According to the American Heart Association there are some factors that your cannot change. If you are a male age 65 or older and your parents had heart disease you are at higher risk. But there are some risk factors that you can change by your lifestyle choices. They are:

• Stop smoking and cut your risk in half
• Lower your total cholesterol to under 150 and you are heart attack proof
• Increase daily physical activity to moderate or brisk, the more brisk the less risk
• Lower your weight and lower your risk
• Overcome diabetes mellitus or Type II Diabetes (Yes, it is curable by choices)
• Choose to eliminate stress in your life
• If you drink alcohol, have only one drink per day. (My advice is don't drink alcohol at all)

Would you choose to suddenly die and leave your loved ones? Would you choose to spend your retirement on hospital bills and rest homes? Certainly not. But that's exactly what you may do if your lifestyle choices raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Why not take charge of your body and beat it into submission? The apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 9:27 that he keeps his body under control so that he can "bring it into submission". As we taught in last months' news, if we establish our regimen and stick with it, we can achieve mastery over our selfish whims that lead to ill health. Here are some choices that can lead you to establish a healthy lifestyle and lead you to a merry healthy heart.

• Eliminate smoking and drinking alcohol since both nicotine and alcohol are toxic to the body. Nicotine causes lung cancer and alcohol destroys lives and families.
• Eliminate all animal products since they are the source of cholesterol, which clogs arteries and leads to heart attack and stroke.
• Eat more raw fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds which have zero cholesterol and they lower blood pressure and total cholesterol.
• Drink distilled water and fresh vegetable juices like fresh carrot juice and Hallelujah Acres' BarleyMax, which give the body almost an instantaneous injection of live nutrition.
• Increase exposure to sunshine to 15-30 minutes per day or take Hallelujah Acres' B-Flax-D supplement. B-Flax-D contains the B complex vitamins, omega3-rich ground flaxseed, and Vitamin D.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day every day with stretching, aerobics, and weight training.
• Get at least 8 hours of sleep per day to allow the body to restore and repair itself.
• Read the Bible and pray daily for that "merry heart" which comes from knowing and serving the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

"An apple a day will keep the doctor away", or so I have been taught since childhood. Marilyn can attest to the fact the I hardly ever miss eating at least one apple every day. Why? I just like them! In fact, I really enjoy a good Fuji apple after my noon meal and sometimes as a mid morning snack.

Did you know that China grows 16 million tons of Fuji apples each year? First developed in Japan, the Fuji apple has increased to be the third most popular apple in America, behind Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, according to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.

Well, let me tell you, the apple is a great way to avoid not only heart disease but also a host of other ailments. It contains 4 to 5 grams of fiber, which will help lower cholesterol and protect the colon. One of the best remedies for diarrhea is apple sauce (without the peel) because of the congealing effect of the carbohydrate, pectin.

An apple looks sort of like a heart, right? That's a good way to remember that apples are great at giving you a merry healthy heart. The magnesium and potassium in apples help regulate blood pressure and keep your heart beating steadily. The great antioxidant, quercetin, protects your artery walls from damage and keeps your blood flowing smoothly. Scientific tests prove that flavenoid-rich foods like apples lower your risk of heart disease. And those who regularly eat apples are less likely to have strokes than people who don't.

So, next time you go to the grocery, stop by the apples and stock up. Organic are best because they don't have the pesticide residue, but if you can't find organic, just wash them with a good veggie wash and eat them whole (except the seeds, which are mildly toxic). And if you just love apple pie like me, get Marilyn's Simple Weekly Meal Plans and try her Raw Apple Pie. It beats the best pastry pie hands down.

If you want the answer to questions like "If Jesus ate meat why can't we" or "Is it a sin to eat meat?" or "Why would God give us a deadly diet?" then you need to read "Winning the Battle for the Body". This book helps us to understand why Christians are just as sick as everyone else. The book attempts to present theological, nutritional, and scientific justification for returning to the plant- based diet of Genesis 1:29-30. Read it and share it with your loved ones. It may save their lives. If you have already read it, then why not write a comment on amazon.com.

1/2 cup uncooked small rice pasta shells
3/4 cup diced celery
3/4 cup chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced (natural antibiotic)
1 46-ounce bottle organic tomato juice
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 can organic diced tomatoes (I use my own frozen tomatoes)
 

Cook the pasta shells for 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, put the remainder of the ingredients in a large pot. Simmer for 45 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and continue to simmer for 5-7 more minutes. Garnish with a little Vegan Gourmet shredded mozzarella by Follow Your Heart, if desired.

If you like soup and sandwiches, mix some raw almond butter and Just Fruit Spread on whole grain bread to go with this tasty soup. Be sure to take a couple of Digestive Enzymes with this cooked meal or precede it with a nice salad. (This recipe will be in Marilyn's next book to be published later this year).

West Tennesseans who need support or info on The Hallelujah Diet & Lifestyle can come to our support meetings on Mondays at 5:00 p.m. at the Baptist Student Center across from Jackson State Community College campus on North Parkway. The cost is only $5.00 ($10.00 with a notebook) and anyone can come. Change your regimen, change your life. Call us at 877-200-0862 for more information or email us at ddpolk@alphaomegafood.com.