The Feast

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Our Family Juice Diet


My wife and I have been drinking Uri International's whole food organic juices since October of 07. Since that time my wife has lost over 30 lbs. and 3 dress sizes (from a 14 to a 10). I have lost 20lbs and one pant size (from a 46 to a 44). I also experienced absolutely no grass or tree pollen allergies this season! Both of us have arthritis and the juice has helped with some of the pain and stiffness. And we have energy that lasts all day long.

Our daily routine is one scoop of "The Feast", one scoop of "The Feast Supercharged", one scoop of "Beyond Berries" and one scoop of "Vegetein" in either 6oz's of soy milk, juice or organic yogurt for breakfast. This gives us the nutrition we need, incredible energy and keeps us satisfied until lunch.

For lunch it's some lean protein like chicken, fish or turkey with a fresh, organic salad with a balsamic/virgin olive oil dressing.

We have another juice at 3:30pm at the time we usually would experience a lull in our energy level. This juice gives us the energy boost we need in the afternoon.

For dinner again it's a lean source of protein, some good lipids and complex carbohydrates from raw, fresh, organic produce. And that's it!

We drink only our juice and water, try to exercise daily and rest for 8 hours a day. We feel better at 53 and 50 than we did in our thirties. The importance of good nutrition, hydration, exercise and rest becomes more important as we age.

I thank God for products like "The Feast", "The Feast Supercharged" , "Beyond Berries" and "Vegetein". Organic whole food nutrition in an easy to mix powder that is ready when you are. At about $1 per serving these products represent a great nutritional value. Live organic super foods dried quickly at low temperatures to preserve the live enzymes and probiotics provide the necessary nutrients in a form that is easily absorbed and utilized by the body!

Grace and Peace,
Ed



Thursday, May 22, 2008

The Difference Between Whole Food Nutrition and Vitamins


The purpose of this post is to explain the difference between whole food nutrition and vitamin and mineral supplementation. In nature, vitamins and minerals are never isolated; they are always present in food in complex form, meaning synergistically connected to other nutrients and elements. Synergy means that each element works with and is interconnected with each other. No nutrient stands alone in whole foods. Most of these synergists are unknown to scientists, but keep in mind the identity of a nutrient is found in connection with all necessary food substances, not isolated by itself. Each vitamin has a specific function and cannot be replaced by something else. The factors that influence the absorption of a nutrient relate not only to the nature of the nutrient itself, but also the interaction with other components (synergists) in the food. If you are deficient in one vitamin, the orchestra of nutrients in the body can be hindered in their metabolic function.

We must understand man can never duplicate nature perfectly, especially when all vitamins, minerals, phyto-chemicals and enzymes are not yet known to man. He does not know what they are, has not discovered them yet, their action in the body, and the effect they have in the body isolated or with its other thousands synergistic substances. How can a scientist produce what he has not yet discovered? Nutrition should not be guess work. Man at his best will never be able to produce the synergy of nature. Put your trust in nature.

There are thousands of unknown elements in each food. Ten years ago we knew nothing about phyto-chemicals (phyto=plant, plant chemicals), but they were in whole foods, put there by nature, absorbed from the soil, and are absolutely necessary for normal metabolic activates. Without them we lay the foundation for a weak immune system and disease.

In an article by Judith DeCava called, “Biochemistry of Foods and Supplements”, it is stated, “To isolate or separate a vitamin, mineral, amino acid or other component and call it a nutrient is just as impractical as isolating a steering wheel, battery, or carburetor and calling it an automobile. It won’t work without the other parts.” She also states that electron microscopy indicates that isolated USP vitamins appear larger and have a crystalline appearance compared to vitamins in a natural food complex which have more of a rounded and smaller appearance. Scientists know that particle size is an important factor determining its absorbability.

Another very important factor which is seldom if ever explained to us is a term called selective absorption. This simply means that the body must choose what it needs and when it needs a nutrient to keep itself metabolically sound. All the known and unknown nutrients must be present at any given time to be absorbed. Only whole food can supply these.

Fruits and vegetables and other whole foods are absolutely, unequivocally necessary on a daily basis for all humans, adults and children. It is stated that we should eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Do you? Of course not. I would like to add something to this. Three of these fruits and vegetables should be dense, nutritious choices like parsley, kale, spinach, broccoli, and beets. When we do eat these foods, they are usually cooked. Cooking can be detrimental because of nutrient losses, making the equation even more difficult.

Here is why we need live whole food supplementation instead of a bunch of vitamin pills:

1. We do not eat enough fruits and vegetables.
2. We cannot always get seasonal fresh produce.
3. The soil and our foods can be very nutrient deficient.
4. We do not eat the dense nutritious fruits and vegetables. If we do, we cook them and destroy a large part of the necessary enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Keep in mind frozen, processed, and canned foods can be deficient, to say nothing of foods that are shipped in from distant places that are losing their nutrient value.
5. We do not eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.
6. Fruits and vegetables are necessary for everybody throughout their lifetime. Synthetic supplements may not be.
7. The known and unknown synergistic nutrients are in whole foods-fruits and vegetables. They are not in man made supplements.

We know that the foods we are eating on a daily basis are not doing the job. It is a mistake to think that deficient soils and overcooked foods will support a healthy lifestyle and longevity. Plenty of studies have proven these statements otherwise. In some situations supplements are necessary. Your first priority is to eat wholesome foods prepared with the least amount of heat possible. Secondly, choose a wide variety of concentrated organically grown food sources to support your diet. Thirdly, choose a live, organic vitamin and mineral supplement like "The Feast" to supplement your diet. And, finally drink plenty of fresh, purified water to cleanse and replenish your body.

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Beyond Berries is Beyond Fruit Juice!


BEYOND BERRIES™Live Whole Food Based InstaFresh™ Juice Powder Supreme Fruit & Berry Blend is a supreme blend of Nature’s most nutrient rich fruits and berries. Beyond Berries is the one and only product on the planet that delivers a full, synergistic combination of antioxidant rich concentrated fruits and berries, active enzymes, fulvic minerals and probiotics. Beyond Berries provides more antioxidant rich fresh fruit and berry concentrates per serving than any other fruit or berry supplement.


Beyond Berries™


Does not contain synthetic, isolated or inorganic vitamins and minerals.


Dried at temperatures below 100°F.Preservative free.


Non-pasteurized.


Nutritious and delicious. Tastes Great!


Each serving contains naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds, amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids, fiber & phytonutrients.

The proprietary low-temperature drying process concentrates live whole foods and fresh, raw juices into nutrient dense, great tasting, juice powders for the ultimate in all natural, convenient nutrition.


One jar of Beyond Berries live whole food based, InstaFresh™ juice makes approximately 180 fluid ounces of juice which provides excellent value. Beyond Berries provides a quality, quantity and variety of ingredients that is superior to synthetic, pasteurized or preserved liquid and powder supplements. For optimal convenience in all natural nutrition, there’s nothing better than nutrient rich, non-pasteurized, unpreserved, concentrated fruits and berries like those found in Beyond Berries.


Typical ORAC Value: per suggested use 4,140. Per jar 124,200.
Try a no risk sample at www.UriInternational.com/RealFoodForLife and see for yourself!


Grace and Peace,
Ed
www.urilife.net/realfoodforlife/products.html

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Best Meal Replacement Ever!

I am about to have my daily morning drink. No, not coffee. I quick blend 1 cup of soy milk, 1 cup of Stoneyfield Farm organic yogurt, 1 scoop of "The Feast Supercharged", 1 scoop of "Beyond Berries" and 1 scoop of "Vegetein™" and I'm on my way. It takes about 5min. to prepare and clean up and it tastes great! It satisfies my 6'5" 300lb. appetite satisfied for 4 hours! I just drink water.

Some days I will do two or three of these in a day. Sometimes I substitute water for the soy milk and fresh or frozen organic fruit for the yogurt. This drink is low fat, high in live enzymes, probiotics, fulvic minerals, protein, high quality carbohydrates and packed with antioxidants. One of these drinks alone has the recommended daily ORAC value. It's a great drink for the kids before school, especially the picky eaters! Just substitute "The Feast" for "The Feast Supercharged" and only the "Beyond Berries" if anyone is allergic to nuts.

When fasting I just use water, "The Feast", "The Feast Supercharged", "Beyond Berries" and "Vegetein". I drink 4-7 of them a day for one to seven days. I do a 3 Day fast for the first three days of each month. I feel great at 52 and it helps me control my weight.

Try some of these yourself. I pick up organic soy milk at the market or at Costco. I get my "Feast", "Feast Supercharged", "Beyond Berries" and "Vegetein" from Uri International at:


Grace and Peace,
Ed

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

If You Care About What You Eat...

A special Multimedia Report that reveals the TRUTH about what is going on with the food supply today!

Many people try to eat properly and think they’re doing pretty good job. But the truth is, there’s a lot happening to your food that most people don’t know. This exclusive special online presentation tells you the real story, including...

It’s the 21st Century, so why are we having so many problems with our food?

What’s in our food supply today that wasn’t there 50 years ago?

How much has the nutrition in my food dropped and why is this happening?

What’s the big difference between conventional and organic farming?

What are the real sources of vitamins and minerals?

Shocking news: What’s really in your food?

And many more eye-opening facts, warnings and secrets!

“Absolutely AWESOME!! I couldn't stop watching and listening.”
Marie G

“Simply put – Dynamic!”
Arlene G.


Grace and Peace,
Ed

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Breakfast Juice


Just had my juice for breakfast today with a normal lunch and dinner. I feel so much better when I get at least one juice drink in per day!


Grace and Peace
Ed

Monday, May 12, 2008

Nothing But Juice!


Back on the juice today. I did a three day juice fast from last Sunday through last Tuesday. Aside from the hunger, I felt great. There is such a mental and physical difference when you are eating right! I did OK Wed. and Thur. but went a bit overboard over the weekend.

We were celebrating Mother's day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I had Steak, Hamburgers, Sushi and Chinese Food. I started feeling sluggish yesterday and actually felt sick this morning.

So, this morning I had "THE FEAST SUPERCHARGED", "BEYOND BERRIES" and EAS Protein with 8 ozs of water. I am feeling better already. Less bloated and much clearer thinking. I am just starting to get hungry but hunger is good. I will have my next juice at 12 noon and I am looking forward to it.

Grace and Peace,
Ed
































Sunday, May 11, 2008

Starting another Fast/Feast

I am going to begin my juicing regime again this Monday. I don't know how long I will go but I know I need to take in more fluids this time. I get plenty of nutrition from the protein and "THE FEAST" but I need to supplement with more water to dilute and remove the toxins from my body more efficiently.

I love the way you feel when juice fasting/feasting. Cleaner, lighter, and sharper. I'll keep posting here to express how it's going and what I encounter through these periods of juice fasting and juice feasting.

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Juice Fast Day 4

Well, I gave in at 1pm today after 3 and a half days. I had a Nathan's Hot Dog, Double Cheese Burger, Small Fries and 3 Fried Chicken Wings with a Diet Coke. Not a good choice at all but understand that I LOVE that meal and used to get it at least twice a week! You don't get to be 346 pounds eating nothing!

I feel sorta disappointed that I just about reached 10% of my goal. But I clearly bit off more than I could chew! So I'll be fasting on and off for varying lengths of time. Using "THE FEAST" and the protein definitely gives me enough energy as I worked through these past four days with actually an increase of energy. Plenty of nutrition. It's not being used to denying my body the 3,000 calories it's used to and the pleasure and sense satisfaction that solid food brings.

I am re-discovering the benefits of juice fasting and plan to continue the practice for the rest of my life!

Grace and Peace,
Ed


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Juice Fast Day 3

Thanks to Mary for the comments on my last post. Evidently there is a difference between juice feasting and juice fasting and I am doing the latter. I consume 6 servings of "THE FEAST" in 36 ozs of water which is the equivalent to 36 lbs. of juiced organic produce. I also consume 3 servings of EAS Protein with and additional 36ozs of water. I have one 12oz drink every 3 hours starting at 7am and my last is at 10pm.

Last night I went to bed at 9pm. I was exhausted from work. I woke up at 12 with a splitting headache and some back pain as well. I attributed it to my fast and the detoxification process going on in my body. So I layed in bed meditating on scripture and life and praying. I fell asleep again around 2pm (that was the last time I looked at the clock).

I woke up this morning feeling quite well! No headache and the back pain greatly reduced. I also had a good amount of energy and was not hungry at all. Today is going better as it relates to the hunger issue. I was hungry for a total of about 3 hours on Sunday, 6 hours yesterday and it's 11am and was only hungry for about 30 min so far today.

My mental clarity is good and my energy level is also good. I am optimistic that I will achieve my goal of 40 days on this program and I can sense the Grace of God in it.

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Monday, May 5, 2008

Day 2

My second day of juice fasting is under way. I woke up not hungry as usual and had my juice at 7am. I just had my second juice and was a bit hungry but it calms down about 15min after drinking the juice and protein. The Feast and protein keep hunger away for about two hours or so. I am starting to be more sensitive to smells (especially food) which is a by-product of the fast. Your senses get awakened.

I am communing more with God as I am leaning on Him for the grace to get me through these 40 days of fasting. While I am excited to be on the fast there are moments of hunger and negative emotions as a result of not giving my body what it wants when it wants it.

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Today is the day!

I begin my 40 day juice/protein fast today. I am 52, 6'5", 307lbs. I am looking forward to all of the benefits of fasting and this one in particular. I have fasted before in fact I used to fast 3 days a month for about two years. I have also gone 7 days and 40 days about 20 years ago. Using the Feast and EAS Protein powder with water will enable me to sustain this fast without endangering my overall health. In fact my health will improve as I detox and get closer to my ideal weight of 240 lbs.

I am most excited about get closer to God through the spiritual sensitivity that comes by fasting. Also having more time will enable me to spend more time in prayer and the Word. I want to try to make time for an hour a day of extended prayer. I try to commune with God throughout the day but have been looking to spend more time again in extended prayer and Bible study.

Well the family has just finished dinner, I'm hungry, and that is good! I'm going to the church for a meeting with some of the other Pastors and to exhort at our 7:30 service. I'm looking forward to it.

Grace and Peace,
Ed

Saturday, May 3, 2008

My Juice Fast Overview

I have decided to go on an extended juice fast consuming just water, a scoop of THE FEAST and a scoop of EAS Premium Protein Powder. My plan is to have six of these drinks per day for a minimum of 40 days. I am doing this for several reasons.

First and foremost I want to weaken my flesh (my minds response to the cravings of my body). By weakening the flesh we strengthen the spirit. Both the body and the spirit seek attention from our mind and the one we feed the most becomes the stronger. Fasting is a great way to break the addictions that we develop over time.

Second, I would like to cleanse my body of toxins. The best way to do this is by juice fasting. Seeing as The FEAST is an insta-fresh juice powder of over 71 organic fruit, berries, greens, seeds, nuts and sprouts it has everything I need to replenish my body with live whole food nutrition. The protein powder will ensure that my muscles and organs are getting sufficient protein to maintain optimal health.

Lastly, I would like to lose about 60 pounds. I will give my starting weight when I begin in a few days but I want to be at the ideal weight for my height and age. One of the keys to a long healthy life is calorie restriction and proper nutrition. Less weight means less stress on the heart and other vital organs.

I will be drinking this drink at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm. I will only be drinking water in between as desired. This will provide me with 654 calories a day and all of the vital nutrients necessary for health and vitality. I will also be devoting more time and energy to my walk with God through prayer and Bible meditation. I am so looking forward to this. I will be using this blog to record my progress.

Grace and Peace,
Ed