Worms for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

I love the smell of fresh cooked bacon, especially cooked to a crisp. I would cook it until it was almost burned. I love the way it would break apart between my teeth like a potato chip. I can almost taste it now… I can remember the taste of "extra pepperoni" on my pizza, or the salted Canadian Bacon on my morning biscuit. It has been about 7 years since I have last tasted these things, and I will never experience those exact tastes again. Although my taste buds may be sad, my body is gleaming with happiness…

I wanted to clear up any confusion as to why our family does not eat pork. It isn't because we believe that we are obligated to live by the law of Moses, although, I do believe that God gave those laws for a reason. He didn't give the law to not eat unclean meat just because He had nothing else to do, or because He needed another law to give His people for them to fall short of. He already knew that they (we) wouldn't pass the test. He gave them the law for their own protection. God did not create pigs for human consumption. He created pigs to help keep the earth clean. Jesus came and fulfilled a "new covenant." He came to take on our sins so that we could become clean, not to make pigs clean. Their purpose has not changed, but our way to salvation has.

Upon reading Leviticus 11, my curiosity was penetrated. I wanted to know WHY God would tell Moses such a thing, so I began to do a little research. What I learned in this research was astonishing… I learned that eating pork can be extremely hazardous to your health. Did you know that pigs are known to carry up to 200 diseases and 18 different parasites and worms, including the deadly worm called "Trichinella Spiralis," also known as the "pork worm?" It is a parasite specific to pork and rodents. It forms cysts in the muscles of the pig, and when the pig is then eaten by people, it causes stomach and intestinal diseases. When pork is cooked at high temperatures, the parasites die; however, this parasite does not. According to the CDC, this parasite requires much higher cooking temperatures, and has still been known to survive. It is estimated that 1 out of 6 people are infected with the pork worm which causes diarrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms as the worms multiply in the digestive tract. The pig is also the carrier of the Taenia Solium Worm, or Tapeworm. This tapeworm takes up residence in the intestine and can sometimes pass through to affect many other organs. Tapeworms can grow to be 20' long, and are found in human intestines, in much larger numbers, in areas where pigs are eaten.

Pigs lungs contain Influenza (flu). This is where the Swine Flu comes from. Pigs harbor this flu in their lungs during the summer months. Then when the pigs are slaughtered and the lungs are turned into sausage, people consume it, and are now infected with the Swine Flu. That is why the Swine Flu is more popular in the Fall and Winter. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital indicates that if you eat pork, you increase your chances of getting Swine Flu by 20%. Pigs are also known to suffer from arthritis more than any other animal, and studies have shown that arthritis could be a virus or parasite transmitted to humans during pig consumption. This parasite, or virus, then takes up residence in the person's muscles or joints causing deterioration which can lead to extreme pain and sometimes disability.

In Genesis 7, God told Noah to take with him "seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and it's mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and it's mate." This was before the Law of Moses, and Noah already knew the difference between clean and unclean animals. God knew that the unclean animals would not be a reliable food source, and that their duty would be to clean up the mess made by the other animals and people, so there was not a need for as many of them as the clean animals that were to be used for food.

Mark 5 tells the story of Jesus and a demon-possessed man. Jesus commanded the demons out of the man and into the pigs that were grazing nearby. The pigs then ran down a steep bank into a lake and drowned. Jesus knew that the pigs were not a reliable food source, and this is the only recorded animal that Jesus ever killed.

God tells Peter, in Acts 9, to "kill and eat." Peter replied, "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." God replied, "Do not call anything impure that God has made." I have heard references to this verse stating that God is now saying that everything is clean to eat; however, God is not referring to meat at all. The story goes on to say that God has shown Peter that he should not call any man impure or unclean, because at that time, it was against their law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or to visit him.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive," 1 Corinthians 23. It would be crazy for us to sit down to a bowl of gasoline and ask God to "bless this food to our body's nourishment." Ok, maybe we wouldn't really ask God to bless our gasoline for food, yet, in a way, this is what we all tend to do, at some time or another. We pray for God to bless the food that we eat and to make it pure and nourishing. How can we expect God to disregard the truth, in order for us to indulge in our selfish appetites? I don't believe that eating or not eating any kind of food, including pork, has anything to do with our salvation. I believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. I believe that you can eat pork and still go to heaven; however, I also believe that you could get there a little faster if you do…

How Much Milk Can You Drink?

Did you know that in order to get your sufficient amount of vitamin D3 you would have to consume 50 glasses of milk in one day? Vitamin D3 is a big key in the well-being of you and your family. Normally, vitamin D3 comes from the sun. When the sun hits your skin, your body starts to produce antimicrobial peptides. These peptides greatly improve your immune function. If you have a shortage of peptides in your body, you increase your chances for bacterial and viral infections such as the cold and flu. That is why the winter is considered the "cold and flu season." Research also shows that a deficiency in vitamin D3 can also aid in a number of autoimmune diseases, as well as, osteoporosis, depression, tuberculosis and more. Further studies have shown that vitamin D3 is also incredibly protective against H1N1.

Scientists say that we should, on a regular basis, get at least 20 minutes of sunshine everyday on as much skin as we can expose, without sunscreen, because the sunscreen blocks out the ultraviolet rays that produce these peptides. Dermatologists and health professionals have consistently suggested sunscreen anytime we go out into the sunshine due to the increased risk of skin cancer; however, skin cancer makes up only 3% of cancer patients. Vitamin D3 has been shown to help patients suffering from other cancers such as lymphoma, prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. I am not suggesting that you go to the beach and stay out all day without any sunscreen at all, but to continue to play it safe and be sure not to burn your skin.

Studies say that our bodies need at least 5000 mg of vitamin D3 per day. If we lived near the equator, getting a sufficient amount daily would not be so hard to do, but because we don't, it may be necessary to supplement our daily vitamin routine with a dose of vitamin D3. Most daily vitamins do contain vitamin D3, but not in near the amount of 5000 mg per day.

Our household has been taking vitamin D3 daily since November, and we believe that we can tell a big difference in a number of areas. Brandon has not gotten his nasty, lingering cough that he has gotten every winter since I have known him, the boys have stayed well throughout the entire winter season, and I have been able to tell a big difference in my emotions and thoughts. I think that I may have been suffering from a small amount of depression, and I didn't even realize it, until I no longer had it.

Smaller doses can be found in your local pharmacy, while larger doses (5000 mg and above) can be found in your local health/nutritian store. It can be taken in capsule or liquid form, and one is just as effective as the other.

Although the flurries that we have seen on-and-off today don't indicate it, the winter season is nearing an end. Soon, we will be able to get outside again and enjoy the warm sunshine on our face. How about this year, we allow the warm sunshine hit some other places on our bodies as well. You can rest assured that it is not only helping the outside of your body look good, by getting a nice, pretty tan, but it is also helping your inside look good too.


*This blog is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease.

De-cide to De-clutter...

"You are not your stuff, and if your stuff is not helping you create the life, mood and harmony that you want, then what's it doing in your life?" -Peter Walsh

Spring time is almost here, and we have decided to get a jump-start on our "Spring Cleaning." We were encouraged after our recent visit at a friend's house who, upon moving to a smaller home, has pretty much gotten rid of everything and started over. It was so nice to walk into their new home and to not feel overwhelmed with "stuff", which is the feeling that I get everyday in our home. As I began to walk around the house, I started to pray that God would help me and give me wisdom on what I really need and don't need, and I can't begin to tell you how much He has opened my eyes. In my recent research of how clutter effects us, these are some things that I have learned:

1. The clutter in your home can make you feel tired all the time... For instance, if you have clutter on your bed, then how can you get a good night's sleep? Or you may have clutter in your family room that is getting in the way of your quality family time. The kitchen is a good place for clutter to pile up. It tends to be our "catch all" place for mail, bills, magazines, backpacks or unwashed dishes. Maybe it's a case where everything that should be inside the cabinets are sitting on the top of the cabinets. Clearing that space allows you to be more organized during mealtime, and will increase your space. Your desire for a larger kitchen may just come in de-cluttering the kitchen that you already have. Once you de-clutter, you may find that you actually have the energy to go on that walk after all. Especially now that you're getting a good night's rest and can actually find your walking shoes.
2. Clutter doesn't allow you to live in the present or travel to the future... When all the space that you have is filled with clutter, it doesn't allow anything new to come into your life. Your clutter can constantly be a reminder of the past, either good or bad. Clearing out your old clutter allows you to take control of your past and move forward to your future. Keeping special memories does not always require for you to keep all the things pertaining to that memory. You can get rid of the stuff without getting rid of the memory. Take pictures of your stuff, and put them in a picture album. That way, you can see your memories and even share them with others without having to clutter up a room (or home) with all those things from the past.
   
3. Clearing clutter can be an emotional release... The environment that you live in can reflect your inner environment. If there is chaos in your life, often there is chaos in your living space too. A cluttered home can reflect confusion and overwhelming feelings not only in yourself but also in the people around you.
4. A cluttered area can lead to an unsanitary living space and severely affect physical health as well as mental health... Staring at mounds of dirty dishes, clothes or piles of paperwork visually stimulates the brain to have negative feelings; just as looking at a beautiful painting or image of the ocean can fill someone with a sense of freedom or happiness. De-cluttering your home helps eliminate germs, dust, dirt and mold that could be contributing to the health of you and your family. Dust and dust-mites can contribute to respiratory problems such as increased allergies and asthma. It can even contribute to the common cold and flu. Studies show that holding on to the past can also contribute to deeper health issues including depression and even heart disease. So when you clean your home, you're actually cleaning your body as well.
5. Less clutter can actually save energy... Did you know that your heating and cooling system has to heat and cool all the things in your home as well as you. The theory is that the less you have in your home, the less your home has to work to keep you comfortable; therefore, saving on your energy bills each month, which is good for both you and the environment.
6. The less you have, the less you have to clean... Everyone wants to save time and money cleaning our homes. To save time, we hire a cleaning company which costs money. To save money we fire the cleaning company and do it ourselves, which takes time. Having less stuff could actually free up both time and money for us to enjoy other things that we may not have had the time or money to enjoy before.
7. Helps us take inventory of what we have... Just last week, I mentioned to my husband that I would like a pressure cooker. This week, we have spent a lot of time clearing out our home. In the kitchen, pushed way back under the cabinets, I found a pressure cooker that I didn't even know we had. We were planning on purchasing a pressure cooker until I found that we already owned one. That saved us money! If you are constantly having to purchase something over-and-over while thinking that you've already purchased it, you may not be losing your mind after-all. It may just mean that you need to clear out some of the other things that you are not using and get organized.
8. Puts money in your pocket... Some of the things that you would like to get rid of may be of great interest to other people. There are some great outlets of getting rid of your stuff, and sometimes you can make a little extra money at the same time. You could make a charitable, tax-deductible donation to many organizations around town. Some of those organizations will actually come to your home and pick it up for you. Some other great places are: craigslist.org, ebay.com, or having a yard sale. You may also find that you really like the new space that you have created by clearing out. Because of this, you may not want to buy more stuff to add to it. That way, you're not spending more money on more stuff; therefore, keeping more cash in your pocket, and that always makes us feel better.
   

I deeply encourage you this year to take control of your life and home by taking that extra step that you have been wanting to take for so long. De-cide to De-clutter! You could even start a De-cluttering Party, and invite some friends to join in. Sometimes it's good to have an outside opinion if we are on the fence about a particular item. It also holds us accountable. After you're done with your home, go to the next and so on... After a while, you and your friends will feel the freedom of a de-cluttered, happier, healthier lifestyle.