a garden.
• Taking a brisk walk on a treadmill while doing homework.

On the other hand, you can just exercise in the usual ways.

• Spend money going to the gym to build muscle.
• Have a daily run, jog, or walk by yourself or with friends for your health.
• Prepare to run a race.
• Ride a bike, work out, or go swimming to lose weight.

Exercising in the traditional ways is fine and good, but also consider how you can incorporate exercise into a more active lifestyle, where you get good things done too. If it is part of your everyday life, you can also be getting additional valuable things done. Why take time to exercise only for your body when you could be accomplishing great things and saving money.

While a basic brisk walk for 30 minutes a day will do wonders for your health and help to prevent disease, but there are more reasons to exercise in other ways. It’s important to include variety in your workouts in order to gain other benefits.

Body Building

By including some weight lifting in your week, you can have stronger muscles and joints. Your bones will become stronger no matter how old you are. More muscle growth on your body means less fat since those extra muscles need more calories. You have less chance for injury if something unusual happens in your life where you may have an extra load to carry. You will be more able and confident.

Stretching

It’s important to take some time to stretch your various muscles after you do a workout. This will help you to be more limber. If you never include any stretching during your week, your body can stiffen and tighten. It’s good to be able to move around more freely and avoid the risk of pulling a tendon or muscle and having an injury. Yoga is a great way to stretch all parts of your body and has been proven to also benefit the health.

Bicycling

In some countries, people bike for transportation. They are able to save money and get places conveniently. Considering how the cost of gas has gone up and how expensive it is to buy and maintain a car, more people should be prepared to have an alternate way to travel as their budget gets tighter. Biking is great for using other parts of your legs in different ways, which will strengthen the abilities of your legs.

Variety

If you are serious about your health, make sure that you have a variety of ways that you workout. It will help you to have a more balanced approach for your muscles and overall body strengthening. You will also have less chance of becoming bored. Make sure that you make new choices in ways to exercise so that you can stay motivated and interested.  Walk, weight lift, bike, swim, stretch, run, and try various sports. By including other forms of exercise in your routine, you will be in better shape.

Many people feel like a victim whenever they get a sickness or a disease. Most do not consider how their pain and discomfort got started or how they could have brought it on themselves. Listening to your body is a way to learn from the chain of events that led to your present problem.

The next time you get a headache, cold, flu, or pain, start thinking back over the last 3-4 days. See if you can figure out how you made yourself vulnerable to your present discomfort. Here are some good questions to ask yourself: Read more…

Chili Beans and Corn Bread

I did a past post on the nutritional benefits of beans, but there is still a lot more information to share on how good beans are for you.  I decided to also do a post on beans and the reversal of diabetes, kidney stones, and heart disease.  These three diseases are specifically targeted for reversal and prevention when following a more vegetarian/vegan diet. Eating more beans and less animal sources of protein will do a lot for helping you to prevent and reverse diabetes, kidney stones, and heart disease. There are a lot of studies, research, and mainstream information  to validate this claim. Read more…

Many people preach the fat deception -  that you need to avoid starch so that you don’t get fat. It’s becoming a common misconception that if you eat starch, you are going to get fat. Potatoes, corn, grains, and pasta are becoming public enemy #1 if you want to lose weight. However, it is not true that you will gain weight with starches unless you eat too much. Many people cut starch out of their diets in order to lose some extra pounds, and it really seems to help some people for a little while.

Starch and especially wholesome starches like whole grains and potatoes do not Read more…

What do all of these behavior have in common – kids bouncing off the walls, kids on Ritalin, and kids sitting in class with a look of stupor on their face? Well, they all have a condition called ADD or ADHD. And, it’s not too fun for teachers or parents to have to deal with. Children who have these conditions have troubles in a traditional learning environment. But, it can be reversed.

This is a topic that hasn’t been studied enough by the medical profession or food scientists. And, parents would love to help their children in a different way instead of giving them potentially harmful drugs. Usually when you turn to a medical source like Nutrition MD, they will only give you the typical advice of avoiding artificial ingredients and supplementing with omega-3′s. This may work a bit for some children. But, most parents are lacking in information for more things that they can do for their hyper children.

One scientist Read more…

In a recent post I did about the miracle medicine, I included a link to a short video explaining how daily exercise of 30 minutes will reduce many problems by about 50%. And, on the list of benefits was the fact that exercise is effective in reversing and preventing diabetes by 68%. That’s a major reduction for a problematic condition. It’s even possible to reverse it more and totally get off medications.  So, how much exercise would you have to do?

According to the video on the above link, just doing a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily, can really start to help with insulin control and a need for less medication. In fact, it’s helpful for Read more…

You’re starving. You didn’t have breakfast and you want some food now! But, you have a busy schedule and you’re feeling kind of desperate, because you only have one dollar and one quarter. You need to make a wise choice really fast – one that will get you through the day.

You may only see the possibility of eating a Texas Donut, but you might be wondering what the pros and cons are and if you should really make that choice or not. Now, if you don’t know what a Texas donut, think about how big Texas is compared to all of the other states. A Texas donut is like a glazed donut except that it is extra large. It probably equals about 3-4 donuts. There are some serious pros and cons to consider if you think you want to try one. Read more…

For those of you who have been walking around the block twice for the past couple of months – Now, it is time to run around the block four times!

It’s always good to gather your strength from doing something simple to start like walking around the block twice. Your body is now ready to increase the intensity.

Now, you need to run around the block four times. Don’t overdo it, just do what you can. Walk part of the way or just jog if you have to. But, increase your efforts.

This will increase your heart rate and make it stronger, start burning more fat, and help your immune system to be stronger. We all need to up the workouts occasionally. And, now it’s time again. Do it, you’ll feel great about yourself.

Valentine’s day is over and now the stinkin’ thinkin’ can return. Has your spouse called you a skunk? Do you think your lovey dovey has turned into a skunk? Well, it doesn’t have to be so bad. You can turn your skunk day into a happy skunk day.

Now, how many marriages have one or both of the spouses who is a skunk. What if you have two good people who actually love each other BUT who have problems. Once they are truly committed, they find out they have some differences or that they have to learn how to get along. Read more…

Here is an easy, tasty stir-fry recipe that my family loves. It’s so easy that my husband and children all know how to make it. And, it’s so tasty, that we all love it. Anyone who tries it has also loved it so far as I know.

If you are a beginner in trying to eat a plant-based diet, you will really appreciate this. People who are used to the regular American diet are always looking for something to make that is easy and tasty as they try to make the transition. Read more…

The last week I have been wondering why I haven’t had any colds or flus in the last few years. What is the real cause of colds and flus and why do I seem to be so immune? I’m not even afraid of anything anyone else has. I’m curious, because sometimes I just don’t care about a healthy diet and make bad choices with food and snacks. So, I can’t figure why I’m still healthy at those times.

Maybe, staying well has to do with what I normally try to do: Read more…

This is a guest post from Enrico F.  He and I did an article exchange.  I wrote a guest post for his site and he wrote a guest post for me. I think he did a pretty good job. What about you?

GUEST POST:

Traditionally the western diet has been largely meat based. Consuming meat has always been thought to be essential for good health. This assumption is changing. Many westerners are re-evaluating their views because scientific evidence is showing that eating fruits and vegetables, not meat, is the best way to get needed vitamins and minerals. Read more…