Why does our society seem to seek every way to overcome sickness
and disease other than looking in the best Instruction Manual that's
been around for thousands of years? Why do we avoid the simplicity of
the basics when it comes to our health? The "basics" I refer to are
eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Of
course, the best instruction manual I am referring to is the Bible and
there must be hundreds of books out there educating us on the importance
of adequate exercise and sleep. Yes, there are scads of books on what
to eat, too, but if they tell you to eat something that seems to
contradict what the Bible says is OK, you probably should do some
serious research before incorporating it into a regular eating plan.
There
are actually some diet/eating plans being promoted that in the long
run, may not be very healthy. What a shame if you lose weight, for
example, and then have a heart attack because you were eating way too
much meat or didn't get adequate nutrition.
Do I even need to
mention some things you should obviously avoid if you want to experience
optimum health? Folks, as much as I hate to list anything, this is what
I see around me in abundance: fried foods, sugar in just about
everything it seems, artificial sweeteners, meals heavy in meats with
few vegetables and fruits, almost all cooked, (very little raw foods),
and diet drinks.
The foods listed in this report are by no
means all the "healthy" foods mentioned in the Bible. They should,
however, provide you with some guidance in your food choices.
1. Apples. Song
of Solomon. Apples are considered to be the "all around health
food." They are high in flavonoids, fiber and Vitamin C. Some of the
apple's healing powers include:
A. They lower both bad cholesterol and high blood pressure
B. The juices in apples are highly effective virus fighters
C. They help stabilize blood sugar, an important factor in controlling diabetes
D. They suppress the appetite without robbing the body of necessary nutrients
E. Depending on the need, they prevent constipation or help treat diarrhea
One
caution: conventionally grown apples may be highly sprayed with
pesticides and coated with wax. Purchase organically grown apples when
possible.
2. Barley. Deuteronomy 8:8, Ezekiel 4:9. Barley's
high fiber content can help keep us regular, relieve constipation and
ward off a wide variety of digestive problems. It also may help block
cancer. Barley is full of beta glucans, a type of fiber that can lower
the risk of heart disease by reducing the levels of artery-clogging LDL.
3. Coriander (Cilantro). When
the children of Israel wandered in the desert and received manna from
the sky, they described it as looking like coriander seed. Since then
coriander has been called "the healer from heaven." Coriander is
recommended for indigestion, flatulence (excessive gas) and
diarrhea. Externally, it's used to ease muscle and joint pain. Recently,
scientists began looking at coriander as an anti-inflammatory treatment
for arthritis. Other research has demonstrated that it reduces blood
sugar levels, an indication that it may prove to be a useful sugar
management tool for diabetics.
4. Fish. Luke 24:42-43. Fish
is low in cholesterol and contains healthy polyunsaturated fats. Fish
is a rich source of protein, potassium, vitamins and minerals with only a
moderate amount of sodium. Eating fish:
* Thins the blood
* Protects arteries from damage
* Inhibits blood clots (anti-thrombotic)
* Reduces blood triglycerides
* Lowers LDL blood cholesterol
* Lowers blood pressure
* Reduces risk of heart attack and stroke
* Eases symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
* Reduces risk of lupus
* Relieves migraine headaches
* Fights inflammation
* Helps regulate the immune system
* Inhibits cancer in animals and possibly humans
* Soothes bronchial asthma
* Combats early kidney disease
The
key to the healing powers of fish lies in the omega-3 fatty
acids. These are particularly concentrated in cold-water fish such as
anchovies, bluefish, herring, lake trout, mackerel, sable fish,
whitefish, flue fin tuna, salmon and sardines. Note: in deciding between
"healthy" and "unhealthy" fish, you can get specific instruction from
Lev. 11:9. Eat only fish which have both fins and scales.
5. Garlic. One
of the world's oldest healing foods. By the time of Moses, garlic was
already being used as an anticoagulant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory
and anti-tumor agent, as well as a relief for flatulence, a diuretic, a
sedative, a poultice and as a cure for internal parasites. Research
suggests that garlic may help protect against heart disease and stroke
by lowering blood pressure. It contains allylic sulfides, which may
neutralize carcinogens. In fact, garlic has been linked to lower rates
of stomach cancer, too. It is heart-friendly, with scores of studies
showing its astonishing ability to fight hypertension, prevent blood
clots and lower cholesterol.
6. Fruits, Berries, Grapes. Numbers
13:23, II Samuel 16:1-2. Grapes were the first thing Noah planted after
the flood. Grapes were eaten fresh, dried and eaten as raisins just as
we do today, and pressed into cakes. However, most of the crop of the
vineyards was made into juice, wine and vinegar. A cup of raw grapes
contains only 58 calories, 0.3 grams of fat, zero cholesterol and
vitamins A, B and C. Grapes also contain important minerals such as
boron, calcium, potassium and zinc.
Grapes may be helpful in
preventing osteoporosis, fighting tooth decay, heading off cancer and
fighting off viruses. Other health-giving fruits include figs, melons,
and pomegranates.
7. Legumes. 2 Samuel 17:28-29, Genesis
25:34. As reported in the book of Samuel, beans were among the highly
nutritious foods sent to feed King David's hungry army and restore their
strength for the hard times ahead. Beans have a lot of soluble fiber,
which helps lower LDL and reduce blood pressure. The fiber also helps
keep blood sugar levels stable, stave off hunger, and even reduce the
insulin requirements of people suffering from diabetes.
Beans are a
great source of protein as well as being packed full of vitamin C, iron
and dietary fiber. Beans help lower blood pressure and reduce the "bad"
cholesterol that today's research has shown to be the cause of so much
devastating heart trouble --- a rarity centuries ago. Beans contain
chemicals that inhibit the growth of cancer. They help prevent
constipation, can stop hemorrhoids and other bowel-related problems from
developing, and help cure them if they do.
8. Nuts,
including almonds, pistachio nuts and walnuts. Song of Solomon 6:11,
Gen. 43:11. Botanists today believe that Solomon's "garden of nuts"
referred to in Scripture was a rich grove of walnut trees. At the time,
walnuts were prized for the oil they produced, which was regarded as
only slightly inferior to olive oil. The fact that walnuts were a
delicious treat and highly nutritious was an added bonus. Nuts contain
the right mixtures of natural ingredients whose benefits include cancer
prevention, a lower risk of heart disease and help for diabetics. The
oil found in walnuts is considered helpful because it is one of the
"good guy" polyunsaturated fats and tends to lower blood cholesterol
levels. Note: it's best to avoid roasted nuts since they have been found
to carry carcinogens, which could lead to cancer growth, so buy your
nuts raw.
9. Olives. The olive was one of the most valuable
and versatile trees of biblical times. It is mentioned frequently
throughout the Bible. Probably the most famous reference to olive oil
and its healing powers is in the parable of the good Samaritan, in which
the Samaritan cares for a beaten and robbed traveler, treating his
wounds with oil and wine. Olive oil, mixed with wine, was even used to
soften and soothe bruises and wounds. Known benefits of olive oil
include:
* Lowers blood cholesterol
* Reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
* Retards cancer growth
* Reduces the wear and tear of aging on the tissues and organs of the body and brain
* Reduces gastric acidity
* Protects against ulcers and aids the passage of food through the intestines, helping to prevent constipation
* Reduces the risk of gallstones
* Aids normal bone growth
One CAUTION: olive oil has a slight laxative effect, so add it to your diet gradually.
One TIP: the more pure the olive oil, the better, so spend a little extra and get Virgin Olive Oil.
10. Onions. Numbers
11:5. Like its cousin, garlic, the onion is noted as a cure-all. And
the folk healers hold it in high regard as far back as 6000 years or
more. At least 3000 years before the birth of Christ, onions were
treasured both as food and for their therapeutic value --- particularly
in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems. Some facts about
onions:
* Taken internally as a tonic to soothe intestinal gas pains
* Taken internally to alleviate the symptoms of hypertension, high blood sugar and elevated cholesterol
* Some people attribute their long life to a diet that includes high concentrations of onions and yogurt
* The juice of an onion and a syrup made from honey has been used to treat coughs, colds, and asthma attacks
* A tonic of onions soaked in gin has been prescribed for kidney stones and to eliminate excessive fluids
* Modern herbalists recommend onion syrup as an expectorant (it helps eliminate mucus from the respiratory tract)
* Onions can raise the good and lower the bad cholesterol
* Onions can slow blood clotting, regulate blood sugar, break up bronchial congestion and possibly prevent cancer
* Onions possess a strong antibiotic that kills a variety of bacteria
* Have been used externally as an antiseptic and a pain reliever
11. Wheat. Jeremiah
41:8, Ezekiel 4:9. Wheat was the "staff of life." Biblical people ate
their grain boiled and parched, soaked and roasted, and even ate it
green from the stalk. It was pounded, dried or crushed to be baked into
casseroles, porridges, soups, parched grain salads and
desserts. Ezekiel's bread was intended to be a survival food during the
dark days of the Babylonion conquest because it contained wheat, barley,
beans, lentils, millet and spelt. Wheat bran is high in insoluble
fiber. The fiber protects us against constipation. It helps prevent
intestinal infections, hemorrhoids and varicose veins. It also improves
bowel function and guards us against colon cancer.
12. Wine. I
Timothy 5:23. John 4:46. Making wine from grapes is one of the most
ancient arts and the beverage of choice in the Bible. According to
Genesis, one of the first things Noah did after the flood was plant a
vineyard so he could make wine. Researchers are now rediscovering what
the physicians of the Bible knew centuries ago. In moderation, wine has a
profound impact on our health and healing. Just a single glass of wine a
day may be enough to raise the good cholesterol by 7% and help the body
put up a barrier to a variety of cancers.
Wine appears to help
stop heart disease and cancer. A study at the University of Ottawa in
Canada concluded that there is a clear link between wine consumption and
lower rates of heart disease. Countries where more than 90% of alcohol
is consumed in the form of wine have the lowest rate of heart disease
deaths.
A British study of 100 men and women discovered that a
single glass of wine or sherry everyday increased the HDL or good
cholesterol. When the group abstained from drinking wine, the HDL level
decreased.
Red wine also seems to increase the body's defenses
against cancer. White wine may carry some of the same therapeutic
benefits, but research so far seems to indicate that red wine is the
most effective cancer blocker. Note: be sure to drink only in
moderation. Ephesians 5:18.
As you can see, the Bible lists a lot
of foods, foods that are actually available to us today, that we could
be consuming to prevent illness, serious diseases and many trips to the
doctor. Good health is not that difficult, but you do have to work at it
a bit. It's a balance of what you eat, exercise, sleep, avoiding
stress, taking vitamin supplements. And strange as it may seem, the
Bible is actually a complete instruction Manual for all of this.
In
conclusion, the 12 healing foods listed here are only a partial list of
healing foods found in the Bible. However, this report provides
abundant evidence that God has placed on this earth, many health-giving
foods for our consumption. A person who makes a serious effort to daily
eat some of these health-giving foods, while avoiding health-destroying
foods, certainly can expect to reap the benefits of a healthier body.
Judy Thompson invites you to try some great nutrition products,
including an awesome liquid vitamin-mineral supplement, or to join her
team in sharing these great products with others. For more details, go
to [http://www.liquidvitaminshere.com] or
http://www.ARealHealthNut.com.
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