Category: Healthy Eating

More than two-thirds of United States adults are overweight or obese.  Every year countless studies are used to investigate various weight loss tactics.  A successful weight-loss program is a mind/body mission.  It includes a program to become healthy again and also dealing with psychological and habit changes.

It’s important to get mentally prepared before you start thinking of weight loss.  You have to be mentally ready for the changes that are going to take place.  Do not set goals of cutting calories but instead start eating food that promotes fat burning. By eating living and raw plant food especially raw plant fats like avocados, seeds, nuts, olives and coconuts you start telling the body to burn fat instead of sugar. The more you do this the more weight you lose.  Including regular exercise in your daily routine is important for weight maintenance even if it’s just adding a few more walking steps per day.

Eating breakfast is important to start the day and to help jump start the body and make sure you do not eat late at night.  Increase water intake and eat more vegetables.  It is important to know how to substitute foods such as salsa or hummus as a dip.  Eating a raw plant based diet which would include raw vegetables, leafy greens, raw nuts, seeds, and sprouts.

Herbal products are recommended to aid in the removal of toxins that occur with weight loss as they increase urination and/or bowel movements, they stimulate the central nervous system, increase serotonin levels (which is a chemical in the brain that creates a “feeling of fullness”.     Some of the products recommended would be capsaicin because it is a natural substance that comes from chili peppers and aids in speeding up the metabolism, reduces fat tissues and aids in overeating as it curbs the appetite.  Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid found naturally in edible brown seaweed like wakame and hijiki.  Probiotics are important to correct bacterial imbalances that contribute to weight gain.  Psyllium which is a plant that produces seeds which are rich in fiber and Spirullina, a blue-green algae is recommended for weight loss because of their high nutrient content, ability to make one feel full and their ability to balance blood sugar.  Having low levels of vitamin D may increase your risk of obesity, so including vitamin D may help promote weight loss and weight maintenance.   B-vitamins, lipoic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium, L-carnitine and Co-enzyme Q10 are important and essential for the proper metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.

The most important key to remember with trying to lose weight is not to try to lose weight but to become healthier instead. We have had people at Total Health Institute lose 100 pound without dieting but instead living Seven Basic Steps to Total Health lifestyle and eating food that brought balance into their mind and body. You never count calories when you are getting healthy just count the 7 Basic Steps that you are to do each day and watch the pounds fall off.

Cinnamon comes in two different forms. One is called Cassia cinnamon and the other is called Ceylon. Ceylon cinnamon is generally more expensive, lighter in color, it is more of a finer powder, smells sweeter and will be imported from either Brazil, Caribbean, India, Madagascar or Sri Lanka. Cassia cinnamon is imported from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea or Vietnam. Cinnamon is used not only in flavoring drinks, foods or used as aroma therapy it’s bark and flower from the Cassia cinnamon plant has been used for medicine and has been one of the oldest remedies in traditional Chinese medicine.  Cinnamon is available in powder, oil or in stick forms. Cassia cinnamon contains higher levels of the natural compound coumarin which is a natural blood thinner. Most active traits of cinnamon are located in the water-soluble portion but not in cinnamon oil because it is mostly fat soluble. Cinnamon has a 3-5% effect on blood sugar which would make cinnamon a good option for those with either pre-diabetes or diabetes. Research has shown that cinnamon oil is a leading essential oil against three strains of Candida or yeast overgrowth. Cinnamon research also indicates that it can be used as an anti-bacterial for those with salmonella and E-coli and can also be used as that of a natural disinfectant. Cinnamon research indicates it will aid in digestion. Another research may indicate that cinnamon may aid in treating tumors, gastric cancer and melanomas by slowing cancer cells. The chemicals cinnamaldehyde and eugenol have been studied in the development of nutraceuticals that aid in the fight of Human cancer cells as cinnamon may aid the starvation of cancer cells of sugar that is required to grow cancer cells.

There has been much research on the effects of cinnamon with various symptoms and diseases. Research has shown that cinnamon may reduce serum glucose in those with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon can also aid in the reduction of cholesterol totals and triglycerides. Recent studies are indicating that just 6 grams of cinnamon at breakfast can lower blood sugar levels by 25 percent in a two hour period. It appears that Cassia cinnamon has more benefits in the treatment of various conditions such as muscle spasms, diarrhea, vomiting and even erectile dysfunction. Cassia cinnamon list of benefits include: assist in flatulence (gas), loss of appetite, reducing inflammation, be an antioxidant, fight bacterial and fungal infections. Tel Aviv University researchers have found that the extract in cinnamon bark may aid in preventing Alzheimer’s. Another study has shown that cinnamon can aid against HIV and Multiple Sclerosis. Other uses for cinnamon include bed wetting, menstrual issues, symptoms of menopause, cramps, chest pain and kidney disorders. Dietary fiber, calcium, iron and manganese are also found in cinnamon, which are an added bonus of the health benefits of cinnamon.

Cinnamon is yet another one of God’s foods that are medicine. Our food was always designed to be our medicine and if we remember this then we might be more likely to reach for food to heal our bodies instead of drugs to temporary patch an area knowing that in the end it will have between 7- 500 side effects meaning other systems, organs, glands and tissues that it negatively affects. So take the drugs to save your life in a crisis and take God’s food all the rest of the time and for all of the rest of your health needs.

New research by scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) raises the striking possibility that even small amounts of occasional poor food choices may produce significant changes in gene expression that could negatively impact physiology and health.

Regular exposure to cold temperature may be a healthy and sustainable way to help people lose weight. On the contrary, staying inside in our warm, comfortable homes and offices might be partly responsible for gaining weight.”Since most of us are exposed to indoor conditions 90 percent of the time, it is worth exploring health aspects of ambient temperatures,” said lead researcher of Maastricht University Medical Center in The Netherlands. “What would it mean if we let our bodies work again to control body temperature? We hypothesize that the thermal environment affects human health and more specifically that frequent mild cold exposure can significantly affect our energy expenditure over sustained time periods.”

Earlier studies of temperature primarily focused on the extreme for application to the military, firefighters, and others. But studies began to show big differences amongst people in their response to mild cold conditions. That led researchers to an important discovery: heat-generating, calorie-burning brown fat isn’t just for babies. Adults have it too and some more than others.

The research now suggests that a more variable indoor temperature — one that is allowed to drift along with temperatures outside — might be beneficial.

A research group from Japan found a decrease in body fat after people spent 2 hours per day at 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees F) for six weeks. The Netherlands team also found that people get used to the cold temperature over time. After six hours a day in the cold temperature for a  period of 10 days, people in their study increased brown fat, felt more   comfortable and shivered less at 15 degree Celsius (59 degrees F).

In young and middle-aged people at least, non-shivering heat production can account for a few percent up to 30 percent of the body’s energy budget. That means lower temperatures can significantly affect the amount of energy a person expends overall.

So perhaps, in addition to our exercise training, we need to train ourselves to spend more time in the cold.

By lack of exposure to a varied ambient temperature, whole populations may be prone to develop diseases like obesity. In addition, people become vulnerable to sudden changes in ambient temperature.”

-Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec’s Comments on Cold Temperature May Help You Lose Weight:

What this study shows it that our bodies were meant for stress. They strive under stress and stay much healthier under   stress.

What do you mean by stress? This could be the healthy stressing of muscle with a weight, or it could be fasting for a day by only drinking water, or it could be by getting out in the cold weather each day going for a walk. All this is stress hardening which allows the body to adapt to the stress by getting stronger in every way. By growing stronger muscles, a stronger immune system, a stronger circulation, and a stronger mental outlook.

What do you think our forefathers, the explorers and early settlers in this country had? Plenty of healthy stress, but they also had one thing that we are lacking today. They kept their eyes fixed on the goal and paid no attention to the stress and by doing so they overcame tremendous obstacles and were much healthier.

What you focus on you increase in your life. Focus on the life God designed you to have which ISN’T all soft and comfortable. For when you are weak (and stressed) that is when you are STRONG IN HIM.

These vital issues on how to keep your eyes on who you are not who you appear to be are covered in detail on our audio teaching: Sally & George- Going Deeper, Seven Basic Steps to Total Health and our How to Know You Are Healed series.

1.   Sally & George

2.   The Seven Basic Steps to Total Health

3.   How to Know You Are Healed

Don’t be a couch potato or a warm and comfortable potato. Get up, get out and start  brisk walking today for 30 minutes outside no matter what the temperature is. This will benefit you in so many ways.

Good nutrition is fundamental to the prevention of all disease, and that includes cancer. While a healthy diet rich in organic fruits and vegetables can help to protect us from all forms of cancer, there is no reason why we shouldn’t provide our bodies with a little extra ammunition for the fight. All natural nutritional supplements, taken regularly in the recommended dosages, can greatly reduce the risk of cancer for many men and women. These supplements may include vitamins and minerals, as well as plant extracts, healthful bacteria and fatty acids. When it comes to disease, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and nutritional supplements are powerful weapons to be used in the prevention of cancer.

In this article we are going to focus on five nutritional supplements that have been shown to help reduce the risk of cancer in otherwise healthy men and women. Some of these supplements are well known to all of us, others are more obscure. But they all belong on the front line of the fight against cancer.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10, more commonly referred to as CoQ10, is found in every cell in the body. It is used to produce the energy the body needs for cell growth and maintenance, and also acts as an antioxidant to prevent free radicals from damaging healthy cells. Research studies have linked cancers of the breast, colon, prostate and lung with low levels of CoQ10 in the bloodstream. Further studies have shown that taking regular doses of CoQ10 helps to neutralize toxins within the body, while encouraging the immune system to prevent the development of cancerous cells. CoQ10 is naturally found in food. It can also be taken orally as a nutritional supplement. The recommended daily dose is 200 to 600 milligrams.

Beta Glucan

Beta Glucans are chains of sugar molecules found in the cell walls of bacteria, yeasts, oats, barley and mushrooms. Studies in Europe and Japan have demonstrated that Beta Glucans have the ability to seek out cancerous and precancerous cells, and mark them for easier identification by the immune system. This allows the immune system to quickly and effectively recognize cancerous cells and destroy them before they have the opportunity to multiply. Beta Glucans can be taken orally in dosages of 100 milligrams daily.

Vitamin D

The health benefits of vitamin D have long been recognized, unfortunately a great number of children and adults suffer from a deficiency in this vital nutrient. While it’s long been accepted that vitamin D promotes healthy teeth and bones, recent studies have proven it to be an effective weapon in the fight against cancer. Vitamin D activates proteins within the bloodstream that prevent the growth of tumors, and maintaining proper vitamin D levels can reduce the risk of cancer by up to 60%. The best source of vitamin D is through sunlight exposure and through diet, but some people may need to take a daily supplement to help them maintain optimal blood levels, in which case oral supplements may be taken daily.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 has been proven to be effective in boosting the immune system, and promoting the overall health of the body. Omega-3 fatty acids help to regulate cell growth, prevent damaged or mutated cells from multiplying, and inhibit the spread of cancerous cells to other parts of the body. Omega-3 can be found in walnuts, hemp seed, and flax-seed. It can also be taken as a daily supplement, in recommended dosages of 1200 to 5000 milligrams.

Curcumin

Curcumin is the principle component of Turmeric, a popular Indian spice. Curcumin has been shown to disrupt cancerous cell growth, forcing damaged or mutated cells to die before they can multiply into a cancerous or precancerous tumor. Curcumin appears to be most effective in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer, though further research is being done to discern its effect on other types of cancer. Again, curcumin can be taken as a daily supplement, up to 8000 milligrams per day.

All supplement dosages should be confirmed with your natural health physician.

Cancer can be a devastating disease, and the treatments offered by conventional medicine are typically harsh and invasive, carrying an array of unwanted side effects. The best treatment for cancer remains prevention, and by adding some carefully chosen nutritional supplements to the diet it is possible to greatly reduce our risk for developing cancer.

Remember as you eat up the food chain you are eating concentrated chemicals, toxins, pesticides, herbicides etc. These are the facts you have to keep in mind when eating animal products:

· Eating an animal product is 16 times more concentrated in chemicals and toxins than eating non-organic produce, and on average 100 times more concentrated in chemicals and toxins than organic produce.

· All scientific studies have shown that plant products decrease your incidence of disease where animal products in the cooked form increase your incidence of disease.

· The possibility of infectious prion diseases like Mad Cow being spread silently with a long incubation period in not only beef, but also in chicken, pork, lamb, and dairy products.

· The most recent studies on the low carb, high protein diets showing temporary weigh loss but after one year the weight loss usually ceases or is regained.

· The low-carbohydrate (high protein) group was more likely to experience toxic symptoms of constipation, headache, halitosis, muscle cramps, diarrhea, weakness, and rash.

If you haven’t begun, start transitioning your diet to a living/raw, plant-based diet. The purest, most health-promoting diet on the planet is living/raw food, which consists of sprouts, seeds, legumes, nuts, vegetables, sea vegetables and avocados. When this type of food is consumed in the uncooked state, it has bioelectrical charges to jumpstart sick or dysfunctional cells back on to health and life. This is the food all animals in the wild eat. No animal eats cooked food, except your dogs and cats and they contract the same diseases that the human race does: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disease, etc.

How do you begin? Eat more living/raw food and eat it first in the meal. If you eat a large salad of sprouts, greens, cut up vegetables and avocados, you are going to get full. And if you are full with the right foods you are less likely to eat the wrong foods because there is no more room in your stomach. This way, if you ate the large salad with all the above in it and you still want to eat some meat, pasta, or something else cooked, you will not have much room in your stomach for the cooked food and animal products.

Foods to avoid:

1.) Sugar

2.) Salt

3.) Dairy

4.) Processed or preserved

5.) Man-made/artificial–saccharin, NutraSweet, MSG

6.) Hydrogenated fats and oils

7.) Meat, chicken and fish

8.) Cooked animal products

9.) Flour

To learn more about how to decrease your risk for cancer through healthy foods, read: Six Cancer Fighting Foods That Should Be a Part of Everyone’s diet

Nature provides, and through its bounty gives us everything we need to maintain our total health. Case in point, the lowly garlic bulb. This common vegetable can be found in kitchens all over the world, and is easily one of the most popular spices in the marketplace. It is also one of the most remarkable items in nature’s larder, boasting a wide range of health benefits. Researches into the benefits of garlic have yielded amazing results, proving that it is the pharmaceutical industry’s worst nightmare – an all-natural plant with innate healing properties. But beyond making our meals more delicious, what can garlic really do?

Garlic Fights Infection

There is a natural compound found in garlic called Allicin, and it acts as both an antibiotic and an antimicrobial. Research has shown that the Allicin found in raw garlic is the equal of standard dosages of penicillin and tetracycline, and is effective against a number of infectious bacteria. Studies have proven that garlic is effective as a broad spectrum antibiotic against a number of bacterial agents, including those associated with dysentery, typhoid, tuberculosis, staph and candida infections. In fact, its antibiotic properties can defeat more than seventy common infectious agents. It is antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and antiviral. To get the full antibiotic benefits of garlic, it should be eaten raw as cooking destroys the Allicin compound.

Garlic and Heart Health

All adults need to be concerned with the overall health of their heart, and once again garlic has been shown to offer huge health benefits. High cholesterol has been directly linked to heart disease, and it is vital to keep cholesterol levels within acceptable limits. When taken regularly, it has been shown to have a profound effect on the way the body handles cholesterol. Test subjects who took the equivalent of three raw garlic cloves a day saw their LDL cholesterol (or “bad” cholesterol) reduced by as much as 15%. More importantly, they saw their HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol that protects against heart attacks) rise by nearly 23%.

Garlic also helps to control high blood pressure by relaxing the muscles in blood vessels, allowing them to dilate more freely. Furthermore, taken over time, it appears to remove the harmful plaque that can build up in the arteries of the heart. This allows the blood to flow more freely, reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack. Plus it is rich in the antioxidants necessary to protect the heart and arteries from damaging free radicals.

Garlic and Cancer

One of the more startling health benefits is its effect on cancer cells. A recent study of two Chinese counties revealed the power of garlic over cancer. In Gangshan County, where residents eat an average of 20 grams of garlic a day, incidents of gastric cancer were as low as 3.5 per 100,000 people. Conversely, in Quixia County, where residents ate little or no garlic, the average incidents of gastric cancer where roughly 40 per 100,000. Further studies suggest that as little as two cloves of raw garlic a day can help to prevent colon cancer. The antioxidants in the raw cloves protect the body from the toxic effect of cancer causing chemicals, and can even inhibit the growth of cancer cells once they develop.

Reaping the Benefits of Garlic

Not all garlic is created equal, and to reap the full benefits of this tasty vegetable you should only use the freshest, organically grown, garlic. Fresh garlic bulbs should be tightly closed, and all the cloves should be firm to the touch. If the bulb has started to swell or split, and if there are any sprouts to be seen, the garlic is past its prime. In most cases, garlic should be eaten raw to experience its full benefits. Cooking reduces the potency of the chemicals that fight bacteria, boost the immune system and combat cancer, so raw is generally best. If the bad breath often associated with garlic is a concern, peppermint oil can be taken to neutralize any unpleasant odors.

Garlic is a tasty addition to any meal, and has found its way into the hearts and kitchens of people all around the world. The significant health benefits associated with garlic is only further proof of nature’s bounty, and its ability to provide for so many of our needs.

Obese people who drastically limit their calorie intake can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease and stay young longer, real-life research finds.

The study of obviously dedicated members of an organization called the Caloric Restriction Optimal Nutrition Society found they scored significantly better on such major risk factors as cholesterol, blood pressure and insulin levels. A group led by Dr. John O. Holloszy, a professor of medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine, report the finding in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“For the first time we’ve shown that calorie restriction is feasible and has a tremendous effect on the risk for atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries] and diabetes,” Holloszy said.

The readings of such factors as blood pressure and cholesterol for these middle-aged Americans were typical of much younger people, he said.

The people involved in the study had been taking in about 1,100 and 1,950 calories a day for about six years, with bigger people logically eating more. They were compared to a matched group of people whose daily intake was between 1,975 and 3,550 calories a day, more typical of Americans.

The calorie-restricted group had blood levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol in the lowest 10 percent of people in their age group. The readings for “good” HDL cholesterol, which carries fats out of the arteries, were in the highest 15 percent of their age group. And their levels of triglycerides, fats that contribute to atherosclerosis, were lower than in 95 percent of Americans half their age.

Those readings, and the ones for other factors such as body mass index and body fat, indicate that the low-calorie consumers “are aging less rapidly than normal,” Holloszy said.

The study also deals a blow to the current craze over low-carbohydrate diets. The calorie-restricted group got 46 percent of their calories in the form of carbohydrates, with 26 percent from protein and 28 percent from fat.

The low-calorie people consumed mostly complex carbohydrates, from such foods as fruits and vegetables.

-Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec Comments Calorie Restriction Can Prolong Life:

There is only one thing that has scientifically been proven to increase longevity. It is called calorie restriction. When obese animals of all types are put on a 50% decreased calorie intake, their lifespan increases 50%.

Not only does calorie restriction increase lifespan; it also increases your physical, mental and emotional health.

Heart disease, cancer and diabetes which account for nearly 90% of all deaths in the United States can be tremendously reduced if one just eats less.

How can a person cut their calories by 40-50% and still survive you might ask? The answer is found in nature. All animals in nature that live long lives and maintain excellent health eat only one type of diet: raw/living food. When you eat a diet of uncooked vegetables, sprouts, seeds, nuts, grains, fruits (avocados), you will be eating 40-50% of the calories you are presently eating. When you eat pure, living/raw plant base food, it fills you up and satisfies because it is concentrated nutritionally in the purest form. Take a lesson from the animal kingdom and start cutting your calories by eating a living/raw plant based diet.

Remember, the Daniel fast and the lessons learned from it. When we do not eat the king’s food (the cooked, processed food of this world system) not only will we be healthier physically but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

…Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. … In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. NIV

The more we feed the flesh (old mind/old nature) the more we block and suppress the flow of the Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, the Spirit of all knowing.

A diet favoring complex versus refined/processed carbohydrates is better for the heart and less likely to slow down metabolism than a conventional low-fat diet, a preliminary study confirms.

The “glycemic index’’ diet recommends carbohydrates that do not cause a sharp rise in blood sugar levels after meals, instead of highly processed, starchy, or refined carbohydrates. It is not as anti-carb as Atkins-style regimens, nor as fat-restrictive as standard low-fat diets.

The study involved 39 overweight people ages 18 to 40 who ate hospital-prepared diets for about 10 weeks. Low-glycemic foods were given to 22 participants, while 17 received the low-fat option.

Participants in both groups lost an average of about 20 pounds. But glycemic index dieters did better on two risk factors for heart disease: They had a decrease in triglycerides/fats in the blood, versus an increase in the low-fat group, and they had a much greater reduction in levels of an inflammation-related substance called C-reactive protein.

-Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr Keith & Laurie Nemec Comments on “Glycemic Index Diet” Study

This study shows a powerful reality:  Sugar causes inflammation. Remember inflammation is at the root of most all diseases from heart disease to cancer to autoimmune diseases, to gastrointestinal disease to respiratory disease. The study also shows that the low glycemic diet actually lowered the triglycerides/fats in the blood more than eating a low fat diet.

This is because sugar turns into fat and does more to raise the fat because typical low fat diets have higher starches that turn into fats. The answer to diet is quite simple: eat food in the most natural state which is living/raw plant food.  The single most detrimental factor to causing sugar levels to rise in the blood is cooking the food.  Heat destroys enzymes which are important to break food down so it does not cause sugar levels to rise.  So the ideal low glycemic diet is one of sprouts, raw/uncooked vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, sprouted uncooked grains, sea vegetables and avocados.

Throughout history, periodic fasting has been used to help maintain the general health of the body. In ancient cultures, fasting was a common part of a person’s health regimen. As the western world developed, and agriculture and commerce increased the availability and variety of foods, the concept of regular fasting became lost. So called “developed” nations began to see food as more than fuel for the body, and an age of overindulgence was born. But the modern world is now rediscovering the health benefits of periodic fasting, and people are beginning to incorporate periodic fasts into their modern health regimens.

Overindulgence and Our Health

People today tend to consume more food than the body actually needs or wants. Moreover, these foods tend to be high in unhealthy fats, refined carbohydrates and refined sugars. Add to that the overindulgence in soft drinks and alcohol, and the increased use of tobacco and other stimulants, and it’s easy to see the potential impact our lifestyles can have on our general health. The Western diet and lifestyle can be seen to be directly responsible for a number of health threatening conditions, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Periodic fasting gives us the opportunity to reverse the harmful effects of an overindulgent lifestyle, and to begin the process of restoring our bodies to optimal health.

Fasting and Detoxification

The first major benefit of periodic fasting is detoxification. Detoxification is the process by which the body eliminates, or neutralizes, potentially harmful toxins through the liver, colon, kidneys, lungs and skin. When we eliminate solid food for a short period of time, the body turns to fat reserves for energy. These fat reserves were created when glucose and carbohydrates were not needed, or used, for energy production and were therefore converted into fat. During this conversion into fat, many chemicals and environmental toxins become trapped in the fat reserves. When we fast, and the body turns to fat reserves for energy, these chemicals and toxins are released and can be naturally eliminated from the body. The release and elimination of these unwanted chemicals and toxins is vital to maintaining total health.

Fasting and Healing

The second major benefit of periodic fasting is the healing process that is set in motion when the body is denied solid foods. Much of the body’s innate energy is spent on digestion, and periodic fasting allows the body to redirect that energy, and to apply it to the immune system. With the body’s energy freed from the daily tasks of digestion, it can be applied to the repair and replacement of damaged cells.  During a period of fasting, the body is also able to make more efficient use of available proteins helping to produce stronger cells, and to rejuvenate tissues and organs. Human growth hormone is also released during a fast, and these play an integral part in the body’s ability to maintain its own health and to repair the typical damage caused by diet and lifestyle choices.

Fasting and Extended Life Expectancy

One of the most significant benefits of periodic fasting is a feeling of rejuvenation. This is more than simply emotional, and is caused by the natural improvement of the immune system, the more efficient use of proteins and the release of anti-aging hormones that occurs during a controlled fast. Recent studies indicate that the Western tendency to take in more nutrients than is necessary to fuel the body puts a strain on the system, causing our bodies to age more quickly than God intended. Periodic fasting helps to return the body to its nutritional balance, while allowing it the time and energy needed to effect repairs and to rejuvenate cells, tissues and organs.

While the idea of depriving ourselves of food for any period of time may seem counter intuitive, recent studies have demonstrated that periodic fasting offers a wide range of health benefits. Fasting allows the body to eliminate unhealthy toxins, and to use its innate energies to heal and repair itself. Before engaging in any type of fast, patients should first consult their holistic clinician to set up a fasting schedule that includes a detailed plan for the gradual transition back to solid foods. Your clinician will also be able to help you decide which type of fasting procedure is most appropriate for your general health and lifestyle.

Colorectal cancer, more commonly known as colon cancer, is the third most common type of cancer in the western hemisphere. In the United States alone, it strikes more than 150,000 men and women every year. Any diagnosis of cancer can have a devastating effect on a patient and their family. Colon cancer is no different. With the statistics for colorectal cancer rising every year, it is clear that conventional medicine has had little luck in defeating this life threatening disease. But as the old saying would have it, “the best medicine is prevention”. Today, more and more people are educating themselves on what they can do to prevent colon cancer. What they’re finding is what holistic clinicians have known all along. The balance of mind and body, coupled with proper nutrition, is the best defense against all physical disorders.

Causes and Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer has a number of different causes. Studies suggest that certain people have a genetic predisposition for colon cancer, and that lifestyle and dietary habits are major triggers for the development of the disease. Cigarette smoking, and the regular consumption of red meat, has been linked to the growth of polyps in the colon that are likely to develop into cancerous tumors. Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer also have a greater likelihood of developing colon cancer.

Unfortunately, the most common symptoms of colon cancer tend not to present themselves in the earliest stages of the disease. This can make it difficult to diagnose, which is why it is important to have regular screenings for the disease. The most common symptoms of colon cancer include abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue and feeling as though you constantly need to empty your bowel.

Diet and Colon Cancer

Diet plays a large part in the predisposition for any cancer, and sound nutritional choices should be the foundation of all cancer prevention. Transitioning to a vegan plant based diet can dramatically lower the risk for colon cancer. Red meat and highly processed meat products have been linked to an increased risk for colon cancer, and should be eliminated from the diet. A new emphasis should be placed on organic fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts and avocados as a dietary staple. Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty aids, such as flax seed, hemp seeds, walnuts, broccoli and spinach, are also key components in a cancer fighting diet.

Obesity has also been linked to colon cancer, and maintaining a healthy weight can greatly reduce the risk for developing the disease. A predominantly vegan diet helps to maintain a healthy weight, and can also reduce the risk of diabetes, which is often a precursor to the development of colon cancer. Combining these dietary changes with regular exercise is the foundation of a cancer prevention lifestyle.

Exercise and Colon Cancer

Regular exercise has been proven to lower the risk of cancer, and should be a part of everyone’s healthy lifestyle. High intensity and short duration vigorous exercise can help to reduce the risk of colon cancer and other bowel disorders. Exercise helps the body to process nutrients more effectively, and to dispose of dangerous toxins through sweat. Exercise also helps individuals to maintain a healthy weight, which is the enemy of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Regular moderate to vigorous daily exercise also plays a vital role in oxygenating the body’s cells, giving them the nutrients they need to heal damaged tissue and prevent the growth of cancerous cells.

Nutritional Supplements and Colon Cancer

In addition to a healthy diet and exercise, certain nutritional supplements appear to have anti-cancer properties. When used as part of a sound dietary plan, these supplements can help make the body an unwelcome host to cancerous, and precancerous, cells. St. John’s Wort has been shown to lower the risk of colorectal cancer in otherwise healthy individuals by as much as 63%. Regular doses omega 3 fatty acids appear to lower the risk of colon cancer by 27% to 35%. Vitamin D has also shown to be helpful in strengthening the immune systems fight against colon cancer. These nutritional supplements are easy to integrate into a healthy diet, and are entirely natural.

The best cancer prevention begins with providing the body with the tools it needs to achieve and maintain total health. Good nutrition, coupled with cancer fighting supplements, allows the body to repair and recharge itself on a daily basis. Exercise reinforces the natural cancer fighting ability of the body. By making the right dietary and lifestyle choices, we restore the natural balance of our bodies, and release our God given right to achieve and maintain total health.

Less than 3 percent of Americans follow health advice to keep the weight off, exercise regularly, eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day and avoid smoking, according to latest research.

Many studies show that people who eat healthily, exercise and do not smoke are far less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Yet Americans find it almost impossible to take these steps, Dr. Mathew Reeves of Michigan State University and colleagues found.

Reeves and colleagues surveyed 153,000 adults as part of the U.S. government’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

• 76 percent of those surveyed said they did not smoke.
• 23 percent included at least five fruits and vegetables in their daily diets.
• 22 percent exercised at least 30 minutes per day five or more times a week.
• 40 percent maintained a healthy weight defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or less.

And only 3 percent met all four goals, Reeves found. He checked other studies to be sure he was right, and then did an informal poll of people he knew.

“They all kind of roll their eyes and go, ‘Nobody does that’,” Reeves said. “This is the problem — the social or cultural norm is not to do that, and it seems like an acceptable situation.

People are busy, live in environments more conducive to driving everywhere than walking or biking, and may lack information about the dangers of unhealthy habits, Reeves suggested.

But likely the biggest reason is that it is the “norm” to live unhealthy lives. “If most people around you are overweight, and don’t exercise and eat mostly fast food, then it’s very hard to see the need to change the way you are living,” Reeves noted.

Reeves said that research shows being healthy can add years to your life, decrease medical expenses, cut your risk of heart disease, and generally improve your quality of life.

“It really does matter that so many people are not taking the most basic steps to leading a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “We should be aware of what we are giving up.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tried to warn of the consequences of poor eating and a lack of exercise.

“I think people feel overwhelmed that they have all these healthy choices that they must take, to where they are almost at the point of saying ‘I can’t do it,”‘ said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner.
-Archives of Internal Medicine

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec comments on Less Than 3% of the United States Living a Healthy Life

This very interesting study done at Michigan State University found that four factors make up healthy living.

1. Not smoking
2. Eating at least 5 fruits and vegetables.
3. Exercising 30 minutes per day at least 5 days per week.
4. Maintaining a weight of Body Mass Index 25 or less.

The study found only 3% of the United States population meeting all four criterions.

We have a few objections to the study and they are:

• The study was done as a survey which means the people write down what they think they are doing rather than what is actually occurring. People tend to see themselves as they would like to be rather than how they actually are.
• The guidelines used for vegetable and fruit consumption was five fruits and vegetables when the true recommendation is four servings of fruit, six servings of vegetable and only 9% of the American population eat this recommended quantity.
• Only 35% of the United States is not found overweight or obese. Of this group there are more children not overweight than adults so the adult numbers of maintaining a BMI of 25 or less is at most 25% of the United States.
• Instead of these four factors of health, there are “Seven Basic Steps to Total Health.” Which less than 0.1% of the United States population are fulfilling the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health below.

1. Air – you must deep diaphragm breathing to oxygenate your body.
2. Water – you must drink 32 ounces of distilled water per 50/lbs per body weight per day.
3. Food – you consume a diet of living/raw plant food which has the highest energy, bioelectricity, enzymes and bioavailable nutrient content to either maintain or restore your health.
4. Sleep – you must sleep 9.5 hours with 3.5 of them before midnight.
5. Exercise – you must exercise 30 minutes every day.
6. Fasting/Detoxification – you must fast from the normal Standard American Diet (SAD).
7. Prayer – you must take the time throughout your day to regularly still your mind so you can hear the voice of God spoken into your heart.

So as you can see, it is not 3% but less than 0.1% that are actually living a healthy lifestyle, a total health lifestyle.

Also very important in the observations in this study is that general observation is that people say ‘Nobody does that’, and I can’t do that.” This is a pure and simple untruth. They could do it if they had cancer and were told they have 3 months to live, they could do it if they were diagnosed with heart disease and said they had less than 3 years to live if they didn’t change their lifestyle and diet. They could do it if it were it were a matter of life and death, so if they could do it under any circumstances they could do it under all circumstances. The problem is it calls for change, it calls for work, it calls for sacrifice and a world that is ruled by the flesh-filled old mind never wants to do any of these, so instead it chooses to do what is easy and comfortable not what is more difficult but far more beneficial in the long run. It is up to you. Are you going to obey what the flesh-filled, ego-filled, world-filled mind or are you going to obey the truth-filled heart? The choice is yours but choose wisely because your choice will not only affect you but your family and the generations to come.

Eating fewer calories may help prevent the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers reported.

A study in mice suggests a lower-calorie diet can help trigger the production of a protein that protects the brain from the disease, said researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

In the study, the mice in one group were permitted to eat as they wanted, while the other group of mice was fed only 70 percent of that amount.

When the animals were killed six months later, researchers discovered the brains of the calorie-restricted mice held significantly higher levels of an anti-aging protein, SIRT1, the researchers reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

That protein has been shown to curtail and reverse the production of plaque in the brain, a typical symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have found the protein can also enhance the function of a patient’s metabolism, kidneys and liver.

“The real message is that, in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease, caloric restriction led to the elevation of molecules that are associated with longevity and good health,” said Dr. Giulio Pasinetti, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience who led the study.
“This may be the reason why caloric restriction may work to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.”

The Mount Sinai study confirms other research that has found a relationship between what and how much people eat and risk for the disease in general.

“The same things that we know are good for your body — particularly your vascular system — are all part of maintaining healthy brain function,” said Dr. Bill Thies, a staff pharmacologist at the Alzheimer’s Association.
– Journal of Biological Chemistry

Dr. Keith & Laurie Nemec’s comments on Eat Less and Prevent Brain Degeneration
In this study, that was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, it showed that when mice were permitted to eat as much as they wanted, as opposed to the other group which was fed only 70% of that amount, that the animals on the calorie restricted diet had a significantly higher levels of anti aging protein called SRIT1. This protein had been shown to reverse the production of plague in the brain, which is typical in the symptoms of Alzheimer Disease. It also showed that this protein enhances the function of metabolism, kidneys and liver. This is yet another study confirming the power of calorie restriction. Not only increasing longevity, being the only proven mechanism to increase longevity, but also decreasing the formation of all disease in the body whether life threatening disease or not. So what will calorie restriction do for you? It will decrease inflammation in the body and inflammation is the root of all disease. So, not only does it do this for Alzheimer’s, but also will decrease cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disease, all diseases will be decreased when you adopt a calorie restriction lifestyle. And this still goes into the 7 Basic Step. As you live the 7 Basic Step lifestyle you will live the life that God has called you to live. Calorie restriction is the only method that has been proved to increase longevity, but health and healing is not about doing one of the  7 Basic Steps, but all 7 of them, then not only can you increase your longevity, but you can increase not only the number of years, but the life in those years.

Something to contemplate is this, when we see that calorie restriction is the only proven mechanism to increase longevity, we go back to basics how did God design mankind to live? Well He designed mankind to of course exercise. He designed mankind to eat a living/ raw plant diet. He designed mankind to go to bed when the sun goes down and wake up when the sun comes up. He designed mankind to drink water. He designed mankind to breathe the breath of life, His breath fully. He designed mankind to be able to fast, which not only is a form of calorie restriction but in fasting one would detox the body of any accumulative waste products. And He designed the body, mind, emotions, spirit complex to be still and know Him. To live a life of prayer, listening to His voice spoken into their hearts. When you live this life, you will age less rapidly, you will live a much higher quality of life and you will transform more into all that He is created you to be in body, mind and spirit

“For a lot of people, the idea that a diet is something to go on and then off is wrong-headed to begin with,” said Julie Miller Jones a professor of nutrition and food science at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn.. Instead of “diet,” she suggested, substitute the word “eating plan.” And determine that you will stick with it for life. “Unless [overweight] people get their head around this idea, that this is something you do for a lifetime, not six weeks or six months, they are doomed to failure,” Miller Jones said.

Even worse, constant dieting, especially with severe calorie restriction, makes it harder to lose weight the next time, Miller Jones said. No one’s disputing that excess body weight isn’t a problem in the United States.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 64 percent of adults age 20 and older are overweight or obese, as are 15 percent of children and teens ages 6 to 19. Even so, dieting, particularly in adolescence, can be counterproductive, experts said. One expert, Joanne Ikeda, found that out when she surveyed adult women about their dieting habits in a study published in 2004 in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. She asked 149 obese women if they had dieted and if so, how many times and when.

“We were able to use statistics and compare with women who had not gotten that large,” she said.

The result: The higher a woman’s body mass index, or BMI, the more likely she was to have started her first weight-loss diet before age 13, said Ikeda, the founding director of the University of California Berkeley’s Center for Weight and Health. Even worse, she added, “there have been some very large-scale studies coming out of Scandinavia showing that [repeated] weight loss [and regain] actually increases the risk for weight gain.” Often called “yo-yo dieting,” this pattern is definitely harmful, Ikeda said.

“I tell people if they have lost weight and regained it three times [or more], they should stop focusing on weight loss and start focusing on improving your metabolic fitness.”

That means leading a healthy lifestyle, eating sufficient calories for an adult. “Sufficient” generally means about 2000 calories a day, but Ikeda stressed that ideal levels can vary by weight and activity levels. The bottom line? The only way to have a healthy body weight, Ikeda said, is to have a healthy lifestyle.
-Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on dieting can be harmful to your health.
What this article showed was for a lot of people the idea that a diet is something to go on and off is wrong. Instead a diet should be an eating plan something that you are determined to stick with for life. It should not look at the short term goal of losing weight rapidly and then coming off a diet, because this will cause the never ending cycle of dieting and binging, dieting and binging. Instead adopting a lifestyle of decreased calorie intake but one that someone can handle and something that they can do for life. As the article also showed that studies coming from Scandinavia showed that repeated weight loss and regain actually increases the risk for future weight gain. Also the researchers showed that people that have lost weight and regained weight three times or more, should stop focusing on their weight loss and start focusing on leading a healthy lifestyle, which this includes not eating more than 2,000 calories a day.

The average American eats at least 2700 calories a day. How can this be attained? When we transition to a living raw plant diet one that is made up of vegetables, seeds, nuts, avocados, whole grains in the sprouted state, but uncooked state, sprouts themselves, all plant material in the uncooked state will be calorie reduction in of itself. A person will loose weight naturally without any side effects, without any yo-yoing effect, without ever gaining weight because when we eat these food, they are the most balanced foods created by God and they will fill us up, they will sustain us, they will give us everything that our body needs, and they will allow us to go to our ideal body weight naturally. This is one of the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health.

So, to recap we must get away from the finish of a thing, I want to be finished with my weight problems, I want to go on a diet, loose weight and be done with it. The problem is, once you are done with it, you are not done with it, you start up on the binging and the eating and then they weight gains and then you have to go on the diet to loose the weight. Doesn’t it make more sense to just eat the food and live the lifestyle that you are comfortable with, and can do it for the rest of your life and end this, this vicious cycle of weight gain, weight loss, weight gain?

Carbohydrate rich foods could make you happy, while protein rich foods may help you do well on your test at school, according to research that suggests that what we eat changes how we think and feel.

“You can manipulate your mood and your mental acuity just by what you eat and when, and the effects can happen very quickly,” said Dr. Judith Wurtman, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

She and her husband, Dr. Richard Wurtman (also of MIT), have studied the food-mood connection for the past 30 years.
According to Wurtman, the news that carbohydrates can lift the spirits first emerged about a dozen years ago, in studies she conducted with women suffering from premenstrual syndrome.

“Eating carbohydrates had a profound and dramatic effect in improving mood,” Wurtman said. “I’m talking about anger, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, mental fuzziness. We found that you could reverse those mood changes with carbohydrate-rich foods, in about 30 minutes.”

Carbohydrates can do little to change serious clinical depression, but they do seem to help battle the everyday “blahs,” she said. The reason may be very simple, she noted: the body uses carbohydrates to manufacture serotonin — the key emotion regulator in the brain. “When you eat carbohydrates and make more serotonin, mood disturbances that you may have been suffering can go away, at least temporarily,” she said.

And what about protein? Wurtman said the science on that is a little sketchier.

“My husband discovered years ago, however, that one of the amino acids in protein, called tyrosine, does increase the synthesis of two key chemicals in the brain, norepinephrine and dopamine, which we call the ‘mental alertness’ chemicals,” she said. For this reason, Wurtman recommends protein-heavy diets for people facing extended periods of mental strain, such as preparing for an important exam. “It’ll help you replenish those chemicals in your brain,” she said.
– HealthDay News

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on you are what you eat.
This very interesting research article shows us how our moods and emotions can be affected by what we eat. The basis, I should say the summation of what the research showed was, when a person eats a high carbohydrate meal it actually can cause them to go into an improved mood, it can cause them to go into more calm, calm down to some extent, anger, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, mental fuzziness. And this can be changed within 30 minutes with carbohydrate rich foods. What are the carbohydrate rich foods? These are the vegetables. Again, eating raw is the most important way to eat them. The vegetables, the root vegetables are wonderful, these are the yams:jewel and garnet, sweet potatoes, carrots, root vegetable called jicama, all these carbohydrate rich vegetables are very good for the system. Standard vegetables are the best, the green leafy vegetables and just the green vegetables. All vegetables should be eaten as much as possible in the raw and uncooked state to have the highest nutritional benefit and balance to the mind and emotions.

The other thing that this research showed was diets that were high in protein especially the amino acid called tyrosine increased the synthesis of norepinephrine and dopamine, which were the mental alertness chemicals. This is why a high protein diet or a diet with more protein is much better for people who are facing extended periods of mental strain. As I said, facing an important exam.  So what we do want to get out of this study is how food can affect certain chemicals secreted in the brain and in the body that cannot affect moods. Carbohydrates are by far the most important part of our diet which is the vegetables, the sprouts, the sprouted material. The protein sources also can help with mental clarity and alertness. These are best found in the plant kingdom because they have the least amount of toxicity and should be eaten raw. This would be primarily the seeds and the nuts. So, to sum up, if we want to eat a diet that brings Total Health, we eat a living/raw plant based diet. The living/raw plant based diet is a balanced diet of vegetables, sprouts, sea vegetables, root vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, and avocados. When we combine this type of food we have the balance in body, mind and emotions. The balance of the emotions, the balance of the mind, the alertness of the mind. Additional note on this is, we have to be careful that we do not try to eat food in a specific way as they are saying to bring on a carbohydrate high which will drop us lower than we were when we eat the wrong forms of foods. For example, if we are eating breads, there are carbohydrates in breads but that will blow the blood sugar out of balance and give you a temporary good feeling but then when the blood sugar bottoms out, it will drop you lower than where you started. So that’s why it’s very important just to eat a well balanced living raw plant based diet of the seeds, nuts, avocados, vegetables, root vegetables, green vegetables, all vegetables along with sprouts, sprouted material, legumes, and sea vegetables, all these things. Avocados being a wonderful source of fat, and fat is a stored energy form.

So the other side note is we have to make sure besides not trying to eat from one food group but a balance living raw plant based diet which is non toxic and most health promoting to the body, is that we eat food that heals the body an as these articles show can help balance the mind and emotions. We eat it in a living/raw plant state which is the closest state that God created the food to be in. When we do this we do not feed the flesh filled old mind, we do not feed the emotions. So, as it was stated we can eat carbohydrates in a cooked processed form. You can have a cookie, it will temporarily affect your mood. You can have a piece of bread, and they are still carbohydrates that will give you a feel good with increase in serotonin level but then drops you worse than when you started. This is the sugar blues, where it goes up and down. That is not the purpose. And the purpose is never to eat a high protein diet especially from animal origin. We get plenty of protein from the seeds and the nuts. But seeds and nuts should be combined with the vegetables, the sprouts, the avocados in a balanced diet, so that we are not trying to eat excessively high protein. Protein is harder on the system to digest. It takes much more energy. So protein is good when it is in a living/raw plant form, but it doesn’t need to be eaten separately in high quantities to change mind or emotions. So the general message is follow your heart in this life, live a balanced life of what we call the Seven Basic Steps to Total Health™  So when you are eating a living/raw plant based diet, you are bringing balance to the mind, emotions and body also you are not feeding the flesh filled old mind. Also it is important to know that food is a powerful part of any alternative cancer treatment. Cancer grows in sugar so this must be avoided completely. Living and raw plant based foods are the best choices when one is facing a major health challenge.

If you want to live long and well there are two things you must do — eat right and exercise.

And while there are no guarantees in life, adopting these healthy lifestyles can enhance your chances of vitality as you reach your 60s, 70s, 80s — and beyond, experts say.

But a new report by the nonprofit Center for the Advancement of Health says that’s not always easy for older people in a society that has built its streets for drivers, not walkers, and put convenience — think fast foods — for the young over possibilities for the old.
With 35 million Americans aged 65 and older — a number expected to double during the next 25 years — seniors and government must both make healthy choices, said Nancy Whitelaw, director of the National Council on the Aging’s Center for Healthy Aging, which funded the report.

When it comes to nutrition and activity, “people know the message,” she said. “The challenge is to make it operational in our daily lives.”

People who get regular exercise, eat healthfully and avoid tobacco have a lower risk of chronic diseases that lead to premature death, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers. They also have reduced rates of disability, better mental health and cognitive function, and lower health costs.

Conversely, individuals who are physically inactive are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease as active people, according to the report. Inactivity is also linked to the development of diabetes and colon cancer, and can result in loss of muscle strength and mass, which can lead to frailty and lethal falls.

Yet, approximately one-third of persons age 65 or older have not engaged in any leisure-time physical activity within the past month, including the majority of those over the age of 75, according to the study.

Just 30 minutes of activity five days a week can make the difference, said Whitelaw. The idea is to get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes, and participate in activities that build balance, strength and flexibility. Recommended exercises include walking, swimming and bicycling. Doctors also endorse strength training two days per week.

But, the right kind of activity, coupled with a diet rich with fruits and vegetables and light on refined and processed foods, can lead to a longer, happier life, she said.

Only about one-quarter of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, according the report. And, studies show that older people consume inadequate amounts of key nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and phosphorus, which play a key role in maintaining muscle and bone health.

So reach for an apple instead of the chips, Whitelaw said. And if you can’t do 30 minutes of exercise at a time, try it in 10-minute spurts. You can also stretch when you’re washing the dishes, take the stairs rather than the elevator, and walk across the parking lot rather than fight for the spot closest to the door. Better still, walk to your destination if it’s less than a mile away.
These are things we all know, she said. “We just got out of the habit.”
– HealthDay News

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on Diet and exercise, the real fountains of youth.
What this study showed was what we have taught all along, lifestyle changes, two of the seven basic steps which we will go over, diet and exercise they are finding reverse diseases. What the article showed was that people who get regular exercise and eat healthy, they have a much lower risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure. They also have a reduced rate of mental, health and cognitive function decline. On the other side, the people who are most inactive, not exercising, are twice as likely to develop diseases as active people. Inactivity, lack of exercises, has shown to lead to the development of certain cancers, diabetes, the loss of muscle strength and mass which could lead to even lethal fractures. And they summed up by just saying that 30 minutes of activity five times a week can make the difference in getting the heart rate up for twenty minutes. And this can be done with a balance of strength exercises, cardiovascular exercises, and flexibility exercises. The ones that they recommended the most were walking, swimming and bicycling. We would like to add to that rebounding is the best, then would be swimming, but unfortunately, most swimming has the negative side of toxic chlorine, so we do not recommend that one usually. Walking is another excellent exercise if done briskly to get the heart rate up. And the strength training can be done with weights, or it can be done by calisthenics, body exercises such as push ups/pull ups. The big thing is the activity has to be coupled with the diet as they said in the article, high in fruits and vegetables and light on refined and processed foods.

So what they are showing is what we have said all along when you adopt a healthy lifestyle, you can and have found the best way to promote longevity in the body and health in the body, and this is health not just in the physical, but mental and emotional health also, because what you do to the body you do to the mind, and what you do to mind, you do to the body. They react to each other, they are all one, body, mind, emotion, spirit.  Now the 7 Basic Steps, this is what has kept the whole human race healthy for last 10,000 years. It has only been the last, less than 75 years, more like 50-75 years that we have relied on medical intervention with tests and medicine and surgeries, to help us prolong life. But is this the type of prolonged life we want? Is it better to take medications and have surgeries and exist to 75 years of age, just exist? Or would it be better to do what mankind has done for 10,000 years, which is lead a healthy lifestyle which promotes health and keeps the body healthy in every way?

Remember, there were never pap smears, blood tests, colonoscopies, MRI and CAT scans a 100 years ago, 500 years ago, 1,000 years ago. What there was, always was, fresh air, water, pure food diets, always exercise, that was the lifestyle, people worked in the fields, they worked to raise their food, to grow their food. They slept. The average person would go to bed when the sun goes down and wake up when the sun comes up. And they fasted normally because there was no standard American diet of toxic animal products, refined sugars and starches. So the detoxing was natural because the world wasn’t polluted and also the food wasn’t polluted and processed. And then prayer, meditation and stillness. For 10,000 years people lived the simple life, reflecting the glory of God in all things, seeing Him in the natural settings, seeing Him in the sunrise and the sunset. There wasn’t the bombardment of information in this information age that we are in now of 10,000 choices for everything. Life was simple, life was more back to nature and balanced. And this kept people healthy for this period of time. Only within the last 100 years have we seen the rise of diseases like cancer and heart disease. Prior to 100 years ago these were virtually unknown, or in such trace amounts they were rarely to be seen. Now they are the number one and two cause of death. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease and conditions kill 9 out of 10 Americans. This wasn’t so in the past. So, live the 7 Basic Steps and remember, whether I eat or I drink, or I exercise, or I sleep, or I fast, or I pray, or whatever I do, I do it all to the glory of God. This is the key component in the fountain of youth, doing everything in your life to the glory of God and taking care of your body as if it were the temple of His Holy Spirit.

Omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in the development and function of the central nervous system. Emerging research is establishing an association between omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic) and major depressive disorder. Evidence from epidemiological, laboratory and clinical studies suggest that dietary lipids and other associated nutritional factors may influence vulnerability and outcome in depressive disorders. Research in this area is growing at a rapid pace.

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Being overweight can decrease your life span according to new research that proves that a few extra pounds is harmful.

Baby boomers who were even just a little overweight were more likely to die prematurely than those who were at a healthy weight, according to researchers.
While obesity has been known to contribute to early death, the link between being overweight and dying prematurely has been controversial. Some experts have argued that a few extra pounds does no harm.

However, this is one of the first major studies to account for the factors of smoking and chronic illness, which can complicate efforts to figure out how much weight itself is responsible for early death.

“The cumulative evidence is now even stronger,” said Dr. Michael Thun, chief epidemiologist of the American Cancer Society who had no role in the research. “Being overweight does increase health risks. It’s not simply a cosmetic or social problem.”

An estimated two-thirds of Americans adults are overweight or obese, according to federal statistics. Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and some cancers. Being overweight increases blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which in turn could lead to heart disease.
In an analysis of 186,000 healthy people — who had never smoked — overweight people were 20 to 40 percent more likely to die prematurely than normal-weight people. The risk increased two- to three-fold for obese people.

In a separate study of 1.2 million Korean patients, ages 30 to 95, researchers from the Yonsei University in South Korea and Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health reported similar findings.

Among about half a million healthy non-smokers, overweight people had a 10 to 50 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease or cancer than normal-weight people.

The two studies clearly show that being overweight “is not a benign condition,” said Dr. Frank Hu, an epidemiologist and obesity researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health.

“The public health message should be loud and clear: Maintaining a healthy weight and preventing weight gain in middle age is important to maintaining longevity,” said Hu, who was not connected to the research.
-Associated Press

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on A Few Extra Pounds Can Kill You:
Interesting in this study was they found that it wasn’t just obesity that increases the risk of disease and the risk of likelihood of early death. Dr. Michael Thun, chief epidemiologist of the American Cancer Society, who said being overweight does increase health risks. It’s not simply a cosmetic or social problem.   What the study showed was in overweight people, this doesn’t have to be obese, just overweight people, there is 20-40% more likely chance to die prematurely than normal weight people. The risk increased two to three fold for obese people. And this goes against the studies that contradict the controversial research, the federal center for disease control that suggested being a little bit overweight isn’t so bad. So, what is the answer? The answer is obvious. We’re not designed to carry any extra weight. If you look at the animal kingdom, the only animals that have any extra weight is for a protective mechanism or for insulation. So animals don’t carry fat. Animals are lean and healthy because they eat a living/raw plant based diet or they eat other animals alive. They don’t eat cooked food which turns into excessive calories and weight. They get all exercise and they live a naturally healthy lifestyle, because that’s what nature is.

How can we avoid excessive pounds if we live the 7 Basic Steps? Especially of the 7 Basic Steps that we make sure we eat a living/raw plant based diet, which is very difficult to be overweight when you eat this diet, in fact, near impossible unless you have other hormonal or glandular problems. Number 2 we have to get to sleep, the hormonal system goes out of balance and in it is proven that people can become thyroid imbalanced and increased weight and decrease immune system function by not getting the proper amount of sleep which is 9.5 hours, which at least 3 ½ hours should be before midnight. The next one is exercise which is critical. And the more we exercise, the more we move the body the more calories we burn. And then of course, fasting and detoxification. Fasting will lead to weight loss but so will detoxification because a lot of people retain weight and fluid because the body is holding on to the fluid to delete the toxins that are in the system. And then a lifestyle of prayer and meditation is one that reduces stress and when stress is reduced a person eats less and gains less weight and also when stress is reduced, inflammation is reduced. All health challenges including, being overweight and obese, they would be reduced.

Fasting has long been associated with religious rituals, diets, and political protests. Now new evidence from cardiac researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute demonstrates that routine periodic fasting is also good for your health, and your heart. Research cardiologists at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute are reporting that fasting not only lowers one’s risk of coronary artery disease and diabetes, but also causes significant changes in a person’s blood cholesterol levels.

Both diabetes and elevated cholesterol are known risk factors for coronary heart disease. The discovery expands upon a 2007 Intermountain Healthcare study that revealed an association between fasting and reduced risk of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death among men and women in America. In the new research, fasting was also found to reduce other cardiac risk factors, such as triglycerides, weight, and blood sugar levels.

“Fasting causes hunger or stress. In response, the body releases more cholesterol, allowing it to utilize fat as a source of fuel, instead of glucose. This decreases the number of fat cells in the body,” says lead researcher.

“This is important because the fewer fat cells a body has, the less likely it will experience insulin resistance, or diabetes.”

This recent study also confirmed earlier findings about the effects of fasting on human growth hormone (HGH), a metabolic protein. HGH works to protect lean muscle and metabolic balance, a response triggered and accelerated by fasting. During the 24-hour fasting periods, HGH increased an average of 1,300 percent in women, and nearly 2,000 percent in men.
–Intermountain Medical Center

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec comments on Fasting
Gods’ ways are always better than man’s ways. In this study it was shown how powerful a one day water fast can be in your total health maintenance. Not only does it decrease your cholesterol and help balance your blood sugar but it also tremendously increases your human growth hormone naturally in a way that keeps you healthy and does not increase you cancer risk from taking supplemental hormones. Throughout the bible it speaks of the power of prayer and fasting. This lifestyle change can be adopted into you total health regime as a once a week water fast. If this is too drastic then try a once a month one day water fast. Make sure you pick a day that you are not working so that you do not have added stress.

Scientists in Japan have identified a molecule responsible for making mammals feel full, a discovery that could lead to new ways to treat obesity in humans.

Scientists believe appetite is controlled in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, and the group of researchers claims to be the first to pinpoint an agent that triggers an increase or decrease in appetite.

The scientists identified the molecule as nesfatin-1, which is produced naturally in the brain.

After injecting the molecule into the brains of rats, the rodents began to eat less and lose weight. The researchers also were able to induce the rats to eat more, by blocking nesfatin-1.

“After we injected anti-nesfatin-1 antibody, these rats showed increased appetite and finally showed a progressive increase in body weight,” said Dr. Masatomo Mori of the medicine and molecular science department at Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine.

Mori said the finding could pave the way for treating obesity, which has become a major health problem in the developing world as well as in economically advanced countries.

There are at least one billion overweight adults across the world, 300 million of them considered obese, according to the World Health Organization.

Obesity has been linked to chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke, and some forms of cancer.
-Reuters, Nature

Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec’s comments on scientists identify agent that regulates appetite.
The interesting but sad thing in this study is, the scientist believe they have found an actual substance that can regulate appetite. The molecules nesfatin-1, which is naturally produced in the brain. So what they did once they found this, which is a byproduct of the region in the brain called hypothalamus, this is the part of the brain that appetite is controlled and they have found this molecule when injected into the brains of rats caused them to eat less and lose weight. The sad thing with this study is what these researchers hope to do with people by making a drug and selling it for a way that people who are overweight can lose weight. They are going to make available a new drug to lose weight. This is not God’s way. This is not God’s plan. It is not the plan to go in and try to pull out a molecule that works in perfect harmony with the rest of the body and try to synthesize it and put it back into the body. This is where down the road, cancer develops. This is where down the road all other imbalances develop because we are not God. We do not know the master plan of how He created the body and by throwing some drug or some medication in to try to control appetite; we have the potential risk of throwing many, many systems out of balance and the risk of producing all types of other diseases.

So, it’s either going to be God’s way or man’s way. God’s way is the way of truth; it’s the way He created nature. The way you lose weight is not by taking a drug or injecting a molecule into yourself. The way you lose weight is you live a lifestyle that God created. It’s a lifestyle of the 7 Basic Steps to Total Health. And one of those basic steps is eating the proper food that God designed. The God designed food is the food that has been around for 10,000 years. The food that was in the Garden of Eden. The food that was not processed or changed by a world filled, flesh filled, ego filled, person. So when we eat the food that God created, our body goes to the normal body weight.

If you look at nature the answer is simply found. Animals eat mostly all living, and some raw food. They do not eat cooked food. Animals are all at their ideal body weight. Animals are not fat, they don’t carry fat unless it is a protective mechanism in some way, then their body naturally produces it for the protective mechanism. But animals do not get overweight. Lions and tigers do not get overweight. Wolves do not get overweight. Your dogs and your cats can become overweight. Why? And they are also prone to all the diseases that you are prone to, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lung conditions, auto immune diseases, all these things. Lions and tigers and wolves don’t get these things. Why? Because they eat living food. Although they eat meat, they eat it in the living state, they kill it and eat. Whereas your dogs and cats eat processed food, cooked food. And it causes all the inflammation, diseases that affect human beings.

So what is the answer? The answer for weight is not to focus on weight. The answer for weight is to focus on your total health. And when you live a total health lifestyle you will not be overweight. You will go to your ideal body weight. And it’s not just food, which the ideal food which was in the Garden of Eden, which is a living/raw plant based diet. But it is also oxygen intake, it is also water intake, it is also the proper amount of sleep, it is also the proper exercise, it is also fasting and detoxifying the body, and it is also living a lifestyle of prayer, meditation and stillness. These all bring the body into balance. Balance in total health. And if you are in total health, you will never, ever be overweight.