NEWSTART!
The best things in life are undeniably free, air, water, sunlight,
the ability to love, the opportunity of second chances and starting anew.
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| NewStart |
The
flood is such an example, God had to reset the world and give it a new start so
the corrupting effects of sin prevalent during the days of Noah would not
continually flourish and lead to doom and gloom for proceeding generations. The
lord gave the world a chance at a ‘new start’. Starting anew is Gods special
blessing to man, Jesus once told a Pharisee ’in search of life’ that “you must
be born again”; for the purpose of living a fulfilled life here on earth, it is
essential to start anew, hence the choice and opportunity for a ‘Newstart’.
Newstart is an acronym that encapsulates the essentials of living
life to its fullest. A lot of research has been carried out in order to
ascertain, how a person can live a healthy, happy and productive lifestyle.
Dr.Breslow carried a scientific study of over 7000 persons.
The study lasted 9 years. In the study, he correlated the people’s lifestyle
with their death rates. Here is a synopsis of the result - the following
factors prolong life expectancy by an average 11 years:
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Eating a good breakfast
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Avoiding alcohol beverages
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Not smoking
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Not
snacking
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Exercising
regularly
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Maintaining an ideal weight
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Sleeping adequately
Dr.Breslow from his 9
years research of over 7000 persons got very close to an ancient gem, an open
secret…. that has been since the time of creation, health tips given by God
himself, which when practiced leads to
maximum health, longevity and happiness.. These health tips are summed in the
word and acronym NEWSTART!
N- Nutrition
Manufacturers usually give detailed specifications on the
usage of their products, this is because they want you to make proper use of
that product- and in order for you to enjoy and make maximum usage of the
product; you have to read through the specifications given for using the
product.
Likewise the body of man; the creator of the human body in
his infinite love and wisdom, did give specifications on the use and
maintenance of the body he created for us. He told Adam what he may eat in
order to nourish his body and optimize his performance.
After extracting
the Israelites from Egypt, God again gave man a much comprehensive listing of
what he may use for the replenishment of his body: even listing what he may not
eat of. A lot of tragedy in this world could have been avoided; if only men
will listen to the infinite voice of wisdom in their choice of nutrition.
In
proceeding articles we would deal on the God given directions for proper
nutrition. And why strict obedience to it is the only way to prosper in health
and life.
E- Exercise
One of the greatest health problems of developed countries
is that of obesity, and its associated health demise (heart attack, arthritis
etc). Closely related to wrong feeding habit, lack of exercise is a major
player in the quick deterioration of our physical and mental health. God knew
man had to exercise his mind and body in order from him to keep it in an
excellent state. He made ample provisions for man in this regard; Adam and Eve,
our first parents had everything they desired in the Garden of Eden, but this
was not an excuse for them to be idle, they constantly exercised their physical
and mental faculties, by daily caring for the Garden and the creatures in it.
Wrong use of technology, eating habits and many other
factors has led many to a life of idleness and poor physical health. Great care
should be given to the subject of exercise if one wants to lead a fruitful and
prosperous life. The lot of the lazy man was constantly a warning in King Solomon's book of proverbs.
“Poverty will attack him like a thief in the night”…
There are so many wholesome outdoor and indoor activities we
can engage in to keep our mind and bodies daily exercised and in good health.
Meditating on God’s word is a perfect example of developing our minds to
unprecedented potentials. Participating in community outreach and heralding the
blessings of salvation are also other methods through which we may exercise our
physical and mental faculties.
WATER
How important is water? So important Jesus said
“I am the
living water from which you will never thirst again”, from which when we drink,
we would not thirst again.
Water is so important
that our body is almost entirely composed of it (70%). Both the internal and external organs of our
body require water for them to function adequately.
Water is needed daily by both plants and animals, without
water our body will fail, water is essentially life.
It is often difficult to become susceptible to many health
maladies when you practice good water drinking habits. So the question now
becomes: What entails a good water drinking practice and habit?
First of all it is important to realize that our body looses
water on a regular basis; even when we sleep! Our body looses water when we
breathe, when we sweat, when we urinate and stool. All these lost water has to
be replaced. Our kidney to the very best can help in purifying and recycling a
very large percentage of our body water, but for the percentage of water lost;
we have to replenish. And the only efficient way of doing this, is to drink at
least ‘eight glasses’ of water in a day; this is the same as two liters of
water (to be drunk daily). When we drink sufficient water, we help our kidney,
and our urine is almost pure: but when we fail in giving our body the required
amount of water, we put our body organs especially our kidney to unnecessary
labor and stress, this is when our urine becomes yellowish in color. Given below
are some healthy water-drinking practices;
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Drink a glass of water first thing when you wake
in the morning.
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Drink a glass of water before going to bed.
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Don’t fill your stomach with water immediately
after a meal.
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Don’t drink ice cold water (your body looses
energy in warming it up before absorption).
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Don’t drink too much water at any-one time (a
glass would do).
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Keep a can of water with you at all times.
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Always keep in mind: your body requires two
liter (eight glasses) of water every day!
SUNLIGHT
“Sunlight kills bad
bacteria”
All living creatures benefits from the wonderful rays that
comes from the sun. The plant kingdom requires sunlight to make food; they
convert minerals from the soil combined with the other elements of nature to
food with the aid of the sun through a process known as ‘photosynthesis’.
The rays from the sun is a natural energy
source both for plants and animals, man requires
sunlight daily in order to have maximum health and vitality, early morning sun
which is mans vital source of vitamin D is necessary for the following;
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Bone health
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Anti- cancer
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Good for loosing excess fat
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Strengthens teeth
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Essential for decreasing symptoms of asthma
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Protects against dementia and brain aging
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Supports the immune system.
Sunlight is life, sunlight is happiness, sunlight is one of
God’s cherished blessings to man, he made it free for both rich and poor, old
and young. When next you feel the suns warmth and see its alluring rays, take
time to give God praise and adoration for such a wonderful and unfailing
blessing to man.
TEMPERANCE
Temperance is the complete avoidance of all harmful
substances and the moderate or judicious use of those which are for our health
and happiness.
Good life, good health and an excellent character are the
reward of temperance. A good thing even when over-done becomes a force of evil.
Temperance and moderation is a lifestyle
choice that often translates into excellent character building.
The journey through the desert for the Israelites was one
that constantly called into question the strength of character as regards to
temperance and moderation. Those who constantly clamored for flesh food (meat),
and the unwholesome dietary patterns practiced during their sojourn in Egypt,
where the same ones whose characters where deficient in temperance, patience
and moderation.
Temperance is a key aspect in every Christian’s life, it can
only be fully appreciated by Gods grace, on our own, we would constantly seek
after the things that are of the flesh, and which often tends to diseases,
suffering and death. We are to set our
hearts on things above and not the things of earth, without the knowledge of
Gods kingdom, all of life will be one constant struggle for wealth, fame and
power which will eventually lead to ruining the chances needed to build the
characters necessary for attaining eternity.
Temperance and moderation is the key to excellent health and
a prosperous life, with the proper attitude of temperance and moderation, life will
cease to become a do-or-die affair, many will realize they have been in a never
ending rat-race. Abuse of substance, gluttonous habits and alcoholism would
become things of the past. There are so many aspects of our life which
temperance affects including relationships, career and spending (finance).
It is essential that
a person understands what true temperance and moderation means, for without it,
one would easily lose sight of the purpose of life itself, which is a life
lived to its greatest potential of maximum health and happiness under the care,
instruction and guidance of its loving creator.
AIR
Breathing is so underrated! In our crowded cities and
urbanized settlements; where automobiles, diesel generators, and industrial
activities are ever contaminating our atmosphere, we are short-changed of clean
and fresh breathing air. The refreshing fulfillment one can get from filling
his lungs with clean, crisp and fresh air can hardly be substituted for. Our
high duty air-conditioners and ceiling fans cannot take the place of a well
ventilated room or the coolness under the shade of a tree on a hot afternoon.
The human body needs an average 3000 cubic feet of fresh air
every hour of the day. In order to have good blood, we must breathe full, deep
inspirations of pure air, which fill the lungs with oxygen, and purify the
blood. They impart to it a bright color and send it a life-giving current which
brings life and nourishment to all parts of the body as the blood circulates.
Among some of the benefits of good respiration, is that it;
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Soothes the nerve
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Stimulates the appetite
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Renders digestion more perfect
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It induces
sound and refreshing sleep.
God made man perfect, dignified and upright, and these
attributes are essentials of what makes for a good breathing posture, we have
to maximize our inhaling and exhaling processes, failure to do so will lead to
in-adequate air supply which will in turn lead to; sluggish movement of the
blood as it circulates within the body, the waste and poisonous content in the
blood which should be disposed through exhaling would then be retained. When
this happens the lungs, stomach, liver and brain are often affected, the skin
becomes sallow, digestion is retarded; the heart is depressed; the brain is
clouded; thoughts are confused; gloom settles upon the spirits; the whole
system becomes depressed and inactive, and peculiarly susceptible to disease.
REST
And God rested on the seventh-day! So many people overlook
the simple process of resting. After every days work man is entitled to a
period of rest (sleep), when we neglect to carry out this simple function we
subscribe our physical and mental health to numerous malfunctions.
The creator in his infinite love and wisdom set for us a
perfect example, after confirming his works as good; he rested. Man is to take cue
from the example set by his creator; rest when properly observed becomes a
regenerative force- for mans good.
We live in a century where almost everything moves at high
speed. People are running ‘to and fro’ most often than not, being busy about
nothing. There is a very big danger when one labors to a point of exhaustion,
thereby disqualifying him-self for future effort. Do not try to crowd into one
day the work of two. At the end, those who work wisely and diligently will be
found to have accomplished as much as those who so expend their physical and
mental strength that they have no deposit from which to draw in time of need.
Avoid as much as possible the idea of multi-tasking, it often leads to
weariness and poor work output.
Regularity should be employed in our simple habits of eating
and sleeping, since our body rebuilds and recuperates during periods of rest.
Studying for an examination all through the night especially with the aid of
caffeine in the forms of energy drinks or coffee is a grievous sin to the body.
Students can easily avoid such situations by properly preparing for
examinations weeks and days prior to their exams. Another very common wrong
practice is in; taking very heavy duty meals immediately before retiring for
the night. Evening meals should be as light as possible and hours before going
to bed. This is because when we take heavy meals before going to bed, we put
our digestive system to hard labor: often waking up groggy and ill-at-ease.
Below are some conditions which can enhance good rest and sleeping conditions;
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Avoid the use of alcohol or sleeping pills, if
you feel the need of a physical sedative, try a neutral bath, hot-footbath or
warm bath.
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Avoid caffeine and nicotine which are central
nervous system stimulants.
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Create as restful an environment as possible to
sleep in; a well ventilated room, dark and quiet is preferable.
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Avoid heavy meals just before going to bed; they
are usually the cause of unnatural snoring and nightmares.
Spiritual rests; as physical rest is essential to a healthy
lifestyle, in essence spiritual rest is essential for the general wellness of
the spirit, soul and body. The Sabbath is an institution for mans benefit to
this regard, by observing its statutes we allow the blessings of the creator
for that day to become our portion. The Sabbath symbolizes Gods finished work
for our salvation from sin and guilt, it is a period where heaven condescends
to touch and bless the souls of men. Spiritual rest can only be fully
appreciated when we obediently keep Gods day of rest sacred and holy.
TRUST (IN GOD)
A life that explicitly put its trust in the hands of God, is
a life secured and insured against every malicious element the storms of life
may usher. Trusting in an Omnipotent creator is a lifestyle choice; it is the
only option for living a purpose driven and fulfilled life. Every other factor
listed in the NEWSTART lifestyle is solely dependent upon it- because it is the
seal that assures and ensures the blessings associated with the NEWSTART
lifestyle.
Trusting in the wisdom of an infinite creator is the only
plausible explanation of life. Scientist whom rely solely on mans short-sighted
wisdom have tried for so long to unravel the mysteries of life, but they are
always left baffled. All of nature is but one intelligent design, crafted by
the loving hands of an ever loving creator who is always waiting to bless and
help failing humanity; if man would only take the time and effort in laying
their trust and treasures within his hold, his blessings are sure.
Submission of our will, submission of appetite, submission
of all our life’s endeavors to the one whom the future, past and present are
but one: is our only hope of escaping the drudgery that comes with life on
earth. Good health, prosperity and a fulfilling life will surely attain us- if
we seek first, the things of high.
God has also promised his children, who will obey and put
their trust in him, a Newstart in a new earth as a new nation and a new people.
A new life with no sickness, no pain sorrow or death, all we need to do to
become part of this new world, is to simply lay our trust in him as the spring
of all life, from which when we drink, we would never thirst again.
