Cancer, Lifestyle, and Food- There is a Link

I was just thinking how far we have come from good, simple days, and good, simple food and community. I love to read or look at pictures of anything having do to do with farms, ranches, animals, making cheese, bread, hanging clothes on a clothesline, farmer's markets, and gardening, etc. Although, truth to tell, I am a miserable failure at gardening.

In the year 2009, almost over now, my husband's family lost two dear women to cancer; his mother, then her mother, his grandmother. His little sister also had cancer, and was treated. Now her husband has it as well. In my family colon cancer is something to watch for, and has traveled down the family line, never skipping a generation. A bit frightening.

One thing I know, after much reading and research, is that our minds, bodies, emotions, and spirits are all connected and effect each other. Our lifestyles, and our eating habits, are killing us.

The fast-paced life, the materialism, and the immorality leading to all sorts of emotional and spiritual problems are going to be and have been, the death of many of us.

A beautiful life, a healthy life, is so much more worth striving for than a busy life focused on "stuff", i.e., cars, big houses (that are usually empty most of the time because nobody has time to enjoy being inside of them), boats, etc. you know the list.

Do you know, a flock of free-ranging hens, happily bustling about the yard pecking, fluffing, and spending their days in simple community, are healthy and happy. They are also producers of eggs that have more health benefits and less cholesterol than caged, stressed birds. They are also good therapy. Sitting quietly among them, watching them is better medicine that prozac.

Growing or raising your own  food, no matter how small an effort, connects you to real life. The good life. A healthier life. I'm not saying cancer-free life, but certainly less chances of it. The numbers are now reading that 2 out of 3 people will get some kind of cancer at some time in their life. Is anyone else unnerved by that?

I am so grateful for my small ranch. My animals and my family. For fresh, raw goat milk to give my children, for fresh, free range eggs and meat...for the few measly tomatoes and zucchini I am able to grow...for the freshly ground flour and whole, raw grains. I am grateful for the entertainment not from video games but from the antics of all the living creatures that live here with us. Baby goats are funnier than any TV show. Laughter is good medicine the Bible tells us.

Look, we all eat from factories and live an artificial life. It freaks me out!

Why not, if you can't grow your own, if I can't grow my own, buy from local organic farmers and ranchers? Don't patronize the factories. If more of us ate good, clean, real food, we wouldn't be fat, unhealthy, and dying. We would be living, and thriving. So would the animals. Good breeding practices and hands-on animal husbandry is good for them. Breed livestock if you have the room. Heritage breeds even better. Grow heirloom veggies and fruits. You might be surprised how much the quality of your life improves. Not just from good food, either.

Buy organic

Buy local

Eat @ home

Learn to be quiet and restful

Raise and grow your own if you can.

You don't have to have much room, a balcony for containers would do it.

Anybody can buy raw milk now, and make their own dairy products too, if they really want adventure~ it's really not hard at all. Making things from scratch is good for the soul.

Maybe you need to re-evaluate what's really important in life. What's most valuable to you. Jesus is my healer, and my guide, He loves this world and died for it, and we ignore Him, and all the good things He has created for us. Sad.

For those of you living and eating a more natural way, I'd love it if you left a comment so I can check out your blogs and websites. LIke I said, I love the photos of all things farm, ranch,gardens, bee keeping, and cheesemaking, and all that they entail.