Water: Life's Necessity

Water is one of the most essential elements that the human body needs to survive. We can go for days, or even months without solid food, but the body will shut down within just a few short days if it is deprived of clean water.

That's because our body is made up of approximately 70% water and all of the components that we are made of need water to function properly.

Water has various medicinal properties and it also aids in the prevention of several ailments that cause dis-ease in our bodies. Doctor Fereydoon Batmanghelidj says, "You're not sick, you're thirsty. Don't treat thirst with medication."

 

His website, The Water Cure, profiles "The Wonders of Water" including several ways water prevents and aids in the cure of several life-threatening illnesses, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Knowing this, it amazes me when I think of the fact that over one billion people on the earth still lack access to "safe" water.

To avoid dehydration we must consume "clear water" daily. People who are more active, or who live in humid climates may require a little more than the average suggested minimum amount of about 2 liters a day.

Although we can also consume water through the foods and beverages we eat, these amounts are not nearly enough, and they do not satisfy the body's natural craving for pure and clean water.

It is possible to consume too much water, and if the water is not being expelled from the body, it can be fatal. In fact, I recall a local radio station (107.9, "The End") in Sacramento, California holding a contest in January of 2007. The winner of the competition was to receive a Nintendo Wii video game console.

The contest titled "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" was the cause of the death of 28 year old Jennifer Strange, who refrained from emptying her bladder in an effort to win the contest, instead, she lost her life.

Drinking the right amount of water may seem tricky at first, but I suggest you consult a doctor if you have any concerns about what is right for you. Daily water intake requirements vary from person to person, but one sure-fire way to know if you are getting enough is to do what feels "right" to your body.

Read information about the symptoms of dehydration so you know when you are not drinking enough and always, always empty your bladder when you feel the need to "go pee". Emptying your bladder frequently throughout the day is normal if you are drinking the appropriate amount of water.

While some of the best things in life are free, water, unfortunately for most, is not. If you have the "luxury" of being a land owner (not just a home owner, because many people who purchase "condos", while they may own their houses, they do not own the land the physical building sits on) then you know that water, while it may be one of the best things in life, it is not free.

We pay for the right to have water delivered to our piece of land, and every time we turn on a tap to wash a dish or go to wash our hands, we are paying for the clear, liquid gold, flowing from the faucets.

And, unless we plan on moving to Siberia, near Lake Baikal, then I guess we will just have to keep paying for our water, a natural God-given resource to His people.

 

Lake Baikal in Siberia is the single largest (by volume) fresh water resource in the world, and it is suitable for drinking. It is also the oldest (over 25 million years old) and deepest (Over 2,400 feet deep) lake in the world.

Like most of the things we need to survive here on this planet, the "Powers That Be" have found a way to make us is pay for something that should, and truly really is, and always will be, free.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at our planet. It is mostly made up of water. And, we have the technology to turn salt water into drinking water, even do-it-yourself at home techniques.


I close with a toast to your health, with a glass of water, of course. Drink responsibly, people.

Garden of Eden: The Road Map to How We Should Be Living

We open in the Garden of Eden, in the days of Adam and Eve. The world's "First Couple" had everything they needed to sustain their life, as it had been provided to them by God. Life- giving plants, trees, herbs and shrubs had been laid out for their enjoyment. They were entrusted with the responsibility of caring for the garden and all of its inhabitants. Life was good.

We have strayed so far from this outline designed by God. The life we were intended to live and the food we were supposed to eat has been placed on the back-burner and in exchange we became literally addicted to things like "fast foods" and preservatives. Things with no essential life-preserving, natural ingredients and foods that are preserved by chemicals just so they last longer.

I don't recall there being any means for preserving food in the Garden of Eden. Everything that was to be consumed was fresh and ready to eat when ripe and not being chemically transformed into something that lengthens shelf-life, but shortens our own lives.

We need to get back to basics and I think the Garden of Eden is the perfect outline for a plan. Growing your own food and encouraging others in the community to do so can actually be the first step to establishing your Garden of Eden, your Heaven on Earth.

By working together with local growers you can strategically plan what you grow, in order to create bountiful harvests that can feed the entire community. Sharing what you have extra from your garden and receiving what others have to offer creates a community co-op of sorts.

Now, Adam and Eve weren't just "kicking it" all up in the garden, in fact, they worked their butts off to keep the garden in order. It does require a great deal of time, and a lot of patience, but hard work always pays off with big rewards, and there is truth in the quote, "You reap what you sow". Till the earth and keep the soil clean, moist and ready to receive the water and sun, and you can't go wrong.

I truly believe we can all reap the benefits of starting a home garden. Even if you live in an apartment, or condo, or don't have much yard space, you have a place to grow something, anything. There are several online videos on how to create indoor spaces for growing. There's nothing to it, but to do it.

One of the things I can share about first starting out is don't try and over-do it. Don't go out and buy all the bells and whistles, you know, like expensive pots and insecticides and weed killers, etc.

When we started our garden, "Adam" and I, we used empty egg crates, they make the perfect little pods for planting seeds because they are so easy to scoop out when it is time to transplant, or move the sprout to a bigger container for growing.


We also used empty plastic juice bottles. These make the perfect little green houses. And as far as pesticides and weed killers, etc. go, we prefer not to use them. "Adam" and I research and find recipes for all natural products with organic ingredients, that when combined, create nature's finest insect repellents and weed killers that are harm-free for the soil. 

Pre-fabricated, above ground planting boxes are quite costly (http://ow.ly/aqjAQ), but "Adam" used pieces of scrap wood we had in the backyard and built several beds, even a king-size litter box for the cats, but that's another story. My point is, if you see an idea that you want to use, get creative and find a way to obtain the same result for less dollars out of pocket.

Now you may not have the luxury of having scrap wood, nails, hammer, etc. just at your fingertips, but the investment and cost of these items is so much more valuable and definitely cheaper than buying pre-fabricated things that can be made with materials we already have or can purchase for less than the cost of what's pre-made on the shelf.

God's first gift to mankind was the Garden of Eden and I believe we all should have a garden, a small garden if your space is limited, but a garden none the less. Be creative and grow what you like to eat. You will save money over time and the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables that have been prepared in a manner that will not take away the life-preserving properties naturally found in them are well worth the time it would take to start and maintain a garden.

Plant fruit trees and flowers, herbs and succulents, and add water elements to the yard. The sound of running water is soothing and provides therapy to those who are meditating within earshot of the sound of water cascading over rocks.

Maybe even a small fish pond with a waterfall in it would be ideal. Top it all off with a birdbath and bird house. This will encourage pollination, attracting birds and bees.

All of this was in the first Garden and I truly believe the key to having a piece of Heaven here on Earth begins with having your own garden to enjoy and care for, the way God intended, reaping what we sow and having endless supply of food made especially for our bodies.

Plant a seed today and stop delaying your entry to the Garden of Eden.

Fasting: For Physical And Spiritual Fitness

It is no surprise that almost all religions observe some form of the act of fasting. Fasting has been practiced for thousands of years, being traced as far back as the times of primitive man.

In ancient societies, the act of fasting was performed for physical, spiritual and ceremonial reasons. Refraining from eating certain fruits, vegetables, and meats during certain times of the year, because they may have been tainted, or out of season and not fit for consumption, was common practice.

Fasting was also performed before spiritual ceremonies and as a form of physical or spiritual purification and cleansing. It was even thought that the act of fasting could ward off evil spirits or even encourage the spirits of the earth to send appropriate weather needed for plentiful harvests.

Fasting is the act of not taking any food or drink (or both), for a specific period of time. There are also limited-liquid intake fasts, "juice diets", that provide the body with nutritional intake while it goes through the detoxification process. Other fasts are less restrictive and only observe eating or drinking less than normal for a period of time, or even just excluding one or two items, such as meat or dairy, from the diet periodically.

Fasting for religious purposes is the most common form of spiritual cleansing although some religions merely practice the act of fasting for the maintenance of good health, such as the ordained Buddhist Monks and Nuns, who do not eat any meals after the noon hour of each day. This is also thought to aid in their meditation practices as well as maintaining a healthy body.



In Christianity, fasting is observed in a various number of ways. The Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church both observe a forty day partial fast, Lenten, which commemorates the fast of Christ during his days in the desert when he was being tempted. The Ethiopian Orthodox church also observe a partial fast, excluding both milk and meat from their diets, for several weeks during certain times of the year.

The Holy Bible tells of David's fast for the purpose of humbling his soul, Moses' fasting twice in the book of Deuteronomy, and in the book of Acts, Saul fasted for three days after his conversion to Christianity.

In Mormonism, a complete fast is observed every first Sunday of the month. No food or drink is taken for a 24 hour period and all of the money that would have been spent on food for that day is required to be donated to the church as a "fast offering". And, as in many other religions, individuals and families can fast on their own free will to show repentance or as a way to show gratitude toward God.

In Islam, during the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims are prevented from eating any food, drinking any liquid (including water), and engaging in sexual activities. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and considered a highly important act of worship. In addition to restraints from food and drink, one observing the Ramadan fast must also temper his spirit by practicing only "good behaviors"; no swearing, no telling of lies, and no unkind acts or lustful thoughts.

Judaism recognizes Yom Kippur, and it is considered the most important day of the Jewish year. Yom Kippur is one of six fasts that are required of the Jewish people.

Each religion that requires mandatory fasting also has exceptions, like for children of a younger age and the elderly; However, some religions still require that some form of self-pleasuring sacrifice or the making of financial donations to the church instead of fasting is accepted, if you meet the exclusions.

In the book Back to Eden, Jethro Kloss recommends fasting for only a day or two at a time, and he also states that drinking plenty of water and doing concentrated, deep-breathing exercises will be most beneficial. He goes on to say that excluding rich foods and eating small amounts of plain food for days and even weeks will aid the body in ridding itself naturally of the poisons and toxins that have accumulated over time.

Fasting can be used as an effective weight loss plan, combined with eating the right foods and doing exercises on a regular basis. If you are under the care of a physician for any medical reason it is best to consult with your doctor before fasting or starting any exercise regimen.

For those who fast there are multiple health benefits such as increased life span due to the slowing of the aging process and reduced risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and disorders of the immune system which leads to all forms for disease.

If you are already not fasting for religious or other reasons, I encourage you to start as soon as you are able. The benefits will increase your overall quality of life and you can be a living testament to others. Here's to your health, and mine!