Food

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!)

Food – Temperance in Our Life

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A good definition of temperance is, “True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 562. In this definition we find a direct contradiction to the philosophy of the world which says, If it feels good do it, if it tastes good eat it, and if you want it, get it. Unfortunately, this philosophy has led the world into sin and rebellion, ruining lives all around us. This philosophy becomes a way of life and habits of sin become so ingrained into who we are that at times we do not see any way to break them.

The first step in changing an intemperate habit, whether it be overeating, smoking, alcohol, drugs, sexual sins, or any other host of sinful habits, is to come to God just as you are, admitting that you are helpless to change in your own power. Only God can change the sinful heart. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:23. Although God can miraculously take away a bad habit, He prefers to give us the victory in His time.

The next step is to make a firm decision to change with the help of God. This involves a decision of the will and acting on that decision to starve the habit by avoiding situations that feed it. If the habit is one of tobacco usage, for example, starve the habit by eliminating all cigarettes from your home, car, purse, etc., and resist buying another cigarette. Then avoid, as much as possible, situations in which there would be a strong temptation to smoke. This will starve the bad habit.

Then, begin to develop new and better habits. When the urge to smoke hits, have a backup plan to resist the temptation. Send a quick prayer to the Lord for power to resist the devil and then go for a brisk walk. This will soon develop into a new habit. When this is done repeatedly changes are actually made in the brain. Activities are facilitated by chemicals moving between the nerve endings in the brain, and when an activity is repeated over and over, small grooves are formed between the nerve endings, thus creating a pathway for the chemicals. The more these activities are repeated, the easier it is for the chemicals and electrical activity to move within these grooves and a habit is formed in the brain. As old habits are resisted and new ones are developed, they become second nature. In this way we can actually cooperate with the Lord by developing new habits through repetition of good activities.

In I Corinthians 9:25 it says, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

Examine the areas in your life that need change and ask for God’s help to change those bad habits and live a temperate life.

 

Recipe – Bean Soup

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1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 large yellow or white onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. garlic, chopped

1 can (28 oz.) diced fire-roasted tomatoes

1 tsp. chili powder substitute

1 tsp. ground cumin

3 cans chickpeas (or kidney beans, black beans, white beans) rinsed and drained (or 4 ½ cups cooked)

4 cups vegetable broth

¼ cup cilantro or parsley, chopped

3 cups fresh baby spinach leaves, kale or Swiss charge, chopped

1 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)

salt, to taste

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a 4-quart saucepan. Add onion and saute’ about 5 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Do not brown garlic. Add seasonings and tomatoes and simmer about 5 minutes. Add 3 cups of beans and 1 ½ cups of broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Place remaining beans and broth in a food processor or blender. Add cilantro or parsley and puree until smooth. Add the blended mixture and spinach, heating until the spinach wilts. Stir well and serve hot.

Adapted from a recipe by The Biggest Loser Club

Food – Sweet Temptations

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Have you ever been tempted because of some sweet delicacy? I am sure that each of us has experienced this type of appeal to intemperance or overindulgence. We must ask ourselves in regard to sweet delicacies, What kind and how much is alright and what is too much? Here are some facts and problems related to sugar consumption. The yearly consumption of sugar per person in America has risen from about 40 pounds one hundred years ago to nearly 170 pounds of sugar today. This can have profound effects upon our bodies and minds. Problems associated with increased intake are: tooth decay, elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, heart disease and obesity, irritation of the lining of the stomach. Eight cancers are linked to sugar intake, which is a major cause of degenerative diseases. Sugar causes mineral imbalances within the body, affects mood, activity, and the nervous system, platelets become sticky, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and greatly decreases the ability to fight infection. The white blood cells (WBCs) in our blood stream are constantly fighting bacteria. Each WBC, under normal conditions, will destroy about 14 bacteria. Excess sugar makes the WBCs sluggish and the consumption of 24 teaspoons of sugar, not as much as is in a 32-ounce soda, would cause each WBC to destroy only 1 bacterium. Soda is actually the number one source of excessive sugar intake in America. So you can see how ineffective our immune system is in the presence of elevated sugar. For a list of 146 problems associated with excess sugar consumption go to www.healingcancernaturally.com/sugar-health-effects-risks.html

It has been estimated that 80% of the health problems in America are related to diet. Sugar could be compared to any poison, drug or narcotic for at least three reasons. One is that the damaging effects can begin before a baby is born. Many babies are exposed to increased sugar levels for nine months and the exposure continues at birth in the form of formula with sugar or breast milk contaminated with too much sugar. It is also dangerous because it is seen as a taste enhancer, food, and is taken in almost unlimited quantities because it is found in almost everything. Nearly 95% of people are addicted to it to some degree. Probably two of the biggest long-term health risks for Americans today are smoking and too much sugar. Both of these risks can be eliminated by practicing temperance. “True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 562.

 

Recipe – Lemon Tahini Dressing

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½ cup tahini

½ tsp. basil, dried

1/3 cup lemon juice

½ tsp. garlic powder

2 garlic cloves, minced (or less)

¼ tsp salt

2 Tbsp. Braggs

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Add water to desired consistency. Store refrigerated in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Note: Dressing thickens as it sits and with refrigeration.