Revive Healthy Nutritional and Social Health Ministry of Virginia

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”- 2 Peter 1:3

Utilizing Wisdom in Eating for Better Health

Since the beginning of time, the human body has evolved around a food source that has always been supplied by nature, in the form of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Technically a fruit is any real food which contains seeds. This would include such foods as cucumbers, green/red sweet peppers, tomatoes, avocados, squash, etc.

These are foods that man’s entire anatomical and physiological make

up is designed best to handle.

A healthy eating plan was designed for mankind from the foundation of the earth. God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so". Gen 1:29-30 AKJV. Therefore, the wisdom of proper hydration and a detailed plan or program of action for a balanced and nutritious lifestyle is critical to a healthy body.

Basic Rules for Eating

Care should be taken to eat a good variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure a well-rounded input of nutrients. Strive to consume at least 70% of your total food intake in the fresh and raw form – fruits and vegetables. It is the raw, enzymatic active foods that allow for healing and health. The more the food is processed, the less value it retains for health.

Eat raw foods with every meal: The enzymes found in these foods will facilitate the digestion and processing of the cooked foods associated with that meal.

Do not overeat: Eat until satisfied, not hurting. Overall, the less one eats, the healthier it is for the body and health.

Chew food slowly and thoroughly: It should be liquid in the mouth before swallowing.This allows the body to sense the nutrient content of the food being consumed and will accordingly shut down the appetite when enough food is consumed, thus avoiding the tendency to overeat.

Eat only when hungry: Not because it’s meal time or the food is there.

Hunger is noticed in the mouth and throat, not in the stomach. Let the body determine when it needs nutrition. One of the greatest hindrances to maintaining health is overworking the digestive system, which hinders proper assimilation of food and stifles the body’s cleansing activity.

JUICE (from a Juicer) : Ideally,every day drink at least - 1 glass (4-8 ounces) of fresh vegetable juice 1-2 times per day is ideal. However, start with twice a week and increase to once a day within 45 days. Organic vegetable are better for enzyme production. Fresh juice is best taken between meals, or in lieu of a meal. If there is not a vegetable juice extractor (not a blender) available, it is recommended to purchase one for a healthy way to consume alkalizing

vegetables and fruits. V8 juice or other processed juices are not fresh juice with enzymatic properties for life and cellular health.

FASTING: There are many benefits to fasting. It is recommended to find a regular time period that works within a routine. Fast 1 day each week, 2 weeks or even one day per month. On fasting day only drink alkaline water or filtered water. In some situations, individuals may be unable to regulate blood sugar levels without eating some food. They may suffer irritability, tiredness, light-headiness- If so, refer to the juicing protocol and juice instead.

The major nutrients that make up the foods/drink consumed are:

1. Water

2. Vitamins

3. Protein

4. Minerals

5. Fat

6. Carbohydrates

Water

Water is the foundational component to healthy eating and a healthy body. The body is comprised of 55-75% of water? A person can only live three to seven days without water. It’s no wonder why water is said to be the most essential nutrient for our body. Hydration is essential to proper metabolism of all foods and nutrients consumed in the body. The reason water and hydration is the first order of defense in obtaining optimal health, is due to, no manner of healthy eating, diet or food regimen will be successful without proper hydration. Without the proper amounts of water in the body, the body will begin to compensate for the lack of water by creating degenerative responses in the body such as digestive problems, fatigue, skin issues, hair loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other ailments. Drink Alkaline water- Kangen Alkaline Ionized water is recommended at minimum of 64 oz per day and up to 120 oz per day depending on daily activities.

What Is Real Food

Your body was designed to operate on a specific fuel. This fuel will only add to the health and life of the body. It will not take away from its

efficient operation or “clog up” the works. This fuel is called “real food”.

The principles for determining if a substance is real food are:

1) Something edible grown by nature of the plant kingdom

2) Which can be eaten without processing in any way

3) Of which an entire meal of just that one substance can be eaten

and thoroughly enjoyed.

·          Not offensive to the taste buds.

·          The taste buds are a primary defensive mechanism to keep

toxins out of the body via the digestive tract.

·          The body naturally has a ‘sweet tooth’ this is nature’s way of attracting the body to its’ natural diet—fruit and vegetables, and              keeping the body from consuming toxins or toxic food.

·          Real foods come from nature as “complete packages” meaning it

possess everything in them necessary for the body to process and assimilate that food for use in the body.

·          As a nation people are overweight and unhealthy because of a real food deficiency.

Acid/Alkaline Balance

The internal body chemistry functions in an alkaline environment. The blood must maintains a pH of 7.4. If it drops below that to 7.2 death occurs. The cells of the body in health are alkaline. In disease the cell pH is below 7.0. The more acid the cells become, the sicker one feels. The cells won’t die until their pH get to about 3.5. The body produces acid as a by-product of normal metabolism. Since the body does not manufacture alkaline, the consumption of alkalizing foods and drinks must be supplied. Food is the means of replenishing the alkaline to the body.

Foods are two types, acid or alkaline. This refers to the ash value of a food. Meaning, after in the food is digested and processed the ash value is the residue left over. Is the remaining ash acid, or is it alkaline? If there is an acid residue (inorganic acids), the body must neutralize this acid to keep the blood from getting acid. The acid is neutralized with alkaline. Ideally there is adequate alkaline in the

diet to do this. However, if there is not, the body must extract alkaline from its cells, organs, or bones to neutralize the acid. This of course causes cells to become acid, and thus diseased.

The acidity of a solution (any liquid substance, urine, blood) is measured on the pH scale – termed the ‘power of hydrogen’. The pH scale shows the activity of hydrogen ions present in the sample. The scale is a reverse logarithmic one – high acidity is represented by a low value, and low acidity (that is, alkaline or base

substances) by a high value, with acidity level at each ascending step being one tenth that of the previous step.

For example, compared to lemon juice at pH 2.4, orange juice at pH 3.5 is less than one tenth as acidic, and beer at pH 4.5 is less than one hundredth as acidic. The pH of most substances falls between 0 and 14. Gastric acid has a pH of 1.5 to 2 (very acid), pure water 7 (considered to be neutral, neither acid nor alkaline), and household bleach 12.5 (extremely alkaline). Note Municipal tap water and most bottled waters will test with a pH of 7. However, based on tests ( using an ORP meter) of the acid properties within the water the tap and some bottled waters are acidic and oxidizing to the body)

pH Levels in the Body
The pH level of the body’s internal fluids affects every cell, and if out-of- balance this will be detrimental to the normal functioning of cells, tissues and organs. The western diet is typically based around meat and dairy products, sugars, alcohol, saturated fats and caffeine, all of which creates an acidic cellular environment. Such an unbalanced pH level can result in health issues like cancer, heart disease, obesity, weight problems, allergies, fatigue and premature aging as well as problems with the nervous system, cardiovascular
system and muscles.

Alkaline /Acid Food

The average American diet consists of: 20% alkaline foods and

80% acid foods. The diet should consist of at least:

80% ALKALINE FOODS AND 20% ACID FOODS.

It is not unusual for the average American to go 7 to 14 days without

eating ANY alkaline foods. Therefore, acidification and oxidation, is a cumulative process, which occurs as a result of high acid food diet such as, fast foods, processed foods, sodas and high stress lifestyles. It is important to mention that while some can get rather dogmatic with lists like these, keep in mind that one is not going to suddenly become too acidic because of eating a piece of bacon or because of drinking one cup of coffee. However, individuals cannot completely eliminate an acidic state because of drinking wheat grass juice. To become alkaline is also cumulative- it is reversing the acid consumption in the body.

To maintain health, a diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming

foods and 40% acid forming foods.

To restore health, a diet should consist of 80% alkaline forming

foods and 20% acid forming foods.

While fruits are slightly alkalizing to a individual that is currently in a pH balanced state ( 6.75-7.25), it may be wise to refraining from them all

together if one is in an acidic balanced state ( 4.5-6.5) due to some

fruits high sugar content. Also, fruits can contain organic, weak

acids that are easy to buffer when an individual is in a balanced state.

Fruits are alkaline forming because of the other elements in them. If

the pH is low ( 4.5-6.5) refrain from fruits if the weak acids causes discomfort.

Once pH at the optimal zone ( 6.75-7.25), enjoy fruits in moderation.

Peanuts are not to be eaten. Peanuts are not a true nut; they are a legume, the bean family. Legumes are difficult to digest in that they have basically equal parts protein and starch, thus they are notorious for producing gas.

Organically Grown Food

Where possible consume organically grown fruits, vegetables and grains. Generally these contain more nutrients and have less (if any) chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In some cases the organic version is difficult to find and/or expensive. In either case, consume the

produce that can be found at your local grocery store; this is still

better than no raw fruits and vegetables at all. It is also best to

eat fruits and vegetables that are in season and that are native to the area.

Non-Organic Foods

Two factors that reduce the quality of raw fruits and vegetables are

the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in commercially grown produce. While these are certainly harmful to the produce, nature has a mechanism to help cut down the negative effects of these chemicals, thus retaining adequate nutrient value.

The number one defense of fruits and vegetables against chemicals is the skin. It will keep the majority if not all of the sprayed-on pesticides out of the food. Thus, it is important of properly and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before consumption. The food must, in its natural state, be pleasing to all five senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. This is especially true of the sense of taste, as this is our primary defensive mechanism to keep toxins out of the body entering through the mouth.

Relative Sweetness

The relative sweetness of a real food is the ultimate test of its

nutritional quality. If growing conditions of the food were good, the glucose content of the food will be high, and the food will be both sweet tasting and high in nutritional value. There is a direct relationship between glucose content and vitamin/mineral content of a real food. A food cannot form a high glucose content without a proportionately high

level of the other food constituents—vitamins, minerals, amino acids,

etc. If growing conditions are poor, the resultant food will be of poor

nutritional value and the glucose level will be low, thus the food will

not taste sweet.

If the nutritional value of the food has been decreased or destroyed

via chemical fertilizers, pesticides, chemical ripening agents, storage,

injected dyes, etc., the glucose content will proportionately be destroyed and the food will lose its sweet taste.

If the nutritional value of the food has been decreased or destroyed

via processing and/or preparation of the food (cooking, freezing,

fermenting, spicing, etc.), the glucose content will likewise be

diminished and the food will not be sweet tasting.

NOTE: Green beans will never be as sweet tasting as an orange;

but relative to green beans, there will be sweet tasting green beans

and green beans that are not so sweet. Thus the term ‘relative sweetness’.

No-No’s To Avoid

The following substances are, to various degrees, harmful to the

body, take away from health, and ideally are to be avoided. Work

towards eliminating them from your diet as time goes by or at

least reduce the frequency at which they are consumed if they are a

regular part of the current dietary intake.

Also, it is best not to give them all up at once.

This can make this new way of eating overwhelming and cause

one to revert back to the SAD (Standard American Diet).

• Rhubarb: contains naturally occurring toxins (thus the need to

sweeten it for consumption)

• Asparagus: contains naturally occurring acids/toxins which

tend to bind minerals

• Popcorn: can be hard to digest, avoid if causes gastric distress;

also should be air popped without salt

• Caffeine: is a stimulant; so avoid coffee, tea, soft drinks,

chocolate, herb teas which contain caffeine

• Decaffeinated and artificially sweetened drinks: they

contain various harmful chemicals and oils (Nutri-sweet,

Aspartame, Splenda)

• Canned foods (home made or commercially produced):

they are void of enzymes

• Alcohol

• Nicotine, tobacco

• Drugs and medications – where medically possible

• Processed, refined, overheated, fast and junk foods

• Microwave foods: destroys most of the enzymes (over 90%)

• Fried foods, foods containing processed fats – especially if

fat content is over 30% of total calorie content.

• Ice cream, and all dairy (except butter for flavoring)

• Foods with additives – preservatives, coloring, emulsifiers, etc.

• Refined sugar, white flour and foods containing them

• Red meat: when cooked contains chemicals that are stimulating

• Meats processed with hormones, and GMO's
• Vegetables produced with GMO's (genetically modified food)

Processed Foods/Junk Foods

What are processed or “junk” foods and why are they

so harmful to us? A junk food is defined as a substance that does not meet one or all three of the qualifications of a real food, meaning it would not be conducive to health and life, but would be dis-ease producing; this is because: junk foods are either missing some of the ingredients needed for the body to make efficient use of the food, thus the body must complete the package from its reserves and its own

tissue; and/or junk foods have substances in them—toxins—

which ‘clog up the works’ making the body less efficient, and

cost the body energy and nutrients to eliminate from the body.

Other names are more descriptive of what refined or junk foods really are:

·          processed foods

·          partial foods

·          fragmented foods

·          incomplete foods

A refined food is just what the above names indicate: part of the whole,

complete food that nature has provided. Remember that nature’s foods

real foods—come as complete packages containing all that is needed for the body to process and assimilate the nutrients in that food for life

and health. Once man begins to do anything to that food, it begins

to lose part of its nutrient quality, and becomes only part of the whole.

Obviously the more that is done to the food, the less complete it becomes.

Some more commonly eaten refined foods are items which contains:

1 gram of sugar substance = 4 teaspoons of sugar

Sugar / High glycemic substances (brown or white), high fructose

corn sugar/ syrup, milk sugar in processed milk, fructose, sucrose,

all artificial sugars – Nutri-sweet, Saccharin, Aspartame, Sucralose;

and Agave Nectar has 90% fructose.

·          soft drinks – or liquid candy can contain 20 to 56 grams of sugar- that’s 80- 224 teaspoons in one drink or multiple drinks)

·          sports drinks

·          fortified water

·          candy pastries

White refined flour and products such as:

( all have some sort of the above sugar/sweetener).

·          breakfast cereals

·          crackers

·          pastas

·          pastries

·          breads

Processed meats / Drinks/ Frozen foods (all have some sort of

the above sugar/sweetener).

Frozen meals - non organic

Pasteurized milk, juices, etc.

Canned meats – Spam, etc

Times Not to Eat

There are certain times it would be best not to eat, eat little, or

just drink fresh juice.

Such situations would include:

• When not hungry

• When in pain, running a fever or otherwise acutely ill

• Immediately before or after physical exertion

• When under emotional stress.

Eating heavy or normal meals at these times will hinder the activity

the body is attempting to perform in that the digestion of food

requires a great deal of energy which the body (and mind in some cases) would rather have to carry out these high energy requiring functions. Also, there will be less efficient digestion of food if consumed during the above occasions because the body has much energy tied up on the crisis activity.

Each individual is fearfully and wonderful made, therefore, care and

wisdom should be considered to maintain a healthy and vibrant body.

It is a responsibility to be a good steward over the gift of the body

that has been freely given out of love. Take time to begin today toward

healthy eating and drinking habits which will allow for a long prosperous life.

References

Cruise, J. (2008). The Belly Fat Cure.

Mayo Clinic. ( 2011). Dietary fats: Know which types to choose.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fat/NU00262/NSECTIONGROUP=2

Robbins, J. Dr. (2011). Real Food, Stress and Health.

http://www.healthfree.com/nutritional_power_robbins.html

Young, R. Dr. & Young, S. (2008). The pH Miracle: Balance Your Diet,

Reclaim Your Health. Wellness Central.