Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Eat This And Live

I just finished reading a new book that I got at the Christian Book Store. The title is Eat This And Live by Don Colbert, M.D. I'm making a list in my sidebar this year of books as I read them and will try to give you a brief overview of the ones that aren't pure trash. That means you might get a book review once or twice this year. :)







It Was Scary! I eat all the wrong things. You eat all the wrong things. I thought I was doing so good when I switched to 1% milk, low-fat yogurt, canola oil, Splenda, etc. This book tells you the good, the bad, the ugly about all of that and more. He recommends everything organic which is certainly what we'd all like to do but how in the world do you afford it? There are just the two of us eating in this house most of the time but even so we live on social security and teacher retirement and that just goes so far. He does list some alternatives, thank goodness, but not nearly enough!




I'm not a big meat eater but my husband is. I've always known that Jerry eats too much meat, but even I do (according to Colbert) and that's saying something! I loved the fact that the author explained Biblically his reasons for making some of his recommendations and I gained a better understanding of what God told us to do, beginning with just eating growing things like plants, and then later (after Noah) with God's directions that it was ok to eat some meat. And in the New Testament Paul talks a lot about meat eating, even pork.

The day after Christmas I started on a healthier way of eating...according to me. I cut my chai tea in half (woe is me!), started adding fresh fruit much more often (Dr. Colbert recommends washing it with water with a few drops of bleach in it!), cutting out most sweets, etc. And I have to say I've already lost 4 pounds so it's helping. This book reminded me of the importance of eating nuts, blueberries, extra virgin olive oil....things I already know but don't think about very often. Of course, there's much more than this that makes sense in the book but these are some of the highlights. The price for the book was $15.99 at my store (I had a coupon though which lowered the price) but I found it for less than $11 on Amazon if you're interested.

Has it changed my way of thinking? Yes. Here are some things I plan to do:
1. Drink more water. And more water.
2. Investigate a water purifier and rarely, if ever, drink out of plastic bottles.
3. Wash fruit much more thoroughly. Try to find an economic fruit cleaner (the stuff I saw in the grocery was expensive I thought).
4. Buy double fiber bread. Check out local bakeries for Ezekial Bread.
5. Make my own salad dressing.
6. Read labels much more aggressively, looking for ingredients and not just fat & sugar content.
7. Eat more nuts and vegetables.
8. Make a list of "do buy" and "don't buy" products to keep in my purse so that I won't get confused in the grocery store.

I'm glad I bought this book. I'll keep it and use it as a reference book.

(He recommends Stevia instead of sugar. Anyone use this? Got any tips?)

27 comments:

Unknown said...

I luckily live in an area where alternative health and healthful groceries are more common than not, but this is a topic that I want to investigate further.

From an environmental perspective, drnking water out of plastic bottles is really bad for you.

I haven't tried Stevia, but it is worth research.

Flax seed bread is a good choice as well and is really yummy.

Unknown said...

I have Don Colvert's book, "What You Don't Know May Be Killing You!"
I would also recommend his books.

FYI, at a new years party we played a game of passing the orange. We held the orange under our chins and passed it to our partner. Well....within minutes my neck broke out in a hive where the orange touched my skin. I'm not allergic to oranges but apparently my skin is allergic to the chemicals on the orange. What I'm wondering is what happens to the kid who peels his orange and does not wash his hands before eating it.......??? I took a picture of my neck on my cell phone, it looked really bad.

Karen said...

Ezekiel bread can be bought at a health food store. I've bought Stevia at our local grocery store (tops). More of the grocery stores are carrying some organic food, in my area that's P&C, Tops, Price Chopper and Wegmans. I'm sure that now you're more aware that you'll be surprised by what you find. Also you'll find as you eat healthier the other stuff doesn't taste as good to you. Happy Eating!

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

Hi Marlene, I've joined a couple of the blogs just to give me a boost to lose more weight. I've put on all that I had lost and more. I'm just ready to get some entergy back and I know it makes me feel better. Keep up the good work and I'm going tomorrow for more fruit and veggies...
Healthy eating,
Bonnie

Marie Rayner said...

My friend Jackie has always said we should be eating more like Adam and Eve ate in the garden of Eden. Whole grains, vegetables, fruits and un-contaminated by pesticides etc. It's a shame organic food is so expensive, but it is better for you I know.

diamondstatecurlygurl said...

Stevia grows like crazy in our area in either the ground or containers... so I put fresh (and dried) whole stevia leaves - in the filter when I brew coffee (or tea) and I love the flavor! I've seen a new "name brand" adverstised recently called "Truvia"... haven't checked the label on it though.

Angie said...

Hi Marlene - HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and all yours. I haven't heard of any of the specific items you mentioned. Probably under a different name here in England. I would love to eat organic but just cannot afford it. What is stevia, by the way? A herb, a veg.?

love, Angie, xx

Joyful said...

Don Colbert and his wife often appear on a Christian TV program here in Canada. I always benefit from what he has to share. I have a "Biblezine" that came out through this television network and it's the New Testament in magazine form, with additional insight on diet, weight etc...by the Colberts.

Thanks for reminding me to live and 'eat' in such a way to be pleasing to the Lord.
Happy New Year,
Joy

BarbCarol said...

"If you think organic food is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?" JOEL SALATIN

I have transportation issues, but when I can get to Tulsa or Oklahoma City, I buy organic AND buy stevia. I raise my own range chickens, eggs and beef. Because I have Lupus, my fruit and vegetable gardening has diminished, but I think I've found an alternative way to garden.

My best advise is to find an organic farmer and buy directly from her. If you are cooking from scratch, organic is not expensive.

Love Bears All Things said...

This was a great post. I went over to Amazon and added both his books to my cart. I'm always interested in eating healthier and cheaper. I am planning to add more dried beans to our diet in the future. I used to cook them all the time but have gotten away from it.
I already knew about the bottled water, the thing is so much of it is just bottled city water, nothing special. Purified and distilled would be best but why not bottle your own water. I do that. It just means washing your bottle but that's good for the environment.
Thanks for this review,
Mama Bear

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

I just started using Stevia and so far so good. I get it at Trader Joe's. I have eaten most of the foods on his lists for years, but they still have calories! (DARN!) Olive oil has as many as butter for instance. I also still have Chai tea I just use an all natural bag and use my own sweetner (stevia). I can attest to the fact that eating that way is good for cholesterol and your BP because I have no problems with them despite being plus size. Now to conquer portion control! LOL

I can't wait to see how you feel after eating this way for awhile! Best of luck - it's a great way to live!!

Cyndy said...

Oh my, when I read that you cut your chai tea in half, I knew you were serious! You couldn't have picked a better time to mention this book, my new year's resolution is to eat healthier (again). I can find Ezekiel bread at my local grocer's in the freezer section. It's really pretty good (I'm a big bread eater, which is bad). After reading so much bad stuff that's in milk, I've bought only organic milk for about a year now. It's expensive, but it's only for me and my husband, and we don't eat out much, so I splurge on the milk. Thanks for the post, I think I may have to buy this book.

Hugs,
Cyndy

Jacquie said...

Very interesting information. I've always believed that eating food as close to its natural state is healthiest... but our culture has sure been taken by the fast food industry.

Little Debbie's cost a lot less money than healthier food items. We need to fix that!

I liked the comment above about the expense of cancer. Haven't thought of it that way.

Thanks for the review.

Aunt Julie said...

This is all good advice. I've read other books similar to this, but w/o the Christian theme, like Fast Food Nation. We all eat too much meat, that's for sure!

BTW, I've got a Giveaway goin' on at my place. Just the thing to put the Pop! in your New Year!

Salem Stitcher said...

Stevia was recommended to me by the hospital nutritionist to replace sugar and other sweeteners like Splenda. I just haven't found it yet.

Organic does taste better, especially fresh fruits and veggies but expensive...woooh!

It's tough being good!

Linda said...

You can find a number of places online where there is a recipe for Ezekial Bread although I personally would go with one that has a high rating from online users that have actually tried the recipes! lol
It is amazing what changing our eating habits can do for us! Good luck on your journey!!
Linda

Tipper said...

Marlene-my husband has been doing some of the things you mentioned for over a year now-he says he feels 20 years younger! Me-habits are hard to break.

Valerie the Pumpkin Patch Quilter said...

I would love to eat all organic but we are a family of four living on one income - so I can totally relate! We have made a really bad habit of eating quick, easy processed foods though, and I'm really working to get away from that. *fingers crossed* I'm so impressed that you've already lost some weight! Good job! :)

Janet, said...

I've never heard of Ezekiel bread, we buy the Natures Own double fiber bread, I like it. It's hard for me to cut out the sugar, that's my weakness. We buy the big bags of almonds, they are supposed to be good for you.

www.welovequilting.com said...

you can buy stevia online through Swanson's vitamins. We have been buying it for years.
You know we all would be better off if we ate more naturally instead of processed. Read all the chemicals in the cans. I wonder if that is why cancer is at an all time high?
I am trying my best to be better. Starts with one thing at a time.

www.welovequilting.com said...

I forgot to give you the address
swansonsvitamins.com

For tea I use the stevia in a jar. One tablespoon Stevia for gallon of tea.

If I make unsweetened tea I pour up a glass and use one to two packets of Stevia. Just depending on each taste.

Mary L. Briggs said...

Well Marlene, you've got me thinking~as usual! I really need to eat healthier, too. Buying all organic is impossible for us, but I hope to grow all organic in my garden next year.

As for stevia, I have used it in tea, coffee, etc. and liked the way it tastes much better than those 'fake' sugars.

Vicky said...

All things sold as organic, aren't! The best way to be organic is to start at home by growing your own fruits, veggies and spices. Easier said than done, but you don't have to be like my dad and plant huge garden. Pots on the patio will grow veggies just as easily. I can honestly say that my herb garden has made our food tastier and ultimately healtier since we've cut out alot of the processing chemicals.

Grammy Staffy said...

Hello my friend,
I am back and excited to catch up on your blog posts. You always encourage me. I know that I should eat better...and shed some pounds. I am not sure that I am ready to go organic because like you we are living on teacher retirement...but I do try to eat lots of veggies and not much meat. I plant all I can manage in my summer garden.

I enjoyed reading your top ten and meeting grandson # 4. Congrats on your darling new Andrew. He is darling and so are his two sisters. What sweet pictures you posted.

We have some top ten in common. I quit having acrylic nails too after 20 years. Mine are short now and break often but like you I am glad to be free from having to visit the nail place and spend the money.

I wish you a Happy New Year with health and happiness.
((HUGS4U)) Lura

Anonymous said...

I've seen him on TV programs a few times so I'm familiar with him. I wish that healthy eating just happened to be all about the foods that I LIKE instead of vice versa...ever wonder why that is?

Ginger Patches said...

Sounds like an interesting book. I've read a few over the years...I think the last one was What the Bible Says About....something to do with food...I can't remember now lol! Then there was the one that said to eat everything RAW...um no thanks :) This one sounds balanced thanks for the review :)

Myra said...

You just confirmed my last few days of thoughts of living a better life... Mentally, Physically, and Spiritually... It all starts with what we put into our bodies and minds, doesn't it!!! 8-)
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Happy stitchings!