Antioxidant-packed blueberries paired with buckwheat flour make a terrific-tasting, health-promoting breakfast.

Ingredients

Makes ( 16 ) 3-inch pancakes

1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 ripe banana, mashed
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 cup fortified soy or rice milk
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Vegetable oil spray

Directions

Mix buckwheat flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a separate large bowl, combine mashed banana, maple syrup, vinegar, and non-dairy milk. Add flour mixture, stirring just enough to remove any lumps and make a pourable batter. Stir in blueberries and add a bit more milk if the batter seems too thick.

Preheat a non-stick skillet or griddle, then spray lightly with vegetable oil. Pour small amounts of batter onto the heated surface and cook until tops bubble. Turn carefully with a spatula and cook the second sides until browned, about 1 minute. Serve immediately.

Per serving (1 pancake): 55 calories; 0.5 g fat; 0.1 g saturated fat; 8.1% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 1.5 g protein; 11.8 g carbohydrates; 3.8 g sugar; 1.1 g fiber; 81 mg sodium; 32 mg calcium; 0.6 mg iron; 1.6 mg vitamin C; 9 mcg beta carotene; 0.3 mg vitamin E

Source: Healthy Eating for Life and to Prevent and Treat Cancer by Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.; recipe by Jennifer Raymond, M.S., R.D.

Recipe from Chef Mark Anthony. He has cooking classes on 3ABN.ORG

Ingredients

1/2 lb. red potato, cooked and cooled

3 Tbsp olive oil, divided

1 tsp garlic, minced

1 – 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp lemon zest

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/4 tsp freshly ground red pepper

2 egg replacer of ground flax seed and water  
 
Directions

Place all ingredients into a food processor and pulse a few times until the mixture is easily formed and not falling apart.  Form into 3/4-inch thick patties and cook over medium-high heat for about 3 to 5 minutes on each side. 

Note: This burger has a great simple flavor. You can add many different spices to kick it up a notch.  Bold Jalapeño, or Jamaican Jerk Rub will really make them pop.
 
I always recommend for people who are transitioning from a meat diet to a vegan lifestyle to pop everything with extra flavor from the spices and herbs. Then as your taste buds get off cholesterol, you will naturally go simpler and milder with your flavors.
     

Help People Detox

 

Welcome to my Help People Detox post about cleansing the body.

Help People Detox

Have you ever been sitting at a traffic light or stop sign and you were behind an older vehicle that emits toxic fumes? If you are like me, you try to stop breathing but sooner or later you will have to breathe in some of that carbon dioxide pollution. In my experience, the older diesel vehicles are the worst offenders.

I do live in California and I am able to get outside and exercise just about everyday of the year. When I am out getting my heart rate up on my bicycle or from doing a brisk walk, it disgusts me when I come across one of these heavy polluters. I guess the only hope for me is to move way out into the wilderness and build a log cabin.

Watch my video now where I share how to help people detox!

Toxic Air

From my home office window this afternoon, I could see about 10 chem trails up in the sky. I live in Southern California about 100 miles or so from Los Angeles International Airport. Planes are flying overhead almost 24 hours a day.

Cadmium is released into the air around the clock from fossil fuel burning vehicles.

Yesterday I wanted to sit outside and enjoy some of the middle of the day sunshine and fresh air while waiting for a medical appointment. I was overcome by the smell of cigarette smoke coming from a smoking shelter a few feet away. There are over 400 toxins in cigarette smoke alone.

Toxic Water

help people detoxEvery day I make one gallon of pure distilled water from a machine that I have had ever since I became aware of how toxic the water is. When the 6 hour cycle is over, I let the unit cool down for 20 minutes and then open up the chamber. In the bottom of the stainless steel chamber I see a brown coating and there is also some residue on the sides of the unit. Every thing that is not H2O has been removed and the residues I see are chemicals.

Just finished viewing a journal report from the PBS News Hour about chromium 6 in our water supply.

Public utility testing records reveal more than 70 million Americans are now drinking tap water tainted by chromium 6.

Toxic Food

When I was a child, there was no such thing as genetically modified organisms ( GMO ). In an effort to feed the growing population, agricultural corporations began modifying seeds to try and create crops that would be resistant to pesticides and droughts.

GMO seeds and foods are banned in Europe. Heirloom seeds are in high demand now as people are finding out the effects GMO foods have on their health. Genetically modified foods are less nutritious, more likely to trigger an allergy, and contain higher levels of growth hormones and pesticides.

Every week I hear more stories of cancer, diabetes, and obesity being linked to high fat animal products. Did you know that hot dogs are processed meats that have nitrates?

What Can We Do to Live in This Toxic World?

It is imperative that every person that lives on the face of the earth today have a detox regimen. Even if we have an all organic foods diet and drink only pure water, the air we breathe is still full of toxins.

help people detox

There is hope!

Grab a free package of our Medicinal Tonic and experience the cleanse you get from drinking some VelociTea for a week!

Nine out of ten people notice a result within one day of using VelociTea! Get your sample now on my site below:

Rush Me a Week of VelociTea

Be aware that I am not a licensed medical provider and my FDA disclaimer is found on the bottom of all my websites pages. I have had excellent results with fitness & wellness and promote products & services that I believe in. By taking effective action and using common sense, I am prescription free and living an abundant life of wellness.

Your Partner in Success!

Daniel Parsons

Life of Wellness

 

Welcome to my How to Live a Life of Wellness post. Have you noticed that there are many people living well into their 90’s now?

Jack LaLanne is well known for still being very active until he passed away at 96 years of age.

Wellness is a Lifestyle. This morning when I woke up, I was able to do a lower body work out, some yoga stretching, and hang upside down on my inversion table for 10 minutes. I then rode my bicycle down to South Beach here in Santa Barbara and watched the Amgen Tour of California bike race get started for the day. Stage 5 covers 116 miles from Santa Barbara to Avila Beach, California.

Life of WellnessWatching the pro cycling athletes ride by this morning was inspirational! These young men have no body fat on them. They are tone and muscular as cycling keeps them in top physical shape!

If you are interested in seeing some of the pictures from the support staff like the vehicles that have the spare bike parts, you can add me on Social Media on the top right of my website!

I noticed there were many of my fellow Santa Barbara residents down at the start of the course this morning. I was not the only ‘grey’ haired bicycle rider out this morning to watch the event. There were people of all ages down at South Beach today!

Everyone must have realized that the easiest way to get access was to ride their own bicycles to the race. The city of Santa Barbara has many dedicated bike lanes so traveling on bicycle is very popular here. I am out riding my bicycle often as I can ship orders at the post office for products that customers by either through Amazon or from my website. It is more difficult to find a parking place for my small truck so I just take my bicycle lock and chain downtown when I have to ship from the post office!

One of my goals in life is to keep myself fit by doing some weight bearing exercises, some yoga stretching and either 30 minute brisk walks everyday or ride my bicycle for an hour or so. I have been achieving this goal since I made it in 2000.

Our bodies need the exercise to remain strong and vibrant. Our bodies also need some excellent nutrition. My heart and soul want to Live a Life of Wellness.

Life of WellnessI learned about a source that provides my body with dense nutrients and plenty of energy every single day. I am talking about some Organic Caldera Greens that I add into my fruit smoothie every morning.

I don’t take any energy drinks, caffeine or sodas into my body. Why play around with something like Monster or Five Hour Energy when you can get the real deal with dense nutrition from Organic Alfalfa, Barley, Oat and Wheat Grass Greens?

Caldera Greens also have Sea Vegetation, Dulse, Kelp and Dunaliella Salina. There are no fillers, additives, excipients, animal products, gluten, dairy or GMO foods and the Greens are certified Organic from a farm in Utah, USA.

Find out more about Caldera Greens and having abundant natural energy from a whole food product on my page below:

Caldera Greens

Call Me If I Can Help You Live a Life of Wellness!

Daniel Parsons

Santa Barbara, CA

 

This recipe uses soba, a Japanese buckwheat pasta. Buckwheat is a great source of rutin, a plant pigment that may help fight against some forms of cancer. Soba also contains about twice the amount of protein as rice.

Ingredients

Makes 6 Servings

12 ounces dry soba noodles 
1 teaspoon salt 
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, or 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped 
2 teaspoons soy sauce 
2 tablespoons flour 
8 ounces seitan, sliced 
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and sliced 
1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced 
3 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced 
1 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water 
1 medium onion, thinly sliced 
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Bring water to boil in a large pot. Add soba noodles and salt and boil for about 8 minutes until al dente (cooked enough to be firm and chewy, but not mushy). Drain noodles and rinse with cold water to prevent them from sticking.

Sauté onion in a large skillet with 1/4 cup vegetable broth or water until transparent, and then add mushrooms and bell peppers. Cover and continue cooking until mushrooms are brown and bell peppers are soft, and then stir in seitan. Add more vegetable broth or water as needed if pan becomes dry.

Whisk flour and remaining 1 1/2 cups broth or water together until smooth. Add this mixture to the skillet along with soy sauce, garlic, and black pepper. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat until thickened.

Pour seitan mixture over noodles, top with parsley, and serve.

Freshly boiled soba noodles are best when eaten immediately. Stored in a covered container in the refrigerator, leftovers from the dish will keep for 2 to 3 days.

Tip: Most brands of soba noodles contain sodium. Try to find a brand that is lower in sodium and consider omitting salt from cooking water.

Source: The Survivor’s Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival by Neal D. Barnard, M.D. and Jennifer Reilly, R.D.

Per serving: 263 calories; 1.3 g fat; 0.2 g saturated fat; 4.4% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 17.6 g protein; 49.5 g carbohydrates; 4.9 g sugar; 5.6 g fiber; 796 mg sodium; 53 mg calcium; 3.1 mg iron; 67 mg vitamin C; 751 mcg beta carotene; 0.9 mg vitamin E

Improve Your Health and Earn Cash

 

Welcome to my Improve Your Health and Earn Cash post where I show you four simple steps to a secure income. Normally not getting sleep at night is not a nice thing to experience. I am sure we all go through our difficult times in life. But what about when you cannot sleep because you realized how powerful the marketing plan is now at the Whole Wellness Club? That may qualify as a good Sleepless in……. story.

Improve Your Health and Earn Cash

Caldera Greens

Here are some highlights that you should consider:

1. Preferred customers now earn 30 percent commission for every referral made to the company. This is a customer rewards program that is instant! Imagine how many people will get excited because they can easily have enough rewards in their account for a free Canister of Caldera Greens every month. I know that excites me.

2. Just share a week of the Detox Tea with everyone you can and then share the Detox Cash Marketing System that pays out 50 % as wide and deep as you can build. The free tea giveaway system is just $14.95 a month. If you give out 100 packages of the tea each month, your business will explode. Only one sample is able to be shipped to each household.

3. You can earn on the first four levels of the Simplicity Pay Plan by just having $100 of volume each month. You will need to sponsor either a new distributor at that same $100 of volume or sign up as many customers as you can. Some of the customers will convert over to being a distributor because of how powerful the pay plan is. Improve Your Health and Earn Cash will naturally result with the following success steps:

Four Steps to Success in the Whole Wellness Club:

1. Believe In the Power of You-Set Your Mind to Succeed
2. Give Away Samples of VelociTea
3. Show the Detox Cash Marketing System – No Autoship 2 x 2 Cycler
4. Introduce Simplicity Pay Plan to Detox Cash Members You Attracted

Improve Your Health and Earn Cash

Whole Wellness Club

Must do steps in order to have best results. You would not approach someone with Step 4 if they have not used the detox tea first.

The free tea giveaway system is a subscription that you can access in your back office. It is $14.95 a month and you can give away as much tea as possible. Only one package to each address is allowed. Here is my Free Tea Giveaway Site:

Rush Me a Free Sample of VelociTea

 

Here Is My Whole Wellness Club Site:

All Natural Whole Food Products That Pays Cash

 

Contact Me If I Can Help You Improve Your Health and Earn Cash!

Daniel Parsons

Santa Barbara, CA

 

Health Benefits of Eating Organic Foods

Ever since I started being more discerning about what I put in my mouth, I have been reading food and nutrition labels. I am amazed at all of the added fat, salt and sugar that is added to processed foods. Two phrases that you need to watch out for are: Natural Flavors and High Fructose Corn Syrup. Processed foods are found in boxes, cans, and plastic wrappers. How can we avoid eating processed foods and keep ourselves from gaining weight?

When you walk into most grocery stores here in Santa Barbara, California, the store has a fresh fruit and vegetable section on one side of the store. Most stores have a baked goods section on the opposite end of the store from the produce section. The bakery is where you find your breads and cakes, pies, and donuts.

The middle section of the store is where you will find most of the processed foods. You will see aisles of boxed, canned and packaged foods in the middle of the store. Not all of the packaged foods are processed foods. Case in point is if you are just buying a bag of brown rice or black beans in a plastic wrapper. These foods are healthy for you as there is no added fat, sugar or salt.

Store layouts also have refrigerated sections that contain frozen foods. Many frozen foods are processed. The exception would be fruits and vegetables that are frozen at harvest time by the growers.

Have you ever noticed that the foods in the produce section have no nutritional labels on them? If we eat foods as grown, we will be healthier. Our body is not designed for all of the added flavors, fat, salt and sugars that food manufacturers add to the processed foods.

Genetically modified foods ( GMO ) have become a serious problem in our world. In an attempt to feed the exploding population, agricultural conglomerates have been experimenting with genetically modifying food for decades now. The health problems that result from eating GMO foods is that nutrients are no longer in many of our foods. Our bodies are starving for nutrition and the food is not supplying the required nutrients.

I buy organic produce as much as I can. The reason is that most organic food is not GMO food. I grew a large garden of organic fruits and vegetables every year in my backyard in Washington State when I lived there. Now that I live in Southern California and no longer grow a garden, I shop for organic foods from my local farmers markets and through a company that is based in Dufur, Oregon. I am going to share with you the statements that are made on a 5 pound package of their Organic Steel Cut Oats so you to can also learn about eating from healthy sources.

Azure Farm: Healthy Food from Healthy Soil

Why Organic?

Organic farming protects the water supply, enriches the soil, encourages biodiversity & helps reduce the toxic burden on our bodies and our planet.

Azure farm is located in the foothills east of Mt. Hood, Oregon. This dry-land wheat-farming country produces an abundance of soft white wheat and other grains. Azure Farm has been growing organically for over 40 years, and we use organic soil amendments that will actually improve our soil, and consequently improve the food itself. Organic foods are not genetically modified.

The Story of Azure Farm

In 1971, we changed from commercial farming practices to organic methods on our 2,000 acre dry-land wheat & cattle ranch. We then noticed an improvement in our family’s health.

For years, we sold our organic crops in bulk. Our contacts with other organic farmers have made it possible for us to offer many more organically grown products under the Azure Farm brand. ~The Stelzer Family~

The Unifine Process

In our special unifine mill the grain enters a high speed rotor and is instantly shattered into fine flour. Air goes through the rotor with the grain. This keeps the flour cool through the process, thereby retaining many nutrients destroyed by traditional milling methods.

Unifine flours also stay fresh longer because the oils are kept intact. Use unifine flours for exquisite, fine textured breads, and special treats!

Azure Farm All Organic Products Include:

  • Beans
  • Cereals
  • Dry Milk Products
  • Flours
  • Grains
  • Pancake & Baking Mixes
  • Seeds
  • Soup Mixes
  • Sweeteners

You can check the Azure Farm website to see if you live near a drop point of their delivery trucks that make monthly deliveries to the Western part of the United States. The company also offers UPS shipping for other customers that may live outside of the companies scheduled delivery trips.

Here is a quick tasty dessert that has no animal products in the recipe. Enjoy!


Ingredients:

One 15 ounce can of Pure Pumpkin
One cup of no sugar added Apple Sauce
One teaspoon of Pumpkin Pie Spice ( see how to make your own spice below )
Two Tablespoons of Creamy Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
Handful of Dry Cranberries

Just add all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well. Serve at room temperature or chilled if you prefer. I refrigerate mine since I live in a warmer climate.

Pumpkin Pie Spice from Scratch:

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of ginger
1/8 teaspoon of cloves
1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg
This recipe offers a creative way to put a new twist on last night’s leftover baked or steamed potatoes.

Ingredients

Makes 8 halves (8 servings)

1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and drained, or 2 pounds fresh spinach, chopped and steamed 
1/4 cup dry millet, rinsed 
1 1/2 cups water 
4 medium russet potatoes 
2 tablespoons cashews 
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 
1/4 teaspoon black pepper 
1 teaspoon salt 
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted (optional)

Directions

If using frozen spinach, remove from the freezer to thaw.

Place millet in a small saucepan with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook until all water is absorbed, about 1 hour. Set aside.

Bake, microwave, or steam potatoes until tender when pierced with a knife. When cool enough to handle, carefully cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out flesh, leaving a 1/4-inch thick shell. Set flesh and shells aside.

Steam fresh or frozen spinach.

Combine cooked millet, cashews, nutmeg, black pepper, and salt in a blender with remaining 1/2 cup water. Blend on high speed until completely smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping blender occasionally to scrape down sides with a rubber spatula.

Transfer potato flesh to a skillet. Use a spoon to break into bite-size chunks. Add spinach and warm over medium heat, stirring often. When hot, stir in millet mixture. Cook over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes to heat through and thicken slightly. Scoop into reserved shells and sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using, before serving.

Stored in a covered container in the refrigerator, leftover Potato Boats with Spinach Stuffing will keep for up to two days. Reheat them using an oven or microwave. 

Per serving (1 half): 124 calories; 1.5 g fat; 0.3 g saturated fat; 10.8% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 4.1 g protein; 24.8 g carbohydrates; 1.3 g sugar; 3.4 g fiber; 327 mg sodium; 51 mg calcium; 1.7 mg iron; 8.8 mg vitamin C; 1700 mcg beta carotene; vitamin E 0.9 mg

Source: The Survivor’s Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival by Neal D. Barnard, M.D., and Jennifer Reilly, R.D. 
This zesty crème is perfect as a guilt-free dessert. It can be served as a pudding or a topping on fruit, cake, or pie.

Ingredients

Makes 1 cup (4 servings)

1 12.3-ounce package reduced-fat, extra-firm silken tofu, crumbled 
1/3 cup Grade A (light) maple syrup or agave nectar 
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
1 tablespoon lemon peel, grated

Directions

Blend tofu, maple syrup or agave nectar, lemon juice, and lemon peel until very smooth in a blender or food processor (or place in a bowl and use a handheld blender). Refrigerate in a covered container until chilled.

Per serving (1/4 recipe): 105 calories; 0.8 g fat; 0.1 g saturated fat; 6.7% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 5.6 g protein; 19.9 g carbohydrates; 16.7 g sugar; 0.2 g fiber; 79 mg sodium; 53 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 4.8 mg vitamin C; 0 mcg beta carotene; 0.1 mg vitamin E

Source: Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs by Neal D. Barnard, M.D.; recipe by Bryanna Clark Grogan

Natural Healing Steps for Cancer

Welcome to my Natural Healing Steps for Cancer blog post.

It seems like everyday now I hear about someone I personally know or read about a social media connection that has been diagnosed with cancer. One hundred years ago, one in ten people would be diagnosed with cancer. In 2013, one out of two people will deal with cancer in their lifetime. What happened?

Natural Healing Steps for CancerIn 1910, Americans consumed about 4 pounds of sugar every year. Many people had jobs that required physical exertion. Many people had small farms and just about everyone that didn’t live in the cities grew gardens of fresh fruits and vegetables. There were no processed foods. People cooked 3 meals at home each day.

Families ate breakfast and dinner together. I even remember working hard on my neighbor’s farm one day when I was about 12 years old. We had a large breakfast and then went out and worked on fencing.

My neighbor’s grandmother called us in at noon to eat a hot plate of vegetables and meatloaf with some homemade cornbread. Of course we had some apple pie for dessert. Those three square home cooked meals were much better as far as providing the body with nutrients than the fast food meals people consume today.

In today’s world, people consume about 4 pounds of sugar every single week. I have seen people eat the following food in a 24 hour period:

Natural Healing Steps for CancerBreakfast was grabbed at a donut shop. Before I lost 70 pounds in 2000 and began my quest for better health, I really liked grabbing some maple bars and a large cup of coffee for breakfast.

Lunch was a Double Burger with french fries and a large soda.

Supper was a pizza delivered to your home so you could sit on the couch and watch sports.

I have left out any reference to any specific business or brand name to prevent any slander or backlash from people that may own stock in companies that are in the fast food industry.

I am upset. People get trapped into this hurry up fast paced environment and get addicted to all the fat, salt, and sugar that is in fast foods and in processed foods. The end result is disease and illness. A long time Naturopathic Doctor that I know states that People don’t catch or get Cancer, Diabetes, or Heart Disease. They earn these diseases through lifestyle choices.

The next step most people take once they are diagnosed with Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Disease is a trip to the family doctor. Many doctors are excellent health care providers. I do not want to slander or demeanor the medical profession in anyway. I just want to voice my concern.

Natural Healing Steps for CancerNatural Healing Steps for Cancer is a way for cancer patients to learn everything they can to help themselves deal with the diagnosis.

I personally know Doctors that will not have anything to do with medical conventions or trips that are sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Drug Industry. There was a report on tonight’s PBS News Hour about how Doctors are given meals and entertained at places like Hooters by marketers from the Pharmaceutical Drug Industry.

Pharmaceutical drugs treat the underlying symptoms of disease and illness. Many of these drugs are toxic. The drugs will cause further harm to your health. Getting to the root cause of what made a person get a disease is the solution. The best diagnosis is to prescribe a total lifestyle change. If done gradually right away, the body many times has the ability to reverse these illnesses.

Natural Healing Steps for Cancer

1. Eat Foods As Grown

2. Eliminate Animal Products

3. Eat Plant Based Diet

4. Brisk 30 Minute Walk Daily

5. Drink Pure Water

6. Fresh Air & Sunshine

7. Pray for Healing

8. Use Meditation

9. Detox the Body

10. Supplement with Whole Food Supplements That Boost Bodies Immune System

caldera greensThe canisters of Organic Greens in the photo are nutrient dense whole food products that you can easily add to your morning fruit smoothie to give you body abundant energy for the day.

Just clink on the picture to learn more!

Be aware that I am not a licensed medical provider and my FDA disclaimer is found on the bottom of all my websites pages. I have had excellent results with fitness & wellness and promote products & services that I believe in. By taking effective action and using common sense, I am prescription free and living an abundant life of wellness.

Your Partner in Success!

Daniel Parsons

 

Boston Bombings & Explosion in Texas

There were 8 tragedies that occurred during the week of 15 – 21 April 2013. Anyone of the following events would make headline news on days where there were no major tragic events happening in the world.
 
1. Boston bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon athletic event kills three people and causes many injuries.
2. Gun Control Laws fail to move through the United States Senate after the tragedy of the Newtown, Connecticut school shootings that happened in December of 2012.
3. Tainted beef was found in Nebraska. Nebraska is well known for having prime cuts of beef for people that still eat animal products.
4. Major earthquake in Iran measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale causes many deaths and injuries.
5. Major flooding in the Midwest after severe drought the year before.
6. Price of gold drops dramatically causing a large loss for many people that depend on investments in precious metals to have a retirement income.
7. A tragic fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas causes many deaths and injuries.
8. Major earthquake in China measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale causes many deaths and injuries.
 
I saw people posting messages on Facebook about several of these tragedies last week. My business suffered the rest of the week as I was overwhelmed with sadness.
 
Just hearing about these events can cause a person to feel sad, worried and depressed. I no longer listen to the news programs or news channels except for the 30 minute Nightly Business Report and the one hour NewsHour program on PBS each evening. I prefer to listen to more hopeful and positive messages while working from my home office!
 
Friends, The Bible has a message for His People. God wants us to be Happy and not Sad. I am not saying that it is not right to be sad. As a person that has suffered from too much sadness and depression in the past, I can share what is helpful to me to break free from the over exposure to sadness and negative messages people are bombarded with on a daily basis.
 
I am glad Pastor Sam Geli gave a message straight from the Bible during his sermon on Sabbath, 20 April 2013 at Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Christian church. Here are the highlights of Sam’s message:
 
God wants us to be Happy. The word ‘happy’ is mentioned 42 times in the Bible.
 
In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, the word Blessed comes from the Hebrew word meaning happy.
 
Matthew 5
 

 

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
 
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
When we live the Beatitudes, we are painting a picture of Jesus Christ to the people around us!
When King David was sad, he sang songs of Praise. Read Psalms 100 and Psalms 144 in your Bible. David repented and lived out a joyful life serving God and singing praises to God.
Contact me if you want to know some more resources about how to live a joyful Christian life!
Daniel Parsons

 

Serve this sweet and savory stir-fry over a bed of brown rice or quinoa for a wholesome lunch or dinner!

Ingredients

Serves 4

1/4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 cup all-fruit apricot preserves
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 cup onion, sliced into half-moons
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups button mushrooms, halved
1 cup carrots, cut into matchsticks
1 cup green cabbage, shredded
2 cups broccoli spears
1 yellow summer squash, sliced into half-moons

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth, preserves, soy sauce, vinegar, and cornstarch. Set aside.

In a wok or large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons water over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the carrots and cabbage and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the broccoli and squash and cook just until they are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Pour the sauce over the vegetables and gently stir; cook until the sauce thickens slightly. Serve immediately.

*Time-saving tip: Use 1 16-ounce package frozen stir-fry vegetable blend in place of fresh vegetables.

Instead of soy sauce, I substitute Braggs All Natural Liquid Aminos.

Per serving (1/4 recipe): 162 calories; 5 g protein; 38 g carbohydrate; 23 g sugar; 0.7 g total fat; 4% calories from fat; 7 g fiber; 315 mg sodium

Source: Recipe by Christine Waltermyer from Power Foods for the Brain by Neal D. Barnard, M.D.

This wholesome salad is packed with fiber from its beans, grains, vegetables, and fruit.  Serve it as either a side dish or a complete meal.

Ingredients

Makes about 6 cups (6 servings)

1 cup dry bulgur 
1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate 
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar 
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked beans 
2 green onions, thinly sliced 
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 
1 orange, peeled and chopped 
2 cups boiling water 
3/4 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions

Place bulgur in a large bowl and mix with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add boiling water and stir just to mix, then cover and let stand until bulgur is tender, about 25 minutes. Cool completely.

When bulgur is cool, add orange, bell pepper, green onions, and beans.

In a separate bowl, mix vinegar, orange juice concentrate, cumin, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add to salad and toss to mix. If possible, chill before serving.

This salad is very flavorful the next day. Stored in a covered container in the refrigerator, leftover Bulgur and Orange Salad will keep for up to 3 days.

Per Serving (1 cup): 174 calories; 0.7 g fat; 0.1 g saturated fat; 3.5% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 7.5 g protein; 37 g carbohydrates; 6.9 g sugar; 8.2 g fiber; 473 mg sodium; 59 mg calcium; 2 mg iron; 33.9 mg vitamin C; 258 mcg beta carotene; 0.3 mg vitamin E

Source: The Survivor’s Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival by Neal D. Barnard. M.D., and Jennifer Reilly, R.D.

Enjoy the added richness of “bacon” flavoring without the guilt of high sodium, fat, and cholesterol.

Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

3 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved vertically 
1 cup vegetarian bacon (about 8 slices), such as Yves Veggie Canadian Bacon or Lightlife Fakin’ Bacon, chopped 
4 green onions, chopped 
1/4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth 
salt, to taste 
freshly ground black pepper, to taste 
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

Add Brussels sprouts to a saucepan of boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. Drain immediately and plunge into ice-cold water to stop the cooking process. When they are cold, drain well.

Heat a large nonstick skillet, wok, or stir-fry pan over high heat. Add vegetarian bacon and green onions and steam-fry until green onions are soft, adding very small amounts of water as needed to prevent sticking and burning. Add sprouts and broth and stir-fry for about 3 minutes. Season with the salt and black pepper and drizzle with lemon juice. Toss and serve immediately.

Per serving (1/8 of recipe): 88 calories; 1 g fat; 0.2 g saturated fat; 9.7% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 10.2 g protein; 13.2 g carbohydrates; 5.3 g sugar; 4.6 g fiber; 194 mg sodium; 76 mg calcium; 2.6 mg iron; 104.9 mg vitamin C; 818 mcg beta carotene; 0.8 mg vitamin E

Source: Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes by Neal D. Barnard, M.D.; recipe by Bryanna Clark Grogan