My Testimony

In August of 2012  I discovered a health issue with myself. It was not something I wanted to confront. I didn't tell anyone, not even my husband. I didn't even pray for it.

In September, I decided to be proactive, confront it head-on and seek the Lord. I still didn't tell my husband, though. That would mean I would have to say it out-loud. I just was not there yet.

Since about 2002 I've believed our food and the way we eat was a key to our optimal health. I was introduced to a book that was pivotal in helping me completely change my view on what healthy eating can do for a person. It changed my life. It is called Patient, Heal Thyself by Jordan Ruben. I followed up with his other book (I have 4 copies in case someone wants to borrow it and I don't get it back:) called The Maker's Diet. Another book I read around the same time is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. This book/cookbook is on the heals of the Ruben books that made a huge impact on the way I view food. It is a must have for any healthful cooking kitchen. I refer to it much. It doesn't disappoint.

Although I was not a strict follower of how I thought I should eat, I did try to make some changes.
I started with:

1. Changed from margarine to butter. Ever see the ingredients of margarine? Can you pronounce them? I read in more than one place that margarine is one molecule from being plastic. True? Maybe. But it made me think. Then I took note that my mother-in-law never refrigerated her margarine. It sat on the table day after day after day.  Hummm. Butter it is. And has been ever since 2002.

2. Changed to organic milk. At the time I had 6 people in the house and all used milk in one way or another. It got expensive at times. So I tried to buy organic every other time and it helped the budget and I still felt I was helping the family with the hormones. I had growing boys, a mentally ill mother and I had come up expecting. Hormones in my milk (or any dairy) was not something I want consumed (at a high rate anyway) for any of us. I now try not to have any cow's milk. I eat raw cheese (sheep when I can find it), sheep milk yogurt and use almond milk in any cereal/oatmeal or recipes. I never did drink milk as a child so that was not an issue.

3. Changed to sprouted bread. I have learned much about this in the past several years. I even took a class on soaking grains and the history and reasoning behind it. Interesting. Soaking Oatmeal. I have a teen that has been slow to change on this front and my 10 year old didn't really like it because of the "seeds" on it or in it. But I have found a sprouted bread that is satisfactory if there is nothing else in the house.  Sprouted Sourdough. It is all my husband and I eat. I have moved into the sprouted tortillas and buns but try to limit my grains altogether.

4. Ate more fresh fruits and veggies. Less carbs.


Fast forward to Sept. 2012. I am seeking the Lord on what to do. How can I help myself? My mind (God) goes to food. There was nothing specific at first, just that I needed to make a more radical change. When I would start to cook, I could feel the Lord directing me on what is ok and what's not. I remember reaching for certain foods and "hearing" the Lord tell me "not this". Or, telling me "choose that" as I passed something else. It was an amazing feeling. I heeded this and cooked how I felt He was showing me.

I finally told my husband in October. It was the first time I said it out loud. "Honey, I have lumps in my breasts."

I followed the "Lord's" diet until November. I knew of another person that had similar health issues and gave her a call. She told me about how she was eating and the results had been very positive. It sounded much like what I had already been doing. She refereed me to a website that had the information and the diet she followed. mercola.com. I was amazed of the similarities between Dr. Mercola's eating plan and what the Lord had shown me. When I went back and re-read The Maker's Diet,  it had many of the same ideas also.

After Thanksgiving, I tweaked my diet a bit by removing grains all together and have tried to stay on it ever since.

When I adhere to it, my health shows a vast improvement. When I don't, it doesn't. Go figure ;)