True Heart of Worship
Iglesia de Dios (Séptimo Día) Independiente

 

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"Taking Care of God's Temple"

"And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." Genesis 2:8-9

This is a study based on a sermon I gave this past weekend. Why a study on health and wellness? Well I am increasingly concerned about the health of the church. People are living longer than ever but they are not living a healthy life. They aren't enjoying life and they are hurting and suffering because of poor choices that affect their health. Physical health affects your spiritual health. When we aren't feeling well enough we simply can't be of much use to the Lord! We are limited greatly by poor health. Recently our fair city of San Antonio was voted the most obese city in America. We are also the most unhealthiest because we are also the most diabetic city as well.

Fruits and Vegetables

The Lord wanted us to eat fruits and vegetables from the very beginning. But in time, man rebelled and decided to eat other things. Today, a lot of the diet is composed of meat, sugar, and artificial additives to make starchy food taste better. These are not bad for you in moderation! But we tend to abuse the wrong things. Have you noticed that your teeth are flat? That is because you were designed to chew grains, fruits herbs and vegetable. Our intestines were designed to process our food with the help of enzymes that are found in fruits and vegetables.

So what is wrong with meat? Cooked meat does not come with enzymes to help us break down the food. This means that when we eat too much meat in our meals, the heavy, cooked meat sits in our stomachs like a rock! How do you feel after a Thanksgiving meal? Don't you feel like taking a long siesta? That's because your body wants to shut down so that it can process the meat. Since it does not have the help of the much needed enzymes to help process the food, it uses up all of our stomach juices to slowly dissolve the heavy meat. This also happens when we have a big steak dinner as well!

This is Why God Gave Israel Canaan

"For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee." Deuteronomy 8:7-10 7

All the items mentioned that were found in Canaan were intended to be part of the diet of God's people. But many of those items are missing from our diet. The Lord says that when we eat those things that we will be happy and satisfied that we will feel like blessing the Lord and rejoicing in Him! But because we do not eat the right things, we scarcely have enough health and vitality to be grateful for our blessings.

You Are What You Eat!

America is one of the few places in the world that have all you can eat eating places. If all North Americans were to climb onto a huge scale, it is estimated that we would be 2.5 billion lbs. overweight! That is enough caloric energy to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year. Being overweight is not a problem - it's a symptom of a greater underlying problem of poor health brought about by poor health choices. Do you realize that it takes about 30 minutes before you feel the food that you ate hit your stomach? Because we don't feel full, we keep eating and eating. By the time our stomach gets the message that we have eaten, we are almost ready to pop!

Overweight, chronic fatigue, lack of energy, foggy-mindedness, allergies, and susceptibility to flues, colds, depression, disease, body odor, poor complexion and even hair loss are common symptoms of eating in the wrong foods. Our Life revolves around food;

If we are sad and depressed, we eat.

If we are happy and want to celebrate, we eat.

If we are upset, we eat.

If we want to go out and socialize, we eat.

Good kids are rewarded with junk food!

Unfortunately, we do all this by eating the wrong things. After all, no one ever said, "Let's celebrate and eat some fruits and vegetables!" No when celebrations take place, they center on all the foods that will make you sick! As we down each morsel, we say, "Oh it won't hurt just once in a while!" The problem is that those once in a whiles come more and more often all the time!

The Lord Heals Through Your Food and Drink


"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill." Exodus 23:25-26

If we are in obedience to him and live the way he intended, he will heal us. He intends to give us not only a long life, but a healthy one too! If you eat what is healthy for you, God can aid your healing through the things you eat. But not all things we eat are healthy. We mentioned enzymes as necessary for our digestion. Fruit and vegetable juices are the cleansers, energizers, builders and regenerators of the human system. A combination of either fresh raw fruit or vegetable juices will supply all the enzymes, vitamins and minerals critical to increase vitality!

According to how healthy you are, the average person is able to assimilate between 1% to 35% of the nutrients in vegetables. All nutrients of vegetables are locked within the fibers. A juice extractor is able to extract 70% to 98% of the nutrients from vegetables. Another alternative would be to buy it in juice form - 100% juice no sugar added.

Some Foods Can Make You Sick


When we are children, we need milk to help us grow strong. But when you are an adult, your body can no longer tolerate it. It creates allergies like sinus problems and creates mucous in the lungs, intestines and stomach.

This gives you heartburn digestion problems and constipation.

A good alternative is using soy based foods because it provides natural vegetable protein and is easily absorbed by the body.

In 1957, Dr William Coda Martin tried to answer the question: When is a food a food and when is it a poison? His definition of "poison" was: "Medically: Any substance applied to the body, ingested or developed within the body, which causes or may cause disease.

Dr Martin classified refined sugar as a poison because it has been depleted of its life forces, vitamins and minerals. It accumulates in the brain and nervous system and the abnormal sugars in the red blood cells. These toxic metabolites interfere with the respiration of the cells. They cannot get sufficient oxygen to survive and function normally. In time, some of the cells die. This interferes with the function of a part of the body and is the beginning of degenerative disease.

So we are probably eating certain things on a daily basis that are making us sick. To many dairy products and refined sugar in our bodies can wreck our health. If we practiced moderation we might be able to avoid many of these maladies associated with these things but we simply don't restrain ourselves.

Americans consume between two to three pounds of sugar every week. The sugar is being processed in so many foods we eat. These foods are not just sweets. Sugar in large quantities can be found in peanut butter, mayonnaise, bread, ketchup and many other categorically "non-sweets" products.

Refined Sugar is bad for you because it raises the insulin level in your blood.

Raised blood insulin levels depress the immune system. If your immune system is depressed then your ability to fight disease is weakened.

Raised blood insulin levels can cause weight gain. Insulin promotes the storage of fat; so, when you eat foods high in refined sugar, you increase fat storage. Obviously, the result is rapid weight gain. Refined Sugar contains no vitamins or minerals so in order for sugar to be metabolized it must draw on the body's reserve of vitamins and minerals. When these reserves are depleted, metabolization of cholesterol and fatty acid is impeded, contributing to higher blood serum triglycerides, cholesterol, promoting obesity due to higher fatty acid storage around organs. Here are ways that refined sugar can affect your health:

We Are Responsible for God's Temple

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV)

We can tolerate meat in our diet if we eat 80% fruit and vegetables and 20% meat.

But the North American diet is the opposite - 80% meat and 20% fruit and vegetables.

High fat diets lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, blocked arteries and eventually heart disease. The solution people choose is to take drugs that can cause other problems.

I've mentioned that fruits and vegetables are essential for good nutrition in our bodies but the sad fact is that our fruits and vegetables don't have the nutrition they once had. The reason for this is the land has been overworked and it no longer provides the nutritious benefits it once did. God had intended for us to rest the land from time to time so that it could recoup itself and continue to provide the healthy food we need;

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath to the LORD. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest to the land, a Sabbath for the LORD: you shall neither sow your field, nor prune your vineyard. Leviticus 25:2-4

But if you ask any farmer if they let the land rest every seven years, they are liable to look at you funny! Most farmers have over farmed the land and it no longer produces the nutritious fruits and vegetables it once did. This means that we need supplements to compensate for the things our body does not get. Here are some of the things I take at the recommendation of my doctor;

Health Benefits of Lecithin


Soy lecithin is a by-product of soybean processing. At first, the soybeans are tempered by keeping them at a consistent temperature and moisture level for approximately seven to 10 days. This has a hydrating effect on the soybeans, loosening it from its hull. I take two tablespoons I put it in cereal or a fruit drink. You could also put it oatmeal as well. Two tablespoons per day is all you need. I buy a can in granule form for about $7.00 and that is fairly inexpensive. It will last me about 2 months.

The key organ for fat metabolism is the liver. This is not surprising really considering how the liver is also the main organ for detoxifying pollutants and chemicals in the body, as well as glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and bile production, which is important in digestion. Bile, by the way, is also key to metabolizing fats which are stored in the liver to convert them into energy for the body's use.
Now, this connection between the liver and the role it plays in fat metabolism and eventually weight loss may seem remote at first. But when you mention lecithin and weight loss and liver in the same breath, you begin to see what it is that connects them all together.

The Role of Liver in Weight Loss
There are a lot of people who find themselves constantly struggling with weight gain for most of their lives. They go through yo-yo dieting, at the same time contending with sluggish metabolism and unbridled cravings, so that hardly anything ever works.
However, if you really want to lose some weight, you should be addressing the real cause of the problem instead of tackling the symptoms. If you think that congestion throughout the body and a sluggish liver contribute only to fatigue and malaise, then you need to think again.

Weight gain is often due to poor liver function. With a liver that is in such poor health as to make it unable to perform its functions, there is a very likely chance that the condition will result in weight gain, especially around the abdomen, cellulite, and water retention.

The Bile
The liver is responsible for secreting bile. A complex fluid, bile (or gall) is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline fluid containing water, electrolytes, and a batter of organic molecules which include bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids (lecithin), and bilirubin. It is critical in digestion, particularly in the metabolism and absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Many of the body's waste products are also excreted into the bile. In essence, Lecithin is beneficial for;

Liver and cell function

Fat transport and fat metabolism

Reproduction and child development

Treatment for gallstones

Improvement in memory, learning and reaction time

Healthy hair and skin

Cell communication

Physical performance and muscle endurance

Relief of arthritis

Cardiovascular health

Red Yeast Rice


Did you know that one of the red yeast rice benefits will help lower cholesterol? Everyone should know their total cholesterol levels; if yours is high, you may want to consider eating red yeast rice to lower your cholesterol. It's best for your cholesterol to be below 200 milligrams per deciliter, but a third of all Americans have cholesterol in the borderline 200 to 240 range and about one fifth are in the dangerously very high over 240 range.

If your cholesterol levels are high, your doctor can prescribe statin drugs, like Lipitor and Zocor, which inhibit cholesterol production, but these drugs pose risks to the liver and muscles. Dr. David Heber, Director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, may have found a safer, natural alternative in Chinese Red Yeast Rice. Below are Dr. Heber's answers to some frequently asked questions about this natural treatment;

Q: How can I reduce cholesterol naturally?

A: here are a number of things that are recommended. One is to reduce total caloric intake. If you are obese, achieving a healthy body weight is also extremely important.

Then there's increasing fiber intake to 25 to 30 grams per day. If you smoke, quit. Beyond that, there are a number of natural supplements that have been used for people with moderately high cholesterol. Among these, one of the most effective is Chinese Red Yeast Rice.

Q: What is Chinese Red Yeast Rice?

A: It is literally a red yeast that grows on a particular type of rice. It's been eaten in China as a spice for over 500 years. The yeast itself contains a family of substances called monocolins, which lower cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol production in the liver in the same manner as prescription statin drugs.

Q: How do you take it?

A: In China, Red Yeast Rice is sprinkled on top of tofu or meat dishes, giving a tangy taste. It's relatively simple to incorporate Chinese Red Yeast Rice into the diet simply by making it an ingredient in your cooking or by taking it in capsule form. The typical dose is 2.4 grams a day as four capsules.

Q: Has Red Yeast Rice been studied?

A: Yes. Seventeen studies in China found that this particular strain would actually lower total cholesterol. In addition we've recently performed a double-blind placebo controlled study here at UCLA with the results published in the February 1999 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

When taken after a month or two, cholesterol drops 23% with No Side Effects. The results of patient trials using red yeast rice extract found that patients receiving red yeast rice extract experienced a total cholesterol drop of 23%, while (bad) LDL-cholesterol dropped 28.5%, triglycerides dropped 36.5% and HDL (good) cholesterol increased 19.6%.

Acidophilus Benefits:


The full Latin name for Acidophilus is Lactobacillus acidophilus, which means acid loving bacteria, or bacteria that thrive in acidic conditions. These bacteria are also called microflora or prebiotics or Probiotics. There are about 400 different types of such bacteria.

These are good and friendly bacteria, unlike bacteria which many of us think of in a negative connotation. These bacteria - as well as yeast - live in our intestines (called flora). These bacteria and yeast constantly compete for the space in intestine and keep each other in check and protect against the entrance and proliferation of bad organisms that can cause disease. When we grow older or sometimes during the illness or the use of antibiotics, the level of bacteria is depleted causing yeast to overgrow, thereby creating a health problem.

Many scientists recommend Acidophilus during antibiotic therapy since the therapy can often suppress beneficial bacteria and trigger the growth of yeast infections. Acidophilus may also function as an effective immunity enhancer and may suppress the toxic effects of carcinogens. In addition to this protective role, bacteria help in production of niacin, folic acid and B vitamins, and enzymes, such as the lactase needed to digest lactose in milk and dairy products. Acidophilus also assists in the production of niacin, folic acid and B vitamins during the digestive process.

Acidophilus works as a natural antibiotic agent and accelerates the production of acids in the intestinal track thereby creating a favorable environment for the friendly bacteria which may have been flushed off during illness such as diarrhea.

Acidophilus is used by many people in connection with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, gas, flatulence, plus vaginal yeast infections and other related disorders, urinary tract infections and even to combat bad breath. Acidophilus may be helpful in the treatment of teenage acne, hives canker and sores. Its use has also been suggested as a preventative for colon cancer.

Vegetarians tend to have a healthier proportion of good bacteria as compared to non-vegetarians who tend to have larger numbers of undesirable bacteria such as Bacteroides. The most familiar food containing these bacteria is yogurt. Probiotics, the health supplement form of micro-organisms, have been used for generations to increase the proportion of protective bacteria and to prevent and treat many health conditions.

Acidophilus preparations consist of dried or liquid cultures of living bacteria. These cultures are usually grown in milk but can sometimes be grown in milk-free cultures. Acidophilus is available in the different forms: Freeze-dried granules; Freeze-dried powders; Freeze-dried capsules; Liquid L. acidophilus preparations (which must be kept refrigerated).

Benefits of Fish Oil Supplements

The health benefits of omega-3's are endorsed by:

Food & Drug Association

American Heart Association

World Health Organization

British Nutrition Foundation

British Department of Health

Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare

Omega 3's improves Mood & Mental Health; A study conducted at the Albany Medical College on 66 rheumatoid arthritis patients concluded that the dietary supplementation of fish oil improved the symptoms of this disease. A study conducted at the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute in Nagoya, Japan, the traditional dietary habits of the women in this country may be responsible for their relatively low breast cancer rates.

Fish Oil Part of Regimen to Protect Against Heart Disease

In the first large-scale study of its kind, researchers from the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan investigated the health effects of daily Omega-3 supplements in combination with a drug commonly prescribed for those at-risk for heart attacks, angina and other coronary events.

Patients were all identified as having higher than average levels of cholesterol. They were divided into two groups: a main group that included nearly 15,000 participants with no prior history of coronary artery disease, and a secondary group with over 3,600 subjects with a prior history of coronary artery disease. Some of each group were given highly-purified fish oil supplements in addition to statins (enzyme blockers that lower cholesterol levels in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver), while others were given only the prescription drug.

Over the course of the nearly five-year study, there was a significant difference between those receiving the fish oil supplements and those who did not. While both therapies proved effective in reducing levels of cholesterol, participants taking the fish oil supplements and statins had a 19% reduction in risk for heart illness. The research also noted that a similar, preventative benefit from daily fish oil supplementation that may convey to those not currently deemed at-risk for heart problems.

"Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on cardiovascular events in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia: rationale, design, and baseline characteristics of the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS)."

American Heart Journal. 2003 Oct;146(4):613-20.

Taking Fish Oil Supplements May Prevent Sudden Death

In a recent study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, fish oil supplements were found to be effective in preventing sudden cardiac death.

The study measured the possible outcomes of using three variables with live-saving potential in a simulated town of 100,000 subjects aged between 30 - 84: (1) portable defibrillators (AED's), devices used to shock the heart during cardiac arrest, placed in every home and public area in a medium-sized town, (2) the implantation of cardioverter defibrillators (ICD's) in candidates exhibiting symptoms necessitating such a procedure (about half of those who die from cardiac arrest have no symptoms prior to the event), and (3) the preventative use of fish oil dietary supplements.


The use of fish oil supplements to boost levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in the adult population resulted in a 6.4% reduction in death - 58 lives per year. In fact, the preventative use of supplements proved eight times more effective than distributing AED's and two times more effective than the surgically placed ICD's.

Although the study was computer-simulated (thereby avoiding the prohibitive costs associated with providing and implanting the two electronic devices used as variables), it utilized data from two previously conducted, large-scale studies of actual participants.

The study clearly suggests that by supplementing diets with Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, those who appear healthy, but are at-risk for future cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest, have a better chance for survival than those who do not.

"Preventing Sudden Death with n-3 (Omega-3) Fatty Acids and Defibrillators." American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2006 Oct;31(4):316.

The Benefits of Daily Exercise

If you want to be healthy, inside and out, you simply must incorporate exercise into your life. Regular physical activity is a major contributor to effective weight loss, improved physical health and emotional well-being. When you exercise, your body produces substances called endorphins. These are the biochemicals that are associated with producing a euphoric feeling of peace and satisfaction.

How Physical Activity Impacts Health

Reduces the risk of dying prematurely.

Reduces the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease.

Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.

Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.

Reduces the risk of developing colon cancer.

Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.

Helps control weight.

Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.

Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling.

Promotes psychological well-being.

The Dangers of Lack of Daily Exercise

13.5 million people have coronary heart disease.

1.5 million people suffer from a heart attack in a given year.

8 million people have adult-onset (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes.

95,000 people are newly diagnosed with colon cancer each year.

250,000 people suffer from a hip fractures each year because their bones are weak.

50 million people have high blood pressure.

Over 60 million people (a third of the population) are overweight.

Why exercise?

Physical activity can prevent many major illnesses. Evidence shows that regular exercise can:

promote healthy blood sugar levels to prevent or control diabetes

promote bone density to protect against osteoporosis

reduce the overall risk of cancer

increase levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol -reducing the risk of developing heart disease

lower high blood pressure-reducing the risk of developing heart disease

boost the immune system

boost self-confidence and help prevent depression

in combination with a balanced diet, help to maintain a healthy weight

What types of activity count?

Many people believe that only vigorous exercise or playing sport counts as healthy activity. Yet substantial health benefits can be achieved from regular activity without the need for special equipment, sporting ability or getting very hot and sweaty.

When you do moderate intensity activity, your breathing and heart rate will increase and you will feel warm. You should still be able to talk without panting in between your words. Moderate intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, painting, vacuuming and mowing the lawn, all count and are enough to benefit health and prevent illness in adults.

It's possible to achieve your 30 minutes at least five times a week target by making fairly simple changes to your everyday routine - without joining the gym or running a marathon. Examples of everyday activities that count include:

walking up stairs instead of using lifts

walking up moving escalators

walking instead of driving for short journeys

doing the housework at double-time

DIY and gardening

How much physical activity should I do?

For an adult weighing 132lbs, regular, moderate intensity physical activity means using up about an extra 100 calories (kcal) per day, most days of the week. This is about 30 minutes of activity, such as a 1.5 mile brisk walk.

If you have previously been inactive, separate sessions of 10 or 15 minutes also count and can help you reach the 30 minute amount.

Children and young people need to do 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity every day. This needs to include at least two weekly activities that produce high physical stress on bones, such as dancing, jumping or aerobics to aid development.

Your ability to keep up a physical activity, such as jogging, racket sports, cycling or swimming, is related to your aerobic fitness or stamina. Generally speaking, the greater your stamina, the greater are the health benefits. If you want to improve your stamina, it's important to start gently, increasing the frequency of your activity before increasing how hard you exercise.

There are many activities you could take part in to increase your stamina. Not everyone sees exercise as fun, and doing something you find boring, just because it's good for you is very difficult to sustain. But you can take steps to make it more enjoyable.

Try out different sports or activities until you find something you like, such as a dance or aerobics class.

Join a team or club where you could meet new friends. This could be a local football team, or a sport you may not have tried before (like korfball).

Activities that you can do as a family or with friends may help with motivation. When you find an activity you like, exercise at a pace that still allows you to talk.

Try to go somewhere different and exercise outside such as a forest, a beach or a park.

Make sure you vary your activity a little so you don't get bored.

Achieving your goals

Even when you usually enjoy exercising, there will be days when you just can't seem to find the motivation to get active. Here are some practical tips to help keep up your enthusiasm.

Keep a diary that highlights the sport or activity you do. Note down how far you ran or the match score, your pulse, how you felt, etc. That way you can look back and see how you have improved over time.

Collect inspiration and stick quotes from coaches, athletes or anyone successful around your house and/or your office. Inspirational stories from people who have achieved against the odds may help - if they can do it, so can you.

Set yourself some short and long-term goals. Success will provide you with a sense of satisfaction and further motivation to keep up the new lifestyle. Keep your goals: specific; measurable; achievable; realistic; time-based (SMART). For example, rather than saying you'll get fit by summer, start by setting the more specific goal of going to a one hour step aerobics class or an ashtanga yoga class each week.

Staying motivated

When it comes to staying motivated it's just as important to train your brain as it is to train your body. Here are just a few ideas to help you.

A great way to stay focused is to keep reminding yourself of the reasons you started exercising in the first place. This may include losing excess weight, improving your health or testing yourself in a competition or race.

Picture yourself achieving your goal, such as completing a race or fitting into smaller trousers - and imagine what it will feel like. Through visualization these images and feelings will motivate you and will help you achieve them for real.

Exercising releases chemicals in the brain, like serotonin, that have a strong affect on your mood, helping reduce anxiety, stress and depression. So whenever you don't feel like exercising, try to remind yourself how good you'll feel afterwards.

Conclusion

Are you sick? Then reach out to God by faith. Reach out through prayer, believing with all your heart that He loves you and will lead you beside green pastures and still waters. By faith, be willing to make changes in how you eat and exercise. Start taking the responsibility for a healthier life. Don't rely on medicine to solve your problems.

Changing your diet and exercising is the largest step of faith we will make in our entire life.

When we are sick, often food can be an escape from pain. Sickness and disease are a symptoms of a world whose god is their stomach.