Importance of the Food Pyramid

Everyone knows that we have complex bodies. We are made up of muscles, tissues, bones, ligaments and organs. All these things are made up of cells, which are basically the building blocks of our bodies. A regular human adult is estimated to be consist of up of 100 trillion cells. There is really no way of actually knowing how many cells make up our bodies but this seems to be a rather close estimate.

So what is your point, Thomas? Well my point is that all these cells need energy and the way we replenish this energy, is by eating and drinking of course! This is why they have always shoved the food pyramid down your throats in school. This was actually a good thing! The teachers always pushed eating fruits and vegetables and plenty of water. The carbohydrates was always at the base (most) of the pyramid and the sweets,oils,fat were at the top(least). If you follow the food pyramid and get plenty of exercise it will help you live a healthy life.



I try my best to follow this pyramid, but since my health problems play a major role, my diet is a little different. What I mean is being on dialysis, my diet consists of more kinds of protein because this is what the dialysis actually pulls out when helping clean my body of the toxins and waste in my blood. So the more protein for me the better. This is why when I started dialysis they had a dietitian come and help me with my diet. "A dietitian is a food and nutrition expert. When you start dialysis, you need to start watching the foods that you eat because certain foods can harm you. Your dietitian will meet with you to discuss and recommend many food choices that go along with your prescribed diet. They will also review your lab work with you and help you adjust your diet to improve your lab results." Nephrology FAQ

Speaking of lab results, there is a balanced chemistry that makes up our bodies. This is why we should be eating certain fruits, vegetables, poultry, meats, and dairy products to get the proper vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes that we need to keep this chemistry in balance. Sometimes after awhile if your lab results are not what they are supposed to be, say one of your electrolyte numbers are off. Like recently my potassium numbers were a little low, so I now take a potassium supplement to help bring it up. I use to take a pill but these bothered my stomach so I use a salt supplement instead, I add it to meals just like you would do with table salt. There maybe different side affects from these supplements, and the results may vary because everyone is different.

Another problem I have is I am not a big eater, especially after finding cancer in my stomach last year. It was taken out, but my stomach still gives me problems and in short, it makes it hard to eat sometimes. I am pretty thin, so I basically eat anything I want. I am not a big fan of eating, maybe if I was, I would be alot heavier.

"Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge.

It is important to keep a balance of electrolytes in your body, because they affect the amount of water in your body, blood acidity (pH), muscle action, and other important processes. You lose electrolytes when you sweat, and you must replace them by drinking fluids.

Electrolytes exist in the blood as acids, bases, and salts (such as sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, and bicarbonate). They can be measured by laboratory studies of the blood."Medical Encyclopedia

"As for your body, the major electrolytes are as follows:

* sodium (Na+)
* potassium (K+)
* chloride (Cl-)
* calcium (Ca2+)
* magnesium (Mg2+)
* bicarbonate (HCO3-)
* phosphate (PO42-)
* sulfate (SO42-)

Electrolytes are important because they are what your cells (especially nerve, heart, muscle) use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (nerve impulses, muscle contractions) across themselves and to other cells. Your kidneys work to keep the electrolyte concentrations in your blood constant despite changes in your body. For example, when you exercise heavily, you lose electrolytes in your sweat, particularly sodium and potassium. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant. So, many sports drinks have sodium chloride or potassium chloride added to them. They also have sugar and flavorings to provide your body with extra energy and to make the drink taste better." "How Stuff Works

"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?" Pink Floyd "The Wall"

So thank your parents and teachers who have forced the food pyramid on you so many years ago. The Food Pyramid is a plan to keep you on a healthy diet and it balances all the different food groups. If you follow this plan and get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day you are taking a major step towards keeping healthy.

The Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke all about their lives, about their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, even where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans joyfully swam on the water, while children brought their fishing rods looking for a big catch. Lovers walked arm in arm among flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, a strange thought entered his head: Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to help and take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. There staring back at him was a cold blank wall.

Moral of the story:

The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is so much to rejoice about.

I found this short story at "Inspiring Stories". I thought it was quite powerful and I wanted to share it with you all. It is called "The Window", the author is unknown. I thought it was kind of strange for the man to let his room mate suffer and not try to get help by pushing the help button that most hospital rooms have. I guess his mind was truley twisted with envy over the window that wasn't really there. This short story just goes to show that it could always be worse, so try to be thankful for what you do have.

History/Back of a US Dollar

Got an email from my sister-in-law Olivia about the history that is on the back of a one dollar bill. I have to admit, I didn't know why all the these things were there and what they meant. I thought it was interesting and would like to share it with you all.

When you turn the bill over, you will first notice is that the Supreme Court has not forced the removal of "IN GOD WE TRUST" from this currency yet...thank God!



On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men (including Thomas Jefferson and John Adams) come up with a Seal. It took four years and two more committees to accomplish this task and yet another two years to get it approved. It wasn't until June 13, 1782 that Charles Thompson, Secretary of Congress, made the final submission. He incorporated elements from all three committees.



A revolutionary American creation, the Great Seal is a unique combination of natural elements (eagle, olive branch, stars, cloud, light rays, eye) and universal symbols (pyramid, arrows, shield).

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is the one who decided to put both sides of the Great Seal on the back of the one-dollar bill.



If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid. The Reverse of the Seal. This pyramid was not a part of the proposals for the Great Seal until the third committee, and it was NOT suggested by Jefferson, Franklin, or Adams. Charles Thompson said the pyramid represented "Strength and Duration." Furthermore, Francis Hopkinson, a literary man of letters, is credited with being the first to use the pyramid on American money.

Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark.

Although there is no "official" explanation for the shading, some have chosen to interpret this as a reflection that our country was just beginning. We had not even begun to explore the West. Indeed, only a scant few years before this, Virginia's official state boundaries had extended from the Atlantic ocean all the way to the Pacific ocean. Nor had America decided what we could do for Western Civilization.

The Pyramid is un-capped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished.

Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, said to be an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything. His committee wanted the seal to include some symbol of divine providence and discussed a variety of themes -- including the Children of Israel in the Wilderness. Franklin also wanted the wild turkey (unique to America) to be the overall symbol of the United States, not the eagle.

The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, "God has favored our undertaking."

The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, "a new order for the ages." Franklin D. Roosevelt wanted to change the meaning slightly to "a new order has begun," wanting to connect that with a "New Deal".

At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numerals symbol for 1776.



Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress wanted a symbol that soared. The American Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol with the power to bridge heaven and earth in victory: The eagle is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will notice that it is reproduced on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and it is the centerpiece of most monuments for heroes. Only slightly modified, it is recognizable as the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever s/he speaks.

Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield you have a white bar signifying Congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation. In the Eagle's beak is a ribbon on which you will read the words: "E PLURIBUS UNUM", meaning, "Out of many, one".

Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, notice the arrangement of the 13 stars. They are arranged as a Star of David, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.

This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Hayim Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army, Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself but that he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result. Few people know that it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions but died a pauper.

Again, we were coming together as one. These symbols are taken from the American flag and officially, the red represents hardiness and valor, the white represents purity and innocence, and the blue, vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

Have you ever heard that the number 13 is an unlucky number?
This is almost a worldwide belief. It is so strong you will usually
never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor.

But think about the thirteens we have associated with our country:

1. 13 original colonies,
2. 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence,
3. 13 stripes on our flag,
4. The final version of the Great Seal was submitted on the 13th of June
5. There are 13 steps on the Pyramid,
6. 13 letters in "Annuit Coeptis",
7. 13 letters in "E Pluribus Unum",
8. 13 stars above the Eagle,
9. 13 bars on that shield,
10. 13 leaves on the olive branch,
11. 13 fruits,
12. 13 arrows
13. 13th amendment (abolition of slavery)

Mostly taken from the email and this article here Back of the US Dollar

Next time you see the back of a dollar bill, make sure that you also remember all those that have fought so hard to keep us free. Too many veterans have given up so much to ever let the meaning fade. Many veterans remember coming home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all. Thanks to all those that are serving and who have served to help keep us our freedoms and liberty. I hope you enjoyed this little piece of history!

Veteran's Day

Yesterday was Veteran's Day, a day to honor our veterans who have served in the military and have fought in wars to protect this great nation. I just want to thank, all of those who have served and who are serving to help protect us from our enemies. Thank you for sacrificing your time, freedoms, and well being, so that we may be able to enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy everyday!

I thank the Lord everyday for being an American because of the freedoms that I enjoy. The one freedom I hold dearly, is the freedom to worship my God, without being persecuted or killed. What a blessing! I know that Christians all around the world are being murdered for their beliefs and I pray that they will have the strength and faith to stay strong through what ever trials they be going through.

The United States of America would have never of lasted 232 years without our military protecting us from those who disagree with these basic freedoms. Thank you veterans, for everything you guys have done to help keep us safe and free.



I was going to end this with "God bless America" but why should he? It seems we are turning away from God. People of this nation seem to think they no longer need God, or want anything to do with him. This is a big mistake for our nation. We should be thankful for all the things our Heavenly Father has blessed us with. Everything from food, shelter, clothes, and the list goes on. We are so blessed and still people seem to be so unhappy. Maybe if they would build a loving relationship with God, they would finally find the happiness they are looking for.

Here is a quote from Thomas Jefferson, "And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever." He was speaking about his country and the injustice of slavery but I believe this same quote goes along with how our country is turning away from God. How long will God be patient with us?

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
[2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV]

History in the making or was it?

I was just going to write a post about how Barack Obama is going to be the first black president of the United States. You can't escape it! When I looked some info on Barack Obama being the first African American president I came across this article here: Obama Wouldn't Be First Black President

This article explains that there were five presidents before Mr. Obama that came from an African descent. "Research shows at least five U.S. presidents had black ancestors and Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president, was considered the first black president, according to historian Leroy Vaughn, author of "Black People and Their Place in World History."

Vaughn's research shows Jefferson was not the only former black U.S. president. Who were the others? Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. But why was this unknown? How were they elected president? All five of these presidents never acknowledged their black ancestry."

If this is true, than sorry Mr. Obama, you are not the first African American President!

Here is something that bothered me by this election, the media kept playing the "race thing". Very annoying to watch! I mean this is the United States of America, right? "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." [Declaration of Independence]


The definition of race in biology is, "a race is any inbreeding group, including taxonomic subgroups such as subspecies,taxonomically subordinate to a species and superordinate to a subrace and marked by a pre-determined profile of latent factors of hereditary traits."
[wikipedia.org Race(biology)]

No wonder people are racist against each other, this is telling us that there are sub groups and subspecies in races! Here's a question, which race is the superior race?

I never understood "racism". I hate you because you look different than me! I hate you because you talk different, walk different, think different, on and on!

Isn't obvious? God likes diversity!

Sistine Chapel

"Everybody’s DNA is unique unless they are identical twins, As well as showing how different we all are, DNA shows how much we are all the same. Only one small part of one chromosome distinguishes a boy from a girl. Genes give us different colored eyes, hair and skin, but 99.5% of any human's DNA is in the same order as everybody else’s.

Human DNA is made up of the same components as the DNA of other organisms, with most species even sharing the same genes which code for the same proteins. This is why even fruit flies and mice can be used as model organisms in order to help better understand human genetic diseases." DNA

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." [Colossians 3:9-11 NIV]

It doesn't matter what color, sex, nationality, you may be. We are all God's children and he loves us all, even if we are, dirty rotten sinners! This is why, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and accept God's son Jesus, as our savior!

I think we should make a new definition of "Race"-there is only one species of humans; also known as the human race, there are no subgroups or subspecies, the human race are all created equal.

Real Men Cry

I know that most people think crying is a sign of weakness and also know that you are to never shed tears in public! But here is the truth, it is a scientific fact that if you have a strong urge to bawl your eyes out, there is probably a good reason why. You probably have so much emotion building up in your body that your eyes start to water, whether it's pure joy or sadness. This is your body's natural way to relieve stress. A good cry, like a tough workout can be an amazing release. Crying can help free those powerful emotions deep down within our soul. "Humans have the ability to cry in order to remove in their tears chemicals that build up during stress, so they are literally crying it out." says Dr. William H. Frey, M.D., a professor of pharmaceutics and neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. He also wrote a book on the subject called "Crying: The Mystery of Tears". His research shows that your emotional tears actually have different chemical composition from the tears that come from, say cutting an onion. "You exhale to remove carbon dioxide. You urinate to get rid of urea. I believe that you cry to get rid of stress." [William H. Frey]

Women can shed tears more freely than men because it is more acceptable. It is a rare thing to see men crying. Most men don't even consider crying as an alternative, but we should put down that shield and use this natural stress reliever.

Even Jesus Christ knew the benefits of crying. When he found out about his friend Lazarus who had died, he went to go visit him and his sisters. When Jesus came to Lazarus's tomb he wept with Mary and those around him.

"When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled."Where have you laid him?" he asked."Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept." [John 11:32-35 NIV]

I believe that Jesus was so overwhelmed with emotion that he wept, but he also did it to help comfort Mary. If you noticed that he encountered Lazarus's other sister Martha before he met up with Mary. He didn't cry with her, because she was a different person. Different people are comforted in different ways. People like Martha just need to hear encouraging words.

"Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."" [John 11:23-27 NIV]

People like Mary just need somebody to mourn with. That is how great Jesus the Christ is, he comforted Martha and Mary, both in their own ways!

I remember when I was just diagnosed with diabetes, I was hanging out with a friend, and I felt pretty overwhelmed. I started to cry. Right in front of my friend I was bawling my eyes out. The worst part was he just ignored me! I felt so vulnerable and weak. All he had to do was say something but he didn't. After a short while I stopped crying, I felt better even through that embarrassing moment, and I wiped the tears from my face. We never spoke about that moment again and soon after that we just went our separate ways. It's kind of weird that this was my best friend, and that seemed to be the end our friendship. Not that I hold anything against him, but all he had to do was say something. I wouldn't know what to say if it was him, that was crying. But I know I would of said something followed by a pat on the back or even a hug!

Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape

Hello all! Here's another song I wanted to share with you, I find it to be very powerful! It's my favorite song from the band Underoath, a Christian metalcore/post-hardcore band. Like I said before I like all kinds of music! The lyrics are in the movie, so if you would like to sing along, you can. Please enjoy!