Sunday, January 9, 2022

Cheating Denied - Nutrition Fan Club Forming

 Blueberries are a medicine we can enjoy without a sour look on our faces.


I get communications from people who enjoy the nutrition posts. One couple found some potato chip and ate them. I absolved them. One said, "Have you cheated on the diet?"

The answer was "No" because I cannot afford to slip back into bad habits. My advantage is not having enough pancreas power to process sugar overloads. The result is several hours of feeling icky or even very icky. So I have ignored milk chocolate in the house - visitors can have some. I have Schwan's vanilla ice cream in the freezer - untouched. 

I do not think of "diet" but 100% enjoyable nutrition. I am charting my weight. The digital scale no longer says, "One person at a time" on the screen. The number is the lowest in more than 10 years. 

I am comparing foods with others. I really dislike the effect super-diets where people lose a lot of weight fast and gain even more when dropping the righteous rigid regimen. 

Furhman is down on meat, fish, cheese, and eggs, but he does not try to ban those - but just to make them infrequent in meals.

So far I have enjoyed all greens and beans, nuts and fruit. I really savor apples, blueberries, walnuts, almonds, and oranges. But I also found sweet potatoes warmed up with a pat of butter to be delicious and satisfying. My mother used to add butter, brown sugar, and marshmallows. 

Brussels sprouts are another miracle food and a favorite. When I ate a bowl of string beans (Schwan) microwaved with a little butter - wow! And they were satisfying too. 

I think the key is that meats are going to be fatty, and fat is high in concentrated calories with no real nutrition. Some things can be debated - I am no expert. But factory hardened cotton seed oil (Crisco) strikes me as a total waste. Promoting corn oil as a great alternative is almost as bad. 

The snack aisle at WM is a collection of reconstituted starches, like the fake potato chips, which are appealing, or Fritos, which are so good until that last one - when the taste is disgusting. Of course - grease, sugar, flour, and salt are key components for all snacks.

Wisdom for today - snack foods, desserts, and candy make people crave snack foods, desserts, and candy. Nutritious foods - like beans, nuts, fruits, and greens - are relatively inexpensive and very satisfying. I was eating a half-cup of almonds while writing - so good crunching them (low salt). Now I have no hunger.

I got Envy apples at WM. I hesitated - they sounded like a new Kardashian perfume. No, they were juicy, fresh, and delicious. 

Blueberries! I always bought them for Christina, and never experienced how delicious each one is - and  a medical miracle as well. 


The blueberry bush (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus) is a flowering shrub that produces berries with a bluish, purple hue — also known as blueberries.

It is closely related to similar shrubs, such as those that produce cranberries and huckleberries.

Blueberries are small — around 0.2–0.6 inches (5–16 millimeters) in diameter — and feature a flared crown at the end.

They are green in color when they first appear, then deepen to purple and blue as they ripen.

The two most common types are:

  • Highbush blueberries: The most common cultivated variety in the US.
  • Lowbush or “wild” blueberries: Typically smaller and richer in some antioxidants.

Blueberries are among the most nutrient-dense berries. A 1-cup (148-gram) serving of blueberries contains (1):

  • Fiber: 4 grams
  • Vitamin C: 24% of the RDI
  • Vitamin K: 36% of the RDI
  • Manganese: 25% of the RDI
  • Small amounts of various other nutrients

They are also about 85% water, and an entire cup contains only 84 calories, with 15 grams of carbohydrates.

Calorie for calorie, this makes them an excellent source of several important nutrients.

SUMMARYThe blueberry is a very popular berry. It is low in calories but high in fiber, vitamin C and vitamin K.

2. Blueberries are the King of Antioxidant Foods

Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can damage your cells and contribute to aging and diseases, such as cancer (2Trusted Source3Trusted Source).

Blueberries are believed to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all common fruits and vegetables (4Trusted Source5Trusted Source6Trusted Source).

The main antioxidant compounds in blueberries belong to a family of polyphenols antioxidants called flavonoids.

One group of flavonoids in particular — anthocyanins — is thought to be responsible for much of these berries’ beneficial health effects (7Trusted Source).

Blueberries have been shown to directly increase antioxidant levels in your body (8Trusted Source9Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBlueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all the popular fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids appear to be the berries’ antioxidant with the greatest impact.

3. Blueberries Reduce DNA Damage, Which May Help Protect Against Aging and Cancer

Oxidative DNA damage is an unavoidable part of everyday life. It is said to occur tens of thousands of times per day in every cell in your body (10).

DNA damage is part of the reason we grow older. It also plays an important role in the development of diseases like cancer (11Trusted Source).

Because blueberries are high in antioxidants, they can neutralize some of the free radicals that damage your DNA.

In one study, 168 people drank 34 ounces (1 liter) of a mixed blueberry and apple juice daily. After four weeks, oxidative DNA damage due to free radicals was reduced by 20% (12Trusted Source).

These findings agree with smaller studies that use either fresh or powdered blueberries (13Trusted Source14Trusted Source).

SUMMARYSeveral studies suggest that blueberries and blueberry juice reduce DNA damage, which is a leading driver of aging and cancer.

4. Blueberries Protect Cholesterol in Your Blood From Becoming Damaged

Oxidative damage is not limited to your cells and DNA.

It is also problematic when your “bad” LDL cholesterol is oxidized.

In fact, oxidation of “bad” LDL cholesterol is a crucial step in the heart disease process.

The antioxidants in blueberries are strongly linked to reduced levels of oxidized LDL. This makes blueberries very good for your heart (15Trusted Source).

A daily 2-ounce (50-gram) serving of blueberries lowered LDL oxidation by 27% over eight weeks in obese people who were obese (16Trusted Source).

Another study determined that eating 2.5 ounces (75 grams) of blueberries with a main meal significantly reduced the oxidation of “bad” LDL cholesterol (17Trusted Source).

SUMMARYThe antioxidants in blueberries have been shown to reduce a predominant risk factor for heart disease by preventing oxidative damage to “bad” LDL cholesterol.

5. Blueberries May Lower Blood Pressure

Blueberries appear to have significant benefits for people with high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

In an eight-week study, obese people who had had a high risk of heart disease noted a 4–6% reduction in blood pressure after consuming 2 ounces (50 grams) of blueberries per day (18Trusted Source).

Other studies have observed similar effects — especially for postmenopausal women (19Trusted Source20Trusted Source).

SUMMARYRegular blueberry intake is tied to lower blood pressure in numerous studies.

6. Blueberries May Help Prevent Heart Disease

While eating blueberries may lower blood pressure and oxidized LDL cholesterol, it’s important to keep in mind that these are risk factors — not actual diseases.

It would be much more informative to know whether blueberries help prevent hard endpoints like heart attacks, which are the world’s leading cause of death (21Trusted Source).

A study in 93,600 nurses found that those with the highest intake of anthocyanins — the main antioxidants in blueberries — were at a 32% lower risk of heart attacks compared to those with the lowest intake (22Trusted Source).

Because this was an observational study, it cannot prove that the anthocyanins alone caused the reduction in risk.

More studies are needed before any claims can be made.

SUMMARYSome evidence indicates that eating fruits rich in anthocyanins — such as blueberries — is associated with a reduced risk of heart attacks.

7. Blueberries Can Help Maintain Brain Function and Improve Memory

Oxidative stress can accelerate your brain’s aging process, negatively affecting brain function.

According to animal studies, the antioxidants in blueberries may affect areas of your brain that are essential for intelligence (23Trusted Source24Trusted Source).

They appear to benefit aging neurons, leading to improvements in cell signaling.

Human studies have also yielded promising results.

In one of these studies, nine older adults with mild cognitive impairment consumed blueberry juice every day. After 12 weeks, they experienced improvements in several markers of brain function (25Trusted Source).

A six-year study in over 16,000 older individuals found that blueberries and strawberries were linked to delays in mental aging by up to 2.5 years (26Trusted Source).

SUMMARYThe antioxidants in blueberries seem to benefit your brain by aiding brain function and delaying mental decline.

8. Anthocyanins in Blueberries May Have Anti-Diabetes Effects

Blueberries provide moderate amounts of sugar compared to other fruits.

One cup (148 grams) holds 15 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to a small apple or large orange (1).

However, the bioactive compounds in blueberries appear to outweigh any negative impact of the sugar when it comes to blood sugar control.

Research suggests that anthocyanins in blueberries have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. These anti-diabetes effects occur with both blueberry juice and extract (27Trusted Source28Trusted Source29).

In a study in 32 obese people with insulin resistance, two blueberry smoothies daily caused major improvements in insulin sensitivity (30Trusted Source).

Improved insulin sensitivity should lower the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, which are currently two of the world’s biggest health problems.

SUMMARYSeveral studies demonstrate that blueberries have anti-diabetes effects, improving insulin sensitivity and lowering blood sugar levels.

9. May Help Fight Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem for women.

It is widely known that cranberry juice can help prevent these types of infections.

Because blueberries are closely related to cranberries, they boast many of the same active substances as cranberry juice (31Trusted Source).

These substances are called anti-adhesives and help prevent bacteria like E. coli from binding to the wall of your bladder.

Blueberries have rarely been studied for their impact on UTIs, but they likely have similar effects as cranberries (32Trusted Source).

SUMMARYLike cranberries, blueberries contain substances that can prevent certain bacteria from binding to the wall of your bladder, which may help prevent UTIs.

10. Blueberries May Reduce Muscle Damage After Strenuous Exercise

Strenuous exercise can lead to muscle soreness and fatigue.

This is driven partly by local inflammation and oxidative stress in your muscle tissue (33Trusted Source).

Blueberry supplements may lessen the damage that occurs at a molecular level, minimizing soreness and reduced muscle performance.

In a small study in 10 female athletes, blueberries accelerated muscle recovery after strenuous leg exercises (34Trusted Source).



The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2022.

 



The First Sunday after the Epiphany, 2022

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The Vimeo player will appear here. We are trying out the new camera and other hosting solutions this coming week.
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The Hymn #537      Every Morning Mercies New                         
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne: high and lifted up.
And I heard the voice of a great multitude, saying, 
Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: 
serve the Lord with gladness.


The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

O Lord, we beseech Thee mercifully to receive the prayers of Thy people who call upon Thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual             Romans 12:1-5

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things: and blessed be His glorious name forever.
V. The mountains shall bring peace to Thy people: 
and the hills righteousness. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: serve the Lord with gladness. Hallelujah!

The Gospel                                 Luke 2:41-52   
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #73    Lift Up Your Heads (3rd tune)

The King of Kings Is Drawing Near

The Hymn #196         I Am Content
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #651        Be Still My Soul


Prayers and Announcements
  • The Bible Book, Second Edition, is nearing completion.
  • Eye surgery, tomorrow and next Monday, Pastor Jackson.
  • In treatment - Doc Lito, Pastor K, Pastor Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and C, and the three boys - Aaron and their Mom especially.
  • Randy Anderson is doing very well after his surgery.
  • A vastly improved Logitech camera will arrive tomorrow, and various platforms other than Vimeo will be explored. You may see various tests on the Ichabod blog. Do not be alarmed. 
  • Note that KJV precedes Scripture citations most of the time. Several pointed out that it is a good way to distinguish the Majority Text and Translation, both of which are abandoned by the denominations, colleges, and seminaries, all the way down to ELDONA.


KJV Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.




The King of Kings Is Drawing Near

KJV Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Background:

These two introductory verses should not be overlooked or taken for granted. Luke was mocked by the rationalists for not being accurate, making up titles, and therefore questionable facts.

Where facts can be examined (since most of history is buried), Luke is exactly correct. An example is "ethnarch" - which was supposedly invented by Luke. But it turns out that the title was used in the city where he used it. 

More importantly, the little details about Jesus are especially noteworthy, and we should not rush past them to get to the famous verses. He parents went to Jerusalem every year, bringing Jesus. Mary did not have to attend, but it was expected of men who could make the journey for Passover. 

Luke was a close companion to Paul and praised for his work and his faithfulness to the apostle. Luke was with Paul when the apostle was executed.

We have an important detail about Jesus in the opening. He was with Joseph and Mary on these trips (which explains how they went back without Him) and He was 12 years old. Routine trips do not have the same anxiety level that a first-time visit has. That was especially true with traveling with the extended family and friends. 

Another detail is the irony of the King of Kings being there so many times. There were three great disturbances to announce His coming as the Messiah:
  1. The Star of Bethlehem.
  2. His Presentation at the Temple
  3. Talking with the elders.
As He taught in the parable of the yeast in bread dough, the Gospel leaven began early and was offered in various ways, so Israel could receive her King.

Jesus was 12 years old, a young man, old enough to have questions about the Scriptures and to discuss them. But this was far beyond what anyone could expect.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it

The opening gives us the reason why the parents left without Jesus. Everything was normal and expected, and the entire group headed back home together. But Jesus stayed behind. The parents were not anxious about Him because boys that age like to travel and talk together, comparing experiences, just as parents do. My family belonged to a club that had a little shack on the shore of the Mississippi River. We could take out rowboats (with permission), walk along the shore, pretend to fish, even swim sometimes as a group. Adults sat around the fire and cooked food for the meals. I was "lost" once because no one knew where I was. A cat adopted me and stayed on the dock with me, some distance away, to be petted. My mother found me in a stage of great excitement and said they had been looking for me a long time. Their fears were a crippling accident, a water episode, or perhaps the Ransom of Red Chief. 

These things develop from lack of fear, and they are just as common today as they were in ancient times. 

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 

We should note how much is said in a few words. Joseph and Mary were not anxious about Jesus because they assumed, based on experience, that He was with friends and relatives. That would have been normal, not exception. They turned back when they realized their assumption was wrong.

How many parents can say they had the same experience? One pastor's wife was moving into the parsonage when their little girl became lost. Her mother ran up and down the neighborhood looking. She said, "What an introduction to my new neighbors!" I said, "They will always remember you as the mother with her hair on fire." She laughed and laughed.

So now the anxiety was completely fired up. Joseph and Mary headed back, fearing and hoping at the same time. 

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found [eureka] him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 

Those three days were torture, because hope turns to fear and dread when a search must be continued. Worse, the journey from Jerusalem - built on the side of a mountain - was going back uphill all the way, an arduous journey anyway but worse when frightened. Relief and anger were bound to be combined - with anger first.

Jesus was sitting there, oblivious to His parents concern, listening to the professors and asking them questions. His calm at seeing them was polar opposite to their emotions.


47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

As Lenski has written, He was not teaching the elders, but answering and asking questions. That alone had a great impact. As we were taught in sales, questions determine the conversation. The right question would open the teachers up to their own Scriptures. His responses showed they were in agreement.

It takes unusual comprehension to answer and ask questions and astonish these men. In rabbinic lore, asking and answering questions was basic to teaching. 

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 

The miraculous nature of this meeting between Jesus and the teachers is ignored in grief and anger of Mary. This is not saying the parents burst into the conversation but said this when there was a chance, most likely away from the teachers.

There are three errors pointed out by Mary -
1 - You have ignored our feelings.
2 - We have been looking for you, and it is clear Jesus would know how long this took.
3 - We were full of sorrow the entire time.

The build up of anxiety seemed to make the parents forget His divine nature. There are many examples in the Gospels where the individuals either had the right idea (the woman with the flow, who touched His robe) or the wrong idea (the disciples telling Jesus to dismiss the Canaanite woman). Also - the disciples - we have no food (boat) and there is no way to feed the multitude in the dessert! (No?)

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 

They could not grasp that Jesus had to take the opportunity to begin the leaven of the Gospel in the Temple itself, among the most influential men in the nation. That eventually stirred up murderous intent but also faithful following (Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea). 

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

We are often like Joseph and Mary, wondering in anxiety how things could be so difficult. Parents have this issue. So do all those who look at this nation and its rejection of basic law and the U. S. Constitution. The Savior is not oblivious. His wisdom and power are so far beyond ours that we must pay attention to Him and not to the soothsayers of our world.