The Vegan Lifestyle

More people are becoming aware of the importance of antioxidants and their health benefits for the body. Beauty products such as creams, and anti-aging medications are mixed with antioxidants. Antioxidants are good for cell and tissue rejuvenation, and are good to reverse premature aging.

Antioxidants are molecules that slow down and prevent the oxidation of other molecules in the body. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers an electron from a substance to an oxidizing agent. This chemical reaction produces free radicals which start a chain reaction that can cause cellular damage. Antioxidants stop this chain reaction by removing the free radical intermediates and prevent other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves.

Free radicals produced during oxidation are not good for the body. They not only damage the cells but accelerate the process of aging too. Saturated fats in the diet, cigarette smoke, heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead; hydrogen peroxide, ozone, nitrous oxide from car exhaust, ultraviolet rays, cosmic rays, medical x-rays, and other toxic chemicals in food, water and air are free radicals that should be avoided.

Certain vitamins, enzymes, and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc are powerful antioxidants. Other antioxidants are the alpha and the beta carotenes, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, coenzyme Q10, cysteine, silymarin, and pycnogenol.  These antioxidants are found in herbs such as turmeric, bilberry, burdock, garlic, gingko biloba, and in extracts such as those in grape seed and pine bark.

There are also substances made in the body that fight free radicals. These are glutathione, melatonin  and several others. Low levels of antioxidants in the body can cause oxidative stress which may be a precursor of so many diseases. Antioxidants are now widely used as ingredients in most dietary supplements to treat diseases such cancer and coronary heart diseases.

Let us be happy  and live longer. This  is the sole purpose of our striving under the sun. To be happy and to live longer in order to see our grandchildren succeed in their lives – this is the reason for all our perennial endeavors on Earth.

In the primeval days, after Adam and Eve fell from their pristine Edenic state, men started looking for the elixir of youth. Expeditions were sent around the globe to conquer unreach territories and to find the elusive elixir believed to restore man to eternal youth.

All of them searched the globe painstakingly, and have grown old and weary until old age took their lives. Even now, in this 21st century era, some are still searching and hoping that somehow this elusive elixir of youth can finally be found.

Can we really live longer and be happy?

Of course, yes! Regular exercise, balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, and positive mental attitude can restore us to vibrant health, youthful body, and longer life.

To live longer we must be healthy; to stay younger we must be healthy. It is therefore imperative that we strive to be healthy.

How can we be heathy?

To be healthy, we need to eat nutritious food. When we say nutritious, it must contain all the essential nutrients needed by the body for proper functioning. These essential nutrients are found in fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables.

A balanced diet must contain carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables contain all these.

To live longer we must abstain from fleshly meats – they are carriers of communicable diseases, and they hasten us to the grave. To live longer, we should avoid intoxicating liquours that can destroy our liver and other organs of our body. These alcoholic drinks can lead us to petty brawls that can sometimes cost our lives, or to vehicular accidents that can cripple, maim or even result to our untimely death.

To live longer, we must believe in long life. Believing is the most important thing. We must enjoy life and live it with zest. A natural vitality inherent in the body will manifest itself when we believe in good health and hope to live longer. We are what we think. The mind has a tremendous power to make us what we want to be. As we think, we become. Therefore, let us feed our mind with enobling thoughts. Let us think about health; let us think about long life.

To live longer and happy, we must practice healthy living. Let us wake up early in the morning, and give thanks to the Lord who has given us another beautiful day. Have a regular exercise: muscle stretching, walking, jogging, and deep breathing until you perspire. Take a bath, and take your breakfast. Never ever skip your breakfast. Skipping it tends to make one obese, and this can cause a lot of health problems for us. Eat lots of fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables. If possible, if you can afford it, drink lots of fruit and vegetable juices. They are rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals that can cure many diseases including cancers.

To live longer, we must not abuse our body. We must not gulp or use toxic substances that can destroy our body, such as coffee, cigarettes, softdrinks, ice creams, synthetic food flavors, enhancers and colors, and illegal drugs. These are all the causes of so many diseases and deaths in the world. So avoid them, and live longer.

To live longer, we must sleep on time. Sleep has rejuvenating effects on the body. Sleep before 10 o’clock in the evening. This is the most beneficial time to sleep when the body’s production of melatonin is at its peak. And do not oversleep – it is not good for the body either.

Most people have sleeping problem, and they do not know how to tackle it. This is the problem of modern-day man. The sophisticated inventions of modern technology has kept him awake almost 24 hours a day.

Many books have been written on how to combat this sleeping problem. Millions of dollars are spent on sleeping pills, vitamins and minerals to solve this sleeping problem to no avail.

What really causes sleeplessness or insomnia? Is there a way out of it? What must I do to have a good night sleep?

Like most ailments and maladies that plagued humanity today, 90% of the cause of insomnia is found in our mind. When our mind is full of fear, hatred, and other negative thoughts, we will have problems to rob us of restful sleep. So let us be at peace with all men, and enjoy  that sweet slumber that only God can give to every righteous man.

Avoid coffee and other food and drinks that have coffee in it. Coffee is a proven cause of sleeplessness. Avoid drugs too; they affect the nervous system, and destroy the wake-sleep cycle of our body.

Eat your dinner 2 to 3 hours before going to bed. Eat light meal at dinner. Overeating at night will not only taxed your digestive system, and deprive you of sleep, but it can cause nightmares that may cause death.

When you have problem sleeping at night, take some light physical exercises, such as walking and stretching. Deep breathing and meditation are also good in inducing good sleep.

Take a warm bath before going to bed. It opens up our skin pores to breathe out the pollutants and toxins on our skin, and refreshes our whole body to induce a good sound sleep.

Put the lights off when sleeping at night. Darkness stimulates the secretion of melatonin in the brain. This hormone regulates the circadian rhythms of our body such as the wake-sleep cycle. To avail of this health benefit of melatonin, we should go to bed before 10 o’clock in the evening, when the melatonin production is at its peak.

And of course, we should sleep in a quiet place away from the distractions of TV and other noise. It is very important that we sleep in clean, well-ventilated room with clean bedding, pillows and blankets. Foul-smelling bedding, blanket and dirty room are not conducive to sound sleep. Open up the windows, and allow fresh air to enter into the room for a healthful sound sleep

How can we increase our intelligence?

Intelligence is the desire of all. It is the biggest factor for success. Without intelligence, everything will be topsy-turvy, and beauty cannot exist. Intelligence is  the foremost element of the Grand Design of the universe.

Man, in his original Edenic state was endowed with super intelligence. When he fell in sin, his intelligence decreased gradually until he lost that super intellect he was originally gifted with.

Some fortunate people are gifted with intelligence. Others inherits it from their parents. Most acquire it through education, and still others get it from experience.

The greatest genius that ever lived in this planet had an IQ of 200. This IQ corresponds only to a minimal 5 to 7 percent of the full potential of the brain. This means, 93% of the brain’s potential is lying dormant in the cerebral cortex, waiting for man to harness it.

How can we increase our intelligence?

There are many ways to increase intelligence. Most of these are physical exercises designed to increase blood circulation to the brain. Scientists found out that increased blood circulation to the brain increases the supply of oxygen and other nutrients  essential to the healthy functioning of the brain.

One of these exercise is the yoga ‘inverted stand’ or the head stand.  This exercise increases blood flow to the brain. This is done by standing on your head against the wall for support for few minutes. This relieves the feet of the usual load on it, and this also helps in the prevention of varicose veins.

Another exercise is holding the breath under water. This exercise stimulates the carotid artery to the brain to dilate or open wider to allow more blood flow. Do this when you swimming in the beach or sea where you can have something to hold on while underwater. Hold your breath as long as you can until you feel discomfort. You can also do this in swimming pools as long as you something to hold on underwater.

Exercises that stimulate our senses also helps to increase our intelligence. One of these is lying on your abdomen while studying. The sensation created by the friction between the floor and the abdomen have been proven to stimulate the cerebral cortex of the brain. This stimulation improves reflexes, and brain functions,  and develops the mental faculties.

Another sensory- improvement exercise is brachiation or swinging. Use a not so high monkey bar. Grasp the bars, and swing as you change your hands from one bar to the other. Be sure that your eyes follow the movements of your hands as you swing on the bars. This touch sensation on the hands, and the synchronization of the eye movement with the swingare very effective sensory stimuli that help improve the brain and its intelligence.

Another exercise is ‘masking’. This is done by re-breathing your breaths in a plastic bag. This should not be done by little children, and if done, must have the supervision of parents or adults. Cover your head with a plastic bag. Be sure that the plastic is open  at the other end near the neck. Breath normally, while your head is inside the plastic bag. By this, you are re-breathing your breaths, and these breaths have carbon monoxide in them. Carbon monoxide is not good for the body, so do not overdo this breathing exercise.  Studies have shown that carbon monoxide can also dilate the carotid artery  for increase blood  flow to the brain.

Other factors involved in intelligence development are good nutrition and healthy lifestyle. For the brain to function at its peak, it must be supplied with all the essential nutrients that are found in fruits,grains, nuts, and vegetables. Certain plants and herbs are very good for the brain, such as gingko biloba, gotu kola, horseradish, and ginseng.  Gingko biloba and gotu kola dissove cholesterol in the arteries, thus clearing the vessels for increase blood flow to the brain. Horseradish is a miracle herb with all the essential nutrients for maximum brain functions. Lecithin, a very important nutrient found in soybeans, is a super brain food. It is the richest source of choline and inositol – two powerful vitamins for the brain and  the nervous system.

Besides the nutrition and the physical exercises, a good personal hygiene, and good lifestyle are also required to increase intelligence. Wake up early; exercise – walk or jog; take a bath, and  eat your breakfast. Never skip your breakfast – it is the most important meal of the day. Do not stay late at night. You must be asleep two hours before midnight to avail the health benefits of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland  associated with natural body rhythms and sleep-wake patterns. It is proven by science that melatonin production is at its peak at 10 o’clock in the evening. Deficiency in melatonin is the main cause of imsomnia, and imsomnia destroys our memory. As Plato said, all knowledge is but remembrance or good memory.

A vegan lifestyle is the best and most healthful in life. A vegan lifestyle is a life free from ailments, diseases, and sufferings. A vegan lifestyle is a life of zest, joy and happiness. A vegan lifestyle is a life of peace, full of hope of a brighter tomorrow and fully assured of God’s daily providence.

A vegan lifestyle is indeed the most ideal life for us all. Would you like to know and follow this vegan lifestyle?

What is a vegan lifestyle?

A vegan lifestyle is, first and foremost, a life lived according to will of God. God created us all, and we only borrowed our lives from him. As owner of our lives, God deserves our respect and love.

What is the will of God?

In 3 John verse 2, it says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” God wills that we all be healthy. And how can we be healthy?

To be healthy, we need to follow a vegan lifestyle. In the beginning, God provided us our original diet consisting of fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables. God originally designed us as vegetarians. We were not created like the carnivorous animals that thrive on animal flesh.

After the Great Flood, when Earth’s vegetation was destroyed, men started to eat flesh meats. Diseases appeared on the surface of the Earth; afflictions and sufferings followed. Men became wicked, and iniquities abounded. Moral values degraded, and men gradually lost their spirituality.

In our modern time, millions are dying everyday because of diseases, accidents, and brutality that are being done under the sun. This is the curse of the law that God forewarned which will happen to men if they continue violating his law.

Is the law a curse? No! The law is holy and honorable. The law did not bring in the curse, but men’s transgression of the law has brought the curse upon them.

What shall we do to be spared of this curse of the law?

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