10 (+1) Steps To Getting Started With A Lifestyle For Health

1. It is estimated that up to 80% of our medical disorders and diseases have spiritual roots. Diseases such as heart disease, cancer, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis, sleep disorders, and many more illnesses that medical science has an inability to heal have been demonstrated to have underlying roots of fear, bitterness, anger, jealousy and the like. Dealing with these on the spiritual level have brought hope and healing to many.

2. Use freshly milled whole grain flours. Everyone can start healthier living by utilizing nutrient dense whole grains. Blender batters for muffins and pancakes using a quality blender makes whole grain baking feasible for anyone. As you save your funds and let family members know what you want you will soon have enough to invest in a high speed electric grain mill. Investing in a grain mill should be your top long-term priority. After you master quick breads try moving on to Marilyn's Famous Whole Wheat Bread.

3. Drink and cook with pure water . Our bodies are 75% water and need at least eight glasses of pure water daily to cleanse away impurities and toxins. Chemical contamination of our water supply is increasingly being implicated in a wide range of medical disorders. Chief among these is chlorine and trihalomethanes (by-products of chlorine interaction in water). But it doesn't stop there. Over 1000 chemical contaminants have been found in our nation's drinking water supply. Choose a system that removes a wide range of contaminants and is certified to perform according to manufacturer claims. Most bottled water is reprocessed tap water and is even held to less regulation than tap water. In addition, it is much more expensive per gallon than a good filtration system. Pour-through pitchers are a great first step but usually only take care of a portion of chlorine and very few other contaminants of health concern.

4. Eliminate refined sugars from your diet. Cooking with sweeteners such as honey, sucanat, maple syrup, fructose, or stevia surprisingly offer great taste without adversely affecting the blood sugar levels.

5. Incorporate whole grain pasta and brown rice into your menus. Refined flour pasta and white rice adversely affect blood sugar just like refined white sugar. Whole grains used for many meals including breakfast are nutrient-dense with many essential vitamins and minerals and do not have the same effects on blood sugar as do refined flours.

6. Increase your consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. Most nutrition experts recommend five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. For some of us, this will take planning and effort. I have found that pressure cooking vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, potatoes, beets, artichokes, sweet potatoes, and cauliflower, saves so much cooking time that I can include these healthy choices even when dinner must be on the table in minutes. In addition, less cooking time with less water means more nutrients are preserved.

7. Eliminate hydrogenated fats from your diet. Did you know that most commercially produced baked goods contain hydrogenated fats? Even the FDA has considered labeling products that include hydrogenated fats as containing dangerous free radicals. The easiest way to eliminate or significantly reduce hydrogenated fats from your diet is to begin baking your own whole grain breads, muffins, quick breads, cookies, and even crackers with quality ingredients.

8. Eliminate preservatives found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and commercial baked goods. Watch your labels, select organic choices in fruits and vegetables when possible. Grow and preserve as many of your own fruits and veggies as possible. Health and economy-minded cooks "can" or "dehydrate" whatever is in season year round including their own soups!

9. Learn to prepare family meals from basic whole food ingredients to promote health and save money. Your taste buds will gradually adjust to the new healthier ways of eating and you'll never go back to the old ways.

10. Use lots of freshly extracted fruit and vegetable juices for a refreshing, nutritious beverage. Drink two glasses a day for health maintenance and four glasses a day when you are sick or run down.

(+1). Reduce your use of fast food. Instead of getting commercially prepared pizza with it's white flour, hydrogenated oils, etc., what tastes better than home baked pizza for a Friday Night Family Treat? Saves lots of money too.

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