2010 Healthy Habits Baby Steps- Pt. 3

I know I might lose some people on this one. :) And I couldn't really find a good link on the info. But I've been doing a bit of research on Kosher laws and the health benefits of them. Even though we aren't morally bound anymore to the law of Moses, (See Acts 10:9-13 & Rom 6:14 for why we are no longer obligated to follow the Jewish law.) there are a lot of common sense guidelines that I think can help us out. The seafood that the Old Testament forbids is anything that does not have scales & fins. If you look at these animals, most of them are bottom feeders. They take in the excrement of other creatures. Because of this, they are less clean, less healthy, and contain more toxins than a fish higher up in the food chain. Most nutrition experts agree it's best to consume these foods rarely, if at all.

Non-kosher seafood includes: lobster, shrimp, catfish, squid, octopus, clams, oysters, crab, scallops, crawfish etc. You can eat most regular fish that have fins & scales.

More on kosher foods:
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/practices/kosher.htm

I personally have decided not to consume these or only on the really rare occasion. It helps that I don't like most of them! But I do love crab & crawfish! :) My decision is not based on religion but simply on nutrition.

To Hell & Back- Part 1- How it Began

A story of what happened to me last year that will forever change my life.

2010 Healthy Habits Baby Steps- Pt. 2

I think it is unfair for a diet or nutrition plan to ask someone to give up something that's bad for them without replacing it with something else. So when I suggest giving up something, I will try to find a replacement. This first one's easy. Replace all your grain items with whole grains.

white bread= 100% whole wheat bread (if it doesn't say 100%, it's just white bread that's been died to look like wheat!)

white rice= brown or wild rice

pasta= whole wheat pasta (this is one people seem to have the hardest time with in terms of taste. I have found that angel hair tastes the best, as it's so thin you can hardly tell it's wheat.) cereal= make sure it's whole grain or use oatmeal

crackers/chips= trail mix, nuts, seeds, granola

tortillas= get wheat as well, or, even better, corn (although personally, I don't really like the taste of corn tortillas. :) *confession*)

This is a simple way to become more healthy without really having to give up much at all. You'll lower your chances of many diseases, lose weight, & help things run more smoothly in the digestive department. :) Also, these foods fill you up more quickly than their white counterparts, so you'll eat less! They are a little more expensive, but grain products are so cheap to begin with, it's not that big of a deal. Enjoy!

What is a Christian?

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2010 Healthy Habits Baby Steps- Pt 1

Happy New Year!



I was talking with my husband today about New Year's resolutions; neither of us really believe in them. My biggest objection is that people wait until then to change, when the Bible is clear, "His mercies are new every morning!" Praise God! We can start over any day! I do think it can be good, though, to take some time out to inspect our lives and see what changes need to be made.



I have been learning about healthy living for years now, yet have only put a few of the things I know into practice. I believe habits are best changed little by little, in baby steps. I will post one new habit per week to get our lives a little more on track in terms of health. Join me??





Part 1- Get a water filter! If you have city water, it does contain chlorine which has been linked to all kinds of health problems. When I take a bath in my apartment, it smells like a swimming pool! I am thinking to myself, "this cannot be ok to drink!" Most water also contains other poisons such as lead, flouride, etc. (More on flouride) The best option would be a reverse osmosis filter like this one. But if you can't afford that, try PURE or Brita. They are super easy to use and cheaper than bottled. If you have well-water, it's likely much healthier, but take some time out this week to get it tested.



If you think you are dodging the dangers of tap water by drinking bottled water, think again. Studies show it's really no cleaner/purer, and it also lacks nutrients well or tap water can provide. Also, filters are cheaper!



Drink up!