See Deuteronomy 8:8…..
“a land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey.”
1. wheat
2. barley
3. grapes
4. figs
5. pomegranates
6. olives
7. honey
There is much food for thought here and what better source than the manual for our body and lives……
Keep this philosophy in mind the next time you hear or are about to repeat a rumor.
In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance, who ran up to him excitedly and said,
"Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students...?"
"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Test of Three."
"Test of Three?"
"That's correct," Socrates continued.
"Before you talk to me about my student let's take a moment to test what you're going to say. The first test is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are
about to tell me is true?"
"No," the man replied, "actually I just heard about it.""All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.
Now let's try the second test, the test of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"
"No, on the contrary..."
"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him even though you're not certain it's true?"
The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.
Socrates continued, "You may still pass though because there is a third test - the filter of Usefulness.
Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"
"No, not really..."
"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"
The man was defeated and ashamed and said no more.
Are You Eating Too Much Sugar?
Cutting sugar from your diet is quite trendy these days. Many dieters even go so far as to proudly proclaim that they have "stopped eating sugar" all together. Well, in reality that probably isn't even possible. They naively think that cutting out cake, cookies and candy means that they are no longer eating sugar.
But, sugar is practically everywhere. Do you know how much you are consuming? If you are a typical American, you may be eating 156 pounds per year! That's how much the USDA says Americans consume each year on a per capita basis. Sure, some of that comes from standard junk food but much of it comes from more "hidden" sources.
To significantly reduce your sugar intake, it's mandatory that you read labels and know where your sugar intake truly comes from. Here are some places where you may be ingesting loads of sugar without even realizing it.
Yogurt: Generally, this is a food that people consider "healthy". However, unless you choose the Plain flavor, you'll be getting a lot of sugar. Check the label and you'll find on average about 20 to 25 grams of sugar in a measly 6 ounces.
Salad Dressings: Salads have always been considered good dieting choices. But, not only can they be laden with fats, but even the healthiest, veggie-packed salads can pack a sugar punch from the dressings that accompany them.
Soft Drinks: Here's where a huge portion of consumer sugar intake is found. Studies show that soft drinks account for as much as 33% of all added sugars consumed. And if you think switching to sugar-free diet drinks is the answer, hold on. The risk of obesity appears to be higher among diet cola drinkers.
Cereal: Here's a food that someone can easily overeat. A serving is often only ¾ cup which means most people tend to have at least two servings at breakfast. Plus, cereal is often eaten as a snack as well, and a few handfuls can quickly add up. Many cereals that tout themselves as being healthy have more sugar in them then a candy bar.
Protein Bars: These small little morsels disguise themselves as being packed with protein and all natural ingredients. However, the huge sugar content diminishes their nutritional value. In some cases, you might actually be better off grabbing a chocolate candy bar.
Low Fat and Fat Free Foods: When fat is eliminated from a food often the flavorful taste disappears too. To prevent a low fat food from being too bland, manufacturers regularly add extra sugar to ensure a good taste. So while the fat grams may be low, there are plenty of calories because of the extra sugar.
Why do you need to watch your sugar intake? Most experts agree that sugar in its pure form is not inherently "bad" for you. The problem with sugar is that it packs a lot of calories per serving. Plus, since foods with sugar in them taste good to most people then we eat larger portions of those foods. Therefore, we consume more calories when we eat high sugar foods.
In 2003, the World Health Organization released guidelines indicating sugar should account for only about 10% of our daily calories, which is roughly only eight teaspoons. Most labels refer to sugar in grams -- eight teaspoons is about 37 grams. What does that mean to you? Well, one six ounce yogurt and one cup of many brands of cereal will quickly put you over that recommended limit.
As with most diet recommendations, the key is to keep your consumption in check. Do this by reading labels. If sugar is the first ingredient listed on a food, you probably should consider putting it back on the shelf. And remember that there are many different terms used for sugar. It also is referred to as high fructose corn syrup, glucose, sucrose and other names. Pay extra attention to the foods mentioned in the hidden sugars list above. And, if eating high sugar foods, limit your portion.
About the author: Lynn Bode is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs. She founded Workouts For You, which provides affordable online exercise programs that are custom designed for each individual. Visit: http://www.workoutsforyou.com for tips, sample workouts and more. Fitness professionals, learn how to support your clients online, visit: http://www.trainerforce.com
