What You Need To Know About A GMO...

You may have heard this term: "GMO" and wondered what it meant. To a passer by, one may not take interest, but like I said, this journey we are on is teaching us how to do our research. It's teaching us how to stop, think, and look at the back of the package we are about to purchase. It's teaching us to ask the question: "Where did this come from?" This is also what I want to bring an awareness to the world, especially the Church.

I wrote in a previous post called, "Taste Test" that, when it comes to food, we usually ingest whatever we have access to. Yet, when we shop for a new TV or the best kind of car, we do our research to find the best. Why isn't it this way with the products we put into our bodies which then go into our bloodstream? Okay, so what is a GMO?

Allow me to clarify, I am not a scientist, nor a doctor, nor am I a nutritionist. I am merely a consumer who is doing a little research and discovering things that could change my life for the better. The letters in GMO stand for: "Genetically Modified Organism."

In other words, it is an organism whose genetic material has been altered by genetic engineering. These techniques are also called Recombinant DNA Technology and they use DNA molecules from different sources. They are later combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. You are probably thinking, "Uh, that doesn't sound good," and you are right. It doesn't sound like I want that inside of my body!

Here's a good question: which would you prefer, real food or fake food? Easy, I want the real thing!!!! Of course, we all want the real thing. Yet, all across America today, we will be walking into grocery stores and picking out foods that we think are even good foods and instead will be ingesting quite a few genetically modified organisms without even knowing it. Ewww.

Wanna know what some of them are? Here are just a few that I found. There are different categories of GMOs and here is a list of "high-risk crops" and "low-risk crops":  What is a GMO?

Now the next question you are probably asking yourself is: "What can I eat?" or "What is a non GMO product?" This is my next quest because there is a ton of information. Here is a link and a list of non GMO products but remember, it's best that YOU do your own research on what to put into your body: The Non GMO Project

I will be writing more in the days to come on projects that you can find in your local community or Farmers Markets and am currently also on a search to find Non-GMO Farmers Markets and farmers who, not only grow organically, but their seeds have not been modified. In the mean time, here's what YOU can do. Keep doing the research. It also may be a good time to start growing your own garden. You can start small like a tomato plant or maybe some cucumbers. Anyone can do it!

The most important thing that is that you feel empowered. It's time for us to be stop being at the mercy of our grocery stores. It can appear that we have many choices when there really isn't. However, there is a choice that you, the CONSUMER, can make and that is to do something about it!! It's time to rise up and have a VOICE in this land. The more grocery stores hear that you want real, whole foods, the more they will succumb to selling better products. We want the real thing! Shout it from the top of the mountain!

A Peculiar People...

Well one thing's for sure, we are a peculiar people. I mean, thinking about it, someone tells you something good about food and a good way to eat, and what works for some may not work for you. Yesterday, I have to admit was a very hard day. I had zero energy and felt like I was going to faint all morning. No, I am not pregnant. My conclusion? I am deficient in something and my body is trying to let me know that it needs something. The "whole" (no pun intended) idea behind this blog is that we would learn a better way of living regarding our diet.

Please hear what I am NOT saying, "that everyone should do exactly what we are doing." We are a peculiar people in the sense that each of our body chemistries are different. We each have different DNA. This is what makes us individuals and God has made each of us with unique design. Amazing revelation. Here is also one of the main ideas of this blog: that food, not pills, but FOOD, which God made to nourish us, can help to HEAL our bodies. I don't have every piece of knowledge on it, but I know this is true.

So, here is where it begins! I am doing the research from many resources. In addition, the internet is full of  amazing discoveries about this topic as it is a growing trend among American consumers. It should be because our country has made some poor choices regarding food. What you can do as our friends: encourage us or join us by doing your research too! It's fun doing life the Kingdom way.

Below you will see the trailer to a documentary we saw a few days ago that, well, it changed our lives for the better! If you have not seen this documentary, "Forks Over Knives," please do yourself a favor and watch it today. By the way, I am feeling better and after a Vitamin B12 supplement taken yesterday, I am getting back on track. Eating a plant based diet sometimes requires an extra dose of Vitamin B12, especially if you are a beginner.  Another lesson learned. Now it's time to make a mixed berry smoothie this morning. Here's to good health and long life in Jesus' name!

I've Seen The Light...

Okay, NOW we are getting somewhere. Last night, I wasn't too sure of this whole thing. I even found myself questioning, "What the heck am I doing?" I felt pain in places I didn't know you could feel. However, in the morning, after making home made apple sauce/juice in the Vitamix using 2 whole apples and drinking a tablespoon of Apple cider vinegar, I began feeling much better! I am starting to feel a little better each day! Like I wrote yesterday, "things get worse before they get better," I know that sounds terrible, but if you can make it through the detox, there is a light at the end of the tunnel! It's true!

Therefore, we got a great start with a smoothie my friend found called "Kalelicious." It is tasty and has a bright flavor. It requires the curly kind of kale, baby spinach, 1 or 2 lemons depending on how many people, fresh apple juice (made from a vitamix or juicer is better), one frozen banana, and we modified it by adding a little Simply Limeade, and Maca powder. After blending, you have yourself a tasty, nutritious smoothie!

Maca Powder: The Great Discovery!

Some interesting facts about Maca powder: Research reveals that, Lepidium meyenii, known commonly as maca, is an herbaceous biennial plant or annual plant from the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. It's also grown in some parts of Brazil. It is grown for its fleshy hypocotyl (actually a fused hypocotyl and taproot), which is used as a root vegetable and a medicinal herb. One bag pictured below contains 100% pure raw maca powder that is certified organic, kosher, vegan and raw. Four alkaloids are present in maca that are known to nourish the endocrine system.

Maca root has been used as a stress-fighting adaptogen to increase stamina, boost libido (great for married couples) calm inflammations, clear skin conditions, and fight fatigue. It is also a nutrient-dense whole food full of vitamins, plant sterols as well as many good minerals, fatty and amino acids.  You can find it at Whole Foods and a big bag will last you about 6 months or more.

You start by only using no more than just a tablespoon a day for beginners. As your body adjusts, if is not sensitive to it, then you can increase it to more tablespoons a day for each person. However, too much Maca is not good for the body and a person can have negative side effects such as insomnia. A little bit a day will help give you energy and I am seeing these positive effects! Bon appetite everyone! Here's to a long and healthy life in Jesus' name!

"It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better..."

I don't know where this quote: "It gets worse before it gets better" actually originated from but it wasn't from me. However, regarding health and detoxifying your body, this is a true statement from my personal experience. Today I feel kind of bad but working through it. They say when you first start something like this it takes awhile for your body to adjust.

Most people quit before it gets better but I don't want to be in that statistic so I'm going to ride this wave out. What did I do to make my day a little better? I drank a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water and I made some home made apple sauce in the Vitamix! I placed 1 1/2 apples in and blended away. It took about 10 seconds. I love the Vitamix!

Do I feel better yet? Well, it didn't take long before I did! ;) Let's see how the rest of the day pans out. As for the rest of the morning? I am going to take a 1/2 teaspoon of Chlorofresh (picture is listed below) to give myself a pick me up and minty fresh breath with it's minty flavor.  In addition, we will be drinking an energizing smoothie today.

We actually had a ton left over from yesterday and we placed it in empty water jugs. You have to do what you can do in the beginning with a limited budget. We couldn't go to the store again until today. Don't condemn yourself through the process for not being perfect. Step by step is the key. This quote is another one I love to brighten up your day: "People who do stuff, do stuff!" -Banning Leibscher. The goal is to start somewhere!

Taste Test...

Okay, so I hesitated in starting a whole new blog page because I have spent years building my other one titled, "Seasons of Life" (www.marykatconolley.blogspot.com.) However, it's a new season, I am a newly married woman, I have a new name, and well...things have changed! Since the beginning of 2012, the Lord has given our family a phrase for the year, "It's a whole new way of living." The idea, is WHOLENESS in every way.

My goal in writing this blog is to document this new season of living in OUR lives together specifically regarding a drastic change in our diet. I want to write about different recipes, ideas, natural medicines, whole foods that have the right kind of benefits for your body, and how we are feeling through this process. We decided to do a little taste test for, instead of one time, 3 months! Why not? Let's try this thing out and see how we feel.

Some people could look at it as a fast and I'm not discrediting those. Fasts are good, but imagine a whole lifestyle where we are eating the right kinds of foods and in doing so healing our bodies to the degree that we wouldn't need to detox all the junk. There would be no junk found! This is my dream. Would you be willing to dream with me a little?

God desires wholeness in every way. We don't have to wait for Jesus' return to get it. He said, "You have the keys, now go!" He wants us to be whole in body, mind, and spirit! With that as our mindset, we are on this amazing journey to discover this wholeness Jesus said we have access to. So, you are welcome to join us and we hope that you are encouraged along the way!

We don't desire for this to be another fad or popular idea, but we want to know the secrets to health God's way. Therefore, we are beginning with the body! Let me tell ya, I have always been a very healthy eater but as a few months of "settling" has crept in as it does with so many young married couples, we have picked up some bad eating habits. It's time for the old things to pass away and for the new to come so here we are! We will be posting pictures and other things as well when I can, so here is our first beginning post to this journey!

The beginning: over the past few months, I have definitely had a few health concerns as well as my husband, and it got me thinking, "There has to be a change FOR real." We ran out of our Juice Plus and with a limited budget just didn't have the money for it at the time. We started noticing both Andrew and I were tired more than usual and just didn't feel up to par. 

A few weeks ago, Andrew was researching on different diet books we could possibly do. We even purchased "The 17 Day Diet" which was what everyone told us to buy at the time. It seemed to be a popular diet that a lot of our friends had seen great benefits from. However, I still questioned, "Is there an even better way?" Well, a few weeks after purchasing that book, we stumbled upon a website link that talked about a book called "The China Study." The book was about plant based diets which was basically encouraging the Vegan lifestyle.

I know what you are thinking if you eat meat, "What the heck? No way!" Yeah, that was our reaction too, however, we started doing more research and discovered so many good statistics of having a plant based diet. In this book "The China Study" it talks about how eating the right kind and enough plants in our diet can help with heart disease, diabetes, bringing more oxygen into our bodies with Chlorophyll, healing arthritis, as well as MANY other amazing benefits. Granted, we are still considering being 75% Vegan and every once in awhile eating meat if we are going to splurge, but we need to know where it's coming from!

I had a conversation with a good friend the other day and she was saying, "You know, we research so much before we shop for products that we want, yet, when it comes to food, we take whatever we can get and shove it into our bodies." Thought provoking yes? These are the mindsets that we need to change and it helps to do life God's way. So we are in process of continuing to read "The China Study" and have also discovered another interesting read titled "Healing With Whole Foods" written by Paul Pitchford. It shows you all the benefits of plants, herbs, spices, and anything you can think of. It has an index of anything you need help with such as "how to cleanse your liver" or  "Benefits of beets in your body." It's an amazing resource.

Today we are also very excited because we got a steal of a deal on a brand new Vitamix on Craig's List. We had the favor of God from a woman in West Palm Beach and she sold it to us for an amazing deal! We were so grateful! This is an amazing machine that turns any veggies or fruit into an amazing juice, smoothie, or soup! They are great because you can put whole veggies or fruit in without peeling and you get all of the vitamins in tact to drink, as opposed to juicers, which throw out a lot of good vitamins from the food. Right now, keep this in mind, "pay now, or pay later." Good reminder.

We will keep you updated on where we end up shopping for produce to find the best deals. We are still on the hunt to find Local Organic Farmer's Markets, hopefully, those which are not involved with Monsanto (hard to find these days). We are expectant and know that God is granting us more wisdom as we endeavor to get healthier. I will leave you with this quote from Beni Johnson that struck a chord in my heart a few days ago. It was a word she gave to the church: "It's time to get well because God wants you in for the long haul because a great harvest is coming!" It's time to get ready! Life in the Kingdom of Heaven is way more fun anyway. Please check out our pictures below of what we have documented so far. Blessings!

                                   Our new Vitamix!

                       This was our new purchase today! God gave us favor!

 There have been many statistics that this is good for oxidizing the body. It is a good pick me up  throughout the day. Just a 1/2 a teaspoon a little bit through the day and you're good!

                        Organic pizza with rice cheese and fresh basil!