

Analyzing Your Soil

Preparing for a Plentiful Harvest

A Biblical Perspective on Health

Minister Lolita A. McClain, B.S. R.T(T), C.H.M
Analyzing Your Soil Preparing for a Plentiful Harvest

Copyright © 2005 by Lolita McClain

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society. (All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission.)

Other translations used by permission:

The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses marked (MSG) are taken from THE MESSAGE by Eugene H. Peterson © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 & 2000. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked (TNIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, TODAY'S INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 2002 & 2004 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Cover art by David Kamau McClain.

Editing and Cover layout by ChristianEditingServices.com.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any informational storage and retrieval system, without written permission.

To order your self-help kits:

<http://www.healingmybody.net/>

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Health Minister Lolita McClain

ays.info@yahoo.com

Disclaimer

This book is designed to provide educational information regarding the subject matter covered. Everything in this book is based on my own experience, my own opinion and my own data. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and the author are not engaged in rendering medical services or professional medical advice. If medical or other expert assistance is required, the services of a practicing licensed medical doctor are advised and should be sought. Please consult your physician before beginning any new diet, supplement regimen or exercise program. If you choose to do anything in this book, without first consulting a practicing licensed medical doctor, you do so at your own risk.

This book is for educational purposes only. The author and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any medical loss and/or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book.

# Table of Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Chapter 2: A Living Sacrifice

Chapter 3: Perfect Harmony

Chapter 4: Detoxifying the Body for Balance

Chapter 5: The Effects of Toxic Metals

Chapter 6: Full Bloom

Chapter 7: Fruits of the Harvest

Chapter 8: Resource Link Guide

Sources

Endnotes

Dedication

First, I would like to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for my sins. Through my acceptance and confession of Him as my Savior, He has allowed the Holy Spirit to dwell within my heart and pour out these words of wisdom to all of you.

Secondly, I would like to dedicate this book to my precious daughter, Lalonda, who has had her own health challenges. Lalonda, no matter what you go through in life, remember nothing is too big for God. I love you with all my heart. Your beautiful presence in my life has helped shape me into the woman I am today. There is one thing I am going to keep instilling in your mind and that you need to you remember, God LOVES a cheerful giver. There is only ONE thing we can take to heaven from this earthly home and that is INTEGRITY! Material things will pass away but what and how we treat other, and what we do for God is the only thing that will last forever.

To Mom, Dad and my sweet baby brother, God saw fit to take all of you home with Him within a three year period. There is not a day that goes by that you guys are not thought of and truly missed. For two years now, I have sat paralyzed trying to figure out where to start ever since the three of you passed away back to back from your toxic exposure to asbestos; and now because of your departure, I have come to the realization that the WORD IN THIS BOOK is needed more than ever. As a matter of fact, I know in my heart that it is only because I have more work to do here on earth coupled with my constant supplementation regimen and detoxing which is the TRUE reason God saw fit to spare my own life from the same toxic exposure. I know you're watching down from heaven and cheering me on. I want to thank the three of you for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. You all will always have a VERY BIG place in my heart.

To Shelly, and my three smart, talented and funny nephews, I love you all dearly. Please remember to put and keep God first in everything, and He will direct your paths.

To my spiritual partner, Aunt Anne, who has sat up with me into the wee hours of the morning sharing with me about the goodness of God and His faithfulness. I love you for all your divine wisdom and, most of all, for being a true friend. Thanks for inspiring me to write my first book.

To my dear friends and family, who have gone home to be with the Lord, James E. Newell, Mrs. Dorothy McDowell, Dr. Phenius V. Buyck, my Grandmother Nellie, who also had cancer and my Grandmother Ruth, who passed away with a massive heart attack. I love you all dearly. I will see you again one day soon. You all have given me so much wisdom and insight into this unseen world of health. I thank you for allowing God to use you in the way that He did. You have left me a legacy of love.

To my pastor, William P. Cabell, and First Lady Dena, thank you for praying for me. I can never thank you enough for how you have taught me and mentored me, even when it was hard for me to listen to the truth (smile). I will always love you and your family.

To my entire M.W.C. family, my brothers and sisters in the ministry and the Sanctuary Family, I have much love for each one of you.

To my senior pastor, Anthony G. Maclin, thanks for praying for me and teaching me. I want you to know, no matter where I am, I will always love you for nurturing me with the Word of God and helping me to become a very strong woman of faith.

To my friend and sister-in-Christ, Dixie Phillips, thank you for allowing God to use you in such a magnificent way by helping me put this book together. Your wisdom, knowledge and professionalism will always be appreciated. I pray that the Lord increases you and your husband's ministry and territory by one-hundredfold for all the time and effort you have unselfishly given to me.

Last, but not least, to the rest of my family and friends, who are not mentioned by name, but you know who you are, thank you for laughing with me, crying with me, praying with me and just loving life with me. May God continue to bless each and every one of you and your families. I love you.

Love Always,

Lita
Introduction

# My Story

As a Radiation Therapist for eighteen years, I have seen firsthand the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. I have witnessed a multitude of disorders from Auto Immune Disease Syndrome (AIDS) and other conditions that go along with a compromised immune system to the simplest of ailments, the common cold.

After years of working in the healthcare industry, the Lord allowed me to see healthcare from the other end of the spectrum. About ten years ago, I had to deal personally with some health issues myself. For nearly three years, I experienced a multitude of ailments, problems and symptoms in my body. Each problem required a different specialist. There was a gynecologist, an urologist, a dermatologist, an allergist, an internist, an ophthalmologist, and, oh, let's not forget the late night trips to the emergency room and the emergency room doctors.

While pondering my condition, I often wondered why my system was failing me at such a young age. I was only thirty-two years old. I had placed all my trust in the doctors to help me. I was desperate. I wanted them to fix, what seemed to me, a lemon for a body. Each doctor tried his or her best to treat the symptoms. Many on the medical team were determined that it was all in my head because they could not see any evidence of the symptoms of which I complained. One doctor, in so many words, told me that I was crazy and needed to find a good doctor and then put all my trust and faith in that individual. Well, at that point, I thought to myself, " _What do you think I have been doing all this time? I've been going from doctor to doctor and trusting them with my health."_ That day, doubt and depression set in. I began to doubt my own feelings and symptoms. I began to wonder if it was possible that I was imagining my condition.

As is my usual practice when I am hurting, I went to my heavenly Father in prayer. I told the Lord that if it was my time to go home to be with Him, I was ready. I sensed that God did not want me to even pray that way. It was as if the Lord was telling me that He had great things in store for me. He assured me that He was going to make this trial a blessing. I reminded the Lord of the advice the doctor had shared with me about going out and finding a good physician and trusting in him. At that instant, the Holy Spirit pulled God's Word from my heart and reminded me that He was and is still the great "I AM."

I began to worship the Lord and told Him that He was the Greatest Physician. That day I promised the Lord that I was through putting my trust in man, and I was totally trusting in Him for my health. I told Him if he wanted me to go to another doctor, He had to lead me. After praying that prayer, a peace came over me that I cannot humanly explain. Within one week, I received an article addressed to me that mentioned every symptom I had ever experienced, the name of the condition and the medicine I needed to take to clear up my problem.

I took the article to my primary care doctor, who is a very spiritual man, and I explained everything that I had been through. He looked at me, as tears streamed down my face, and said, "Lolita, I am going to be honest with you. In over twenty years of practice, I have never heard of this condition."

I was so thankful that he was honest with me, but spiritual enough to respect my position. He looked through the history of my complaints, compared my symptoms and decided to look the medicine up in the _Physician's Desk Reference._ He gave me a prescription for half of the recommended dosage, just to see if it was going to help me. Two days later I felt like a new woman!

At that time I had been feeling awful. I was suffering from an internal fungal infection, otherwise known as a systematic yeast infection, a condition stemming from the overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which were prescribed for me because of the fluid on my lungs. The lung condition was the side effect of another prescription drug, which I was taking for a previous condition. The internal fungal infection caused a domino effect in my body, causing an array of health issues. I suffered from body aches, pain in my abdominal cavity, severe headaches, a significant amount of hair loss and a host of other complaints. Last, but not least, I suffered from a severe hormonal imbalance, so much so that my menstrual cycle had completely stopped for about three months. My blood was so thick that the doctors could not draw a full tube of blood.

Because my condition was not in the norm of what the doctors were used to seeing, they claimed that it did not and could not exist. They could not explain my mysterious symptoms, so they claimed that it was just a figment of my imagination. Although I insisted, they never took one test, because they felt there was no need.

One night, after taking myself to the emergency room with chest pains and shortness of breath, a doctor once again told me there was nothing wrong with me. What the doctor didn't know was that I was a medical professional, too, and I knew what a normal x-ray and an abnormal x-ray looked like. My lungs on the x-ray were almost completely white, which is a definite sign that something is wrong. The diagnosis is usually some type of infectious condition, but the doctor did not attribute it to anything, not even pneumonia. He couldn't believe it could possibly be pneumonia because they had already treated me with the strongest antibiotics available for three months earlier that same year, but the x-rays showed that my lungs were not clearing up. My symptoms proved to me that I was actually getting worse.

Once I felt better, I went back to the hospital to get a copy of my file and x-rays. The doctor had put in his report that I had fluid on both lungs and an enlarged heart. He never informed me of this. He gave me a diagnosis of anxiety and even had the audacity to tell me that there was nothing else wrong with me.

I believe he did this not because he had something in his heart against me personally, but because nothing fit into his norm of practice or medical teachings. Many times physicians only believe what they have been taught in medical school. So, if a patient comes to them with a more difficult health challenge, they may believe the patient's condition is "all in their head" or, based on their limited knowledge and experience, that the illness doesn't exist.

Through this severe trial, God showed me that there is a whole world that exists beyond the norm of man's "superior" knowledge. Man is busy trying to discover a cure for many of the diseases and ailments in our world today. The pharmaceutical companies are making billions of dollars each year. Meanwhile, God has designed our intricate body to heal itself, if we maintain a harmonious balance within it.

We, as a human society, place too much responsibility on man's knowledge. Fortunately, God has given us the Holy Spirit, and He is our Master Teacher. He desires to teach us how to properly take care of our bodies so that we can experience excellent health in this life. We should not always look to the government or the educated medical field with our health questions. We need to look to our Creator. He will not fail us. He knows exactly what's wrong with us and what we need to bring balance back to an unbalanced body. We just have to do our part through prayer and research.

In this new day, a new time with the end closely upon us, we need to be thinking of our Lord and Savior's imminent return, which the Bible promises will be like a thief in the night, bringing His children home to Himself. No one knows the day or the hour of His return, but until He does return, God is calling all of His children to walk in faith and in His wisdom with regard to our health.

I don't want to be misunderstood. I am not saying that all doctors are bad. God works through doctors, too. I am just saying, "Know your body. If you don't have peace about the diagnosis you have been given, go and pray about it. Then, get a second opinion from a doctor you can trust." God will direct your path. It's promised in His Word.

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5 NLT

I'm living proof of what God can do. My prayer is that my book will inspire you to experience the health God has intended for each of His children.

Dear friend, I am praying that all is well with you and that your body is as healthy as I know your soul is. 3 John 1:2 NLT
Chapter 1

# In the Beginning

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens—and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground- the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:4-9

We are all familiar with the beautiful account of Creation, but I wonder if we've ever really thought about what two components God used to create man? The Bible is the greatest textbook of all time. It tells us in the preceding verses that man was formed from the dust of the ground and then God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. This biblical account of the creation of man, coupled with a scientific study, can give us some insight into the secret of walking in divine health.

Now, let's take a closer look at God's highest creation, man, and determine what we can do to help keep ourselves from falling into bondage with our own personal health issues.

In this scripture, we see that God used two components to make man. The dust from the ground is equivalent to top grade soil and the breath of life is equivalent to the very oxygen that humans need in order to live.

\- Dust from the ground ~ (soil)

\- Breath of life ~ (oxygen)

Now let's do a little scientific research to determine what exactly soil is and its consistency. The weathering of rocks on the earth's surface produces soil. Ideally, soil has four components, and an ideal percentage for a "good" agricultural soil would be:

\- Mineral (45%)

\- Organic matter (5%)

\- Water (25%)

\- Air (25% void space)

Just as soil has certain components, so it is with the human body. These components should be at certain levels for us to experience optimal health. In Table 1 you will see a comparison of essential nutrients in both top grade soil and the human body. After you compare the components of the soil and the human body, take time to meditate and reflect on the divine words of the psalmist.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

From this table we see high grade topsoil has a supply of seventeen essential nutrients. These nutrients are needed to yield top quality crops. In addition to providing a place for crops to grow, soil is the source of most of the essential nutrients required by those crops. The soil's resources can be compared to those of a bank where withdrawals without repayment cannot continue indefinitely. As nutrients are removed by one crop and not replaced for subsequent crop production, yields will decrease accordingly. Accurate accounting of nutrient removal and replacement, crop production statistics and soil analysis results will help the producer manage fertilizer applications.

As it is with top grade soil for the farmer, it is with our bodies. God marvelously created the human body so 96.2 percent of its weight comes from organic elements or matter present in many different forms. DNA, RNA proteins, lipids and sugars are all composed of primarily O, C, H and N. Water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and other small molecules involve these elements:

\- Oxygen

\- Carbon

\- Hydrogen

\- Nitrogen

## Oxygen (O)

As children we learned that people need to breathe oxygen in order to live. In school we discovered that even plants need this element. Many people comprehend that plants breathe carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, but the fact is that plants also breathe oxygen at certain times. Plants cannot survive without oxygen. Human beings can't survive without plants as food to eat.

Life-giving water, H20, is also a compound of hydrogen and oxygen. We all know that water is vital for all life. More than 50 percent of our body is made up of water. There is no doubt in my mind that water is the "blood of life," and oxygen is the single most important substance of life. A body low in oxygen is the perfect environment for rheumatoid arthritis, herpes II, HIV, chronic fatigue syndrome, the ebola virus, staphylococcus bacteria, candida albicans (yeast infections) and all types of cancer.

## Carbon (C)

Carbon is another very important element to life. Our bodies are made with large doses of this element. The carbon atom is like a building block. As these building blocks attach themselves to one another, they form a long chain. They can even be attached to other important elements such as oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen. Every part of the human body is made up of these molecules. The foundation is the chain of carbon atoms. Without carbon, our bodies would be a bunch of loose atoms with no way to form a person.

## Hydrogen (H)

Hydrogen is a macronutrient, which simply means a nutritional element required by an organism in relatively large quantities. This is another vital element needed to sustain human life. Remember that water, H20, is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen. It is possible for us to survive for years, or at least months, without having most of the other elements, but we would die after only a few days without water. Water is vitally important to our bodies. We've already discussed that more than 50 percent of the human body is made up of water, but water also dissolves other life supporting substances and transports them to fluids in and around our cells. Hydrogen is an acute component of water.

Its "hydrogen bonds" give water its unequalled characteristics.

Stomach acid is a compound of hydrogen and chlorine, HC1, aiding in proper food digestion and allowing the body to absorb the many vital elements that we need to live.

## Nitrogen (N)

Nitrogen plays an important role in helping the body digest food. It also assists in growth. Eighty percent of the air we breathe is made up of nitrogen. Human beings have to get nitrogen from the food we eat because we cannot use the nitrogen we breathe. There is plenty of nitrogen in the foods we eat to sustain our bodies.

Some of the foods we find nitrogen in are salads, ground beef and some pasta. As our body digests these foods, it turns them into energy, causing the nitrogen atoms to create growth. There are certain times nitrogen is especially important, such as during pregnancy. Nitrogen aids in the development of the fetus.

This critical element is vital to experiencing optimal health. A deficiency may result in infertility, poor growth, lowered immune status and edema.

## Sulfur (S)

Sulfur is also an important element that is used in smaller amounts to help construct all parts of the human body. Sulfur nourishes and guards the cells from substances foreign to the body, such as air pollution and radiation. Sulfur is noted as being a nurturing element. It performs so many wonderful functions. Sulfur slows down the aging process by making our skin supple and elastic, extends our life span, aids in liver function, helps digest the food we eat, turns food into energy and assists our blood in clotting when we cut or bruise ourselves.

We don't have to worry about getting too much sulfur in our diets because our bodies excrete excess through our urine. A deficiency of sulfur may result in degenerative types of arthritis involving the degeneration of cartilage, osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, weakened ligaments, weakened tendons, systemic lupus erythematosis, sickle cell anemia and various collagen diseases. Collagen disease is thought to be associated with defects in collagen and is a disease of the connective tissue.

The importance of these integral elements cannot be stressed enough. I hope by putting this information into "layman's terms," I've helped you begin to grasp how vital these elements are to your health.

A lack of nutritional sulfur in the diet can result in low insulin production, which has a profound effect on your blood sugar levels. Because sulfur helps promote skin, hair and nail health, it has gained the reputation of being "nature's beauty mineral." Proper sulfuric balance can make one look and feel years younger.

## Calcium (Ca)

Calcium is the most plentiful mineral found in the human body, accounting for 1.5 to 2 percent of an adult's total body weight. The teeth and bones contain about 99 percent of the body's calcium. Calcium in these tissues is concentrated in the form of calcium phosphate. Calcium is also present in nerve cells, body tissues, blood and other body fluids.

One of the most important minerals for the growth, maintenance and reproduction of the human body is calcium. This key mineral is essential for the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. Our bones incorporate calcium into their structure. Like other tissues in the body, bones are continuously being reabsorbed and reformed. Teeth incorporate calcium in their structure in a manner similar to bones.

The other important functions that calcium provides are blood coagulation, transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contraction and relaxation, normal heart rate, stimulation of hormone secretion and activation of enzyme reaction. Only small amounts of calcium are needed to keep the body functioning properly.

A person suffering from calcium deficiency may have very few symptoms. One of the major symptoms of a deficiency of this important mineral may cause skeletal abnormalities such as osteoporosis, lordosis, compression fractures, spontaneous fractures or other conditions such as receding gums, insomnia, hypertension, kidney stones, bone spurs, PMS, low back pain, Bell's Palsy, panic attacks and prolonged clotting time.

## Phosphorus (P)

Second only to calcium, phosphorus is one of the most abundant minerals in the human body. It is required for the healthy formation of bones and teeth and is necessary for our bodies to digest many of the foods we eat. Phosphorus also aids in maintaining a proper blood sugar level and is a huge part of the body's energy storage system. There are substantial amounts of phosphorus in the nervous system. The regular contractions of the heart and normal cell growth and repair are dependant upon phosphorus.

People who have an antacid addiction can experience a phosphorus deficiency. Many antacids, which are widely used in our country, contain magnesium and aluminum, both of which bind to phosphorus, preventing its absorption into the body. Symptoms of this would be fatigue, weakness and poor concentration.

On the other end of the spectrum are those who have, over the years, had an excessive dietary intake of processed foods, soft drinks and meats, which can lead to osteoporosis.

## Potassium (K)

Potassium is also an essential mineral. This magnificent mineral helps regulate water balance, levels of acidity and blood pressure. It's involved in both electrical and cellular function. It is classified as an electrolyte. (These are substances that are used by cells in the body to regulate electrical charge and flow of water molecules across a cell membrane.) Potassium is one of the important substances that assist the body in maintaining an internal balance of fluids and chemicals.

Low and high levels of potassium in the blood are of critical significance. Proper levels keep the heart beating normally and smoothly. A diet high in potassium from fruits, vegetables and legumes is recommended for optimal heart health. A potassium deficiency may show up in muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, moodiness, severe nausea or vomiting.

## Sodium (Na)

Another vital mineral the human body needs to experience optimal health is sodium. Sodium helps regulate the amount of fluid inside and surrounding the cells. The body needs sodium for water and electrolyte balance. Sodium also aids in nerve and muscle functions by carrying an electrical charge when it dissolves in the blood.

Approximately 85 percent of the sodium that is in the body can be found in the fluids that surround the body's cells. These levels are partially controlled by a hormone called aldosterone that is produced by the adrenal glands. Aldosterone helps the kidneys retain sodium that is normally lost through urination. Tiny amounts of sodium are also lost when we perspire.

Too much sodium is never good for the body. It may cause high blood pressure. If a person already had high blood pressure and consumed a diet high in sodium, it would increase the risk of heart disease, stroke or kidney failure.

Low blood sodium readings rarely occur. A person may experience a low test reading result because he or she is experiencing a side effect from medication. A diuretic causes increased urination, and a person using a diuretic could experience low blood sodium resulting in severe diarrhea, vomiting or heavy sweating.

Three point nine percent of body weight comes from elements present in the form of salts. Don't be fooled by their minute quantities. They are very important for the maintenance of homeostasis, which simply means a well balanced organism.

## Chlorine (Cl)

Chlorine is one of the most common elements in nature. It's even more plentiful than carbon. Chlorine is basic to life. The Earth's crust is made up of 0.045 percent chlorine compounds. The oceans are made up of 2.9 percent chlorine compounds. Chlorine compounds occur naturally in our blood, skin and teeth. They aid in digestion and enable white blood cells to fight off infections.

Chlorine, along with sodium and potassium, is in the "electrolyte family." The electrical charge that these elements carry allows nerve cells to work properly. This necessary macronutrient works with potassium and sodium to regulate the amount of fluids in the body, regulates acidity (pH) and helps muscles flex and relax normally.

Stomach acid is a compound of hydrogen and chlorine. Excessive vomiting can lead to a chlorine deficiency causing a dangerous pH imbalance in the body, which can cause muscle weakness, loss of appetite, dehydration and coma.

## Magnesium (Mg)

Magnesium is a macronutrient that our bodies need for the proper growth and formation of bones and muscles. This critical element prevents disorders of the heart and high blood pressure. Increasing your intake of magnesium can improve lung function. It also helps in brain function and prevents depression. Some people have benefited from taking extra magnesium to battle fatigue. There have been cases when magnesium was injected into patients' veins in emergency situations, such as during an acute heart attack or asthma attack, and it saved their lives. It relaxes the muscles along the airways to the lungs, which allows asthma sufferers to breathe easier.

## Iodine (I)

The human body only requires small amounts of iodine. You may remember iodine from your childhood, when your mother would put it on your skinned knee or small cuts to prevent them from getting infected. Many hikers and campers add iodine to river or lake water to make it safe to drink. The most important fact about iodine is that it keeps our thyroid gland healthy. It is a known fact that much of the iodine in our body is used by the thyroid gland and that almost every cell in the body needs iodine in order to operate efficiently. Iodine is needed by the cell for oxygen transfer. The thyroid uses iodine to create chemicals that affect our growth, physical development and how we burn energy.

Iodine deficiency is widespread in our country. This problem has been linked to fibrocystic breast, cystic ovaries and even breast cancer in more than one study. If our diets are iodine deficient we can expect to experience weight gain and a loss of energy. The deficiency of this mineral may result in the development of goiters and thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism and/or hyperthyroidism.

Sea salt contains iodine and a variety of minerals rather than the isolated highly processed iodine additive in table salt. Asparagus, garlic, lima beans, soybeans, sesame seeds all contain natural iodine along with the nutrients needed for good absorption.

Iodine is a trace mineral produced by the body that is essential for normal growth and development. Iodine constitutes about 0.00004 percent of the total human body weight. Approximately 60 percent of the total body pool of iodine is stored in the thyroid gland. The remainder is found in the blood, breasts, ovaries and muscles. Adequate levels of iodine in the body are necessary to keep the thyroid healthy and for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate the metabolic energy of the body and set the basal metabolic rate.

## Iodine Deficiency Symptoms

\- hypothyroidism

\- lethargy

\- weight gain

\- goiter

\- stillbirths

## Iron (Fe)

Iron is a mineral that is of the utmost importance to excellent health. There are several key functions that iron provides in the human body. Iron is best known for its role in transporting oxygen to the tissues. Nearly three-quarters of the iron in our bodies occurs within a compound called hemoglobin–the pigment inside red blood cells that binds with oxygen and carries it to all the other cells in the body. Hemoglobin also removes carbon dioxide from blood to be exhaled, and iron-containing enzymes take part in various oxidation reactions and electron-transport mechanisms. Iron may also contribute to psychomotor and mental processes. An iron deficiency can leave one feeling weak, extremely fatigued, dizzy, short of breath and prone to fainting.

\- Calcium (1.5%)

\- Phosphorus (l.0%)

\- Potassium (0.4%)

\- Sulfur (0.3%)

\- Sodium (0.2%)

\- Chlorine (0.2%)

\- Magnesium (0.1%)

\- Iodine (0.1%)

\- Iron (0.1%)

The trace elements compose less than 0.5 percent of the total body, but they are essential for homeostasis. Some of these elements are cofactors of critical enzymes in the body. Without these, the enzymes cannot work at all, although even minute concentrations of them can make the enzyme work very well.

\- Chromium (trace)

\- Cobalt (trace)

\- Copper (trace)

\- Fluorine (trace)

\- Manganese (trace)

\- Molybdenum (trace)

\- Selenium (trace)

\- Tin (trace)

\- Vanadium (trace)

\- Zinc (trace)

## Chromium (Cr)

When most people think of chromium, they remember their first shiny bicycle. The majority of people don't consider that their bodies actually require chromium in their diet. It is essential to good health. Chromium's ability to stabilize blood sugar levels makes it of great significance. It helps the human body absorb energy from the food we consume and gives us stamina throughout the day. We require sufficient quantities of chromium to live. This vital element can help increase muscle mass, while reducing fat mass in our bodies. It assists the heart muscle cells absorb the energy they need to work efficiently.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get the proper amounts of chromium in our diets. Those who exercise frequently need even more of this vital element. Health experts estimate that 90 percent of Americans do not get enough chromium from their diet. When a diet is deficient in chromium, a person may feel very fatigued and experience very low energy levels.

Foods that are high in chromium include whole grain cereal and breads, brown rice, cheese and lean meats. Chromium may be taken in multiple vitamins and supplements, but scientists have discovered that the body absorbs chromium much better from food.

## Cobalt (Co)

Cobalt is another essential trace element needed for good health. Vitamin B12 could not exist without cobalt. The human body uses this vitamin for the normal formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 helps Vitamin C perform its functions and is necessary for proper digestion of the food we eat. It has been noted that B12 contributes to the formation of the protective sheath that insulates nerve cells.

A deficiency of B12 can cause red blood cells to form improperly. This hinders them from carrying enough oxygen from the lungs to the various parts of the body, causing an anemic condition. Symptoms of anemia include loss of energy, loss of appetite and moodiness. B12 deficiency can also cause nerve cells to form incorrectly, resulting in irreversible nerve damage.

Many B complex vitamins cannot be stored in the body, but B12 can. Because of this, it is very easy to get enough of this important vitamin in your diet. B12 is found in red meat, fish, eggs, cheese and milk.

## Copper (Cu)

Copper is another very important element for good health. It is critically important for several bodily functions. Copper is a major component of the oxygen-carrying part of the blood cells. Copper also helps protect our cells from being damaged by certain chemicals in our bodies. Combined with vitamin C, copper keeps blood vessels and skin elastic and flexible. It also aids in the formation of chemicals that keep us awake and alert. Copper regulates our blood pressure, pulse and healing. Health professionals are researching other ways that copper can affect human health, from protecting against cancer and heart disease to boosting the immune system.

A copper deficiency in the human body will manifest through anemia, arthritis and a host of other medical conditions.

Copper can be found in dried beans, almonds, broccoli, garlic, peas, whole wheat products and seafood. Unfortunately, many people do not get enough copper in their diets. Also, eating sugary foods and taking large doses of vitamin C for extended periods of time can keep the body from absorbing the copper in food. This can cause disease and even premature death.

## Fluorine (F)

Fluorine is an element that the body uses to strengthen bones and teeth. This element differs from the others we have mentioned because we get most of it from the water we drink and not the food we eat. Fluoride, a form of fluorine, is added to most brands of toothpaste because of its ability to fight cavities.

This valuable element helps strengthen bones. Fluoride is the most important trace element affecting bones and teeth. Calcium, coupled with fluoride, is what makes our bones strong. If a body doesn't receive enough fluoride, bones start to lose calcium and become weak and brittle.

## Molybdenum (Mo)

Molybdenum is necessary for optimal health. This trace element can be found in all tissues of the human body, but tends to be the most concentrated in the liver, kidneys, skin and bones. It is required for the proper function of several chemicals in the body. It is believed that molybdenum helps the body's cells grow. Small amounts of dietary molybdenum have been credited with promoting healthy teeth. Some scientific evidence even suggests that molybdenum helps reduce the risk of some types of asthma attacks. A deficiency of molybdenum in our diets can cause mouth and gum disorders and can contribute to the likelihood of getting cancer. A diet high in refined and processed foods can lead to a deficiency of molybdenum, resulting in anemia, loss of appetite and weight and stunted growth in animals. While these deficiencies have not been observed in humans, it is known that a molybdenum deficiency can lead to impotence in older males.

The best sources of this mineral are beans, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables and grains.

## Selenium (Se)

Despite selenium's reputation as a toxic heavy metal, this element is actually very important to good human health. Selenium is an important part of a molecule in the body that protects blood cells from certain damaging chemicals. Together with vitamin E, selenium helps our immune system produce important antibodies. Selenium helps keep the pancreas and heart functioning properly. This remarkable element is also needed to make our tissues elastic.

A deficiency of this vital trace element has been linked to the development of leukemia, arthritis and other diseases. Researchers have also found that the lower the concentration of selenium in the bloodstream, the higher the risk of developing many types of cancer. In fact, some researchers tout selenium as being a powerful cancerpreventing substance. High selenium intake has also been correlated with a dramatically lower incidence of heart disease.

The amount of selenium in food is dependent on the amount of the element in the environment where the food is grown. Fish, grains and Brazil nuts are considered to be good dietary sources of selenium. As with virtually all elements, it is easy to get enough selenium from a well balanced diet.

## Tin (Sn)

Tin may be an essential element for animals, but no specific role for tin in human health has been identified. Some scientists suspect that extremely small quantities of it are necessary for some species of animals, such as rats, to grow and develop correctly. Some nutritional supplement retailers suggest that a deficiency in tin can cause baldness in humans, but that has not been proven.

## Vanadium (V)

Vanadium has recently been declared by some scientists to be essential for good human health. It is believed that vanadium is involved in helping the body convert some foods into energy. It has also been suggested that diabetics may benefit from vanadium when trying to stabilize blood sugar levels. This element is also thought to help bones and teeth form properly.

There is not a great deal of scientific knowledge as to the exact importance of vanadium. Actually, no specific symptoms of vanadium deficiency have been identified in human beings. It is possible that not getting enough of this element may affect the body's ability to control blood sugar levels and may contribute to the development of diabetes or hypoglycemia. Some scientists suspect that a deficiency of this mineral may increase the chance of getting kidney and heart disease. Some research has also shown that vanadium may slow the growth of tumors and provide protection against the development of breast cancer. But more research is clearly needed to determine its exact role in human health.

As is the case with most, if not all, of the biologically important elements, it is easy to get enough of this element from a healthy, balanced diet. Good sources of vanadium include seafood, mushrooms, olives, whole grain breads, carrots and vegetable oils.

## Zinc (Zn)

Zinc has been recognized as an essential trace element for plants, animals and humans for more than seventy years. Though the average adult body only contains between two and three grams of zinc, this element has some very important functions. Zinc is involved in well over one hundred different reactions in the body. Some of these reactions help our bodies construct and maintain DNA, the molecule that controls how every single part of our bodies is made and works.

Zinc is also needed for the growth and repair of tissues throughout our bodies. This extremely important element is used to form connective tissue like ligaments and tendons. Teeth, bones, nails, skin and hair could not grow without zinc. Zinc is widely considered by doctors to be one of the most important elements to a healthy immune system. This unique element is essential for the creation, release and use of hormones in the body. It helps developing fetuses grow correctly and our brains to work correctly. Additionally, our senses of sight, taste and smell depend on this element.

Not getting enough zinc can have serious effects on our health. Some of the symptoms of zinc deficiency include hair loss, mental apathy and damage to reproductive organs. Decreased growth rate and impaired mental capacity are other symptoms. Additionally, you can lose most of your senses of taste and smell, develop mental disorders, and men can become impotent without enough zinc.

Many factors affect how well our bodies absorb the zinc in the food we eat, and at times it can be difficult to get enough zinc, even from a well balanced diet. Good sources of zinc include whole wheat bread, seafood and other meats.

I hope that by seeing a breakdown of each element, you are beginning to grasp the purpose and benefits of these vital components. This knowledge can and will change your life forever.
Chapter 2

# A Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

This familiar scripture takes us back to the worship rituals of God's people in the Old Testament. The Israelites had been instructed, through the Law of Moses, that each worshipper was to bring an animal sacrifice to the Temple. The priest was to slaughter the animal. Every Israelite knew what this act represented. They were making atonement for their sins. It also represented the destruction of man's animal nature and portrayed a form of submission and repentance to Jehovah.

After the animal was slaughtered, it was burned on the altar, reducing it to its elements, which ascended on high. By meditating on this process, a person was able to nullify his animal self, thus bringing him closer to God.

The Israelites could not just bring any animal for sacrificial offering; the animal had to meet certain criteria to be sacrificed. The animal must be free from any blemishes or disfigurements; this flawlessness represented purity and a spiritual cleanness.

It would be nice to be free from all sin, in perfect health and in perfect shape before we present ourselves as a living sacrifice to Jesus, but the truth of the matter is we will never be perfect until we get to Heaven. God knew that we would never be able to live up to the standards of a pure sacrifice and, because of this, He sacrificed His own pure Lamb, His only Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins. He was our

Ultimate Sacrifice. In God's Word, we see that because of God the Father's sacrificial offering, He has made a way for us to be conformed to the image of His Son.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29

As we grow in the Lord and become more like Jesus, we soon discover that there are times when our flesh continues to keep us in bondage with ailments and health conditions we believe we have no control over.

There is a little poem that says it best.

Two natures lie within my breast.

One is foul and one is blessed.

One I love and one I hate.

The one I feed will dominate.

To become all that Jesus wants you to be takes discipline. One of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. It's also true in the physical world. To be healthy requires a certain amount of discipline. You can't eat the standard American diet, which is laden with sugar and grease, and expect to experience optimal health. It just won't happen. What you put in today will affect your health tomorrow. Not being ruled by the carnal appetites takes a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. Our fleshly desires clamor loudly to have their own way. We must resist these temptations and be controlled by the Spirit of God.

## Reasons for Physical Conditions

There are various reasons for certain physical conditions. One of the reasons may be chastisement for a person's disobedience to God. We see an excellent example of this in God's Word concerning Pharaoh. He had been warned numerous times, and each time his heart was hardened, and God had to afflict him.

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on men and animals throughout the land." So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses tossed it into the air, and festering boils broke out on men and animals. The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses. Exodus 9:8-12

Another reason for a physical trial could be that God is testing us as He did Job in the Old Testament. God ordained that Job be tried to see what was in his heart.

Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. Job 1:8-12

Yet another reason for our physical maladies is that we may be born with a condition that has been passed down from generation to generation because of the sins of our forefathers. The biological mother or father may have had a known or unknown condition or ailment when the child was conceived.

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7

Lastly, some people have physical trials because of their own ignorance or neglect in maintaining a healthy body.

My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6

Whatever the reason for your condition, God has the solution and will give you guidance in how to deal with or overcome any situation in your life. God's Word can make us wiser if we will heed His warnings and take to heart what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach us. Our wise heavenly Father can and will lead us to the right people and in the right direction. We must first pray earnestly to the Father, keeping an open mind and believing in our hearts that God knows what we need when we need it and that He has more than one way of providing us with the things we need to achieve His desired results. Our Lord teaches us in His Word:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

The Lord wants each and every one of us to open our minds to the things that only He can show us through the Holy Spirit who lives inside every believer in Jesus Christ. Man does not and cannot know the thoughts of God. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can interpret God's thoughts.

God's desire is that His children experience perfect health, but because of man's limited interpretation of God's thoughts and the fact that our medical society is administering advice with a limited perception of the makeup of God's creation, this can be difficult. Now, no one can argue that allopathic or conventional procedures like surgery and drugs can be important in times of emergencies and to manage pain. However, these procedures tend to be a temporary solution and do not solve the underlying cause, with the exceptions of some cases like infections where antibiotics may need to be prescribed. Surgery and/or pharmaceutical drugs can be important in managing certain illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, arthritis and even cancer, but again, these modalities of treatment do not reach the underlying cause of the ailment. If it were reaching the underlying cause, then research to find cures for such conditions would no longer be necessary.

## In the Know

One way to begin taking charge of our health is to be "in the know" about what is available to us. There are so many things that we as God's children think we know, but we really don't know at all. I call this "unconscious incompetence." This occurs when people walk around thinking they know all there is to know about a particular subject, but in actuality they "don't know that they don't know." Now, I'm not saying by reading this book that it's going to give you all the answers; that is far from what I'm trying to get across. What I'm suggesting to you is to open your mind and allow our almighty Lord and Savior to show you a small part of the unknown when it comes to your health and healthcare options. Hopefully you will be enlightened as to what is happening in conventional and alternative medicines and also the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.

First, alternative medicine seeks to treat the true cause of the illness rather than simply addressing the symptoms. Alternative medicine practitioners do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery. Instead, they rely on herbal or holistic remedies.

The basic belief of alternative medicine centers on this one thought: to bring harmony to the body, mind and spirit in order to promote optimal health.

God has created the human body with the miraculous ability to heal itself. Health conscious people concentrate on illness prevention and, if a physical condition should arise, they usually seek a doctor in the field of alternative medicine. Such a doctor will counsel patients on lifestyle changes needed in order to get the body back in balance so it can begin to mend and heal itself.

A major difference between the medical society and alternative medicine is the way each views the body. Medical doctors tend to treat the body as a conglomeration of organs and systems, whereas the alternative medical practitioners look at the body as a whole.

Western medicine emphasizes the belief that bacteria and viruses cause disease and rightly so because any amount of foreign toxicities will cause problems. Alternative medicine takes it a step further by emphasizing the patient's internal environment, including the patient's state of mind and emotional well being.

The basic tenets of alternative medicine include:

\- A strong belief in the harmony of mind, body and spirit to promote good health and wellness. This enables the body to fight and prevent disease.

\- Understanding that treating the symptoms of a disease does not cure the disease. The root of the illness must be addressed in order to discover an effective treatment.

\- Belief that imbalances in the body are the true cause of illness.

\- Knowledge that each individual patient has different strengths and weaknesses and that an individualized plan must be developed for each patient in order to achieve optimal health.

## Table 2

## Table 2 (continued)

There are some areas where both conventional and alternative medicines subscribe to the same principle. Neither wants to do any harm to their patients.

Today, alternative medicine is experiencing great success while conventional medicine is in serious trouble. Hospitals are now the third largest killer in Austrailia, and more than one million people are seriously injured in United States hospitals every year. Adverse reactions to drugs given in hospitals are the fourth leading cause of death after heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Another problem that conventional medicine is facing is the complexity of the pharmaceutical industry. Most doctors are compassionate and really want to make their patients a top priority, but they are finding it almost impossible to operate within the whole pharmaceutical industry, whose first priority is to make a profit. Major medical research funding comes from these companies that are reluctant to financially support any nutraceutical studies. They will not fund any investigation into lifestyle modifications, vitamins or other unpatentable products.

There is, however, a grassroots movement that is growing in the medical field. These medical pioneers are focusing on natural supplements and herbal remedies. They are publishing their findings in mainstream journals.

Although some medical doctors are making progress, it is not enough. The majority of conventional medicine physicians are sticking to what they learned in medical school. When confronted with conditions that don't "fit," they may resort to telling patients (like me) that it is all "in their heads." Because of doctors' condescending attitudes, many patients are making a switch from conventional to alternative medicine.

My heart's cry, as you read this book, is for you to be empowered with knowledge about your own health needs, so that you no longer have to put your total trust in conventional medicine. I pray that you may begin to identify some of the environmental, emotional and physical problems that exist inside and outside your body and how these conditions relate to one another. This will enable you to begin to live a life that is conducive to optimal health.

## Dig a Little Deeper

My negative experience with conventional medical doctors, including their misdiagnoses and the side effects of a prescribed medication and my mother's second battle with breast cancer, drove me to dig a little deeper and get to the root of our ailments. I believe many people are making a mass entrance into alternative medicine because they have discovered that it is safe and that it works.

Of course, we recognize that in the case of trauma and emergency, the conventional medical doctor is best suited to meet those needs. But there is no doubt in my mind that alternative medicine excels and is more effective when it comes to prevention, chronic disease and meeting the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of a patient. In more than 80 percent of the world's population, alternative medicine is not "alternative" at all.

It has been the norm in their healthcare systems. In America, however, our medical physicians are exposed to approximately four hours of training in alternative medicine. Therefore, they usually don't know much about it.

## Types of Alternative Therapies

Let's break down some of the alternative therapies so that we can educate ourselves on the many options that are available for us.

Homeopathy was developed in 1796 by the German doctor Samuel Hahnemann. Dr. Hahnemann found that a substance when introduced to a healthy body in large quantities will produce certain symptoms. That same substance given in a small, potentized quantity will heal similar symptoms in a diseased body. This alternative therapy is used by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. It is extremely popular in South America. This approach has been effective in treating minor ailments such as earaches, the common cold, flu, digestive problems, rheumatoid arthritis and respiratory infections.

Chiropractors are doctors who adjust the spine and joints to alleviate pain and improve general health. The chiropractor believes that the centrality of the nervous system is connected to the structural and regulatory capacities of a healthy body. This alternative therapy was practiced by the early Egyptians and developed into its present form by the American, Daniel David Palmer, in 1895. It is believed to be the most common form of alternative medicine in the United States. Chiropractors also teach their patients about dietary needs to help improve their health.

Vitamin (Nutritional) Therapy, sometimes called orthomolecular medicine, uses vitamins, minerals and amino acids to return a diseased body to wellness, in the belief that the standard American diet today is often woefully inadequate to provide the nutrition needed to ward off diseases. Physical conditions as varied as high blood pressure, cancer, depression and other mental health issues can benefit greatly from vitamin therapy.

Naturopathic Medicine also believes in the human body's ability to heal itself. Naturopathy emphasizes the need for seeking and treating the cause of the disease rather than simply suppressing the symptoms. Naturopaths use dietary modifications, which may include nutritional therapy, herbal medicines, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and lifestyle counseling, to achieve healing.

In combination with one, some or all the different therapies available, the best thing we can do to help our bodies in the healing process is to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid environmental toxins as much as possible.

With all natural therapies, the patient must be an active participant in his or her own healing. This includes making dietary and lifestyle changes. Most sources would agree that there is no one "magic bullet" in healing a diseased body. However, it is known that there are therapies that appear to help in the prevention of some diseases that the allopathic medical society is still working to cure. These therapies help balance the body and have been known to slow and maybe reverse the disease process and prevent future recurrences. The three therapies mentioned previously are just a few of many ways to help the body in its own healing process.

Live Cell Therapy—Cellular Therapy is a form of non-toxic, holistic medicine in which the entire body is treated. It is important with any therapy that the cause successfully be treated along with the symptoms. Live Cell Therapy works by injecting live healthy cells into the patient or by giving them orally. The immune system is stimulated and as a result, the body refurbishes and regenerates cells in the areas damaged and targeted. Live Cell Therapy, also known as xeno-transplant therapy, does not involve replacing tissue, but rather, stimulating the growth and function of existing tissue. In other words, the live cells that are injected or taken orally are influential in helping the dormant cells that exist within the body wake up, thus, creating new tissue for the area being targeted.iThis therapy has been known to fix a large number of healthcare issues from rejuvenating ruptured disks, torn muscles and tendons, rejuvenating a damaged liver from cirrhosis and failing kidneys to rebuilding the endocrine system that supports a person's immune system. There have also been cases of the victims of cancer and a host of other ailments benefiting from Live Cell Therapy. This therapy is not recognized in conventional medicine and has been banned in the United States. It is presently only available in Mexico and Switzerland. Why has it been banned in the United States? The answer is clear to me. Like many other natural therapies or natural supplements, it works, and by allowing such therapies or supplements into our so called "Free America," it would infringe on the multibillion dollar medical industries and pharmaceutical companies that exist today.
Chapter 3

# Perfect Harmony

Perfect harmony is a state of dynamic balance within the body, where illness simply cannot exist. When the human body is in balance, it is an intricate machine that constantly repairs itself from foreign invaders, damage and mutant cells. On the contrary, when the body is out of balance, the body's environment becomes a perfect host for the growth of many harmful parasites, fungi, viruses, bacteria and diseases.

Let's take a look at how the farmer brings harmony and balance to his soil in order to guarantee a plentiful harvest. First of all, the farmer uses a soil analysis to determine the level of nutrients found in a sample. Understanding that the analysis can only be as accurate as the sample taken in that particular field, the results provide the farmer with an "estimate" of the amount of nutrients needed to supplement those already in the soil. Applying the appropriate type and amount of fertilizer will give the farmer a more reasonable chance of obtaining the desired harvest; and so is it with our bodies.

If the body's electrolytes and minerals are not in proper balance, a person may be subject to seizures, an irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness and other problems. Electrolyte and mineral imbalances can be caused by a variety of health conditions, such as chronic heart or kidney disease, endocrine diseases (such as problems with the adrenal, pituitary, thyroid or parathyroid glands), eating disorders or bone disorders. Any condition that causes the body to lose too much water, such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever or taking medications called diuretics, can also lead to an electrolyte imbalance.

Secondly, the farmer annually monitors the pH level of the soil and adjusts it so the soil pH can be at the ideal level of 6.5 in order to produce the abundance of crops that he planned for that year. The human body's optimum pH level is 7. If pH levels are not where they should be, then this sets up the perfect environment for parasites, funguses, different types of bacteria, viruses and even cancer to grow. The environment that is ideal for our bodies is not ideal for these leeching foreign invaders. The environment that is optimum for these invaders to flourish is not the optimum environment for our bodies to work efficiently in the best possible health.

From all the evidence provided, both spiritual and scientific, we can say God needs us to be the farmer overseeing our own soil (bodies). He wants us to continually prepare, monitor and fertilize our soil (bodies) in order to produce the best spiritual harvest, just as the farmer does when he is ready to begin sowing his seeds for the coming year. The farmer makes sure his fields are filled with the highest grade minerals and vitamins to produce the best crops. We, too, must analyze our soil (our bodies) and fill it with the appropriate nutrients and trace minerals needed for it to continue to be well and run efficiently. Now let's take a closer look at four screening tools that we can use to analyze our own soil in preparation for the best spiritual harvest.

Hair analysis is a screening tool used to determine mineral levels and to determine metal toxicities.

p H Testing is a screening tool used to determine what pH levels are and if these levels are in the appropriate range so that the body may run at its optimal level.

Hormone analysis is a screening tool used to determine what your hormone levels are.

Iodine Loading Testing Kit is a screening tool used to determine if a patient is experiencing iodine deficiency.

Laboratory tests are commonplace in the medical doctor's office. If you have ever been to see a doctor, you have likely had a number of tests run to see what kind of shape you are in. The physician may ask for a urine specimen to detect a bladder infection or request a throat culture for strep throat. Usually they will have blood drawn to run a routine CBC, which can tell what is happening in your body. Alternative medicine uses different screening tools in order to better analyze the body and determine what condition it may be in. The results of these analyses can let you know exactly where the root of your problem may exist.

Naturopaths use an array of screening tools to see what problem areas their clients may have. In conventional medicine, standard blood work is taken to inform the medical doctor if disease is detected. Naturopaths use "functional medicine." They sometimes share this word picture to get their point across: A person may own a car that he is filling with the wrong octane fuel. The car still runs, but it doesn't run as efficiently as it would if it had the correct fuel. A good naturopath is always a step ahead and attempts to prevent symptoms before there is a disease.

Let's take an in-depth look at the three main screening tools that alternative medicine uses to help assess a client's condition.

## The Importance of Hair Analysis

Just as a tree's rings can tell a little bit of history about the tree, a three-inch strand of human hair can reveal what has been going on in the body for the previous three months. Toxins, drugs and radiation can be revealed through a simple hair analysis. Research indicates that the levels of specific elements in hair, especially toxic elements, correlate with pathological disorders. When performed properly, the hair analysis may be able to identify the root of the illness.

The hair on any mammal is considered to be soft tissue. A hair analysis is a painless screening tool performed on a sample of hair from an individual's head or pubic area. This analysis is a biopsy of the hair. This soft tissue analysis provides a reading of mineral deposits in the cells of the hair, and the test results will assist the individual in knowing just how well his or her body is responding to its current diet and environment. It will help correctly assess the individual's personal need for vitamin or nutritional supplements and can show mineral deficiencies, metabolic rates and what stage of stress the body may be in. This screening tool may also be able to assess the level of the immune system and adrenal and thyroid glandular function.ii

This tremendous laboratory screening tool can also detect toxic heavy metal poisoning, which can be passed on from mother to child at conception. In my study, I have found that a lot of infertility problems may stem from heavy metal toxicities. The hair analysis will not diagnose any diseases or infections in the body. However, it is a screening tool that will assist an individual in overcoming many types of diseases. Many people have run from doctor to doctor and have not found any answers to their health problems. After having a simple hair analysis, their health mystery is usually one step closer to being solved.

In the United States alone, we are exposed to more than 70,000 chemicals daily. About 14,000 of those chemicals are in our food supply. The hair analysis provides a wonderful service. It can identify specific toxins in the human body.

Next, let's take a closer look at a sample hair analysis so that you will have an idea of what to look for to gain better knowledge of your own body.

## The Importance of pH Levels

Soil pH is the most commonly used index of plant root-zone acidity or alkalinity. Soil pH is important to plants because it influences the chemical form of many elements in the soil and the soil's microbial processes. Some elements influenced by pH are essential nutrients for plants, so soil pH affects plant nutrition. Other elements are toxic when present in excessive amounts, and soil pH helps to determine how much is in solution at any one time. Just as the pH level is important in soil, it is also very important in our body. Depending on the environment of our body, different organisms—good or bad—may be able to flourish. The optimum soil pH reading is 6.5, and the optimum human body pH reading is 7. Let's look at an extraordinary statement written by the Wolfe Clinic on the importance of the body's pH:

"Each of us is at war and we don't even know it! The private war we each wage is a daily assault on our body by bacteria, virus, fungus, yeasts, and molds. We have entered what might be referred to as critical mass when it comes to this bacterial warfare onslaught being waged against us by stronger and stronger killer bugs and bad bacteria. Our immune systems are becoming weaker and over-taxed in this war. Even the medical profession's first line of defense (the antibiotic) is becoming less and less effective against resistant new strains being created daily as the bacteria mutate. Since Louis Pasteur discovered the germ theory of disease that states germs are the cause of disease, time has proven him correct. But note Dr. Pasteur's dying words: 'The germ is nothing, the inner terrain is everything.'"

The inner terrain referred to in Dr. Pasteur's statement is now being called our biological terrain and is comprised of our body's digestive tract, lymph system, blood, urinary tract and interstitial fluids. Our bodies are alkaline by design and acid by function. Maintaining proper alkalinity is essential for life, health and vitality. Simply put, an imbalance of alkalinity creates a condition favorable to the growth of bacteria, yeast and other unwanted organisms. All leading biochemists and medical physiologists have recognized pH (or the acid-alkaline balance) as the most important aspect of a balanced and healthy body.iii They have long known that the maintenance of an alkaline pH in our tissues and cells is critical to cellular health. In contrast, our digestive tracts, except for our normally alkaline mouths, have varying degrees of acid by design, and our urinary tracts should be slightly acidic for healthy function.iv

We live and die at the cellular level. Billions of cells that make up the human body are slightly alkaline and must maintain alkalinity in order to function and remain healthy and alive. However, their cellular activity creates acid, and this acid is what gives the cell energy and function. As each alkaline cell performs its task of respiration, it secretes metabolic wastes, and these end products of cellular metabolism are acid in nature. Although these wastes are used for energy and function, they must not be allowed to build up. One example of this is the painful lactic acid that is created through exercise. The body will go to great lengths to neutralize and detoxify these acids before they act as poisons in and around the cells, ultimately changing the environment of the cells. Most people, including clinical practitioners, believe the immune system is the body's first line of defense, but in actuality it is not. It is very important, but more like a very sophisticated clean-up service. We must instead look at the importance of pH balance as the first and major line of defense against sickness and disease and for health and vitality.

## The Importance of Hormone Analysis

Hormones exist in harmony with each other. They are considered by some to be partners in a delicate balancing act. When hormones are properly balanced and at the right levels, the body functions in optimal health. But when the balance is lost, hormone deficiencies and excesses can become toxic to the body, wreaking havoc and causing unwanted symptoms, disorders and disease.v

The most convenient way to test hormone levels is through saliva or blood spot. This way you avoid the expense of conventional blood tests, without sacrificing accuracy.vi

The advantages of saliva testing are these:

\- Measures bio available, active hormone levels

\- Painless

\- Measures effectiveness of topical hormones

\- Accurate

The advantages of blood spot testing are these:

\- Measures larger molecules, thyroid hormones in whole blood

\- Nearly painless finger prick

\- Accurate

# Actual Hormone Analysis Samples

#

## Sample 1

## The Importance of Iodine Loading Test Kit

Iodine deficiency has been associated with fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, breast cancer, thyroid goiter and hypothyroidism. Recent work in the field of iodine deficiency has shown that replacement therapy decreases the risk of breast cancer and promotes the reversal of fibrocystic breast disease.

It has been thought that iodine deficiency only manifests as hypothyroidism. Work done by many researchers over the last few years has shown that iodine is utilized by many different sections of the body. Twenty percent of all of the iodine sits in the human skin.vii A lack of iodine in the skin manifests as very dry skin and skin that does not sweat when an individual becomes hot. In newborn children, iodine is responsible for the development of the babies' I.Q. Recent research shows iodine deficiency is felt to be the source of attention deficit disorder in children.

Iodine is utilized by every hormone receptor in the body. The absence of iodine causes a hormonal dysfunction that can be seen in practically every hormone inside the body. Iodine deficiency is also felt to be the source of ovarian cysts. Iodine deficiency can now be measured using the Iodine Loading Test.

The first urine void of the morning is tested. From this first void, the level of iodine is measured in the urine to establish a baseline. The Iodine Loading Test is a measurement of whole body sufficiency for iodine.

## Ten Steps for Spiritual Balance and Healing

Many times in life we experience very difficult circumstances that we do not understand. As the old song says, " _We don't know about tomorrow, but we know who holds tomorrow."_ We are called by the Word of God to live in this world, but not to be of it. I would like to take a few minutes to give you what I believe to be the ten steps to divine health.

**Salvation** —It is vital that you have your sins forgiven. Many times people are sick because of the consequences of past sins. This can include great mental anguish because we have an enemy, Satan. The Bible calls him the accuser of the brethren. He likes to constantly give us a "blast from our past" and haunt us with the memories of years of defeat. If you have ever been tormented with condemnation from the enemy, then you realize what I am talking about. We must recognize where those thoughts come from. We stand upon the Word of God and it says:

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17

Salvation brings healing to our sin-sick souls and peace of mind, which bring emotional and physical health to our bodies.

**Feed on His Word** –Feeding on the Word of God will bring a new dimension of health to the body, soul and spirit. Many times this simple exercise is overlooked. It has been noted by scientists for many centuries that people who have a deep faith live longer. How can we get more faith? The Bible answers that question for us.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV

To experience divine health, you must feed upon the Word of God on a daily basis.

**Pray** –Souls that are experiencing optimal health have discovered the benefits of prayer. There is something miraculous for our bodies when we learn the art of casting all of our cares upon the Lord. He somehow comes to us and lifts us physically, mentally and emotionally. Just a few minutes in His presence can do wonders for our health. The Bible teaches that in His presence is fullness of joy and that the joy of the Lord is our strength. So be sure to cultivate a prayer life, which brings His presence and the joy of the Lord to your body, soul and spirit.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11 KJV

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

**Laugh** –Love God, and love each other. Treasure your times with your family and friends. The clock of life is quickly ticking. We are a day closer to Heaven than we were yesterday. Don't take yourself too seriously. Scientists have discovered that people who are flexible and can laugh at themselves live longer. The Bible teaches this, too.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22 KJV

Depression destroys physical health, but a merry heart can restore and revive the spirit. So take time to laugh every day. One man who suffered from depression found by developing a sense of humor he was beginning to have less aches and pains. He began the day by naming three things that he was thankful for. As he spent time in the Word of God and prayer, God led him to start a nursing home ministry through which he could bring some heavenly sunshine to the lonely residents. He would leave that place full of the joy of the Lord. He often told the nursing home residents that it took him a number of years to discover that it took fewer muscles to smile than it did to frown. So we need to start being a blessing and brighten the corner where God has placed us. It is sure to bring a quality of health to our lives.

**Sow Seeds Toward Your Healing** –If you are experiencing some sickness that is causing you great anxiety, begin today exercising your faith for someone else's healing. Begin praying for others to be healed. If you are able, visit the sick and pray for them. If this is impossible because of your physical condition, send them a card or call them on the phone. You will be amazed how the biblical sowing and reaping principle works in your life.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7

There was one dear sister who was facing the health trial of her life. She began to do all she could naturally to improve her situation. She was extremely nervous about a test that was to be performed the next day at the hospital. She went to the Lord in prayer and asked for His help to calm her fears. As she was praying, God revealed to her that she needed to use this opportunity to sow some healing seeds. She made some healing scripture bookmarks on her computer. The next day, whenever she saw someone who was sick and looked fearful, she gave that person a bookmark. She was sowing seeds towards their healing—and her own. God revealed to her that if she didn't sow the healing seeds, she could not expect to reap a harvest. Ask your wise heavenly Father to show you what seeds He wants you to sow towards your healing.

As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:9-11

**Praise and Worship** –Live in the presence of the Great Physician. There is divine life in the Lord's presence. Praise and worship music is one means that can bring you into His presence and bring healing to your body. Many times we think that praise and worship is just for God, but the truth is that, as we praise Him, the blessings rain down upon us. Anointed gospel music can be a powerful healing agent and can drive away evil spirits.

Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. 1 Samuel 16:23

If you have experienced a broken heart, God's Word promises that He is the Healer of the brokenhearted. Yes, anointed gospel music can be a powerful healing agent and bring healing to our bodies, minds and spirits.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving. Make music to our God on the harp. Psalm 147:3,7

**Unity** –The Bible teaches that there is power in unity. It brings life to the physical body and to the Body of Christ.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133

What may hinder unity is a grudge against someone or a spirit of bitterness. Unforgiveness can make and keep us sick. Usually what happens is someone hurts or offends us. Somehow the pain is so severe that we just cannot forgive or forget. It consumes our every thought. We think about the offense the first thing in the morning when we wake up and the last thing when we go to bed at night. We feed on unloving thoughts, which bring darkness and disease to our bodies and souls. To experience divine health, we must stop feeding on unloving thoughts.

A minister was asked to pray for a dear woman, who was diagnosed with a terminal illness. The Holy Spirit was powerfully in their midst as the minister obeyed the Word of God and anointed her with oil and prayed for her healing. The pastor sensed that there was something blocking this woman's healing. She had been a faithful member of his congregation. He could not sense what the problem was. As he looked to the Lord, suddenly He spoke the following scripture into this man's spirit:

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? Proverbs 18:14 KJV

Gently he asked the woman if she had been hurt by someone and was harboring any unforgiveness. She burst into sobs and confessed that she had something in her heart against her stepmother, who had never liked her as a little girl growing up. The kind pastor understood her pain, but pointed her to the fact that she must forgive to receive her healing. The woman immediately asked the Lord to help her forgive and began that day to walk in forgiveness. The beautiful part of the story is that God in His mercy healed this woman. Let's never forget that unity brings healing.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:21-35

**Renew Your Mind** –Live in the scriptures. They will keep you from losing your focus. The enemy loves to exaggerate what is happening in your life. He makes mountains out of molehills, but God sees mountains as molehills because He sees from Heaven's point of view. Put your foot down on negative thoughts. Feelings want to dictate your thoughts and moods, but we must realize that our feelings lie and cause us to be double-minded. Memorize scriptures, and allow them to sink into your spirit. Hide them in your heart, and allow them to renew your mind.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

**Honor God with Your Body** –Do all that you can to honor God with your body. Always bless your food before you eat. Attempt to get adequate exercise. If you have indulged in unhealthy habits in the past, repent and give it to God. Begin immediately to sow healthier habits. Even if it is as simple as drinking pure water, do it. Take small steps to experience the optimal health that God desires for you. Remember the Bible teaches moderation in everything.

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5 KJV

**Don't Give Up Healthy Habits** –This may be the most difficult task because maybe you were never taught healthy lifestyle habits as a child. If you fall down along the way, get right back up, and put into practice what you have learned so far. Ask the Lord to give you strength and discipline to present your body as a living sacrifice to Him. He will come to your rescue. He will make you victorious in your fight to defeat the enemies that do not want you to experience divine health.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37

## The Importance of Oxygen

Oxygen composes 21 percent by volume or 23.15 percent by weight of the atmosphere; 85.8 percent by weight of the oceans (88.8 percent of pure water is oxygen); and, as a constituent of most rocks and minerals, 46.7 percent by weight of the solid crust of the Earth. Oxygen comprises 60 percent of the human body. It is a constituent of all living tissues. Almost all plants and animals, including humans, require oxygen, in the free or combined state, to maintain life. The human body is largely composed of oxygen. The process of oxygenating the human body can be simply explained: a person breathes; the body exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen.

The oxygen that is taken in by the body from the atmosphere around us is picked up by a component of our red blood cells called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood and distributes it to all of the body's trillions of cells where, among other things, it is used for another vital process called oxidation.

Any form of stress can cause oxygen deficiency. Stress due to chemical toxicity leads to a reduction in oxygen as the body attempts to detoxify itself by oxidizing accumulated toxins. Emotional stress produces adrenaline and adrenaline-related hormones, requiring the body to draw down its oxygen reserves for their production and eventual oxidation. Infection also depletes the body of oxygen that it uses to combat bacteria. Even the stress of a chronically heavy workload will deplete the body of much needed oxygen. In short, oxygen deficiency will result from any excessive stress, whatever the cause.

In addition, a chronically acidic system, which is a given for most people in today's society, causes the body to draw down its precious oxygen reserves. Doctors believe this often leads to a vicious cycle of toxin accumulation and oxygen depletion, which eventually results in serious illness.

## Cell-to-Cell Communication

God has designed the human body so that it contains around 60 trillion cells. These cells communicate with each other. Their language is spoken through hormones, the chief chemical messengers between the cells, which cause the body to function properly. When cells communicate effectively, the body is healthy, but if there is some miscommunication, the body becomes diseased.

An example of how cells communicate can be seen in this scenario: Imagine you are relaxing by the riverbank. Suddenly you hear a loud noise that startles you. Your heart beats wildly and you begin to breathe rapidly. How is it possible that something you heard caused such a physical reaction?

The reason is this—your individual cells have communicated with each other and your ears have converted sound waves into a nerve impulse. The cells begin to communicate with the brain, and the nerve impulse sends a message to the adrenal gland to release the hormone adrenalin. Your adrenalin travels through your bloodstream and causes your heart to race.

The ability to communicate between cells is crucial to large multi-cellular organisms because it allows them to coordinate the activity of all their cells.

Understanding the theory of cell-to-cell communication will open up your understanding of just how the human body functions.

## What is Killing Us?

If we were to ask, "What is killing us?" the answer might be acidosis. A state of acidosis is simply the lack of oxygen and available calcium that the body uses to maintain its alkaline balance. It has been demonstrated that an acidic, anaerobic (lacking oxygen) body environment encourages the breeding of fungus, mold, bacteria, viruses and cancer. Let's look at an example. If we were to seal the door to our freezer and then unplug it, then come back and open the door in two weeks, what would we find? We would discover mold, bacteria and microscopic bugs. Things would be growing and multiplying.

Where did they all come from? They did not sneak in. Remember the door was sealed. The answer is that they were always there. It is simply that the environment changed to a more inviting and healthy one for the "critters" to live in. This can be likened to a shift in our biological terrain from a healthy oxygenated, alkaline environment to an unhealthy anaerobic, acidic environment. You see, what is healthy for us is unhealthy for the body's foreign invaders, and what is healthy for them is what is unhealthy for our body.

## Food

God plainly directs us in His Word about food. We are to use it to replenish our bodies' nutrients. In the Old Testament, God instructed His people what to eat and what not to eat, but after Jesus' death and resurrection, God shared with His children that all foods have been made clean for His children. Let's look at a few scriptures in the Bible, as they relate to food.

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground— trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. Genesis 2:8-9

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:29

Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' Acts 11:7-9

From God's Word, we can see that God has allowed us to eat of all things to obtain nutrients and that our bodies are to be like spiritual gardens. We were made to bear spiritual fruit. In preparation for our spiritual harvest, there are prerequisites. First and foremost, God's Word says:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10 KJV

The second prerequisite that God demands, after salvation, is that we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God.

## Internal Toxins

As I mentioned earlier in this book, the human body was designed to maintain good health and balance. In fact, perfect health is the natural state that God intended for his children. If this is true, then why are so many of us functioning below our God intended state of perfect health? The answer, we've seen, can be summed up in two ways: We are malnourished, and we experience toxicity.

Toxic substances exist in great numbers and enter our bodies every waking moment. Toxins are everywhere; they are in the air we breathe, in the food we eat and in the water we drink. Parasites are plentiful and are far easier to pick up than most people realize, particularly when we have indoor pets that go outside. Parasites create an overwhelming toxicity in the body because they excrete waste and when they die, they excrete other toxins and even more waste matter.

Along with the parasites with which we may come in contact, Americans have reached a crisis, and we don't even know it. We continue to eat a "sad" diet. (Standard American Diet). We feed it to our children and wonder why they are sick. Our bodies are polluted.

Each year the average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar and 566 cans of pop according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.viii

Junk food is taking our nation by storm. Comparing 1981 to 2001, the average American consumed in one year: 45 large bags of potato chips–up 78%; 120 orders of French fries–up 130%; 190 candy bars–80%; 120 pastries or desserts–up 95%; 150 slices of pizza–up 143%.
Chapter 4

# Detoxifying the Body for Balance

The human body is exposed to many toxins through the normal processes of life. On a daily basis, our bodies also create toxins. In a healthy balanced individual, different body systems, including the liver, kidneys, intestines, lymph and circulatory systems, eliminate toxins without a problem. However, when a poor diet coupled with a stressed lifestyle join ranks with excessive exposure to environmental toxins; the body sometimes becomes overwhelmed, allowing toxins to accumulate internally. The symptoms of a toxic internal environment include headaches, digestive disorders, increased allergic reactions, acne and fatigue. When our bodies become overburdened and are unable to detoxify, they may need some assistance to rid the toxins. There are various methods that we can use to stimulate detoxification, such as fasting, the use of herbs and following specific cleansing diets.

Detoxification is of utmost importance if you want to experience optimal health. It is a time when the body takes a break from its routine duties of digesting and assimilating nutrients from food and rejuvenates itself.

It's very similar to when someone has been working long strenuous hours without ever taking a break. Can the person keep up that pace? Sooner or later stress will take its toll on that person, and stress will win.

Taking routine breaks is a good thing for the body and helps the individual to be restored and refocus on the work ahead.

So it is with juice fasting. We allow our bodies to have the time to be renewed. Cells and organs take a break from regular routine and begin their restoration process. The detoxification period may include extremely mild symptoms (more bowel or kidney movement, slight skin rash, little aches and pains) or very harsh ones. When and if it reaches the extreme, this state can actually make you feel worse than you did before you started the detoxification process. This state is often referred to as the "healing crisis" or "kill-off." Sometimes mild to severe detoxification symptoms are unavoidable. That is why I want to encourage you to make your health a priority; schedule the first few days of your detoxification period at a time when you can rest more, perhaps even be away from work entirely.

Detoxification symptoms can include skin rashes or eruptions, headaches, bad breath (sometimes the odor can get very bad), unusual body odors, dizziness, nausea, feelings of fatigue or even slight depression, gas, diarrhea, colds, ear infection, insomnia, boils, itching and others. You can experience temporary periods of confusion and a lack of appetite. You may even feel the urgency to drink. Don't let the symptoms discourage you.

The health benefits of detoxification far outweigh the inconveniences you may experience. Detoxification will ultimately produce an outcome of balance in an otherwise unhealthy and unbalanced body. All of the symptoms that have been mentioned can be a good thing, assuming the detoxification doesn't happen faster than the overall system can handle it. If the detoxification process seems to get to the extreme, and you can't handle it, don't give up. Just stop for a day or so to allow the symptoms to ease up, and restart the detoxification as soon as possible. The symptoms indicate that the immune system is working properly, the toxins are being eliminated, and the body is working toward balance again. Usually, a healing crisis or kill off period should last no more than a few days to a couple of weeks. As with any detoxification program, I do not recommend anything over three to five days without first consulting a licensed medical practitioner.

## How to Minimize the Kill-Off Period or a Healing Crisis

There are many different ways to decrease the level of a healing crisis that occurs during detoxification. One way is to take frequent hot showers, scrubbing the skin well and buffing dry with a towel afterwards. If you experience heavy detoxing, you may want to take several showers a day. Always remember one of the main keys to detoxing is to drink plenty of pure water to help the kidneys, skin, liver, colon and spleen process waste. In particular, your skin and kidneys need lots of pure water to flush the toxins. I do not recommend the use of tap water during the process. You should use pure water to assist your system in cleansing.

## The Body Retracing Itself

As your body becomes nutritionally balanced, certain reactions may occur. Alternative medicine teaches that the body is retracing itself. This concept is largely unknown in conventional medicine.

Knowledge of retracing is essential for a complete understanding of balance.ix The types of reaction that occur are:

**Completion Reactions** –Chronic conditions such as infections may pass through an acute phase as they are resolved. Old conditions may temporarily flare up. It usually only lasts a day or two and then subsides unless, of course, there is a severe infection in the body; then the retracing process may take several weeks.

**Decompensation Reactions** –This type of reaction is a change in glandular function, which affects the body's metabolism. Bowels may increase or decrease. The body may require more sleep during this time or it may have an extra surge of energy. Each person's body reacts differently to retracing.

**Elimination Reactions** –Toxic metals, stored drugs and foreign chemicals are being eliminated from the body. As they leave the tissues, they circulate in the blood on their way toward final elimination. This can cause symptoms.x

## Fasting as a Way of Detoxing the Body

For some people, fasting is the single greatest natural healing therapy. Have you ever seen a sick animal? They will not eat when they are ill. They fast. Many people have discovered the art of fasting, and it has literally saved their lives and rejuvenated them. While fasting is not for the beginner, it can be very beneficial to the more mature health conscious individual.

If a person is experiencing malnutrition, which is very common in Third World countries and is becoming increasingly the case within the United States because of the Standard American Diet, fasting is not a good idea. If a person is considering fasting, they should first have a hair analysis done prior to any fast to determine if their body is malnourished and if so, fasting probably isn't the right choice of detoxification for that individual. Americans continually overeat, and yet we don't eat the right foods that would make us healthier. Our taste buds rule, and we have an overabundance of sugary and greasy foods that have very little nutritional value.

For those persons, those who have completed a hair analysis and are supplementing the nutrients that their bodies need in order to be balanced, fasting can be very therapeutic and aid in the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, allergies, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Many people have found that they prefer a juice fast; their only intake is organic fruit and vegetable juices. However, people who are prone to chronic yeast infections and cancer might want to use fruit juices with caution because the sugar promotes growth of these organisms. Others prefer a more stringent form of fasting; they only drink water. Whichever you prefer, water fast or juice fast, you will experience a degree of detoxification, which simply means an elimination of toxins from your body. For some people, detoxification is quite intense. They may experience flu-like symptoms. Others may have no symptoms at all and find fasting to be a positive experience.

Juice fasting seems to be preferred by most. The fresh juices have a cleansing effect upon the body. They are easily assimilated, require little digestion and stimulate the body to clear its waste. The juices support the body nutritionally, which produces a milder detoxification process.

Fasting for the Christian can be dually effective. A time set aside for health reasons, but also to seek the Lord. Jesus taught that there were certain strongholds that would not be broken except by prayer and fasting.

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29 KJV

Alternative medicine and Christian physicians tend to be more willing to embrace the importance of fasting for spiritual and medical reasons. Many naturopathic doctors feel the need to fast from anything that is toxic to the mind, body and spirit. Staying away from these emotional toxins can help bring the body into a healthy balance. Alternative medicine believes that breaks are good. We take vacations from our jobs to relax and gain new perspectives. Why not take a break from food? There are other activities that it would be good to get away from, too: excessive talking, watching too much television, computer addictions or anything that consumes our time and attention.

Remember the key to experiencing optimal health is balance. Take time to evaluate your lifestyle, and see if you feel like your life is spinning out of control or if it is balanced.

The Standard American Diet has caused an epidemic of overfed Americans who are severely undernourished. Most health conscious folks are faithful in taking in adequate amounts of essential minerals and vitamins to supplement what is missing from their diets, but they also ingest dangerous amounts of toxic nutrients. Fasting is generally considered safe, but if an individual should have some health challenges, a qualified health professional should monitor the patient. Most alternative doctors are more than willing to oversee a patient who is fasting.

Successful fasters have experienced positive benefits from fasting. Some of the benefits of fasting are:

\- Significantly more energy

\- Quality sleep

\- Heightened taste buds

\- Improved skin

\- Weight loss

\- Rest for digestive organs

## Other Ways to Help Your Body Detox

There are several schools of thought on detoxifying your body, but I think simplicity is always best. Following this simple plan will help you reach your desired goal.

\- Add plenty of fiber to your diet. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, cabbage, broccoli are nature's perfect detoxifying foods.

\- Drink herb teas.

\- Drink plenty of pure water.

\- Take a walk outdoors, and take deep breaths of fresh air. Oxygen will help in the detoxification process.

\- Remove all negative thoughts, and stand on the promises of God.

\- Exercise faithfully.

\- Take an extra dose of vitamin C.

\- Go to the gym and get in a sauna so you can perspire.

\- This way you eliminate toxins through your skin.

\- Dry-brush your skin and remove toxins from your pores. You can purchase special brushes at a local health food store.

\- Take a long shower and relax.

\- Rest.

As you have read, and some of you may have experienced, our bodies can become polluted with all kinds of toxic substances. In this next chapter, I would like to take some time to inform you about the most common types of toxic metals that our bodies commonly come in contact with. They have been found to make us very sick and, in some instances, they can become life threatening.
Chapter 5

# The Effects of Toxic Metals

This and all the chapters of this book should be used for information purposes only; this information is not intended to be used for diagnostic purposes.

## Mercury

People who are suffering with mercury toxicity may suffer from depression, dermatitis, dizziness, fatigue, hearing loss, hyperactivity, anorexia, birth defects, hair loss, adrenal gland dysfunction and brain damage.

How mercury affects a person's health is that it inhibits the enzyme ATPase that impairs energy production in all the cells of the body. A simple hair analysis can let patients know if they are experiencing mercury toxicity.

Mercury can affect the nervous system by causing damage to the sensory nervous system. The most common sensory effects are paresthesia, pain in limbs and visual and auditory disturbances. Motor disturbances result in changes in gait, weakness, falling, slurred speech and tremors. Other symptoms are headaches, rashes and emotional disturbances.xi

Mercury toxicity may be concentrated in the thyroid and pituitary glands, interfering with their function.

Worst of all, mercury can accumulate in the kidneys where it can cause permanent damage.

You may be asking where all this mercury comes from. Here are just a few common sources:

\- Dental fillings

\- Tuna fish and swordfish

\- Contaminated drinking water

\- Seeds and vegetables treated with mercurial fungicides

\- Medications–diuretics, Mercurochrome, Merthlolate hemorrhoid medications, contact lens solution

Children can be born with mercury toxicity that is passed through the placenta from their mothers and also through breast milk.

## Aluminum

Some people experience aluminum toxicity. These may suffer with headaches, flatulence, colic, dry skin, weakened immune system, heartburn and an aversion to meat. When levels reach severe toxicity, symptoms may include paralytic muscular conditions, loss of memory and mental confusion.

Aluminum deposits on the brain may cause seizures. It has also been found to cause dementia. In animal studies, aluminum was found to block the action potential or electrical discharge of nerve cells, reducing nervous system activity. Aluminum toxicity also has been found to inhibit important enzymes in the brain. Aluminum toxicity may also inhibit the uptake of important chemicals by nerve cells.

It has been debated whether blood testing will actually give the correct assessment of aluminum levels in the body. The toxic metal tightly binds itself within the body tissues, and it may take several months on a nutritional metal detox program in order to reveal the exact amounts in the body. It has been found that hair aluminum levels appear to be similar to that of bone levels. Known sources of aluminum toxicity can be attributed to:

\- beverages from aluminum cans (soda pop and beer)

\- food cooked in aluminum cookware (the use of fluorinated water increases the leaching of aluminum from pots and pans)

\- use of aluminum-containing antacids

\- use of underarm deodorants

\- drinking water (aluminum is frequently added to municipal water)

\- baking powders

\- drying agents in salt and other products

\- processed cheese

\- bleached flourxii

## The Toxic Effects of Cadmium

It is no secret that cadmium has been recognized as a toxic element. Cadmium is emitted during processes that utilize ores and during combustion of fossil fuels. It is released into the atmosphere through certain operations of fertilizer manufacturing. People who work at these facilities are exposed to cadmium, but what some of the general population doesn't recognize is that they may also be at risk due to environmental factors. Cigarette smoke is a major factor, but people can also be exposed to cadmium in certain foods and drinking water. Each cigarette smoked contributes approximately one to two micrograms of cadmium to the body burden and about 10 percent of the cadmium in a cigarette is inhaled. There are also scientific reports that show that the cadmium in cigarette smoke may decrease the transfer of zinc across the human placenta. This may not seem to be of any great significance, but it is because more than seventy human enzyme systems depend on zinc for their functions. Other studies have shown that cadmium may cause harm to the reproductive system.

The highest concentration of cadmium is found in fish and organ meats. Cadmium is readily absorbed in plants grown in contaminated soil, and people can be exposed to cadmium by drinking tainted water.

Many scientific studies have shown that excessive amounts of cadmium can have adverse effects on our health.xiiiCadmium is one of the toxic metals that scientists have found can be transferred from mother to child through the placenta during pregnancy. Through continuous exposure to this toxic element, cadmium can accumulate in the kidneys or the liver. In Japan, kidney failure has been predominate in individuals whose food and water contain high levels of cadmium.

## The Toxic Effects of Lead

The presence of lead in the human body can lead to toxic effects. This dangerous toxicity can literally affect every organ, causing serious physiologic effects, including death or long-term damage to brain function. Lead poisoning primarily affects the peripheral and central nervous systems, renal function, blood cells and the metabolism of vitamin D and calcium. Lead can also cause hypertension, reproductive toxicity and developmental problems in a fetus.

Fetuses and young children are especially vulnerable to the neurological effects of lead because their brains and nervous systems are still developing, and the blood-brain barrier is incomplete. Some of the neurological effects of lead in children may persist into adulthood. One study correlated lead exposure with lower classroom performance, greater absenteeism, more reading disabilities, deficits in vocabulary and poor fine motor skills in young adults, more than ten years after childhood exposure.

## Renal Effects of Lead

Many scientific studies have shown a correlation between lead exposure and renal effects.

The lowest level at which lead has an adverse effect on the kidneys remains unknown. Most documented renal effects for occupational workers have been observed in acute high-dose exposures and high-to-moderate chronic exposures.

## Hematologic Effects of Lead

Lead inhibits the body's ability to make hemoglobin. It can and has induced two types of anemia. Acute lead exposure has been associated with hemolytic anemia. In chronic lead exposure, lead induces anemia by both interfering with heme biosynthesis and by diminishing red blood cell survival.

## Endocrine Effects of Lead

Studies of children with high lead exposure have found that lead interferes with a hormonal form of vitamin D that affects multiple processes in the body, including cell maturation and skeletal growth. Chronic lead exposure can adversely affect the thyroid over time, but no effects of lead on thyroid function have been found in children.

## Hypertension Effects of Lead

Lead exposure may lead to increased risk of hypertension. One study found that adults who experienced lead poisoning as children had a significantly higher risk of hypertension fifty years later. Several studies support an association between lead exposure and elevations in blood pressure.

## Reproductive Effects of Lead

Recent reproductive studies in humans suggest that current occupational exposures may decrease sperm count and increase abnormal sperm frequencies. Long-term lead exposure may also diminish sperm concentration, total sperm counts and total sperm motility. It is unclear how long reproductive effects may last in humans after lead exposure ceases.

An increased frequency of miscarriages and stillbirths among women working in the lead trades was reported as early as the turn of the century. Some studies of women living near smelters versus those living some distance away did show an increased frequency of spontaneous miscarriages and stillbirths.

Some of the most common sources of lead may be leaded gasoline, cigarette smoke, drinking water contaminated with lead, hair dyes, lead water pipes, some ceramic glazes and pesticide residues. Lead is another toxic metal that has the ability to be transferred from mother to fetus through the placenta in pregnancy

## The Toxic Effects of Arsenic

Arsenic toxicity is strongly associated with lung and skin cancer, which may lead to other cancers.

## Gastrointestinal and Renal Effects of Arsenic

Gastrointestinal effects are seen primarily after arsenic ingestion and less often after inhalation or dermal absorption.

Arsenic intoxication may also result in hepatic toxicity, including toxic hepatitis and elevated liver enzymes. Autopsies of Japanese children poisoned with arsenic contaminated milk revealed a fatty degeneration of the liver. Case reports have linked chronic high-level arsenic exposure with a rare form of cancer.

Arsenic is capable of causing acute renal failure, as well as chronic renal insufficiency.

## Cardiovascular Effects of Arsenic

Acute arsenic poisoning may cause a capillary leak and lead to shock. Long-term ingestion of arsenic in drinking water has resulted in pronounced peripheral vascular changes.

## Neurological Effects of Arsenic

Arsenic-exposed patients develop destruction of axonal cylinders, leading to peripheral neuropathy. This poisoning involves sensory and motor nerves in a symmetrical, stocking-glove distribution. Sensory effects, particularly painful dysesthesia, occur earlier and may predominate in moderate poisoning. Whereas, ascending weakness and paralysis may predominate in more severe poisoning.

## Dermal Effects of Arsenic

Arsenic poisoning can cause pigment changes and cause benign arsenical keratoses that may eventually lead to malignancy.

## Carcinogenic Effects of Arsenic

In humans, chronic arsenic ingestion is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and may cause cancers of the lung, liver, bladder, kidney and colon.

An increased risk of skin cancer in humans is associated with chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic in medication, contaminated water and the workplace.

In arsenic-exposed workers, there is a systematic gradient in lung cancer mortality rates, depending on duration and intensity of exposure.

Some of the most common sources of arsenic are pesticides, some table salts, some beers, contaminated drinking water, paints, some cosmetics and rat poison.xiv *NOTE: Unknown heavy metal exposure will also show up on Hair Analysis.

## Let's Review

We have learned so much about balance throughout the lessons in this book. Let's take just a moment to review and simply state what we have learned.

Soil erosion and toxic farming methods have led us to a mineral depleted society. When our soil is deficient in the much-needed nutrients, it affects plants, livestock and human beings. I don't mean to sound like an alarmist, but the fact of the matter is our food is now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of the necessary minerals. Do you realize what this means to us? No matter how many fruits and vegetables we eat, they are empty of vital minerals. Laboratory tests have proven that our fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs and even milk and meat are not nutritionally what they were just a few generations ago. This leads many of our nutritional experts to believe that the majority of Americans are deficient in necessary minerals. To put it bluntly, we are an obese nation that is starving to death.

Remember that minerals can be washed out of the soil with constant rain, and modern fertilizers are toxic and don't contain the wide variety of minerals we need. That's why we appreciate so much organic farming. These farmers use rock minerals on their soil that results in produce that has a higher and broader range of minerals.

Our diets must be a good balance of minerals because those minerals are needed for our cells to function properly.

## Balancing Act

Life has always been and will always be a balancing act. Whether we are talking about our marriages, ministries, finances or health issues, it can be like walking a tightrope. We must have boundaries in our lives to keep these vital areas vibrant. This way they will all bring glory to our Lord and Savior.

We will never "arrive" at perfect balance and stay there without much hard work. We need to keep learning and growing. The fact that you are reading my book shows that you want to learn all you can about how to improve your health and experience optimal health. I applaud your efforts. You are on the right track. Devour all the material you can get your hands on. Surround yourself with others who are like-minded and desire a healthier lifestyle. Don't be detoured by those who don't understand. Don't argue with them. Stay sweet and humble, but keep learning. God may use you to help the very ones who have opposed you. As the old country preacher used to say, "Keep on keeping on. The best is yet to come."
Chapter 6

# Full Bloom

## How Does God See His Children?

God specifically shows us in His Word how He sees us. We will find several accounts in the Bible where God uses parables about trees and plants to teach us what He expects from us and in return, if we heed His Word, what we should expect from Him. Jesus was the Master Teacher. He used simple parables so that even a child could comprehend what He was teaching. His parables were earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. They are meant to be a measuring stick for our lives. Let's look at a few and see how we measure up.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, Psalm 92:12-1

You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Jeremiah 12:1-3

From all the scriptures that we have studied up to this point, I believe we have formulated enough theoretical evidence to say that God views our bodies as a spiritual garden. Our physical bodies and our spirits were made to bear much spiritual fruit. The Bible also tells us what fruit we should bear.

Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of that which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:21-23

Now let's look at another teaching from the Gospels that show us what God expects from the life of each Christian.

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' " Luke 16:3-9

God does not want to see a tree (our lives) full of leaves with no fruit. When He inspects us, He expects to see a tree full of spiritual fruit. His highest will is for each of His children to be overflowing with the fruit of His Spirit. In preparation for our spiritual harvest, there are many prerequisites that must be completed to the best of our ability. First and foremost, God's Word says that we must confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. Then, we are saved.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10 KJV

After we have given our hearts and lives to the Lord, He requires something else from us; He asks that we be good stewards of all that He has given us. Here is an example that we can all relate to. Let's say that you have just had your eighteenth birthday. According to the law, you are considered grown, although, for a few years now you have felt in your heart that you were ready to take on the responsibilities of adulthood. Prior to your eighteenth birthday, however, your parents did not feel that you were responsible or mature enough to take on the duties of an adult, so they never left you alone at home for more than a few hours at a time. But then one day, after your eighteenth birthday, your parents realize that you have matured and grasp all the morals and values they instilled in you year after year. They realize that you have reached a level of maturity and after talking it over, they come to the conclusion that it's time for their child to be tested. Your parents decide to take a weeklong trip alone to another state. They inform you that soon your family will be moving to a new location and that they are going to this new place to go house shopping. Before they leave, they give special instructions about what will be expected of you. They make a list of chores and responsibilities that you should accomplish while they are gone. They specifically tell you to stay out of trouble and continue to do what is right, even when they aren't there to see what you are doing. Their final words are, "We will see you when we return and will reward you based on how well you have fulfilled your responsibilities and taken care of the family's belongings and obeyed our requests."

This scenario is much like our wise heavenly Father with each of His children. God put His Son, Jesus, on the earth to be an example to each and every one of us. The Bible expresses on numerous occasions how Jesus taught about stewardship and the fruit that each of His children should bear to bring glory and honor to the Father. As Jesus ascended into Heaven, He left His children here on earth with detailed instructions on stewardship and the Great Commission. This beautiful commandment instructs us on what we are to do while He is gone. The Bible also teaches us about His second coming. This is the day when our Lord shall come again and bring with Him great rewards. He will give these rewards to those who have accepted Him in faith and have been good stewards over that which He has given them. When Jesus returns, we will first be judged on our faith in Christ in order to enter into Heaven. Secondly, once we get to Heaven, we will be judged again based on our divine work, the spiritual fruit that we harvested in our spiritual gardens during the time of Jesus' absence from the earth. This judgment will only be for the rewards or treasures we shall receive in Heaven.

As has been our practice, we like to back everything up with the Word of God. So, let's look at a few scriptures that teach us these eternal truths.

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. Revelation 22:12 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 25:14-30

It is of vital importance that we live for Jesus now, in the present moment. How it must please our Lord to see His children about their Father's business. We are not like the unbeliever who lives totally for himself and this life. We are believers and citizens of the eternal Kingdom of God. For those individuals who don't know Christ, it doesn't get any better than this life. Their rewards have been given to them here on earth. Oh, but for those of us who know Him and have been washed in His Blood, the best is yet to come. We know the end of the story in His Book, the Bible, and the believers win. The rewards that Christ gives us are for all eternity. We must live in this world, but this old world doesn't have to live in us. If more of God's people would grasp this truth, their lives would be changed forever. It's my prayer today that every reader understands and devours this truth. You will look at everything with eternity in mind.

It's very similar to a person who is in need of a new pair of glasses. They squint and strain to see, but it doesn't really seem to help. Then they take the time to go to their eye doctor, and he tests their eyes and prescribes special glasses just for them. They put them on, and it's almost magical what takes place. They can see things that they haven't been able to see for months or maybe even years.

It's that way with our spiritual vision. Many times we have scales on our eyes, and we just cannot see unless the Lord comes and shines His light in our souls and expels the darkness. Then we can see clearly with eternal vision. It affects the way we live, how we treat others and the words that we speak. It changes our behavior in this life and even changes our eternal destiny.

Oh, let's start right now by preparing for a harvest that will bear much fruit for our King; so when we stand before Him we will hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." God is asking each and every one of us to begin right now walking by faith. He has made us farmers over our own spiritual gardens. He needs you to do the necessary things to prepare your soil (the body) for the seeds that He has already destined, before you where born, to plant in your life.
Chapter 7

# Fruits of the Harvest

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 KJV

## Cancer Survivor

Hello, I am a cancer survivor.

The word "cancer" to me no longer means death. I developed breast cancer in 1995. At that time, I had a lumpectomy and radiation therapy treatments. My doctor originally told me that my cancer was growing because of too much estrogen in my body. I was put on an anti-estrogen drug in hope that it would help prevent a reoccurrence.

After three years of taking this prescription drug, I took myself off because the side effects were too much to bear. My experience was that the side effects were worse than the cancer itself.

I supposedly remained cancer free for another three years, until my sixth year, which was in November 2002. At that point, I developed breast cancer again in the same breast. My oncologist told me that I should go through the medical procedures that he suggested, but I knew I would have to have a mastectomy this time and possibly chemotherapy. I did not want chemo because I had seen so many people experience severe side effects from it.

I prayed first to God about my situation and was led to go the natural route. I started out with a naturopathic doctor who practices natural medicine. He started me on natural supplements. He offered me hope by telling me that God has something that will help the body to heal itself from any disease. To this day, I truly believe this!

The supplements he put me on sustained me, but my daughter and I did not believe they were working quite like they should, so my daughter started researching. God led us to some knowledgeable people, who introduced us to the hair analysis test, the saliva hormone test and the pH test.

We tried many supplements in our journey to healing, but not all were helpful. Some supplements made the tumor grow, and some helped my body balance itself and heal itself. Finally, in my daughter's research efforts, she was led to supplements which contained natural progesterone, a form of ellagic acid, a form of the fruit graviola, beta carotene, some other essential vitamins and minerals, a form of aloe vera, a form of calcium from the coral reefs of the ocean, a form of brown seaweed extract from the sea and a four-herb tea recipe that was used by Rene Cassie in the early 1900s. Now my daughter is looking into a natural way of rebuilding my immune system permanently.

This combination has worked very well for me. I cannot feel any hardness in my breast, where once I could feel a cancer mass that measured .8mm on the mammogram.

One of the things that we found out through the different analyses was that my body did not have an excess of estrogen. In fact, my body was deficient in estrogen and every other essential female hormone.

We discovered that the body was trying to use whatever it could that closely resembled estrogen in its absence. From the hair analysis, we found that one such substance was the toxic metal cadmium. Once I started balancing my body and removing the toxins, my body started healing itself.

I feel great and have had so many compliments on how well I look. So let me be a testimony to you. Don't ever think that God can't heal your body from any type of disease that is out there. Your body has the ability to heal itself with God's help, if it just has the right balance of nutrients, minerals, hormones and oxygen that God originally intended for it to have and that is needed to make it run efficiently.

I also suffered from high blood pressure and was taking medication to treat it. I started taking a food supplement made from asparagus instead. This helped in strengthening my kidneys and spleen. I started drinking it twice a day for a couple of months and then once a day. I am now off my blood pressure medication because my pressure has been back to normal for more than a year. I thank God for His wondrous works and my daughter for listening to His Word and all the research she has put into finding the right balance of supplements, vitamins and minerals that have helped my body regain its original balance.

I have one word of "warning" to all of you who have been diagnosed with cancer or any other ailment like fungal infection or parasites. It is very important that you stay away from sugar or anything that contains a lot of sugar, even sodas. Sugar only feeds these unwanted critters and promotes their growth.

I am truly blessed.

Sincerely, Lou

Cancer Survivor #1

## Normal PSA Levels

I am a sixty-five-year-old male who has been suffering from high cholesterol and an enlarged prostate gland. I have been on medication for about three years. Every six months I go to the doctor for a checkup, and they look at my cholesterol and PSA levels through a blood test. The PSA is a blood test that the medical doctor uses to see if a male has prostate cancer.

In January 2005, my test results showed that my PSA levels and cholesterol levels were elevated. The doctor informed me that the plaque was building up too fast in my arteries, despite the fact that I have consistently been on cholesterol prescription medications for approximately three years.

I knew something must be done. I began to search out alternative therapies. After a hair and hormone analysis, I began a nutritional therapy regime. After being on the supplements for about four months, I went back to my conventional doctor for another checkup and had my cholesterol and PSA checked again. I was delighted when the doctor told me my cholesterol looks great, and I should keep on doing whatever it was that I had been doing. Also, my PSA levels had dropped back down to where they were before they started rising, which is around three.

Because of my results, I have learned to respect the naturopathic way. I will continue to take my natural supplements because I know they have made a difference in my health.

Signed, William

Completely Convinced

## Miracle Baby

The doctor said, "No!" but God said, "Yes!"

After three miscarriages and one visit to the fertility specialist, I didn't know if I would be able to conceive a child. The doctor informed me that I was too old and too fat to bear a child. He said that my eggs were too old and for me to conceive I would have to purchase eggs.

My husband and I left the fertility specialist disheartened, but because of our strong belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we didn't stay discouraged for long. Every time we had been through the fiery furnace of miscarriage, we would experience the Lord in miraculous ways. God was so faithful to us. He sent us a positive prophetic Word through three different pastors declaring that we would have a family.

Then, one Sunday morning in church, I looked up and saw my girlfriend walking toward me. She proclaimed this Word from the Lord over me: "God has shown me that you need to prepare your body for pregnancy."

My wise heavenly Father had even given her the plan for my physical preparation for the new life God was about to give me. This girlfriend was very knowledgeable and began a colloidal silver therapy that killed off any bacteria, virus, fungus and parasites that might have been inside of me. We then added glutathione to my diet, which was not too pleasing to the taste buds, but it helped boost my immune system. I also took a supplement that helped to invigorate my whole endocrine system.

We researched and discovered that, because of my age and weight, my body was producing too much estrogen and very little progesterone. We found in our research that progesterone was the main hormone needed in order to maintain a viable pregnancy, and the reason my body kept spontaneously aborting was there was not enough progesterone being produced at that given stage of pregnancy.

We started using USP Bio-identical progesterone three to four months prior to conception to stimulate my ovaries. Once my husband and I conceived, I had to increase the progesterone levels weekly based on the amount of progesterone needed to sustain a pregnancy at that particular term. We continued to increase the progesterone until the 20th week (the peak) of the pregnancy, and then we started decreasing it in the same amounts weekly until the birth of my child.

After twenty-nine hours of labor, my husband and I were blessed with a healthy, beautiful 7 pound 14 ounce baby girl. She had a head full of hair and two teeth. She scored a 9.9 out of 10 on the Apgar test performed on newborns at birth. Today, my daughter is very healthy, active and above average for children her age.

We know from this experience that only God could have provided the natural substances that would make our dream a reality. The substances that we used were identical to the hormones naturally found in the human body, and we want to tell every couple who may become disheartened or challenged with infertility to first try God, trust Him and most of all, believe in Him. He's proven to us that nothing is impossible with Him. He is the One who gave the alternative health knowledge and increase in our family.

Signed,

Lavonne and Mike

Truly Believers

## Hormonal Imbalance

I want to express my sincere gratitude for all the wisdom that Lolita McClain has given me in dealing with an irregular and heavy menstrual cycle.

I had been having heavy bleeding and clotting during my menstruation for nearly two years. I made an appointment with my gynecologist and explained my symptoms. She didn't seem to think it was abnormal, but I knew something was wrong.

I was going through two sanitary pads frequently. The bleeding would not slow down even if I would get off my feet. Even when I would lie down at night, it continued, and I would have to get up and change my sanitary pads frequently. After each episode, I would feel drained because I had lost so much blood.

In addition, my periods were beginning to come more often. Instead of a monthly cycle, I was having bi-weekly periods. It was a nightmare.

It was at this point in my life that the Lord brought Lolita's teaching into my life. She taught me the many principles that she teaches in this book. She stressed bringing the body back into balance. Her teachings made sense to me. She said that when women have irregular periods, heavy bleeding and clotting that sometimes it was due to the lack of the hormone progesterone and an abundance of estrogen.

It made sense to me. I realized that I was experiencing a severe hormonal imbalance. I had been taking black cohosh, which I had read should make a difference in the bleeding and irregularity, but it did not seem to make a difference for me. I began to use USP Bio-identical progesterone with the hope that it would help balance out my hormones. The results were amazing.

Within a couple of months, my periods began to be much more regular, coming every twenty-six days. I still suffered from the heavy bleeding periodically until I had a D & C, but I know the irregularity was due to the deficiency in progesterone.

Because of Lolita's wisdom and help, I have decided to take the next step and have a hair analysis, which will specifically tell me what minerals and vitamins my body is deficient in. It will also show if I have any toxic metals in my body.

Again, I would like to thank Lolita for all her wisdom. Because of her knowledge, I don't have to wonder when I am having my next monthly period.

Signed,

Terry

Hormonally Balanced

## Cadmium Strikes Again!

I am a breast cancer survivor of eight years. After completing a saliva test and hair analysis, we found both an abundance of cadmium and aluminum in my body. We focused on removing both of the toxic metals from my body. For years, I have suffered with aching muscles and joints. I was treated with two products, one with glutathione to help boost my immune system and a four-herb tea recipe originally made by Rene Cassie. Immediately I noticed a drastic improvement in the function of my body, and I was able to sleep better.

Having had chronic sinusitis for a number of years with symptoms of mucus build-up in the sinus cavities and throat, inner ear sensation, headaches and dark circles under the eyes, I was elated to know that there was something that I could take naturally besides a prescription antibiotic that I knew would strip my whole system of its natural flora. I was introduced to colloidal silver, which is a natural antibiotic, and it cleared up my symptoms instantly.

I thank God for His wisdom and knowledge and now because of my change in my health approach, I do not spend days in bed during the winter months suffering from these symptoms. I have been doing so well that I decided for the first time to go without my yearly flu shot. It has been one year now, and I haven't gotten sick with either the flu or sinusitis. I want to note that I have also added plenty of fruits, nuts and grains to my diet. God bless you for your continued good work!

Signed,

Josephine

Cancer Survivor #2
Chapter 8

# A Resource Guide and Tips on Selecting A Healthcare Practitioner

God has called me to write this book, and I feel it in the depths of my soul that it is time for God's children, with His help, to take back the years that the enemy has attempted to destroy and ruin their health.

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. Joel 2:25 KJV

God has called out leaders in His church to teach His children how to live. By obeying the simple commands He has shown us, we can improve our health immensely.

This book is not about me. It is about you. It is about you taking control of those nagging health concerns before they turn into something terminal. I have no hidden agendas. God has placed in my heart a desire to help you. Because of my deep concern for you, I am including names of naturopathic physicians in numerous states. This way you have a valuable resource at your fingertips. If you have made repeat trips to your conventional doctor and have left feeling that you have no answers and still suffer from poor health, I plead with you to try another route. Help is out there. You may have to do your homework and search out what therapy works for you, but God has provided just what you need.

Consumers are demanding a wider range of healthcare services. Patients who want to start with the least invasive of techniques should try alternative medicine and practices. Naturopathic physicians fill a gap, answer a demand and bring to the public a "bilingual" healthcare provider with an understanding of both natural and allopathic medicine. They are the knowledgeable gateway to a true healthcare system.

Selecting the right healthcare practitioner of conventional or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an important decision and can be key to ensuring that you are receiving the best care. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has developed this fact sheet to answer frequently asked questions about selecting a CAM practitioner, such as issues to consider when making your decision and important questions to ask the practitioner you select.

If you or someone you know is interested in obtaining any of the screening tools that I have mentioned in this book, you can e-mail me at ays.info@yahoo.com, and I will be glad to direct your path. Please put in the subject area of the e-mail: _Screening Tools_.

## Key Points

\- Pray for guidance and direction. As with any important decision, you should begin by seeking the Lord for wisdom. Getting the right practitioner is vital to your health. Before you begin your search, be sure to pray and ask for the Lord to lead you each step of the way.

\- If you are seeking a CAM practitioner, speak with your primary healthcare provider(s) or someone you believe to be knowledgeable about CAM regarding the therapy in which you are interested. Ask if they have a recommendation for the type of CAM practitioner you are seeking.

\- Make a list of CAM practitioners, and gather information about each before making your first visit. Ask basic questions about their credentials and practice. Where did they receive their training? What licenses or certifications do they have? How much will the treatment cost?

\- Check with your insurer to see if the cost of therapy will be covered. *Note: Most insurers do not cover the cost of natural therapy or the natural supplements.

\- After you select a practitioner, make a list of questions to ask at your first visit. You may want to bring a friend or family member who can help you ask questions and note answers.

\- Come to the first visit prepared to answer questions about your health history, including injuries, surgeries and major illnesses, as well as prescription medicines, vitamins and other supplements you may take.

\- Assess your first visit and decide if the practitioner is right for you. Did you feel comfortable with the practitioner? Could the practitioner answer your questions? Did he respond to you in a way that satisfied you? Does the treatment plan seem reasonable and acceptable to you?

From my own research over the past 18 years, I have put together a list of resource links that are both reliable and affordable. I do understand that your time may be limited but for those that are interested in getting started and may not have the time to research for themselves; included within each LINK below are resources for different self-monitoring, easy to understand, DO IT YOURSELF TEST KITS so you can get started as soon as possible. Each kit and the recommendation provided on the return of your results are easy to follow and are self-explanatory. If you have additional questions you can contact the Doctor on Staff at each laboratory in which you're analyzes was completed for an additional small fee. Remember... with Natural Therapies you are never treating the disease itself; you are identifying weaknesses within your body systems and lifestyle and then, identifying methods to strengthen these weaknesses in order that the body may attain a GREATER state of wellness. If medical or other expert assistance is required, the services of a practicing licensed medical doctor are advised and should be sought. Please consult your physician before beginning any new diet, supplement regimen or exercise program.

We have to stop living for the moment as it pertains to our HEALTH and SPIRITUALITY... and start PREVENTION AND PREPARATION for the future because tomorrow we will wake up and we will be living the future... Don't get caught UNPREPARED!! Arm yourself with KNOWLEDGE... KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!

Health Minister Lolita McClain

1. To Purchase Hormone Analysis Test Kit, Iodine Test Kit, pH Test Strips, Weight Loss Information, Vitamin Supplementation Therapy and Other Recommended Books and Items on Healing Naturally, click here Healing My Body Resources

2. To Purchase Hair Analysis Test Kit, click here HAIR ANALYSIS TEST KIT

3. To Watch and Listen to a FREE Self Help Online Tutorial on Assisting the Body in its own Healing Process - Click Here FREE ONLINE TUTORIAL
Sources

Dr. Cass Ingram, The Cure is in the Cupboard: How to Use Oregano for Better Health. (Buffalo, IL: Knowledge House, 2001).

Dr. Karen Jensen and Lorna Vandergaeghe, BSc., No More HRT. (Ontario, Canada: Health Venture Publication, 2002).

John R. Lee, MD, David Zava, PhD, and Virginia Hopkins, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Breast Cancer: How Hormone Balance Can Help Save Your Life, revised ed. (New York: Warner Books, 2004).

Suzanne Somers, The Sexy Years—Discover the Hormone Connection. (New York: Crown Publishers, 2004).

Chi N. Tsu-Tsair, MD, PhD, Dr. Chi's Method of Fingernail and Tongue Analysis. (Chi's Enterprise, 2002).

Dr. Joel D. Wallach and Dr. Ma Lan, Dead Doctors Don't Lie 2d ed. (Bonita, CA: Wellness Publications LLC, 2004).

Susan S. Weed, Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way. (Woodstock, NY: Ash Tree Publishing Woodstock, 1996).

Linda B. White and Steven Foster, The Herbal Drugstore: The Best Natural Alternatives to Over the Counter and Prescription Medicines. (Rodale Inc., 2000).

Lawrence D. Wilson, Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis. (Prescott, AZ: L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc., 1998).

"Arsenic Toxicity Physiologic Effects." Last updated 10/05/2005. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:  www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=1&po=11

Darrell L. Wolfe, Ac, PhD, "The Importance of Your Body's pH Balance." Updated November 7, 2002. www.thewolfeclinic.com/pdf/Reclaim_Dec_2006.pdf

Gary E. Kaiser, "Fungal Pathogenicity." March 23, 2005.  http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/SoftChalk%20BIOL%20230/Fungi/fungal_pathogenicity/mobile_pages/fungal_pathogenicity2.html

Keith Scott-Mumby, MB, ChB, MD, PhD, FRCP, MA, "Cancer."  http://www.alternative-doctor.com/cancer-you-have-choices-by-dr-keith-scott-mumby/

"Sick Building Syndrome Causes, Effects and Control." 1990. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2796751/>

"Mercury in the Environment Fact Sheet." October 2000. www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/ .

Mills and Associates. "Safe Bio-Identical Hormones." 19972004. www.hormoneprofile.com .

National Institute of Environmental Health Services. "Cadmium/Prostate Cancer." June 13, 2005.  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/prostate/healthprofessional/page3

ZRT Lab. 2004. http:/www.zrtlab.com/patients-standard-tests/saliva
Endnotes

i "Live Cell Therapy Questions & Answers." The Center for Holistic Life Extension: <http://www.extendlife.com/livecell.php> .

ii Lawrence, D. Wilson, Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis. (Prescott, AZ: L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc.,1998).

iii Darrell L. Wolfe, Ac. PhD, "pH Balance - The Foundation of Health." 2008. The Wolfe Clinic

iv Darrell L. Wolfe, Ac. PhD, "pH Balance - The Foundation of Health." 2008. The Wolfe Clinic

v Mills and Associates LLC, "What is BioIdentical?" 1997 – 2006. <http://www.hormoneprofile.com/>

vi ZRT Laboratory. 2004. <http://www.zrtlab.com/resources/collection-instructions>

vii Jorge D. Flechas, M.D. 2004 – 2005. <http://www.helpmythyroid.com/iodine.htm>

viii Osgoodby, Robert. PhD, "Food For Thought." 2002-06-05. <http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf001381.tip.html>.

ix Lawrence, D. Wilson, Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis. (Prescott, AZ: L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc. 1998), 274 – 276.

x Lawrence, D. Wilson, Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis. (Prescott, AZ: L.D. Wilson Consultants, 1998).

xi "Mercury in the Environment." www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/146-00/

xii Lawrence, D. Wilson, Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis. (Prescott, AZ: L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc., 1998).

xiii "Cadmium/Prostate Cancer." January 2004. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: <http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/isee/p3-773/>

xiv "Arsenic Toxicity Physiologic Effects." Last updated 10/05/2005. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=1&po=11

