Anti-cancer shopping list

Vegetables & Fruits
leafy greens
brussels sprouts
tomatoes
beets
carrots
sweet potatoes
squash
broccoli
onions, leeks, shallots
mushrooms
lentils
peppers: bell, jalapeno
spinach
oranges
grapefruit
lemon
lime
apples
berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
apricots
pomegranates
mango

Whole Grains
whole grains (bread, pasta, tortillas)
oats
flaxseed
quinoa

Proteins
salmon
mackerel
tilapia
tuna
soy products (tofu, beans, milk)

Spices & Herbs:
turmeric
ginger
cinnamon
rosemary
curry
chive
garlic
basil

Nuts/seeds/oils
pecans
walnuts
almonds
hazelnuts
flaxseed/flaxseed oil
olive oil
canola oil

Desserts/sweeteners
dark chocolate
Beverages
green tea
ginger tea
red wine (1 glass/day)

resource: Doctor Oz

Super Foods Top 5

1. Sweet Potato

The women of Okinawa, Japan (who also happen to be the world’s longest living ladies) enjoy a purple sweet potato they call Imo every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rich in beta-carotene and boasting 150% more antioxidants than blueberries, this easy-to-make treat can be simply incorporated into an American diet. And, if you can’t find Imo specifically, our orange sweet potatoes pack a similarly healthful wallop.

2. Turmeric Tea

You usually see the yellow spice turmeric in Indian curries, giving them their characteristic color. But those long-lived ladies of Okinawa slurp this spice in tea daily (and they have one-fifth the rate of breast cancer than their American counterparts). Studies have shown that turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that can help fight cancer.

3. Mangosteen

This sweet, tropical fruit originally from Indonesia has made its way onto supermarket shelves in the United States. Hidden inside a thick purple rind that you cut open, is a white, creamy flesh full of vitamins A and C as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. If you can’t find the fruit, the juice of the mangosteen, which is more widely available, is the next best thing. This is also available in tea form.

4. Mustard Greens

In Icaria, Greece, 1 in 3 people lives to the age of 90, making the Greek island one of the areas designated as a “blue zone,” where people enjoy superior longevity. There are also no cases Alzheimer’s disease reported there despite many people living to a ripe old age. One of the nourishing foods they enjoy are mustard greens. High in vitamin K (most Americans are deficient in this nutrient), the spicy greens are good for your blood and bone strength. Try them as the Icarians do: boil and then toss with a little virgin olive oil and lemon.

5. Barramundi Fish

If the Barramundi fish were a human, he would be a tree-hugging, salad-loving vegetarian. The Barramundi, hailing from the coast of Australia, eschews his fellow fish, dining on plankton instead. That means he doesn’t load up on mercury-packed smaller fish and has extremely low levels of the toxin, which is especially important for pregnant women. Free of mercury, but full of heart- and brain-healthy omega-3s, the Barramundi, which is becoming more popular in the US, is a shoe-in for one of the top 5 superfoods. Bonus: the white meat is light, flaky and delicious.

Resource: Dr. Oz and can reference at www.doctoroz.com

the no good top 5

Lately I have really been enjoying the Dr. Oz show, because not only is he very professional, but a lot of what he says is really good and beneficial for healthy living. So these top 5 are according to Dr. Oz. I find them to be true and helpful in not choosing certain foods that will prevent healthy goals.

The Count-down:
#5. Canned foods high in sodium.
These foods are bad for your arteries and your blood pressure!

#4. FAKE healthy foods
These are your foods claiming "low-fat, low-carb, sugar-free". Foods like this have artificial ingredients in order for them to replace the fat or sugar they lack, so that they still taste good. You usually end up over-eating with foods like this because you think they are healthy, when in actuality they are awful for your body.

#3. Ingredients you cannot pronounce.
If there is even ONE ingredient that is foreign to you, than it is probably foreign to your body. A lot of extra, unnessesary ingredients cause excessive gas because your body doesn't know how to break it down.

#2. Meats high in nitrates and unsaturated fats (such as deli meats or hot dogs)
This is actually really important to listen too. The more research being done on the preserves in some of our meats, the more aware we are becoming of its risks. Recent studies have even linked these perserves to stomach cancer.

#1. Sugars (Simple sugars and enriched carbohydrates)
This is all our junk food! These range from ice-cream, to every pastry sold on our shelves to even sugared cereals. Most of your pre-packaged foods are included in this. Our bodies are on sugar over-load...its no wonder diabetes is on the rise. These foods completely disrupt your metabolism.

Eat your spinach and embrace His heart

God has specifically placed some things on my heart over some time. Both Brandon and I have had a lot of thought to the things we have embraced as our "call". Now I know in my last blog I said calling has everything to do with who we are and not what we do, but as I use the word calling in this blog, I am referring to those things which God has told us to embrace for a lifetime. There are three giants God continues to powerful speak to us about and the more I seek God, the more God puts these injustices at the forefront of my mind. Here they are:

1. Innocent Blood-shed

This specifically dealing with abortion. there are other things it can entail, but we believe God has called us to stand on behalf of the unborn until the scurge of abortion has come to an end. (Visit us sometime at myspace.com/bound4liferochester OR citytocity.webs.com)

2. Sexual Perversity

This specifically, but not limited to, dealing with homosexuality. I don't feel the need to go into deal on how God has put this on our heart, but one thing is true: this is a giant that has evolved so large that we need the Church to work together and pray together to see this giant shut-up.

3. Idolatry

This specifically with radical Islam. I say radical because I'm not talking about your friend who claims to be Muslim but doesn't necessarily believe all the ins and outs of her Islamic traditions. Whether you know a lot about Islam or not, between time and fate, I believe this war may come down to the battle of Christianity and Islam.

Now I tell you all that only to open up my own heart and reveal some of the things God has personally spoken to myself and to Brandon. We have embraced a 'life calling' to fight for the injustice in these areas. Whether we see change in our lifetime or not, we have embraced the cause for the glory of God....and we will not stop at any cost.

Isaiah 42 talks about the Servant, who is Christ. But we are also His servant. Because Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled to God, we now are in Christ's position. He lives in us and us in Him. In verse 4 it says, "He will faithfully bring forth justice. he will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." (Is. 42:4) This is important. Whatever you feel God has called you to, it's important to embrace it to the point of death. Meaning - whether what He calls you to comes to pass or not, you remain faithful, steadfast and undiscouraged by what you see. you do not become disheartened or crushed, but you follow through until the end. Do you have a cause as such? has God given you vision for something? Has God set your heart so on fire to see something come to pass in your lifetime? That's where I'm at. What is it that God has given you to embrace? What is your cause?

I remember a preacher once reminding me of the story of Popeye. Did you ever watch that as a kid? I loved it. My dad and I would always wrestle when I was little and when I was losing I would always pretend to eat a can of spinach in the middle of the match. After I did that, I dramatically acted out my instantaneous growing body and began to be fierce in the face. Then my dad would let me win. (i wonder if it was his way of getting me to eat the real thing.) do remember how Popeye and Bluto use to fight over Olive?Bluto was this big bully who always seem to get the eye of Olive first. But Olive's heart belonged to Popeye. And even though she would temporarily give her time to Bluto, she would always wait on Popeye to come and pursue her. But what did it take? It wasn't until Bluto began to be unjust with Olive. When he began to mis-use her and take advantage and then Popeye would say, "i can't stanz it...I can't stanz it no moe!" Then Popeye would eat his spinach and kick the crap out of Bluto. See, God says His heart belongs to us. There is so much injustice in this world, but he waits until we'll pursue Him for Him to actually give His heart over. Is there anything in your heart toward something that says "I can't stanz it...I can't stanz it no moe!" Than I encourage you to seek God concerning it! I can't stand innocent blood-shed. I can't stand sexual perversity. And i can't stand idolatry! I believe we can also make a spiritual parallel with the spinach being the Holy Spirit. Popeye would try to fight Bluto in his own strength first, but he would always fail. But God promises that if we allow Him to be our strength, nothing is impossible. Now in whatever you believe God has called you to, allow the Holy Spirit to do it in and through you.

I am the Lord. I have called you to righteousness, i will hold you by the hand and watch over you. And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations. (Is. 42:6)

The Lord will go forth like a warrior. he will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. he will prevail against His enemies (Is. 42:13)

This is a war. BUT GOD fights on our behalf. HE FIGHTS on OUR behalf. I think we forget that when God calls us to something (especially something that is injust) we think we fight on His behalf. I so easily forget that He does it for me and through me. If God is for you, who can be against you? I know we've heard it many times, but I think the reason we so easily forget it is because we want our justice now. We give ourselves over to the cause of Christ for a moment, but if the moment doesn't bear fruit we can see, then we give up. Remember friends, that many hearts will grow cold as this age continues. Why do they grow cold?...Because of wickedness in the earth. that tells me that God is gonna call us to things that we may never see change. But thats ok.... Be encouraged - Because God is for YOU! Embrace your call. Embrace His heart.

The Lord's Table

Did you know that God has something to say about what you eat?

"If you will listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what he considers right, if you pay attention to His commands and obey His laws, i will never make you sufffer any of the diseases I made the Eqyptians suffer, because I am the Lord who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)

It amazes me that Adam and Eve were created in a garden. A garden full of everything they needed - full of every juicy and vitamin-rich fruit and every savory and nutrient-rich vegetable and grain. Everything came from the earth and everything went back into the earth. It was the ideal ecosystem ever! - And its because it was God's design and God said it was good.

Now we have food that has been altared and doesn't break down. Most of the food that comes from the earth has been toyed with and made to last for years on our shelves. So, we're given choices. Do we seek God to eat right in a world gone wrong? Or do we just sit back and eat what's put on our plates? i believe God has something to say about it all. Eating healthy is as much importance as any spiritual discipline. We like to point fingers with all the ungodly wrong in the world, but we rarely acknowledge a society obsessed with eating - and eating unhealthy.

My hope is that you would be provoked. My hope is that a light would come on in your heart and mind, so that you may begin to question what you put into your body. God does have something to say. I hear people say this a lot," it's all in moderation..." The saying personally urks me. Because, technically, if thats what you believe, you can eat anything you want and have no consequence....as long as its in moderation, right? No! if God has something to say about what we eat, then I believe whether in moderation or not....there are going to be foods He wants us to eat and does not want us to eat. We need a healthy look at food. Food is not bad. it was created for the very purpose to keep us living....for a long time. God wants us to eat! It's what we eat and how much we eat that he has something to say.

As I started this blog, I had a few people contact me with some personal questions and seeking some genuine heart-felt change in their diet. A couple of them were desperate for change, but, in desiring to do things God's ways, had really no idea where to start. Three people, in particular, I encouraged to do a Bible study called The Lord's Table, which can be found at settingcaptivesfree.com. (Thank you Kathy for referring myself to such a study). two out of the three have gotten back to me since starting it and have shared some wonderful revolutionary testimonies of how God is speaking to them. With their huge success stories, I want to encourage others to do the study as well. Whether you think you have an addiction to food or not, its a wonderful study to get in the habit of exposing ourselves to good food designed by God. it's a 60-day study that will take you into a daily devotional of impacting your eating life. It gives open opportunity for God to speak to your diet. Then at the end, it will lead you into a fast that will help you have self-control for your future.

i realize I may be writing to the choir of people who are already on their own health journey. But even as I look at my own weaknesses (its hard for me to say "no" when its right there in my face) i see there is always room to grow. and it certainly never hurt to continually seek God on the things i choose to eat. we forget He has something to say. The more I know what He desires, the more I want to eat His way. I encourage you to let God be a part of your diet. Let's not make these decisions on our own...

belonging to the Lord

Isaiah 44:3-5, "I will pour out water on the thirsty…I will pour out my Spirit on our offspring…they will spring up like poplars by streams…one will say, 'I am the Lord's'…and another will write on his hand,

'Belonging to the Lord'…"

Whether we are struggling or at our greatest potential, He is always Lord. We usually make Him Lord when things in our life are going good, but it's even a greater challenge to make Him Lord when we are struggling.

I've been thinking a lot about this verse, "belonging to the Lord". What does it mean? What would my life look like if I lived it as if it belonged to the Lord? My thoughts toward this convicting challenge have literally shaken me. Its confronted everything I do and don't do. It confronts ever sort of reasoning I could have and every part of my being that fights against the will of the Spirit.

I felt I heard the Lord say, "Don't settle. Don't settle Crystal. - not for the American dream with the Christian stamp. don't settle for your position as wife and mother or even friend. Desire more! - because even I desire that you would know Me beyond that stewardship." I hear a lot of women say they are called to be a mother - yes...it's true, that even I have claimed those words. But God does not expect "calling" to stop there. In fact, I see that more as an entrustment than a calling. God has entrusted you with His very own, so we may lead our children to the cross and our journey may also make us more like Christ. But calling has little to do with what we do and more to do with who we are. We belong to the Lord. Since the time of Adam and Eve, our purpose was to be in relationship with God, intimately and passionately in love with our Creator and through that, reign and rule over the earth. There was no sense of defeat in that calling. It was experiencing ALL of God without any hindrances (sin). Adam and Eve had no titles. They had no ministries they headed up. They had yet to have children. They had no work they were paid for because everything was provided for them. They never distrusted God and the security of their relationship with Him (until the Fall, that is). they were glorifying God by doing nothing but enjoying Him. - connecting with Him, walking with Him. They belonged to the Lord. They were created for an audience of One and they experienced the glory of God in ways unimaginable. That's what I want. I know there's more to God than I've experienced. my journey doesn't stop with my marriage, or when I have children, or when I start a ministry, or when I get my Christian credentials or even after I experience revival. There is no means-to-an-end when pursuing God and falling in love with Him! Yet, so many of us so easily settle.

why is going to church so unattractive for even believers and nonbelievers? It's because we settle - we look no different than the rest of the world. sometimes it's not hypocrisy that keep people away from the church, sometimes its the very fact that we have nothing special to offer beyond what anyone else can have without God. People don't live in the reality that God desires to be in love relationship with everyone of us for the very purpose of bringing heaven on earth. after the cross of Christ and through His resurrection, we were given an open heaven - access to the glory of God in ways unimaginable. we can have the garden experience. It would be the very thing that would fill the void and search for Truth that we all have inside.

Do you want break-through?

I do. When I remind myself of my true calling - I become so undone...so desperate for more of God. There are no formulas for break-through. everyone's break-through will look different and come differently. I can only share what God has done with me. I offer these ideas because, for many, we want more of God but have no idea where to start.

i believe the first help in getting to know God is getting rid of religious mind sets.

Religion is like kryptonite to superman. Religion can conform the most righteous, reigning saints into mindless zombies, puppets repeating someone else's convictions they don't even understand themselves. - Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle by Kris Vallotton

religion can literally choke our relationship with God. The best way I know to beat religious games is through humility. see yourself without God. the truth - we are ragamuffins...scum. the word of God says our hearts are deceitful and filled with darkness. we are capable of nothing without Him. when we see ourselves without God, pride and arrogance within ourselves will dissolve. It's then we can make a true commitment to make God Lord of our lives. Humility gives open opportunity for God to be Himself in and through you, without the limitation of self. Humility also brings us to a place of being broken and desperate for God. God likes it when we're at that point. ("broken and contrite heart, He will not despise.." "...He gives grace to the humble...")

in your brokenness, connect with God. it's wonderful to have a set time aside to connect with God (and I recommend it), but most of us have a life filled with responsibilities. So how so we connect with God as we're going about our day? I know in our home we have ihop streamed 24-7 on our computer. it's a constant reminder to connect with God. we make praying so complicated sometimes. prayer is as easy as talking to a good friend - just open your mouth and be real and honest with God. it's the best place to start. if you don't have access to the ihop stream, try playing 24-7 worship on a CD player in your home. But remember, the worship playing is only a tool. it's used as a reminder to connect with God - it doesn't do it for you. I know a lot of people who play worship all day, but never connect with God. it has to be purposed. i am constantly implementing the Lord into the things about my day. "...Lord, give me grace...Lord, help me be patient...Lord, how should I discipline Abigail?... Lord, you are good...Lord, give me strength to clean my house before Brandon gets home...restore energy in my lack of sleep, Lord...more of you, Lord..." Learning to pray can come as easy as breathing, but in the beginning it starts as a discipline.

these are just some ideas to jump-start break-through. i know there is also much more involved when over-coming certain obstacles. i could go on and on about how insecurities and fear of man keep us from entering into God's destiny for our lives. but i believe as we connect more with God, those fears have less of a hold because the faithfulness, His promises and experiences with God become more of a sobering truth.