Food

Food – Water

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Working Water into Our Life

Previously we have looked at the critical need of the body to take water internally, and have identified many ways in which the body uses water. Also, we have looked at the formula by which to determine the amount of water needed each day—body weight in pounds, divided by two and then divided by eight, gives the number of glasses. This amount can be greatly increased in the presence of heavy work or exercise, warm temperatures, and in the presence of illnesses such as those that involve high fever or vomiting and diarrhea. Let us look today at how we incorporate this water into our life.

Many people are amazed when they learn how much water they need to drink. Often it is heard, “I don’t drink that much water and I never feel thirsty.” The first thing we need to understand is that thirst is a protective mechanism to warn of danger—a shortage of water in the body. When feeling thirsty the body is already 1–4 glasses short of the water needed for optimal body function. The time to drink water is before the feeling of thirst to prevent the stress on the body due to a shortage of water or dehydration.

When do you drink all of this water? Upon rising in the morning, in between breakfast and lunch, between lunch and supper, and between supper and bedtime water should be taken, guarding against drinking water with meals, as this dilutes the digestive juices, interferes with the digestion of food, and prolongs the time that food is in the stomach. It is very acceptable to drink water on an empty stomach about 15 to 30 minutes before the meal and then resume drinking one to two hours after meals.

A common problem with those who have not accustomed themselves to drinking the required amount of water is that they dislike the taste. Adding a small amount of fresh lemon juice in the water will give it a fresh taste, making it more palatable. Those having trouble drinking the amount of water should develop a schedule that says when and how much to drink. This gives several mini goals throughout the day, giving encouragement to reach the next goal. Achieving the daily requirement will soon become a habit and not such a challenge.

Finally, the most important strategy to help drink more water is to ask God for the power to accomplish what is good for your health. With God as our helper, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13.

So, here is to your health as you develop a plan to drink all of the life-giving water that your body needs.

 

Recipe – Oatmeal Cookies

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5 cups oats

2 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup raisins and/or carob chips

1 cup water or soy milk

1 cup oil (can decrease or substitute with ½ applesauce)

1 cup honey/maple syrup mixture

2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients. Add both mixtures together. Let sit 5-10 minutes. Drop by 1 spoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Food – Benefits of Sunlight

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Not only is sunlight good for our planet, it is good for the creatures God created, good for our environment and it is good also for you and me.

Sunlight can lower our vital signs—our respiratory rate, heart rate and blood pressure. Not only does it increase the oxygen content in the blood, it plays a role in decreasing blood cholesterol and also creates Vitamin D. Sunlight also enhances the immune system which helps us fight diseases of all kinds. The production of many of the body hormones that regulate our bodily functions is dependent upon sunlight. It can lower blood sugar if too high and raise it if too low. Sunlight also strengthens bones, helps lower waste products in the blood, and helps the function of the thyroid, pineal and pituitary glands. It stimulates production of red and white blood cells. It is known to help with arthritis; a speed wound healing, treatment of hyperactive children, and helps some skin disorders.

The benefits of sunlight are increased when combined with fresh air and exercise. For health we need only to have a 15 cm square of the face or extremities exposed for an hour of sunlight a day. The early morning hours are some of the best hours of the day to get sunlight.

Sunlight has received much negative press. This has been unfair because the problem is not exposure to sunlight, but overexposure to sun leading to burning, which is the problem. There are other things in our lifestyle which also contribute to problems relating to the sun. For instance, a diet high in fat, low levels of Vitamins A, C, E, and selenium can lead to sunlight problems. Also exposure to radiation, some drugs, deodorants, soaps and cosmetics can enhance problems along with alcohol consumption.

Some people burn more easily than others and it is important to know if you are more susceptible to burning. People who have blue eyes, blonde or red hair, fair skin, or are diabetic burn more easily. Understand what your burn potential is. Guard against factors that increase your risk to burn and guard yourself from burning. Then enjoy the healthful benefits of the sun.

Recipe – Tofu Salad Dressing

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Tofu, medium firm (16 oz.)

¼ cup fresh tomato

1/8 cup water

¼ cup fresh red bell pepper

2 Tbsp. olive oil

¼ cup fresh lemon juice, to taste

½ tsp. salt, to taste

¼ tsp. onion powder

¼ tsp. garlic powder

Blend the ingredients, except the lemon juice, until smooth. Pour into glass jar and gently stir in lemon juice and cover.

Food – Sunlight – Blessing or Curse

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Sunlight has gotten a lot of negative press; so much so that you have to wonder, is sunlight good for you. Let us see what the Bible, the ultimate authority, has to say. “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” Genesis 1:14–19. God said that the sunlight and the moonlight were good, so let’s see if we can identify what it is about sunlight that is good.

Sunlight provides warmth for our planet and without it there would be no life. The energy from the sun supports chemical actions necessary for all life. It helps promote and regulate the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the environment and also affects the humidity and rain cycles. The sun disinfects and cleanses the environment by destroying bacteria, viruses and molds.

Allowing the sun to shine directly in and around our homes has many practical benefits. “Shade-trees and shrubbery too close and dense around a house are unhealthy; for they prevent a free circulation of air, and prevent the rays of the sun from shining through sufficiently.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 463.

Fresh air and sunlight should be allowed to bathe our homes. It will prevent dampness and decrease bacteria that can cause sickness. The same thing can be said of the inside of our homes. Fresh air and sunshine help prevent dampness and bacteria and are especially important in our sleeping rooms. “Sleeping rooms, especially, should be well ventilated, and the atmosphere made healthful by light and air. Blinds should be left open several hours each day, the curtains put aside, and the room thoroughly aired.” Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 57.

Sunlight is now being used in the process of water purification. Chlorination kills many water-borne diseases, but the chlorine has certain carcinogenic effects. Researchers are now looking at irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Although not 100% effective, most water can be purified if allowed direct exposure to sunlight. The World Health Organization has said that exposing water in transparent bottles could save hundreds of thousands of lives a year in developing countries. This is a nearly cost-free process that will kill illness causing microorganisms in polluted water. The water should be placed horizontally in a transparent bottle, laid on a flat surface and then exposed to direct sunlight for about five hours.

With all of these benefits of sunlight, is it any wonder that God said it was good? “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” Ecclesiastes 11:7.

 

Recipe – Tomato Basil Bread

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2 ½ cups warm water

2 Tbsp Honey or sweetener

2 Tbsp yeast

2 Tbsp tomato paste

¼ cup oil

1 ½ tsp. Italian seasoning

1/8 cup basil leaves, fresh

1 clove garlic, minced

¼ cup shredded onion

1 Tbsp salt

6-7 cups flour (part whole wheat)

Combine warmed water, sweetener and yeast. Let set until bubbly. Add the rest of the ingredients except the flour and mix well. Add flour one cup at a time. Knead until smooth and elastic. Let rise until double in size. Punch down and separate into three parts. Roll each out to an 8 x 12 rectangle; roll up lightly, pinch to seal edges. Place on jelly roll pan. Let rise about 20 minutes. Place in warmed 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Food – The Sunbath

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When used wisely and as a treatment, the sunbath can be very helpful as a natural remedy to aid the body. Safe sunbathing has been shown to help alleviate a host of problems ranging from chronic skin conditions to building strong bones and teeth, lowering cholesterol levels, preventing heart disease, warding off depression, improving the immune system, helping regulate blood sugar, speeding wound healing, reduction of arthritis symptoms, increased production of red and white blood cells and may even prevent some forms of cancer. The sunbath described here is an exposure to natural sunlight and not the use of a sunlamp.

The importance of the sunbath in the role of lowering body cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart disease will be discussed. One component that contributes to elevated blood pressure and heart disease is elevated blood cholesterol, specifically LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is a fatty substance that is carried in the blood stream and can be deposited in the artery walls leading to narrowed, hardened, and plaque filled arteries. All of this can result in major health problems. A component of body fat absorbs the ultraviolet rays of the sun and is then converted into vitamin D. This vitamin has many benefits, including lowering cholesterol, assisting in the absorption and regulation of blood levels and prevention of excretion of calcium and phosphorus.

The procedure for having a healthy sunbath must include enough caution so that the participant does not burn. This is very important to avoid the harmful effects of the sun. Care should be taken to consider the ease with which a person burns (fair skinned, blue eyed, blonde, red haired or diabetic), the environmental elements which encourage burning (midday sun, temperature, cloud or snow cover and altitude), diet, and some pharmaceuticals. With this in mind:

Start by sunbathing for 2 to 3 minutes on each side of the body. This should be done in a private place with as much of the body surface being exposed to the sun as possible. The head and eyes should be protected from the sun at all times.

This time should be gradually increased each day by 2–5 minutes to avoid sunburn. This should continue until the person is exposed to the sun for 30 minutes on each side of the body, for a total of one hour per day.

A feeling of giddiness, fatigue or discomfort experienced during a sunbath, or a burning sensation in the skin, is an indication of excessive exposure to sunlight.

After the sunbath, a cold-water bath should be taken, or the body wiped with a piece of cloth which has been wrung out in cold water.

If you are unsure, consult your health professional before beginning your sunbathing routine to see if you have any medical contraindications to a sunbath.

Take advantage of the healing gift of sunlight, until “the sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” Isaiah 60:19.

Recipe – John’s Cabbage Salad

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12 cups shredded Cabbage

4 cups diced tomatoes (I like Roma)

1 cup diced purple onion

1 cup diced cilantro

¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 ½ tsp. minced garlic or granulated garlic

1 ½ tsp. salt, to taste

Mix all ingredients well, adding the lemon juice last. This marinates well overnight. Adjust or omit any of the ingredients to suit your taste. Add other fresh vegetables, i.e. carrots, celery, etc. add a mashed avocado to the lemon juice for the sauce for extra flavor.

Food – Temperance

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Temperance is a big word. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as moderation in action, thought, or feeling; restraint; habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions; or as moderation in or abstinence from the use of intoxicating drinks. There is a marked difference between moderation and abstinence. So is there a single definition that incorporates the essence of both of them?

I believe so, and it is found in the Bible and is called the honey principle. “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste.” Proverbs 24:13. We are to eat, drink and do only those things which are good and abstain from that which is harmful. The second definition is found in Proverbs 25:16, 27: “Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it” and “it is not good to eat much honey.” Therefore, even though honey is good it is to be taken in quantities that are sufficient so that it does not become bad for us and cause us to be sick. Ellen G. White made a similar, very succinct statement when she said, “True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 562.

If we believe that we need to abstain from everything hurtful, and use/do in moderation that which is good, then we must apply this principle to all areas of our life—our physical, social, intellectual and spiritual being. We need to reach a moderate balance of those things that are good and avoid like the plague those things that are hurtful in any way.

Where did we get the idea that it was okay to partake of that which was hurtful, or not in our best interest? It began, as did all other lies, with Satan: “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” Genesis 3:1–4. We have to decide if we are going to believe the devil—that we can eat and do what we want—be temperate in all things (Philippians 4:5; I Corinthians 10:31).

During our December 2009 stay in Kenya, John Mwangi, our chauffeur, made a fresh cabbage salad almost daily for Sandra and me. We loved it and wanted to share with you a list of ingredients from which this recipe was created. Enjoy!

Recipe – Scalloped Potatoes

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4 cups thinly sliced raw potatoes

1 ½ to 2 tsp. salt (to taste)

½ cup raw cashews

1 rounded tsp. onion powder

2 cups water (hot)

Place sliced potatoes in an oiled 9” x 9” baking dish. Blend remaining ingredients until smooth and pour over the potatoes. Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 1 to 1 ½ hours. It is very easy to double the recipe for a 9” x 13” dish. (Provided by Judy Hallingstad. Thank you , Judy!)