Long called Jewish penicillin, chicken soup's power to heal has mainly been viewed as folklore but recent scientific studies have proven that it has genuine health benefits, so much so that research doctors in Israel have asked the World Health Organization to add it to the List of Essential Drugs for Infections.
Forget pills, sprays and prescriptions. What you really need is hot chicken soup.
Around the 12th century, healers started to prescribe " the broth of fowl" for their ill patients. Egyptian Jewish physician and philosopher Rabbi Moses Maimonides started to write extensively about the benefits of chicken soup. He used this fowl brew to treat such things as constipation, hemorrhoids and even leprosy but he especially praised its healing power for respiratory illnesses.
In the 1990s, Dr. Stephen Renard at the University of Nebraska wanted to test his mother-in-law's theory that chicken soup is good for colds.
He conducted many tests, using a recipe he titled "Grandma's Soup." The results demonstrated that chicken soup is a good anti-inflammatory. Current researchers agree that chicken soup breaks up congestion and eases the flow of nasal secretions. And many say it inhibits the white blood cells that trigger the inflammatory response causing sore throats and the production of phlegm. Chicken soup also contains a sulfur compound called cystine, which protects against infections of the throat, sinuses and chest.
Here are two recipes, one Eastern, and one Western, for this magic elixir.
Remember, no matter its provenance, it must be served hot. Soup from cans, boxes or packets has been proven to be less beneficial. So, if you are starting to feel ill, quickly run out to the market and grab yourself a chicken or call your nearest and dearest, then whine and moan and, hopefully, they'll bring over the soup.
2012年2月1日星期三
2011年9月22日星期四
Two prayer requests you never hear on a Sunday morning
Prayer requests are handled differently in different churches. Some are printed in the bulletin. Sometimes the minister reads the requests. Some people share prayer concerns during the service. Some churches gather around you for the “laying on of hands.”
Regardless of the tradition, there are two prayer requests that have never been nor will ever be uttered during the Sunday morning service. The first is “I have hemorrhoids.” Don’t even think about the “laying on of hands” in this scenario. The other is asking for prayer because a loved one is an alcoholic or drug addict.
I mentioned that to a pastor and his answer was, “Yes, I have heard that prayer asked” but always in the privacy of the pastor’s office. Never before the rest of the congregation.
Substance abuse, whether it is alcohol or drugs, carries an “ocean” of shame for the non-addict with a loved one caught in this problem. To admit one has a family member or loved one with this problem is almost to say, “I’m damaged goods because my loved one is an addict. I failed at being a good parent” or “I failed at choosing the right mate.”
What do you do? Permit me to speak to you – the non-addict.
I am responsible “to” others, not “for” others. (Did you catch the difference? If not, go back and read it again.) When I speak at a church, I am responsible to be there, to be there on time and to have something from God’s word to challenge the congregation. I am responsible “to” you. I’m not responsible “for” you. I can’t control whether you are taking notes on my sermon or working on your grocery list. That is your decision, not mine.
Every addict needs someone in his life to keep him from facing the consequences of his addictive behavior. That non-addicted person confuses love with enabling. I’ve had too many conversations with parents who ask the following about their 23-year-old, young adult child: First, should I bail him or her out of jail? Second, should I replace his or her car when he or she totaled it during the last drinking binge?
The answer is NO. Instead of replacing the car, I counseled one family to buy their love one a bike. While biking to work, the addict would have to ponder the question, “Was that fifth can of beer worth it enough to bike to work instead of driving?”
The family never called me back. I’m sure they replaced the car.
Think of the typical cowboy movie where the bad guy gets shot, falls off the roof and dies. In reality, if that did happen, the director would be arrested for murder. Instead, the actor is confident to fall off the roof because the director has placed a big, blue “air pillow” next to the saloon. After the actor lands on the blue pillow, he hops off, crew members move the pillow, and he lies down and does his death-and-dying scene. That’s what you and I see while watching the movie.
Every addict has a big, blue, air pillow in his or her life, someone who will prevent the addict from facing the consequences of his or her behavior. If you decide to move the pillow and allow your loved one to land hard on the ground, they will stand up and curse you out.
Normally, that’s enough for you to apologize and return the pillow to its rightful place (note my sarcasm). After all, you hate conflict. But if you do that, your loved one will never change.
Change comes only when you move the pillow, and say, “I’m going to honor your decision to drink and drive and wreck the car and get arrested.”
Since I am not going to bail you out of jail or buy you another car – or allow you to use mine (and here is the key phrase) – what are you going to do about it? When your loved one finishes cursing you out, telling you he or she hates your God and wishing he or she was never born, call me at 704-333-HOPE, ext. 202. I’ll support you for taking the first step of moving your loved one from a life of insanity to a life of serenity.
I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well, my friends.
Regardless of the tradition, there are two prayer requests that have never been nor will ever be uttered during the Sunday morning service. The first is “I have hemorrhoids.” Don’t even think about the “laying on of hands” in this scenario. The other is asking for prayer because a loved one is an alcoholic or drug addict.
I mentioned that to a pastor and his answer was, “Yes, I have heard that prayer asked” but always in the privacy of the pastor’s office. Never before the rest of the congregation.
Substance abuse, whether it is alcohol or drugs, carries an “ocean” of shame for the non-addict with a loved one caught in this problem. To admit one has a family member or loved one with this problem is almost to say, “I’m damaged goods because my loved one is an addict. I failed at being a good parent” or “I failed at choosing the right mate.”
What do you do? Permit me to speak to you – the non-addict.
I am responsible “to” others, not “for” others. (Did you catch the difference? If not, go back and read it again.) When I speak at a church, I am responsible to be there, to be there on time and to have something from God’s word to challenge the congregation. I am responsible “to” you. I’m not responsible “for” you. I can’t control whether you are taking notes on my sermon or working on your grocery list. That is your decision, not mine.
Every addict needs someone in his life to keep him from facing the consequences of his addictive behavior. That non-addicted person confuses love with enabling. I’ve had too many conversations with parents who ask the following about their 23-year-old, young adult child: First, should I bail him or her out of jail? Second, should I replace his or her car when he or she totaled it during the last drinking binge?
The answer is NO. Instead of replacing the car, I counseled one family to buy their love one a bike. While biking to work, the addict would have to ponder the question, “Was that fifth can of beer worth it enough to bike to work instead of driving?”
The family never called me back. I’m sure they replaced the car.
Think of the typical cowboy movie where the bad guy gets shot, falls off the roof and dies. In reality, if that did happen, the director would be arrested for murder. Instead, the actor is confident to fall off the roof because the director has placed a big, blue “air pillow” next to the saloon. After the actor lands on the blue pillow, he hops off, crew members move the pillow, and he lies down and does his death-and-dying scene. That’s what you and I see while watching the movie.
Every addict has a big, blue, air pillow in his or her life, someone who will prevent the addict from facing the consequences of his or her behavior. If you decide to move the pillow and allow your loved one to land hard on the ground, they will stand up and curse you out.
Normally, that’s enough for you to apologize and return the pillow to its rightful place (note my sarcasm). After all, you hate conflict. But if you do that, your loved one will never change.
Change comes only when you move the pillow, and say, “I’m going to honor your decision to drink and drive and wreck the car and get arrested.”
Since I am not going to bail you out of jail or buy you another car – or allow you to use mine (and here is the key phrase) – what are you going to do about it? When your loved one finishes cursing you out, telling you he or she hates your God and wishing he or she was never born, call me at 704-333-HOPE, ext. 202. I’ll support you for taking the first step of moving your loved one from a life of insanity to a life of serenity.
I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well, my friends.
2011年6月1日星期三
Ride Your Bike Decrease Heart Disease in Half
Just twenty miles a week of cycling can cut the risk for coronary heart disease in half according to the British Medical Association.
A large study conducted among 10,000 civil servants had suggested that those persons who cycled twenty miles a week had half the risk of enduring heart disease in comparison to those who did not cycle.
With the summer month’s now getting ready to roll in it is a great way to experience nature and get some fresh air. Your daily stresses will be on the back burner of your mind and it will enliven your soul, at least which is what many bikers believe.
The health benefits in which you receive are numerous:
Shed Unwanted Pounds
Consistent cycling allows you to burn off 300 calories an hour. Just thirty minutes each day of the week gives you eleven pounds of fat burned off for the year.
Want to tone the muscles, cycling can not only tone up the legs but also tones every part of the body. It will build it gradually without the strain and there is very little risk of over exercise. When you cycle on a regular basis it will aide in keeping the knee joints and hip mobile.
There have been studies conducted in which have advocated that cycling is one of the few exercises that can decrease cellulite from the thigh area.
Hectic week days compiling that stress level? Go for a bike ride it is great to reduce that stress and depression.
When cycling the weight of your body is not loaded on the back. So it makes it a great exercise for those suffering from spinal disorders. Among those who are suffering with bad posture and excessive weight.
If you happen to suffer from asthma or chronic bronchial, this type of physical activity increases respiratory capacity while it improves functioning of the tree bronchial.
Please keep in mind there are certain situations when cycling is not suggested:
Inflammatory disease such as acute and chronic external genitalia and urinary. Along with the presence of hemorrhoids, disc herniaion and lombosciatalgie in acute phase.
A large study conducted among 10,000 civil servants had suggested that those persons who cycled twenty miles a week had half the risk of enduring heart disease in comparison to those who did not cycle.
With the summer month’s now getting ready to roll in it is a great way to experience nature and get some fresh air. Your daily stresses will be on the back burner of your mind and it will enliven your soul, at least which is what many bikers believe.
The health benefits in which you receive are numerous:
Shed Unwanted Pounds
Consistent cycling allows you to burn off 300 calories an hour. Just thirty minutes each day of the week gives you eleven pounds of fat burned off for the year.
Want to tone the muscles, cycling can not only tone up the legs but also tones every part of the body. It will build it gradually without the strain and there is very little risk of over exercise. When you cycle on a regular basis it will aide in keeping the knee joints and hip mobile.
There have been studies conducted in which have advocated that cycling is one of the few exercises that can decrease cellulite from the thigh area.
Hectic week days compiling that stress level? Go for a bike ride it is great to reduce that stress and depression.
When cycling the weight of your body is not loaded on the back. So it makes it a great exercise for those suffering from spinal disorders. Among those who are suffering with bad posture and excessive weight.
If you happen to suffer from asthma or chronic bronchial, this type of physical activity increases respiratory capacity while it improves functioning of the tree bronchial.
Please keep in mind there are certain situations when cycling is not suggested:
Inflammatory disease such as acute and chronic external genitalia and urinary. Along with the presence of hemorrhoids, disc herniaion and lombosciatalgie in acute phase.
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