My family is like most.  Several members of my family have health issues that reflect the growing trends (and waistlines) of American society.  Mom's cholesterol is borderline high.  Dad has high blood pressure requiring two prescription medications.  He is on another prescription medication for acid reflux. He also has multiple sclerosis, and even more medication is required for its control.  Both could stand to lose some weight.  My wife suffers from migraines on a regular basis.  She will have two or three a week that require a prescription medication.  She is struggling with hypoglycemia and has been for years.  I have been using prescription allergy medication for years.  We could both stand to lose a few pounds as well.

Without telling anyone, Mom and Dad turned to natural, whole foods after reading the Maker's Diet.  results get your attention.  After noticing Dad's weight loss I asked what he was doing different.  We were introduced to the Maker's Diet.

At this time, my wife's doctor informed us that more medications would be necessary to treat the symptoms of the migraines.  We were both reluctant for her to take more medication, but she could not coninue in her current state.  After seeing my parent's results, we felt led to try the Maker's Diet as well.  What a refreshing change! We could enjoy delicious food from ALL food groups. Wwe could pronounce the ingredients.  The results and simplicity led us to look more into whole foods.  The more we found the more we wanted to know. 

 You would think we would discover a world of bean sprouts and tofu, but that is not the case.  We discovered a wonderful world of healthy meats, healthy grains, sweet fruits and vegetables. We learned of natural alternatives to the super concentrated commercial sweeteners and potentially dangerous artificial sweeteners used in many of our prepackaged and diet foods.

Before the Maker's Diet, we tried most diet fads with only mediocre results that did not last or were too restrictive to make work.  It seemed i was always cutting back more and move: less fat, reduced fat, no fat, etc.  I would then become hungry more often.  I continued to work out more and more.  The final result is I ended up tired and hungry.  Always in the back of my ind was the thought that there is something not quite right with this whole scenario but the answer always eluded me.

 Through the Maker's Diet, we learned the importance of organic foods, pastured beef, free range chicken, wild game, and the wholesome dairy porducts and eggs that come from these practices.  We learned the importance  of including all the food groups in your diet.  Most importantly, we learned how to prepare these wonderful foods in ways so our body could use them.

 We also began to make relationships with some of the local farmers and purchase our food from them.  We now buy our beef and chicken from Oaklyn Plantation in Darlington, SC; our dairy products and eggs from the farm store at Ovis Hill Farms in Timmonsville, SC  We purchase honey and herbs from other local sources.  In doing this we are not only getting good natural foods, but we are supporting our local farmers and local economy.

 Looking back, it seems God was leading different members of my family to the same place at the same time.  Each of us needed prayers answered and needs met.  Along with that we needed the confirmation that what we were doing was working, and the afirmation that this was the right thing to do. 

As I stated earlier, results get your attention.  Dad had the most issues to resolve.  He lost thirty pounds.  His blood pressure has been on a steady decline to the point where he is completely off one medication and is on the lowet possible dosage of the other blood pressure medicine.  We anticipate his coming off the medication altogether.  NO more medication for the acid freflux - it is gone. His energy levels have rebounded in spite of the fatigue usually associated with MS.

 Mom had been dieting for several years beforehand to lose weight and lower her cholesterol.  She had success with weight loss, but the cholesterol was being stubborn.  She now has lost ten more pounds and her cholesterol is below the borderline mark.  Her HDL is on the rise and LDL is on the decline. Her triglycerides are declining as well.

 My wife saw an immediate drop in her migraines.  She went form having two to three a week to three or four a month. In doing so she has minmized her need for the prescription medication she was on.  She did not have to start the new medicaton.  She also lost 19 pounds and has greatly reduced her symptoms of hypoglycemia.

 Even with my active lifestyle I have lost and kept off an additonal 13 pounds.  I usually have to use my allergy medication for about 2 months during  the spring, sporadically  during the summer and again for a few weeks in the fall.  I only needed it during the height of pollen release in the spring.  Even grass cutting did not cause allergy attacks as it had in the past.

 What I WILL NOT encourage you to do is stop any medications you are on or see this as a panacea.  As you see we still need some medications but the need for them has greatly declined.  However this new naturally healthy lifestyle has enabled us to cope with our individual health issues like never before.  We even have been able to identify some natural alternatives to the prescriptions that yield results.

 What I WILL encourage you to do is intensely research whole and organic foods.  Make careful decisions regarding the sources on which you base your decisions,  As a Christian family we felt compelled to search out a Biblically based perspective on this issue.

The books that have been the most valuable to us are;

The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin

The Great Physicians's Rx for helath and Wellness by Jordan Rubin

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

While Nourishing Traditions is a secular book, we have found it to be a great source of information as well.  It includes many recipes, historical and cultural items and explanations of the different food groups that we found to be very helpful. 

 Take time to research these books.  Learn about how the Creator designed you.  Make your health a matter of prayer.  Then ask yourself, how important are natural foods to your health?

 Brantley S.