Eagles Rest Ministries

I discovered 3 main causes of sickness:

1. Stress
2. Inflammation
3. Body is too acidic

Why didn’t I list virus, bacteria, and germs? Because God created in us an immune system. When it is working properly, this system attacks and controls these illness-producing critters. The first 3 things I mentioned - cause our immune system to be lowered or to breakdown. In other words, they hinder it from working efficiently and properly, allowing these invaders to bring harm to our bodies.What can you do to keep a healthy immune system? Here are some suggestions:

* De-stress. Take time to do some deep breathing, relaxing, and get rid of negative influences and negative talk.
* Eliminate or cut back on foods that can cause inflammation in the body. An anti-inflammatory diet: eliminate sugar (starches also turn to sugar in the body, ex. pasta, white bread, even potatoes & rice, so limit), caffeine, carbonated soft drinks (liquid candy), junk food (foods so processed they are devoid of their natural vitamins and minerals), sweetened breakfast cereals (try an apple with peanut butter instead), and pork products.
* Eat more foods that are alkaline and less of those that are acidic.
*Drink lots of good water to wash out toxins.
* Fruits and vegetables contain cancer and disease fighting properties. Plant foods are full of vitamins, minerals and health-protecting phytochemicals. This means they are good for you. Eat more of them - fresh or steamed. The closer you can eat vegetables and fruit to their natural state, the healthier they will be for you. (An apple is healthier than apple pie for example.) They also add fiber to help move things along your elimination system. This is a good thing because toxins impacted in your colon can seep through the colon walls into the rest of your body bringing on sickness as well. Five or more servings a day are recommended.
* Eliminate use of sugar and foods high in sugar. Avoid any sweetener that comes in a yellow, pink, or blue package. These are more harmful than using a little real sugar. You might try a little honey or stevia (comes from an herb). 4 grams of sugar equals 1 tsp. - that’s for your information.
* Eliminate sodas that are high in sugar and caffeine - these are bad for you. Beware of sugar-free products. The sweeteners used in these products often can increase your appetite. In case you weren’t sure, green teas and black teas are good for you and contain only a fraction of the caffeine of coffee.
* Cut back on processed foods that have been stripped of their nutrients and filled with artificial colors and flavorings and other additives and chemicals that may cause cancer and clog your immune system.
* Buy organic products when possible. These foods haven’t been saturated with pesticides and other artificial chemicals.
* Wash all fruits and vegetables well.
* Buy eggs from free-range chickens. These are available in the grocery stores now.
* Eat fish twice a week for the omega oils your body needs. Salmon has cancer-fighting properties as well. (This does not include shell fish which are loaded with toxins.)
*Choose foods that are low in fat and salt.
* Use multi-vitamin and mineral supplements. Preferably from a health food store or GNC store for quality. Not all supplements are equal.
* An acidophilus (probiotics) supplement promotes healthy intestinal function.
* If you have stomach or intestinal problems, a multi-enzyme that helps with digestion of your food could be helpful.
* Be physically active. Some movement is better than no movement, even if it’s some stretch exercises or a walk around the block. Even getting up and moving around during TV commercials will help. Use of weights can build muscle quicker and make bones denser.

When you begin to change your diet, do it slowly. You want it to become a life long change, not another fad diet that you can’t stick to. Begin by reducing the portion size of your meat and increasing your vegetable servings, until you are “relying on a wide range of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans so your plate will be filled with delicious foods that will reduce cancer risk and help you manage your weight”. Quotation is from America Institute for Cancer Research. They also recommend having vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans cover two-thirds or more of your plate and animal protein only one-third or less. See the palm of your hand as the portion sizes that are right for you.

Understand that these are nutritional suggestions gathered from my research to help improve the health of your body. They are not meant to be a substitute for medical care.