The Perils Of Processed Meat

First, today's picture has absolutely nothing to do with today's topic! It's halloween and the Bees movie opens this Friday so I thought I'd go along with that theme.

On a more serious note, one of the goals of this blog is educating people about REAL food. And one of the ways I can do that is by showing people what is going on with the food supply. Processed meats are one of the worst things you can put in your body because of all the chemicals, perservatives, high fat and poor quality of meat that goes into them. Mike Adams of News Target has taken some close up pictures of some well known brands of processed meats and as you go through them be forewarned, these pictures are somewhat gross. I hope if you eat processed meats these pictures and information will get you to take a second thought about what you are actually putting into your body when you eat them. On with the photos..http://www.newstarget.com/phototour_mystery_meat_1.html

Grace and Peace,

Ed

www.uriinternational.com/realfoodforlife

The Gospel

The Apostle Paul said in the book to the Romans, "...I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation..." What is the Gospel? The Gospel is the revelation of Jesus Christ. That God so loved the world that He sent His own son to break down the dividing wall of sin and judgement that separated us from God and even us from each other.

The Gospel, Paul said, is the power of God unto salvation. Well, what is salvation. Many think it's just the opportunity to avoid hell and gain entrance to heaven. It is in part that, but it is so much more! Salvation includes with it our adoption as sons of God. It begins the process of of our transforming back into the image and likeness of God. God has redeemed (bought back) us from the curse sin.

How is the Gospel the Power of God? Everything that God has done has been done by His will and His voice. The Gospel is the declaration of God's will concerning us. It is the revelation of the will of God. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that through Him we may be saved.

The Gospel is the great news that while you were a sinner, Christ died for you and paid your price before God. You are now free from sin and free from the wrath of God. Jesus paid the price for our sin. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God did for us through His own Son what we could not do for ourselves.

We receive the favor of God by receiving by faith the gospel declaration that whom the Son sets free is free indeed! You can be free from the bondage of sin. You can be free from guilt and worry. You can be free from fear and doubt. Come to Jesus all you that labor and are heavy laden and He will give you rest for your soul. Come to Jesus and experience his love and power. The gospel is God's gift to you that was purchased by the blood of Jesus. Ask Him to come into your heart and reveal Himself to you by the Holy Spirit. Come and be free!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

The Absolute BEST DIET in the World!

I once heard it said that the best diet is the one you stick to! Man is that painfully true! The problem is not our lack of knowledge. It is our lack of wisdom (the application of the knowledge)! There are 10-15 diets out there that are nutritionally sound. Our job is to find the right one for us based on our unique makeup, lifestyle and metabolism. That's why I believe in getting a thorough medical exam. Especially if you have any existing health problems or special challenges. Have an extensive blood and or hair analysis done. And follow the type of diet and exercise regime that you can stick with for life. Let's face it folks, there is no magic pill, drink, food or potion that is going to take the place of a healthy disciplined lifestyle!

Today's thoughts were inspired by an e-mail that I received today from one of my mentors. I met Brett Rademacher online about a month and a half ago and we are now in business together. He is a super successful network marketer especially in the health and nutrition market. He is also a good guy and seriously interested in helping us build a successful home based business while helping ourselves and others reach optimal health. Here is the e-mail he sent:

Every once in awhile I feel the need to send out an email like this. I HAVE to because I feel I have a responsibility to prompt people to a higher purpose in their lives. Uri’s products are not all about selling and making money. It is also about making a REAL difference and CHANGING lives. And I don’t say that tritely. One of the biggest falsehoods in the nutrition business is when someone says or implies you only need one nutritional product to be totally healthy. And you don’t need to do anything else. This is simply not true or possible. Good Health is based on a number of correct things, done consistently.

Good health does NOT come from a magic bullet product. Good health is NOT something you are entitled too. Good health is something you EARN by how you take care of yourself. Good health is primarily determined by what you put in your mouth. So if you are eating garbage food all day long as you drink your glass of Uri Feast or Beyond Berries, you aren’t really laying the foundation for GOOD health are you? Sure it is WAY better than drinking a coke. And Uri’s products are about the NEXT BEST thing to eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Uri’s products can help you jump start a healthy eating regime. Uri’s products can help provide alternatives to unhealthy snacks and drinks.They can supplement a healthy eating regime, by providing nutrients from many fruits and vegetables you do not eat at all or on a regular basis. But they are not a magic bullet all by themselves. You want them to be the foundation of good eating because they are so easy to take. Think of taking Uri’s powder juice mixes as your daily rituals for staying ON track. Take them 2 to 3 times a day. You will feel so great you will not want to eat a whole lot of junk food. But you still need eat as many fresh, raw fruits and vegetables a day as you can. Preferably local and organic. Try eating one BIG salad, loaded all kinds of vegetables, nuts, and fruits every day for lunch or dinner.Great healthy salad dressing recipe my wife Michelle makes:¼ cup olive oil (virgin, cold pressed, organic), 2T apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s brand), 1T honey (raw and local if available), ½ tsp red wine vinegar, ½ tsp salt (sea salt or Himalayan salt), ¼ tsp fresh ground pepper (mixed peppercorns), dash of Tabasco or hot pepper sauce. Mix the above ingredients together and serve. Try to eat 1-2 pieces of fruit for breakfast. Try to eat an apple before you go to bed. Eat some raw nuts or seeds throughout the day. Drop the desert and late night junk food snacks. Buy a cookbook or two on raw foods. Add some raw food dishes to your menus, you will be blown away by the tastes. When you have a craving, drink a glass of the Feast mixed with Beyond Berries and Barley Pure. WORK at learning the habit of eating healthy.

You also need to cut back on the things you know are not good for you. Are you cutting back on:White Sugar, Table salt (sea salt and Himalayan salt are GOOD Salts), Caffeine (Coffee, tea, coke, energy drinks), Bread and pastries, Desserts, candies and sweets, Fried foods, Empty calorie snacks, hydrogenated oils, and trans fats?

Are you eating fresh raw fruits and vegetables everyday? How many servings? Are you exercising? Are you drinking quality water? Are you eating the good oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil and macadamia nut oil? Try eating as much as possible at least 5 fruits,vegetables a day plus some nuts, seeds, sprouts preferably raw, local and organic when possible.

You are being lied to everyday by people who want to sell you their unhealthy products, with no interest at all in what it does to your health. The more you educate yourself the more you will realize how incredible Uri’s products are, and why it is so important that you REALLY pay attention to what is going to the food supply in our country. Because what goes into the food supply is going into your mouth and your body. And what goes into our body is literally what your body uses to recreate itself. The SYNTHETIC chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers,hormones, vitamins, the antibiotics, gmo (Genetically modified organisms), irradiation and pasteurization are literally DESTROYING our food and water supply. People are addicted to sugar, caffeine, junk food, and high fat, dead, totally processed crap.

They even put ingredients in certain foods to cause us to eat more. MSG is one of the worst things you can put in food. It enhances taste and causes people to eat more, but is also an excito-toxin which means it literally destroys brain cells. And guess what? The crafty people that make MSG, have worked it out with the people who oversee our food supply so that they can put that toxic chemical in our food under the term “natural flavors’. They did this after people started wising up to what MSG was really all about. These are NOT people who care about your health. They just want to sell you more food. And they do not care if you get fat or sick.

Did you know that fluoride was first used in the water of Nazi concentration camps to keep the prisoners docile and compliant, and it is a key ingredient in Prozac and Sarin nerve gas? And they put it in our water and toothpaste? Why would they do that? Do your research. If I wrote about some of the things I have learned about what is going on with our food supply you would be so blown away, you probably would not even believe it. So start doing your OWN research. Educate YOURSELF. It is YOUR body and YOU are responsible for taking care of it. If you don’t who else will? No one. So get SELF educated and take care of your health. Don’t let just your taste buds dictate what you put in your month. It will lead you astray. Let your brain do it too.

Get educated. BUT as you get educated do NOT use the information to go out and sell Uri’s products, especially if it is making health claims or implying our product cures anything, or is a replacement for eating fruits or vegetables. There is a very fine line between selling nutritional products and saying things you should not. So don't even go there. Be a catalyst for people getting educated about their health. But don't associate any cures or health claims to Uri's products.

One of the BEST books on nutrition EVER written…And I have read and looked at a lot of books on nutrition, is called the Brag Healthy Lifestyle. Excerpt here: http://www.bragg.com/books/bhl_excerpt.html It is absolutely one of the best all around books on TRUE health written. Paul Bragg was THE pioneer of the health food industry. And his eating philosophy was about whole live, foods. He is dead now. If I recall correctly, he died in his 90's in a surfboard accident. Can you believe that? Most people can barely get out of bed at that age, if they live that long. That is a TRUE testimony to his health regime. He has the whole program. Not just one piece. Paul is even credited with being the inspiration behind the starting up of several well known network marketing companies such as Herbal Life and Shaklee. Here is more on Paul Bragg:http://www.bragg.com/aboutbragg/paul.html Paul mentored Jack LaLanne the exercise guru of the60's and 70's. Jack LaLanne is like 92 now and still going strong. Jack mentions Paul Bragg in his bio here: http://www.jacklalanne.com/biograph.html

The reason I am sending you this, is because Uri International is not just about our products, but about a lifestyle. URI's products help you with that lifestyle and fill in the gaps. But if you are still sitting on your butt, eating hot dogs and ice cream, and watching TV 6 hours every day, you are not truly living up to your health potential.(Not saying you are, just giving an extreme example)

URI products are about being a catalyst for changing your entire life, and starting with your health. What a great product line to represent, what a great business to be in, what a great purpose to have. Helping others with their health and well being and their finances. And it all starts with you being a product of the product, and an example of the lifestyle. I highly recommend Paul's book, Bragg Healthy Lifestyle. You won't find any better. And if you just follow his program, you will need no other. I hope his book and this information inspires you. Combining Paul's health wisdom, with Uri's products is an incredible lifestyle program. You can order Paul's book from the Bragg website here or Amazon.comhttp://www.bragg.com/books/books.html Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it count for something good. Be a blessing to others! Brett Rademacher

You can hear and see more of Brett at this site: http://www.urilife.com/realfoodforlife

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Vitamins or Food

As I continue yesterday's thought the real question is do I find a natural solution to the challenge of living in optimal health or a synthetic solution. How much is spent on how many different diets? I doubt we need that many! How many different tapes, memberships and equipment have we bought only to add them to the "wish list"? I don't think the problem lies only with the choices we make but mainly with the ability to continue the diet, membership or program that we choose!

We were created in a world that was ready and able to sustain us. If we follow some basic principles we can live in optimal health! Not just longevity but quality of life! We cannot rely on our ability to make our life simpler while violating some basic guidelines for good health.

If you work in an average daytime occupation you should rise early to meet with God, exercise and each a nutritious breakfast! Bring a healthy snack along with plenty of good drinking water. Eat a nutritious lunch, meet with God and stretch or take a walk. Have another raw food snack and remember to drink plenty of water. Have a healthy meal for dinner and do some push ups, sit ups or walk the dog. Have a healthy evening snack but no sooner than two hours before bedtime. Also stop the water two hours before bed. Meet with God before going to sleep.

By following a 1,500 - 2,500 calorie balanced diet based on your individual metabolism and getting the proper amount of rest, exercise and water you are going a long way to maintaining a healthy body well into old age. In your diet use as much raw organic whole foods as possible. Meet with God several times a day to receive insight and inspiration and to give Him thanks and praise. God will help you to manage your stress and mental outlook.

I also thank God for the medical and pharmaceutical companies and their contribution to our ability to maintain healthy lifestyles. Advances in modern medicine have enabled the population to continue to grow and allowed for a better quality of life as well.

For the average person getting your vitamins from raw organic produce is far better for you than taking synthetic vitamins. While the chemical composition may be identical our bodies can not use the synthetic vitamins as well as a well balanced diet filled with live organic produce loaded with live enzymes and probiotics. These enzymes and probiotics help our bodies digest and utilize the vitamins and nutrients we eat. There is life in live produce!

We are made up of a spirit and a soul in a body and the three are directly related to each other. Our spirit health effects our body and soul. Our mental health effects our spirit and body. And our physical health effects our spirit and soul. So, we must take good care of all three in our quest for being the best we can be!

Grace and peace,

Ed

http://urilife.net/realfoodforlife

PS. I know....An M&M on a health blog??? I couldn't resist! :-)

Real Vitamins Live!

What are "Real Vitamins?" It's funny how many reading this would say, "This guy's crazy!" "Are there "Fake Vitamins"? Yes there are! Something that's fake tries to mimic or reproduce something that is genuine and original in design. While the Ancient Civilizations are believed to have used plant life to cure illness vitamins were first "officially" discovered in 1911 by a Polish Chemist named Casimir Funk.

Vitamins are essential for normal metabolism, growth and development, and regulation of cell function. All naturally occurring vitamins are organic food substances that are found only in living things; that is, plants and animals. With only a few exceptions, the human body cannot manufacture or synthesize vitamins on its own.

So the original model for synthetic vitamins was naturally occurring organic food substances! There is no way on Earth that I can be convinced that the pills being sold as vitamins have close to the benefits of eating a moderate calorie diet of live, raw, whole foods and drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day! In fact, for some folks the vitamins can't be assimilated properly or even worse. With synthetic vitamins you could overdose especially with the fat soluble vitamins.

I guess if faced with the dilemma of of synthetic vitamins made in a factory or no supplementation at all, I'd pick synthetic factory made vitamins. Thank God for organic Ranchers and Farmers! And thank God that there are supplements available now that are 100% Whole Food Derived and ways to process that raw, organic food so as to preserve it's life source, potency, and freshness so it's delivered to the body in a way that the body can easily digest and use.

Real Vitamins Live! Synthetic vitamins are a poor substitute!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urilife.net/realfoodforlife

Living Probiotics and the Gastrointestinal Tract

What are living probiotics and why are they important to our overall health? As I was researching I found this excerpt from http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/. This is what it said, " The gastrointestinal tract harbours a complex and diverse ecosystem of microorganisms and the mechanisms by which gut immune and epithelial cells handle this constant antigenic stimulation are only beginning to be understood. Several lines of evidence have underscored the importance of a continuous cross talk between host and microbes in priming and maintaining a reciprocally beneficial relationship at various mucosal surfaces of the body. Many studies have also shown adverse consequences for the host if the normal equilibrium is disrupted. Probiotics are defined as “living organisms, which upon ingestion in certain numbers, exert health benefits beyond inherent basic nutrition”.

" The importance of a “healthy” gut micro biota has been recognised for a long time but only recently has specific attention been focused on the potential of probiotics as preventative and therapeutic agents in gastrointestinal diseases. The use of probiotics in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease and in diarrhea of premature infants, severe burn patients, and acute and chronic colitis has shown potential beneficial effects of probiotic Escherichia coli strains, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Saccharomyces. Probiotics have been proposed to exert their beneficial effects by maintaining a normal intestinal milieu, by stimulating the immune system, by detoxifying colonic contents, by lowering serum cholesterol levels and promoting lactose tolerance, and by producing metabolites that are essential to maintain intestinal health."

So without getting too technical or too gross Living Probiotics are living organisms that assist in our body's ability to digest the foods that we eat. They are another reason why we as humans need RAW LIVE WHOLE FOOD in our daily diets! Yogurt is a good source of living probiotics. In fact, when my mother broke her hip and received a bad infection at the site of the surgery the doctor recommended that she have a yogurt a day to help fight off the infection.

"The Feast" is an even better source of living probiotics! While yogurt may contain 5 or 6 living probiotic strains "The Feast" contains 22 living strains in one nutritious drink! So however you get them be sure to take care of your body's digestive tract by getting enough living probiotics each day!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.urilife.net/realfoodforlife

The Feast

In today's blog I am going to talk a little about a wonderful supplement that my wife an I have been taking for a month now. The supplement is called "The Feast". It is produced by a Utah based company called URI International. I am excited about this product for three reasons.

First, I was excited intellectually by the concept of a quality live whole food supplement that is affordable and convenient! It had every supper-food listed that a person could want. This is what I saw:

THE FEAST™
One Source for Complete Nutrition
The Feast is the one and only live whole food product on
the planet that delivers a full, synergistic spectrum of:

• 30 Antioxidant Rich Fruits & Berries

• 30 Powerful Greens & Vegetables

• 11 Nutrient Dense Seeds, Nuts & Sprouts

• 83+ Active Enzymes & Fulvic Minerals

• 22 Strains of Resilient Living Probiotics

Take a look at the Ingredients!

ANTIOXIDANT RICH FRUITS & BERRIES
Purple Grape*, Raspberry*, Noni Fruit, Mangosteen, Wolfberry-Goji,
Acai Berry, Black Currant, Blackberry*, Blueberry*, Pomegranate,
Bilberry, Whole Purple Grape, Elderberry, Cranberry, Strawberry*,
Acerola Cherry, Pear, Orange, Watermelon*, Papaya, Banana,
Lemon, Grapefruit, Peach, Prune, Cherry*, Plum*, Pineapple and
Hawthorn Berry in a base of Apple.

POWER GREENS & VEGETABLES
Barley Grass juice powder*, Alfalfa Leaf juice powder*, Wheat Grass
juice powder*, Carrot*, Oat Grass juice powder*, Dunaliella, Kelp,
Spinach*, Sweet Potato*, Beet*, Dulse, Klamath Lake Algae*, Chlorella,
Spirulina, Broccoli*, Kale, Tomato*, Squash, Cabbage, Caulifl ower,
Bell Pepper, Parsley, Cucumber, Brussels Sprout, Onion, Celery, Garlic,
Cayenne, Asparagus and Ginger.

NUTRIENT DENSE SEEDS, NUTS & SPROUTS
Flax Seed, Oat Bran, Brown Rice Fiber Complex,
Almond Seed*, Sunfl ower Seed, Wheat
Sprout*, Quinoa Sprout*, Amaranth
Sprout*, Pumpkin Seed, Chia
Seed and Sesame Seed.

ACTIVE ENZYMES & FULVIC MINERAL BLEND
Amylase, Cellulase, Protease, Lactase, Lipase, Maltase, Bromelain,
Sucrase, Ionic Fulvic Mineral Extract Powder Superoxide Dismutase
(SOD) Aloe Vera Leaf Extract and Yucca.

RESILIENT LIVING PROBIOTICS
Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus,
Bifi dobacterium bifi dum, Lactobacillus sporogenes, Lactococcus
lactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus
kefi r, Leuconostoc cremoris, Lactobacillus caucasicus, Lactobacillus
plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus bulgaricus,
Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus brevis,
Bifi dobacterium infantis, Bifi dobacterium lactis, Bifi dobacterium
longum, Bifi dobacterium breve and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Other Ingredients: Natural Mixed Berry fl avor, Guar Gum and Stevia.
THE FEAST SUPERCHARGED ALSO INCLUDES:
Energizing Blend of Berries, Seeds & Leaves - Guarana Seed
Extract, Cordia Salicifolia Cham., Green Tea Extract,
Green Coffee Bean Extract, Schizandra Berry
Extract and DMAE.
*Certifi ed Organic

Well, that was a no brainer! So I decided to take Brett Rademacher's advice and try a sample. So I bought a jug of "The Feast", "Beyond Berries" and "The Feast Supercharged" and one week later they came and my wife and I began taking them twice a day. One scoop of each in 8oz. of water. To my surprise it tasted great. Within 3 days both my wife and I 49 and 52 noticed increased energy, increased alertness and mental sharpness and are looking forward to both our morning and late afternoon health tonic. We really hope never to be without it again! What a confidence to know that you're receiving the recommended amount of live whole insta -dried (below 99 deg. and in under 60 sec.) superfoods!

Finally, after looking over the product pricing, their compensation plan, Bret's great marketing experience and systems we were convinced that this was not only a great product but an opportunity of a lifetime. So I just placed my order for more cups and product because my first 5 samples are gone and that was just the first day I asked a friend if they would like a sample. We had people in the office ask us for samples. The first report is back and she LOVES it and is signing up for automatic monthly shipping of her order so she doesn't run out!

Check it out for yourself and get your RISK FREE SAMPLE at:

http://Urilife.net/realfoodforlife

Or go directly to URI International at:

http://Uriinternational.com/realfoodforlife

As always I pray you find

Grace and Peace

Ed

Fulvic Minerals

Fulvic acid (not to be confused with folic acid) is rapidly being recognized as one of the key elements in many outstanding health and scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century. Although it’s healing benefits have been known and used for centuries in some parts of the world, modern scientists and doctors are just starting to recognize it’s extraordinary potential.

Researchers have known for years that more than 90 nutrients are needed to maintain optimum health. These nutrients include a minimum of 59 minerals, 16 vitamins, 12 amino acids and 3 essential fatty acids as well as many others. But swallowing a lot of vitamin pills does not guarantee absorption or utilization of these vital nutrients. When the body does not absorb nutrients from food or supplements, the door is open for disease.

Scientists have found that Fulvic acid is the element that makes nutrients absorbable, resulting in a dramatic impact on all kinds of diseases and health problems that afflict us today. They call it the elixir of life and theorize that without it nothing would live.

In the beginning, our naturally fertile soils contained adequate amounts of humic and Fulvic produced by microbes within the soil. They delivered nutrients and minerals to the plants.
Largely, modern agriculture has one goal – to product an abundance of attractive, saleable products. Since the farmer is paid by the bushel, yield is more important than nutritional content. To control the diseases that are a by-product of sick soil and forced yield, excessive amounts of nitrate fertilizers are applied to the soil … a practice that stunts and destroys the vital microorganisms that are essential in creating the Fulvic that converts minerals to plant nutrients.

Sick Soils = Sick Plants = Sick People and Animals

When microbes are depleted from the soils, inorganic minerals cannot be converted into the organic minerals needed by plants. Excessive use of nitrate fertilizer inhibits the formation of normal plant proteins and stimulates an over-abundance of unused amino acids that attracts insects. Since pests were created to eat diseased plants, sicker and sicker farm crops increase the food supplies for insects, leading to increased infestation. The farmer’s reaction is to apply more pesticides and fungicides to save his infested crop. This in turn inhibits or destroys even more vital microorganisms that are essential in converting minerals to plant nutrients.

As a nation of consumers eating this inadequate food, we are creating widespread mineral and vitamin deficiencies. Your body has little chance of maintaining good health year after year if it is consistently deprived of the tools it needs for proper function and to keep itself well.
Although it seems that many diseases appear suddenly, the sad truth is they are the result of years of deficiency that could have easily been reversed through proper nutrition and supplying adequate Fulvic acid. We all know that disease starts at a cellular level long before any serious symptoms appear.

Fulvic consists of an immense arsenal and array of powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants, free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases, nutrients, enzymes, hormones, amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals.

Fulvic acid is a bio-available chelated molecule that can also chelate. As a refiner and transporter of organic minerals and other cell nutrients, it has the ability to turn bad guys into good guys by chelating and humanizing free-radicals. Depending on the chemical makeup of the free-radical, they can be incorporated into and become a part of life sustaining bio-available nutrients. In the event that the chemical makeup of the free radical is of no particular benefit, it is chelated, mobilized and carried out of the body as a waste product.

Many of the substances that make up humic matter have yet to be discovered and catalogued among the known and documented organic chemicals. We are beginning to realize that what we know about Fulvic acid and its full impact on nutrition is just the tip of the iceberg.

Do your homework on it and you'll find the many advantages and benefits there are to taking fulvic minerals!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Uriinternational.com/realfoodforlife

Real Food

Is there such a thing as "fake food"? If so, why would we produce and consume it? What are the benefits and what are the problems with "fake food". I was looking at a video from "you tube" about the agricultural industry. This video condensed a 50 year agricultural philosophy in about 10 minutes! I strongly recommend to view it too! In fact, go to you tube and search "the future of food" and you can view the entire series.

Now I know that these videos are making a strong political statement as well as giving us information and statistics. Whether you agree or disagree with their stance on profitizing agriculture, you have to at least draw the conclusion that the food we are eating is far less nutritious than say 50 years ago.

Fake food might be called genetically produced or enhanced foods. Or, foods that have been so over processed that they look good but are nutrient deficient. In fact, if you look at the average supermarket apple it looks better than the apples we bought years ago. These apples shine! They look beautiful! But they don't compare in taste or nutrition to the apples my grandfather grew in his backyard without chemicals! The peaches used to have fuzz on them and you needed a napkin to catch the juice when eating one! Today's peaches look great, minus the fuzz, but taste horrible and have no juice at all!

So I guess my definition of fake food would be food that looks real, wholesome, and nutritious but has lost its original nutritional value and a lot of its texture and smell. Food grown in water with chemicals as the food's food instead of food grown in nutrient dense soil from natural seeds, nurtured organically and with their original DNA intact.

I'm glad I found an affordable solution to the nutrient issue howbeit I may never eat a peach with fuzz again. I found a live, nutrient dense, whole food product, grown under strict organic principals that is quick dried and sent fresh to my home. I just mix it with water or juice and I have all the orac benefits of eating 7 fruits and vegetables plus the advantage of LIVE Enzymes and Probiotics. I think 'The Feast" is so great that I joined the company as a distributor and am making money helping people stay healthy!

Look at those videos when you get a chance and stop by my site to get a risk free sample of "The Feast". You'll be glad you did!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://uriinternational.com/realfoodforlife

http://urilife.com/realfoodforlife

http://urilife.net/realfoodforlife

Freedom 3

Today I will discuss Freedom of the Soul. The soul houses our personality. It is where our decisions are made. It makes up our personality. It is our center of reasoning. When a person seeks to make another dependent or enslaved one of the main techniques is to withhold knowledge. I say it over and over again in this blog that getting knowledge is critical to good health and the ability to make good choices.

It amazes me that the some of the most prevalent prescription drugs on the market today deal with various mental disorders. Depression is rampant in our society. The use of prescription, over the counter and recreational drugs are at an all time high! People are in bondage to chemicals to make them "feel good".

I believe that part of this is due to diet. Part is due to a lack of exercise. And part of it can be attributed to what we give our mind to. We all know that garbage in causes garbage out. We are what we eat both in terms of the food we eat and the food or stimulus that we give our mind. As our mental condition is related to our diet and body composition I recommend going to a wholistic doctor to get a complete hair or blood analysis to determine any nutritional excesses or deficiancies you may have. We must also balance and monitor our consumption of refined carbohydrates. These carbohydrates can cause our metabolism to have huge spikes creating insulin responses in our bodies that throw off our bodies natural chemical balance. Food alergies can also be involved in our mental health.

After seeing a doctor and correcting our diet we need to look at the amount of exercise that we get. Aerobic exercise is especially important to our mental state. Endorphines are released that make us feel good. And there is the feeling of acomplishment and a good body image that comes from a consistent well planned exercise program. If the exercise is in the form of a game, all the better! As the game will provide a good social element to the exercise. Remember that an important part of exercise is adequate hydration and sufficient rest.

Once our diet and exercise is in order we can turn to what we feed our mind. Our mind is a sponge for stimulus. Movies, books, TV and music all shape our soul. We can feed our mind good, healthy thoughts and images or we can feed it fear, illicit activities, greed etc... It is also important that we feed our souls with positive and encouraging friends and aquaintances. I know that we can't live in a fake "pleasantville" but we should make every effort to add whatsoever things are pure, good and edifying to our mental diets. If all we see, hear, touch, taste and smell is mental junk food we are setting ourselves up for mental disease and eventually even dispair.

Jesus promises that He will keep us in perfect peace if our mind is stayed on Him! David said that the person that meditates on the Bible daily is like a tree planted by a stream prospering. The Bible says that we are to meditate on the good things of life. The Love around us. Our freedoms, our families, our friends etc.... Also as we focus a bit more on the needs of others our problems begin to fade a bit and seem not as bad.

A mind that is free from worry, anger, grief, anxiety, fear and a negative outlook is truely Free! Free to be creative, free to be constuctive, free to be productive and most importantly free to give and receive love. Feel free to write me to discuss this topic further as it is a very important one! Tomorrow I will address physical freedom.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://realfoodforlives.com/

Freedom Part Two

I got a lot of reponse from the Freedom post from a few days ago so I feel to explore this issue further and put a part 2 on it. Freedom is a concept that crosses all three plains of our existence. Our spirit, Our soul and Our body all long for freedom. Again, I'd like to define freedom as the ability to make choices. When someone is bound or held captive in some way their choices have been limited. To feel bound is one of the worst feelings there is. To feel out of control is often a cause for great anxiety and the resulting poor health that goes along with it.

The Apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 5, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous."

Freedom of spirit. We see then that the Bible states that we are born in sin. The biblical book to the Romans says, We are all born bound. Some of the wrong things we do we know are wrong but we do them anyway! Have you ever wondered, "Now why did I do that or why the heck did I say that"!? This demonstrates a lack of freedom in the spirit.

Paul said it this way in the book of Romans chapter 7, " For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me".

Paul is saying here that there is something keeping him bound, reducing his choices and in fact causing him to choose the wrong thing. While I do not support such sayings as "The devil made me do it". We can see that Paul is not saying that. He is saying that there is something inside of him limiting his ability to make right choices. That something is sin. It is not just the act of sin but the sin principal working in Paul.

Sin is what binds our spirit up and causes it not to be free but thank God that then Paul goes on to say in Romans 8, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot."

Freedom of the Spirit depends on an active relationship with Jesus Christ! Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! Ask Jesus to come into your life and to open up His word to you. I have personally seen Him free hundreds of people that I know! Ask him to free you from areas that you have lost control in. Ask and you shall receive! Just ask and come to Him daily and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free! It is His delight to free you! Be honest and open with God. Tell Him what you need and want. Commune with Him daily in your heart. He loves you so much!

Tomorrow I'll discuss Freedom of the soul!

Again I'd like to thank the people at logos software for creating and supporting what I feel is the best Bible software available anywhere! If you'd like a copy of this fantastic software just drop me a line at Rjonodde@aol.com and I'll send you a 25% discount cupon.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Water

I wanted to post another article on the importance and value of drinking enough water. I received a cute, easy to read e-mail from a good friend of mine with 8 great reasons to drink 8 or more glasses of water a day! Enjoy the e-mail!

WATER

#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half the world population.)

#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

#4. One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

#5. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

#7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

#8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?

Water with lemon is also good for preventing Kidney stone formation and for flushing toxins out.

Eight reasons why we should drink at least eight glasses of water a day! Eight is the number for new beginnings in the Bible! Let's start a new beginning when it comes to water. Let's commit to drinking eight or more glasses per day and enjoy the health benefits this simple strategy will bring!

Feel free as always to rank or comment on my blog! I need all the help I can get!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://www.telebaymall.com/index.php?viewCat=2&ID=mallusa

Real

It's Halloween season again! And one of the main traditions of Halloween is to dress up and pretend to be someone or something that you're not. Ahhh, to be young again. Little girls dressing up like Mommy and pretending to be her. Little boys putting on a fire fighter's hat pretending to be a firefighter responding to a 3 alarm fire!

It's fun now and then to pretend but not when it comes to health and nutrition! Everyone is looking for that pill or piece of equipment that will magically cause us to be our ideal weight and experiencing an abundantly healthy body. But, the truth be told, a lean, healthy, vibrant body is the result of proper exercise, nutrition, rest, hydration and avoidance of toxins, pollutants and other unnatural substances.

There is just no way that a single pill or handful of pills are going to take the place for the real source of vitamins and energy which is our God given food supply! Many times the vitamins we take are in a form that is either hard for the body to digest fully or without the right balance of nutrients to produce the natural synergy that takes place in fresh, organic, raw foods. We wind up with very expensive urine and feces!

There is just no device that is going to produce "total fitness" in just 15 min. a day 3 times a week. There is a saying that if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is! There is no short cut to health and fitness! Health and fitness is the result of making good, sometimes hard, decisions on a daily basis. But the rewards are well worth it!

Have a safe and fun filled Halloween and let it be the one day we pretend to be who we really aren't.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

http://urilife.net/realfoodforlife

LIFE

The Gospel of John uses the word "Life" 45 times! The subject of this blog is "Real Food For Life" and I have written a lot about our food and smart food choices. I want to write today about life.

John 1:4 says, "In Him was life and the life was the light of men".

John 5:26 says, "For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself."

John 6:63 says, " It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."

John 8:12 says, "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

John 14:6 says, " Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 20:31 says, " but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

These are a few of the 45 instances that John speaks about life in his Gospel. In all of these verses we see that life originates with God. In Genisis 2:7 Moses wrote, "then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."

I don't want to add too much to these passages of scripture because they speak for themselves. What I want to show and say is that life, the way it is supposed to be lived, must be in communion with God through His Son Jesus Christ who is the beginning and the end. We can not have the abundant life that Jesus spoke about without coming to Him and asking for His leading and guiding in our daily lives!

I urge you to follow the words of Christ that say, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Ask Jesus to make your heart His home. You were created to have fellowship with Him and He loves you and is waiting for you to call out to him! "Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."

I hope this blog is a blessing to you!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

PS. I use Logos Bible Software for my studies and I encourage you to check it out for yourself. If you want info on the program just e-mail me at Rjonodde@aol.com and I will send you a 25% discount on the cost of the software!

Create Residual Income

Residual wealth is where it's at! Residual income is income that pays you repeatedly for work that you do once. WoW! Get paid over and over for work done once. Now that's a concept I can live with!

Some types of residual income are books, songs, movies and many more. The Internet is producing opportunities for residual income as well. A good blog or newsletter can produce advertising income on a steady basis without much effort once you get your blog or newsletter up and running and build an interested audience.

Network Marketing also uses the principle of residual income while incorporating the principle of duplication or reproduction. By building a network of people marketing a valuable product or service you can exponentially increase your monthly income without increasing your daily work output!

Twenty years ago people would work for an employer for 20-30 years and receive an income for life in the form of a pension. Statistics today show that most people don't stay employed with the same employer for more than seven years! So we either have to rely on a very disciplined savings and investment program or begin doing something that will produce long term residual income.

To be successful in writing or entertaining you must be talented and be in the right place at the right time. Fortunately, in Network Marketing you don't need to be especially talented or go into debt. You just need a good company, producing a good product, at a good price, with a strong market for that product. Then it takes a small investment of money and time to assemble a loyal customer base and a network of like-minded individuals to promote the business.

Sure, we can look at all of the companies that failed to produce a long term residual income for their marketers for whatever reason. But, what about Amway, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Market America and many others that are and have continued to provide their distributors with a solid opportunity for financial freedom and Independence.

In conclusion, don't quit your day job. Look for a strong company with good management and a long term global vision that has a few good products or services whose time has come and invest in your future. America was built on an Entrepreneurial spirit. Let's continue to grow and not settle for a 9-5 job working for someone else. Build for a steady stream of residual income so you can work where and when you want. Get blessed and be a blessing!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

www.urilife.com/realfoodforlife

http://www.telebay.com/mallusa

Nutrition is America's Greatest Health Concern

WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Four in five consumers are more concerned about health, nutrition, and fitness than they were a year ago, but nutrition has beat out fitness as consumers' top priority, according to a new survey of approximately 3,000 consumers by Phil Lempert, nationally renowned food industry expert and trend spotter."Shoppers care more than ever about the kinds of foods they buy and a growing number of consumers especially want to know where their foods came from and how they were raised or grown," said Lempert, who reports on consumer trends, food safety, and new products for NBC's Today Show.

The survey, which evaluated consumers' attitudes toward selecting foods, stated 95 percent of consumers are concerned about nutrition. As a result, Lempert suggests there is a growing trend toward fresh, minimally processed foods, which points toward greater interest in fruits and vegetables."Fresh fruits and vegetables offer the good nutrient sources consumers are looking for," Lempert said. "However, we have also seen a few reports recently that produce doesn't have the same level of nutrition that it did 40 or 50 years ago. The consumers surveyed easily recognized soil nutrients as the leading way to improve the nutrient content of foods."According to the survey 84 percent of consumers recognize that the nutrient content of produce can vary based on production practices. Additionally, 70 percent noted soil nutrients as their preferred method for improving nutrient content.Growing plants draw their nutrition from the soil. To ensure the healthiest, most nutrient dense produce, it is important that soils are replenished with key nutrients, especially nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These are naturally occurring elements that come from either organic or commercial sources. Plants need to be "fed" just like people. Healthy soil produces healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables.Interestingly, 55 percent of consumers said organic foods contained the best nutrient levels. However, conventional fruits and vegetables actually offer the same and sometimes enhanced nutrient profiles because it's easier to balance soil nutrition in conventional crops.

Lempert said Americans are hungry for health and food information and predicts our food obsession will continue to grow. In addition to nutrition and health, Lempert suggests convenience, technology and value will be key consumer drivers in 2007.

SOURCE: Nutrients for Life Foundation

This is the reason for this blog. To get out as much information about health, nutrition and fitness as possible. Knowledge enables us to choose correctly!

I recommend "THE FEAST" as a partial solution to the nutrient content of our food. Organically grown, live whole food, flash dried to seal in the nutrients and keep alive the enzymes and microganisms found in fresh produce in a convient form. One serving of "The Feast" has the ORAC value of five servings of fruit and vegetables with the necessary enzymes to digest them properly. Come to my site and try a sample!

http://www.urilife.net/realfoodforlife/request.html

http://www.urilife.com/realfoodforlife/feast.html

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Coconut Oil

Todays blog will discuss the use of coconut oil as a dietary supplement as well as a beauty aid. Coconut oil has some unique qualities that make it one of the best oils to cook with. First, it doesn't go rancid as quickly as some of the other oils we use. It is also more stable and great when used at higher temperatures making it better for cooking.

Coconut Oil can also be used as a natural moisturizer for both hair and skin! Most commercial creams and lotions are predominantly water. Their moisture is quickly absorbed into dry, wrinkled skin. As the water enters the skin, it expands the tissues, like filling a balloon with water, so that wrinkles fade away and the skin feels smoother. But this is only temporary. As soon as the water evaporates or is carried away by the blood stream, the dry, wrinkled skin returns.

The ideal lotion is one that is made from an oil that not only softens the skin, but protects it against damage, promotes healing and gives it a more youthful, healthy appearance. Coconut oil fits that description. Pure virgin coconut oil is the best natural ingredient for skin lotion available. It prevents destructive free-radical formation and provides protection against them. It can help to keep the skin from developing liver spots, and other blemishes caused by aging and over exposure to sunlight. It helps to keep connective tissues strong and supple so that the skin doesn't sag and wrinkle. In some cases it might even restore damaged or diseased skin. The oil is absorbed into the skin and into the cell structure of the connective tissues, limiting the damage excessive sun exposure can cause.

Coconut oil will not only bring temporary relief to the skin, but it will aid in healing and repairing. It will have lasting benefits, unlike most lotions. It can help bring back a youthful appearance. The coconut oil will aid in removing the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. The skin will become more evenly textured with a healthy "shine". While doing this the coconut oil will penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and strengthen the underlying tissues.

What coconut oil can do for your skin it can do for your hair. It is wonderful to use as a hair conditioner. Beauticians who are familiar with coconut swear by it. It softens the hair and conditions the scalp. Using the coconut oil as a pre-wash conditioner can rid a person of dandruff better than a medicated shampoo.

When bathing or showering, soap washes the protective layer of oil and acid off our skin. Often afterwards the skin becomes tight and dry. Adding moisturizers helps the skin feel better, but it does not replace the acid or the protective medium chain fatty acid layers that was removed. Your skin is vulnerable to infection at this time. You would think that your body would be clean and germ-free after a bath. But germs are everywhere, floating in the air, on our clothes and everything we touch. Many germs survive washing by hiding in cracks and folds of the skin. Before long your skin is again teaming with microorganisms, both good and bad. Until sweat and oils return to reestablish the body's chemical barrier your skin is vulnerable to infection. If you have a cut or cracked skin, this can allow streptococcus, staphylococcus and other harmful germs entry into the body. By using a coconut oil cream, lotion or just pure coconut oil you can quickly help reestablish the skin's natural antimicrobial and acid barrier. Many people use coconut oil on their skin after every bath.

Coconut oil will absorb easily, keep the skin soft, and yet without feeling greasy. It is not like other oils used to soften rough, dry skin. It will help to reduce chronic skin inflammation within days and be soothing and healing to wounds, blood blisters, rashes, etc. It is an excellent ingredient to use in healing salves and ointments. People have used a coconut oil/crushed garlic mixture at night to eliminate plantar warts and athlete's foot with excellent results.

According to Mary G. Enig, Ph.D., F.A.C.N., "Coconuts play a unique role in the diets of mankind because they are the source of important physiologically functional components. These physiologically functional components are found in the fat part of whole coconut, in the fat part of desiccated coconut, and in the extracted coconut oil.

Lauric acid, the major fatty acid from the fat of the coconut, has long been recognized for the unique properties that it lends to nonfood uses in the soaps and cosmetics industry. More recently, lauric acid has been recognized for its unique properties in food use, which are related to its antiviral, antibacterial, and antiprotozoal functions.

Now, capric acid, another of coconut's fatty acids has been added to the list of coconut's antimicrobial components. These fatty acids are found in the largest amounts only in traditional lauric fats, especially from coconut. Also, recently published research has shown that natural coconut fat in the diet leads to a normalization of body lipids, protects against alcohol damage to the liver, and improves the immune system's anti-inflammatory response.

Clearly, there has been increasing recognition of health- supporting functions of the fatty acids found in coconut. Recent reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about required labeling of the trans fatty acids will put coconut oil in a more competitive position and may help return to its use by the baking and snack food industry where it has continued to be recognized for its functionality. Now it can be recognized for another kind of functionality: the improvement of the health of mankind."

This is a great place to get Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

http://uriinternational.com/wholefood/wholefood_coconut.asp

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Work from home Site

My newest work from home site was just activated today! It highlights URI International and it's flagship product called "THE FEAST". The Feast is an amazing Live Whole Food Product that actually comes alive when mixed with water and is loaded with whole food goodness! One Product…One Solution…One Source for Complete Nutrition!

"THE FEAST" is the one and only live whole food product on the planet that delivers a full, synergistic spectrum of:
• 30 Antioxidant Rich Fruits & Berries• 30 Powerful Greens & Vegetables• 11 Nutrient Dense Seeds, Nuts & Sprouts• 83+ Active Enzymes & Fulvic Minerals• 22 Strains of Resilient Living Probiotics in a convienent ready to mix powder that mixes with just about anything! Check out the Product at:

http://urilife.net/realfoodforlife/request.html for some samples.

"URI INTERNATIONAL" is a manufacturer and supplier of innovative nutritional products with a special emphasis on superior live whole food nutritional products. For over two decades, the Owner of URI International, Uri LeBaron, has passionately pursued the perfection of a proprietary and revolutionary drying technology that preserves the nutritional integrity of fresh, whole foods. Upon reaching this goal, URI International was created to provide a way for millions of people to achieve optimal health through nutrient dense, live whole food nutritional products.

URI International has one focus and one purpose: To continue to provide the highest quality, most effective and affordable whole food nutritional supplements on the market for superior results. Each product contains premium, wholesome and synergistic ingredients that promote optimal health. The quality and value of our exceptional product line has enabled us to experience rapid growth and become recognized as the industry’s premier source for superior, live whole food nutritional products.

Through vertical integration in all phases of product manufacturing, URI International is able to provide you with a freshness, quantity, quality, variety and affordability that is simply unmatched in the industry. From the farm to your home, URI International ensures the quality and potency of every product we sell.

URI International is a strong, ethical and consistent company that is committed to an uncompromised quality, quantity, variety and value that remains unsurpassed by any other company. Our quality and commitment will never be compromised. Check out the Company at: http://uriinternational.com/about.asp.

What made me choose this as my home based business?

First of all it's consumable. We can only create recurring residual income, if we have a product that people buy over and over again. That is very important. Great nutritional products that people really get great benefits from are the perfect consumable for monthly repurchases.

Second the Wellness industry is exploding, on its way to being a trillion dollar industry. This product targets that market.

Third, in network marketing, nutritional companies have typically lasted the longest and paid the biggest commission checks long term. This product is so far ahead of the curve, we will be in business for a LONG time.

Fourth, people have a terrible time eating the right foods on a regular basis and they know it. And they are paying the high price for it with their health. They desperately want do something about it and are actively seeking real answers. And this product delivers, right on target. People are very surprised and excited about the concept behind this product.

Fifth, the companies that can bring these revolutionary nutritional products that really deliver will have huge financial success. This product definitely fits that criteria.

And sixth, the sales groups that are deploying the technology, automation and systems to effectively market with the right cutting edge nutritional products will literally outsell traditional, national retail sales channels, by a long shot.Because they can deliver much more information to the consumer so much more effectively through many different mediums such as internet, radio, TV, print and direct mail to name a few! We have exactly what you are looking for. Check out the business opportunity at: http://urilife.com/realfoodforlife/request.html

I hope you find these daily articles filled with useful information! Feel free to rate, subscribe and comment!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Freedom

Well, I'm not going to bore you with the definition of Freedom. I am going to show you how the subject of Freedom fits into the blog here at Real Food For Life. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing! In fact, it's what they take away from you if you go to prison. I worked in a NYS Correctional Facility as a Corrections Officer. I watched the daily routines that make up life behind bars. The ultimate loss of freedom?

The life of an inmate is most accurately described as a loss of Freedom. The inmates will tell you that it is also a loss of Dignity. You see, the freedom of choice and our freedom of will is a gift from God. It does give us our Dignity. The freedom of choice is not the same as the freedom of our will. They relate to each other. How we exercise our free will (internal) within the choices (external) that we have help shape the level of our personal Dignity.

Also, these choices, our will (internal) will also help to determine our health and fitness level! Here in America we can make many bad food choices (internal) because of our Freedom of choices (external). We are even forced by our Freedom to make choices that are difficult because it is a matter of present or future gratification. Whether to enjoy the oral and guttural pleasure now or the health and fitness benefit latter.

No matter what we do we cannot escape the fact that life is the sum total of our choices mixed with the pre-ordination of God! We have a genetic (born with) destiny and history given to us by God. We also have our gift of freedom of choice, freedom of will. It is certainly true that "because I can doesn't mean I should". All things are lawful but not all things are expedient. God loves me for who I am not for what I do however there is something in me that wants to please God, not only with my spirit or just my soul, but also with my body. Our body is to be temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore we glorify God with our body.

So, to be free in Body, Soul and Spirit is to be truly free! Whom the Son sets free is free indeed! So think before you act! Use the God given gift of choice. It helps measure your dignity. Use it wisely. It belongs to you. Ask God to help you to make Wise Choices. If an inmate was to tell you one important key to a happy and fulfilling life he/she would say, "Use your Freedom wisely"! Eat wisely, drink plenty of water, enjoy wholesome real live food drinks and snacks, exercise 6 days a week, Pray and read the Bible daily, get enough rest and sleep and enjoy your relationships because they are what really matter in life!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Rest

"Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest". These words were spoken by Jesus understanding how important rest is for our bodies and for our soul. Psalms says that God gives His beloved sleep.Rest and sleep are necessary for a healthy lifestyle!

Most experts agree that the average person needs between 6-9 hours of sleep per day.It is during this time that the body and mind are rejuvenated. The body repairs itself.In fact every athlete knows that in order to stay strong, and for the normal growth of muscle, rest and sleep are an important element in their training routines.

Sleep deprivation can have serious and even deadly consequences. Long distance drivers must take breaks by law. Most professions have limits on how many hours a person can work consecutively. Most people become agitated and disorientated when they are lacking sleep. In fact, even God rested on the seventh day of creation!

Beside sleep we often need time during the day when we can rest. Resting can take on many forms. Meditation, short (20min.) naps, deep focused breathing and times of reflection are all forms of rest for both the mind and body. I remember when I first started teaching that I would come home and put the TV on and watch a painter whose name was Bob Ross. His voice was soothing and calming and I would sit in my recliner, close my eyes and listen to Bob explain his current project and his view on life. I would get up after that half hour and be ready for dinner and my second job!

Without proper sleep and rest our bodies become run down. Our resistance to illness is weakened and we become more prone to injury. Our health, and especially our quality of health, is dependant in part on our ability to balance all of the components that create a healthy lifestyle. Sleep and rest is as important to our well-being as work and exercise are. In fact, it is more important! An over exercised muscle will actually break down instead of being built up. Overworking on the job is often not as productive in the long term as knowing when you need a rest and getting a good night's sleep. A refreshed mind and body is ready for the challenges put before it.

So, get 6-9 hours of sleep each night and try to get at least one twenty minute break during the day to recharge the mind and body and you will surely notice the difference!

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Workplace Christianity

What does Christianity have to do with health? Everything! Christianity is not a culture or just a belief system. It is a vibrant exchange between you and the Creator of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as if we would go to a doctor if we were ill we need to go to Jesus daily to maintain not only our spiritual health but also our emotional and physical health.

Imagine the possibilities of having an appointment with the all knowing God at anytime, anyplace and for any reason! The Birth, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us access to come before God and to have meaningful exchanges with Him throughout our day! In fact, that was God's purpose in the creation. To have a relationship and fellowship with us. He loves us so much!

So what does this wonderful relationship with Jesus have to do with the workplace? Again, everything. Christ is wanting to be a part of everything we do. God created work. Work is a blessing. It allows us a vehicle for expression. An opportunity to affect our community. A way to make the world a better place for everyone.

It is God's desire that no man should perish but that all would have eternal life. Our workplace is an opportunity for us to show the world who Christ is and what He has done for us. It is the most natural place to demonstrate our Christianity. As we study the Bible we see that most of it's stories take place in the workplace. People expressing their faith, hope and love through their daily lives.

I would like to introduce you to a website that is dedicated to exploring the importance of bringing your faith to work. The site is http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/. They also offer a free daily e-newsletter called T.G.I.F. Today God is First. I highly recommend this site and the newsletter. I have been receiving it for about a month now and it is well worth the read!

I hope this blog is a blessing to you! Please feel free to comment, suggest or just bloviate here as we pursue a healthier lifestyle. Tomorrow I will be discussing the importance of rest and sleep to our overall health.

Grace and Peace,

Ed

Spiritual Health

To be spiritually healthy we must take care of our spirit. Like our bodies our spirit needs air, food and drink. However the air, food and drink of the spirit is not the natural kind! In the beginning, on the 6th day of creation, God breathed into man the breath of life or lives. That was our first inspiration and man became a living being. We must continue our quest for Divine Inspiration daily. We must commune with God for our spirit to be healthy. God created us for fellowship with Him!

We must also eat. Jesus said, "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". The Bible is the recorded Word of God given to us by the Holy Spirit through inspired men and women in tune with what God was saying and doing in their day. The Bible reveals the person, nature, character and will of God for our lives individually and as a community. We must look to God's Word daily. David said, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path". The Word is the fuel for our spiritual life. It motivates and energizes us to apprehend that for which we were apprehended by God. As you meditate on the Word your spirit digests it and turns it into faith which is the ability to do the will of God.

We must also drink. Jesus said, "Take this cup, all of you and drink from it", Jesus said I will give you a well that will spring up from inside of you and you will never thirst again. As we seek to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, as we commit to submit and pick up our cross and follow Him it refreshes us.

So, we must remember that just as good air, water and nutrition are critical to our physical body's health and wellness. So are Prayer, The Bible and Fellowship with Jesus and his followers! We are Spirit, Soul and Body. Our spiritual and intellectual/emotional life directly effect our bodies and must be addressed as we pursue total health and wellness!

Today's resource is a great web page that offers a free daily newsletter called "Daily Success". "Daily Success" is written by Bill Gothard and gives practical advice on how to become and stay Spiritually Healthy! I have been getting it for three months now and enjoy it each day! Check it out at http://billgothard.com.

Here is a testimony of the power that these principals have on our physical and emotional health.

How a Medical Doctor Used an Effective Tool to Treat His Patients

“I have been able to attend the Basic Seminar about five times, all of which were the usual prerecorded, week long format. Through these times I have learned the basic principles of life. I have been taught practical wisdom for my life and family and have been given opportunities to make important decisions.

“I am a medical doctor with a general practice. The conditions presented by most of my patients are self-inflicted. Many physicians become hopelessly cynical and unaffected after years of practice, because they cannot seem to change the underlying behavior of their patients. They simply write down that behavior modification was offered, never once giving compassionate and reasonable concern or effort to relieve the patient’s spiritual burden. However, this is to be expected since they appeal to the patient’s mind, will, and emotions instead of the spirit. I wanted to share with them the principles that I learned in the Basic Seminar, but felt that I should fully understand the Scripture behind the Seminar before I shared these insights with my patients. Armed with the principles and practical wisdom from the BLP 101 course I am far better equipped to appeal to my patient’s spirit and encourage him or her to draw upon the Lord, the only Source of true strength and power for change.This is also true with my five children. Several of my older children have attended the Basic Seminar. However, I have found that having taken the BLP 101 course, I am able to effectively reinforce the principles for them.Children tend to learn the most important lessons from life itself, and being able to explain many of the principles from the Basic Seminar at impromptu times is an invaluable tool.The time that I have spent thoroughly learning the Basic Seminar has been a priceless investment in my life, marriage, and family.

Grace and Peace,
Ed