Another good reason for no MSG on the Daniel Fast

I just read an article from Johns Hopkins University that cited a new study about MSG. You can find it at MSG STUDY. It’s worth reading, especially when you wonder why you feel so good while on the Daniel Fast.

The article is also very convincing as to why most men and women lose weight while on the Daniel Fast. Here’s an overview:

The study finds that MSG causes the human body to gain weight three times more than those who don’t use the chemical! Here’s an excerpt:

“The study focused on 750 Chinese men and women, ages 40-59, living in 3 rural villages in north and south China. Most of the study subjects prepared their meals at home without commercially processed foods and roughly 82 percent used MSG. Those participants who used the highest amounts of MSG had nearly 3 times the incidence of overweight as those who did not use MSG, even when physical activity, total caloric intake, and other possible explanations for body mass differences were accounted for. The positive correlation between MSG and higher weight confirmed what animal studies have been suggesting for years.”

Most people think MSG (monsodium glutamate) is found only in prepared Chinese food or the food you get in Chinese restaurants. But the truth is that more and more food manufactures are adding MSG to their products because the chemical is a flavor enhancer.

Here is what is really amazing: in 1950 Americans consumed about 1 million pounds of MSG a year. Now that consumption has increased by 300 percent! That’s right, American consume more than 3 million pounds of MSG each year! And we wonder why we have a weight problem!

The best way to avoid MSG is to make you own meals from scratch. When that it’s possible, then - here we go again - READ THE LABEL on the foods you purchase to see what the ingredients include. One problem is that the law only requires ingredients to be listed if they represent a certain percent of all the ingredients. So if what seems like only a small amount of MSG is added, then it will not appear on the list.

I hope that most of those on the Daniel Fast are making most of your meals from fresh products and using packaged products that you can be sure don’t include chemicals. One thing I know is that many men and women continue to eat a more healthy diet with pure foods after they complete the fast because they realize good food is so good for them.

Please take a few minutes and read the article about THE MSG STUDY. You owe it to yourself and to your body!

A New Daniel Fast for the Daniel Fast Blogger

“Sometimes you are so hungry that the only way to get fed is to fast.”

That was the thought going through my head yesterday when I sensed the Lord calling me to start a new Daniel Fast for a period of study, prayer and intense focusing on Him. I am so hungry for more of my Father and less of me! I asked the Lord to help me, and those are the word I heard in my spirit, “Sometimes you are so hungry, the only way you can get fed is to fast.”

So I finished the cup of coffee I had already started, took a deep breath and declared that I was entering into a new Daniel Fast. I will fast for at least 21 days, but then see how things are going and I may extend one week at a time until I sense that it’s time to end.

I also wrote in my journal about what I was seeking for this Daniel Fast with spurts of conversations with the Lord. That’s how He and I communicate in our morning time together. I talk, He talks. I write and well, He’s already written His Word, so I read what He’s written. It’s a great time of fellowship that I cherish.

At the end of this time, I realized that this is to be a consecrated time of centering myself on Him and His ways. A time to shed and forego a few activities so that I can focus on some projects He’s call me to complete. This is also a time when I will form some new habits so I can grow spiritually, so I can renew my mind to the Truth of God’s Word, and so I can move toward better health and vitality.

Finally, this is a time when I am to step up to what God has for me. Even at my “seasoned age,” I still wrestle with self-esteem issues and the shadows of hurtful events in my past. However, I hear the Lord calling me to follow Him to the truth of who I am in Him and to put away how the enemy tried to shape me to be.

I am moving forward with the Lord and to the Lord and His amazing way of living. It’s a kingdom of God living, not that I have to wait for when I depart this world. But rather, the kingdom of God living that He spoke of in His Word.

I’ll keep you posted about my journey on this fast, hopefully to encourage you on your walk of faith. You can find those updates on www.Daniel-Fast.com.

I can say, even as I write this post just 24 hours into my Summer ‘09 Daniel Fast, I am charged with a new energy and hope. Our God is so good and He wants us to rely on Him in every way. The more we turn to Him the more He can minister to us. What a great blessing!

Be blessed!

Susan Gregory
The Daniel Fast Blogger
www.Daniel-Fast.com

Lent 2009 and the Daniel Fast

I am writing this post on Ash Wednesday, 2009. Today marks the first day of Lent for millions of Christians throughout the world. Lent is a period of fasting for 40 days prior to Easter, with most fasting six days and week and then eating moderately on Sunday. The big feast is on Easter as we celebrate the most important day of the entire year – Resurrection Sunday!

Many will “give up” a type of food during Lent, such as chocolate or coffee. However, a growing number of followers of Jesus Christ are using the Daniel Fast for their Lenten discipline of prayer and fasting.

If you are using the Daniel Fast as your method of fasting during this time of consecration, I do encourage you to sign up for the Daniel Fast Mailing List by going to www.Daniel-Fast.com so you can receive periodic free information that will help you be successful in your fast. Also, when you do sign up you will receive an invitation for the free Daniel Fast Notes, which are daily email devotions that receive very positive reviews from readers.

Also, since so many people do the Daniel Fast for 21 days (see Daniel 10) you will find the 21-day reference throughout this site. However, the Daniel Fast is not restricted to only 21 days. So a 40-day Daniel Fast is totally appropriate.

God bless you on your Lenten Fast. My prayer is that you will draw closer to the Lord and receive even more of the love, grace and direction He has for you.

How to End a Daniel Fast

Many men and women will complete their 21-day Daniel Fast over the weekend. And so I wanted to post some advice about ending your fast. Even if you are not concluding your fast, please keep this information in mind. It is important.

  • Ease back into your “typical diet.” This is especially true with caffeine, sugar, fatty foods, meat and dairy products. Small portions are wise and go slow, perhaps just one or two foods per day.
  • For caffeine beverages, drink one small cup or glass and then see how your body reacts. Don’t be surprised if you get the “jitters.” Consider starting with de-caf (I realize that’s almost criminal for those of us who love the java). :-)
  • Don’t be surprised if you feel tired after you start eating the “typical foods.” Your body has been detoxed over the 21-day Daniel Fast and it might scoff at what it has to digest!
  • Continue to drink lots of filtered water, at least 1/2 gallon a day.

Also, consider the lessons you’ve learned and the good habits you’ve adopted on the Daniel Fast. Don’t leave them behind, but let them become a regular part of your life. This includes your prayer and study time with the Lord as well as improved eating habits.

Finally, while you may always fast at the New Year, consider fasting at other times of the year. Many parents pray and then fast from dawn to dusk on their children’s birthdays. If you have pressing issues or circumstances facing you, consider a time of consecrated prayer and fasting. Last year I fasted during Pentecost seeking the Lord’s direction for some personal business matters.

The Daniel Fast is an excellent method for a partial fast. It beats John the Baptist’s fast — honey and locust!

Be blessed!

Join with millions for the 2009 Daniel Fast

Over the last several years millions of Christians have joined in the Daniel Fast. Perhaps one of the strongest promoters of the fast is Pastor Jentezen Franklin, an on fire preacher from Gainsville, Georgia. By the way, note that his name is spelled differently. Many people search for “Jentzen Franklin” and miss him. His first name has an extra “e.”

Jentezen Franklin first challenged members of his church to enter the Fasting Movement several years ago. Their results were so powerful, both corporately and for the individuals, that they were all convinced of the power of prayer and fasting!

What is the Daniel Fast? It’s a time that an individual or group sets aside to fast and pray for specific purposes. While there is no absolute length of time, the most popular is a 21-day Daniel Fast, in which one limits their diet to those described in the first chapter of Daniel. To learn more about Daniel and why he chose to eat specific foods, please see my other post titled “What is the Daniel Fast.”

This site is specifically designed to be a place where believers can learn about the Daniel Fast and communicate with each other.

I hope to draw at least 1000 Christians who will commit to the fast and log their name on this blog. If you want to commit to the 2009 Danial Fast, please go to this link and leave your information:

Sign me up for the 2009 New Years Fast

Let’s see how many we can enlist . . . and then support one another through prayer, information, and wisdom.

Daniel Fast Recipes

The last several weeks have been wild! It’s all good! And I am thankful to be able to announce a brand new collection of Daniel Fast recipes. They are all new in the Daniel Fast Cookbook – Version II.

The Daniel Fast Cookbook - Version II

The Daniel Fast Cookbook - Version II

This cookbook is a great stand-alone, but also serves as an excellent companion to the Daniel Fast Cookbook – Version I or even Daniel’s Fast Cookbook. The Daniel Fast Cookbook – Version II is more than 100 pages and more recipes than you will need for the fast. It’s already sold 100s of copies to my great Daniel Fast friends who purchased eBooks from me before.

The Daniel Fast Cookbooks are filled with Daniel Fast recipes and you can visit the new website that I am working on:

www.Daniel-Fast.com

You can click on “Store” and purchase this new Daniel Fast Cookbook or The Daniel Fast for the Body, Soul and Spirit.

Thanks in advance for supporting this lay ministry by purchasing the eBooks. My whole goal with this blog, the Daniel Fast website and the Daniel Fast Cookbooks is to support you and others as you enter into this powerful time of spiritual fasting!

Jentzen Franklin Fast

We are coming up to the first day of the New Year Fastthat Jentzen Franklin promotes. Pastor Franklin has motivated tens of thousands of people to start the New Year with prayer and fasting. Many who will join in this 21-day fast, which begins Sunday, January 4th, will use the Daniel Fast as their method of fasting. You can get a copy of the Daniel Fast Guidelines by going to www.Daniel-Fast.comand adding your mailing list so they can be immediatly downloaded to you.

I’m glad that you reached this site if this is the first time you’ve been here. We have a whole community of men and women who practice the Daniel Fast at least once during the year. Many of us use the Daniel Fast several times throughout the year as we seek God and want to intensify our time with Him.

Jentezen Franklin (this is his spelling, although most people leave out the second “e”) has been a wonderful gift to the Body of Christ by teaching about spiritual fasting and then moving people into the New Year Fast and the Daniel Fast each year. I am so thankful for his devotion to God and His Word.

Please take some time to look around on this blog and learn more about the Daniel Fast.

Also, if you want a free copy of The Daniel Fast Guidelines in brochure form that you can download on your computer, just fill out the little form at the site below and the document will be emailed to you immediately.

www.Daniel-Fast.com

Also, but sure to check back to this blog periodically as I will add more content, information, tools and inspirational material over the coming weeks.

Be blessed!

The Daniel Fast Blogger is catching up!

Good morning!

I want to thank everyone for their patience as I continue to catch up on all the comments left on the Daniel Fast blog in the last few days. I think there are now only 32 that still need a response. My little fingers are typing as fast as they can go . . . and I have to admit that by late into the evening (after writing from dawn) my brain just gets mushy and you wouldn’t want my response!

All is well and I hope to be caught up by the end of today. I am away from my keyboard for a few hours while I do some volunteer work at my church. But for most of the day I will be tapping away on my computer in my little cottage in frozen Central Washington State (it’s currently -2 degrees – say, “Burrrrr.”).

Be blessed as you enter into the New Year fast. And please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I love offering you any assistance I can.

Oh, one more thing. I am in the process of building another website that I hope will be useful to members of our friendly Daniel Fast Community. You can check it out at www.Daniel-Fast.com but please keep in mind that it’s a lot like me . . . still under construction!

Have a great day!

A New Daniel Fast Website

Okay, after the last few weeks of designing and putting together a new Daniel Fast website, autoresponders and a new shopping cart . . . I think rocket science really is easier!

Please take a look a the ‘new Daniel Fast site that I am currently building. It will be one of the support sites where I can offer all kinds of tools and helps to support you in your Daniel Fast.

You can find the site here: www.Daniel-Fast.com

Please visit it periodically as it will be changing almost every day. The same is true of this Daniel Fast Blog. Now that we have entered 2009 you will find new content, thoughts and information every day.

God bless you and I hope the very best for you as you enter the 2009 Daniel Fast.

Sign up for the 2009 New Year Fast

Add your name to the list!

Here we go again, friends! As crazy as this may seem, I am going to try and list those entering the 2009 Daniel Fast. Many start the New Year with prayer and fasting. Others join their church body or answer the Lord to begin fasting at later times. Still others use the Daniel Fast for Lent, which starts on February 25th.

To protect everyone’s privacy, I only add names of those who specifically ask to be listed. So even if you buy a book or have received emails from me, if you want to be listed, please click here and complete the sign-up form. Your name should appear on the list within 24 hours. Thanks!

By the way, I have hundreds of names to add . . . I hope to have them on this list within the next couple days. Thanks in advance for our patience!

Name                                    Home Town

Heather A.                              Westfield, Indiana

Joann Adams                         Sunderland, MD

Coni Andress                          Wilmington, NC

Amanda Arizola                      Dallas, TX

Charlene Armstrong                Alum Creek, WV

Frances Avila                          Lubbock, TX

Sherry Barnard                       Stockton, CA

Deborah Barnett                     

Kerrie E. Barree                      Duncanville, TX

Caridad Bechtinger                  Miami, FL

Carolyn Bell                            Manchester, CT

Blondell Belle                        

Susan Berry                           Sandy Ridge, NC

Billy Bob                                Seattle, WA

Cynthia Canty                         Dothan, AL

Rita Cardwell                          Templeton, MA

Mary Carter                            Mobile, AL

Marcia Chaffin                         Dallas, TX

Monica Chandler                     Hendersonville, TN

Tomiko Chariy                        Richmond Va.

Michele Cheresnick                 Lafayette, GA

Leola Clayborn                        Dallas Texas

Jeanne Clewell                        Oklahoma City OK

Charla Coats                          Docena, AL

Jessie Coleman                      Jonesborough, GA

Kathryn Cowher                      Williamsport, PA

Karen Coy-Clay                      Bronx, NY

Missy Craven                          Easley, SC

Jana Lynn Crawford                 Humble

Becky Cruse                          Austin TX

Yolanda Crutchfield                 Cincinnati, Ohio

Denise D                                Las Vegas, NV

Brenda Damiata                      lake charles la.

Carlye Davis                           Las Vegas, NV

Todd Davis                             Glenpool OK

Janet Deskins                         Punta Gorda, FL

Ann Dunaway                         Odessa, Texas

Sheri Edwards                        Riegelwood NC

Kim Eggleton                          Lake City, FL

Jennifer Essiembre                  Mississauga, ON

Kristen Evans                         Tega Cay, SC

Jane Faudree                          Wilmington, NC

Natasha Fillinger                     Four Oaks, NC

Debbie Forde                          England UK

Niki Fractious                         Woodbridge, VA

Christina Franck                     London, KY

Zioniah Freeman                     Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Larry G                                  Lizella, GA

Wambui Gachago                   London, U.K.

Art Good                                Elkhart, IN

Nicole Govier                          Battle Creek Michigan

Jaymie Grant                          Luling

James Mark Gulley                 Waco, TX

Silvia Guttti                             Pompano Beach, FL

Alma H.                                 Yuba City, CA

Linda Hagan                          

Selina Hallrachelle-Shirah        Dalton, GA

Cathy Hamby                         Acworth, GA

George Hancock                     Richardson, TX

Linda Haworth                         Palm Coast, FL

Jennifer Hays                          Ewa Beach, HI

Takeisha Henfield                   

Hazel Henry                           England, UK

Nicole Hernandez                    Bonner Springs, KS

Terry Humphry                        Kingwood, Texas

Ruth Hutchins                         Asheville, NC

Rhea James                           Valley, AL

Lolita Jamison                        Centreville, VA

Janel Janes                            Morton, IL

Anthony Johnson                    Harleysville, PA

Brenda L.  Johnson                 Cleveland Ohio

Alicia Jones                            Statesboro, GA

Rosie Joyce                           Fort Washington, MD

Florence Kelly                        Leisure City, Fl 33033

Karen Kirby                            Carrollton GA

Rebecca Kobe                        South Africa

Alda Landers                          Mt Vernon, NY

Teresa Langford                      St. Louis, MO

Joe Laughlin                           Monroe, Ga.

Melissa Maddox                     Wilson, NC

Helen E. Martin                       Charlotte, NC

Kendra Mason                        Atlantic, NC

Flo Mccrary                            Brevard, NC

Teeshia Mcroberts                  Abilene, TX

Sylvia Mejia                            Copperas Cove, TX

Kim Miller                               Kalamazoo, MI

Teri Mingus                            Gilbert, Arizona

Clarice Montjoy                       Minneapolis, MN

Bertony Morisset                    MIAMI, FL

Krysten Nance                        Dallas, TX

Faith Navasca                         Honolulu, Hawaii

Sharon Netherland                 

Prisca-Diane Ngninteng           Paris

Jodi Nygaard                          Rocklin, CA

Janice Pacheco                      Portales, NM

Cheryl Phillips                        Lee’s Summit MO

Rosetta Pierce                        Wynne, AR

Char Power                            Philadelphia, PA

Ouida Randolph                      Columbus, Oh

Carol Rice                              Phoenix, AZ

Anthony Rivera                       Lakeland, Florida

Littie Robinson                        Osceola, AR

Jessica Rohlman                    Morrilton, Arkansas

Jesse Roland                         

Andrea Sample                       Lawrenceville, GA

Nick Savage                           Stone Mountain

Janet Schmitt                         Mansfield, Texas

Kay Shinn                              Vero Beach, Fl.

Rachelle Shirah                      Dalton, GA

Noemi C.  Silva                       Marietta, GA

Candy Sims                           Kendallville, In

Cyletha Smith                         Bowling Green, KY

Emerald Stallings                   

Teisha Stanley                        Birmingham, Alabama

Kim Stewart                           Osceola, IN

Kaluba Tarukwana                   Bulawayo

Test Test                               

Debbie Underfinger                  Ft. Walton Beach, Florida

Susan Vanderheyden              Woodstock, GA

Diana Villarreal                       Fort Worth, TX

Terri W                                   West Deptford, NJ

Vickey W                               Rex, GA

Rhonda Walker                      

Clara Wallace                         Paris, TN

Dorothy Walton                       Salisbury MD

Sandy Wesley                        Roseville, MN

Amber Williams                      Macomb, MI

Lynda Williams                       Bahamas

Karen Witter                           London England

Adrianne Wood                       Birmingham, AL

Miki Woodard                         Los Angeles, CA

Andrea Woods                        Hammond, IN

Antonio & Wosheka Burriel      Shreveport, LA

Adah                                      Marysville, WA

Allison                                   Brentwood, TN

Anand                                    Burr Ridge, IL

Andy                                      Ekpoma, Edo State

Anita                                      Plumas Lake, CA

Annetta                                  Virginia

Annette                                  Richmond, VA

Beth                                      Loudon, TN

Bryan and Wanda                   Lake Charles, LA

Carlene                                  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Cinde                                     Madison, MS

Crystal                                   Mineola, TX

Curt                                       Fayetteville, NC

Cymberlynn                            California

Debbie                                   Round Rock, TX

Denise                                   whispering pines, NC

Don and Korina                       Ft Worth, TX

Elizabeth                                Dallas, TX

Elize                                      South – Africa

Ellal                                       New Castle, Delaware

Gadi                                      Pretoria, SA

Hallie                                     Olathe, KS

Janice                                    Madison, MS

Joan                                      VA

Joan                                      Englewood, OH

John                                      Hannibal, Mo

Josh                                      Jefferson, Ga.

Kat                                        Dallas, Texas

Kim                                       Kansas City, MO

Lawana                                  Passaic, NJ

Linda                                     Concord, NC

Linda                                     Pittsburgh

Lizzie                                     Chino, CA

Melissa                                  Virginia Beach, VA

Monica                                   St. Louis, MO

Montrell                                  Morganton, NC

Mycah                                   College Park, MD

Nancy                                   

Nancy                                    Fayetteville, GA

Natasha                                 Cumming, GA

Nichole                                  Tupelo, MS

Nkechi                                   Dallas, TX

Peggy                                    Warren, OH

Peggy                                    DANVILLE, VA

Remona                                 Pretoria

Renee                                    Lake Charles, LA

Rodlyne                                 Miami, Fl

Sandra                                   San Jon New Mexico

Shameka                               Salisbury, NC

Sheila                                    Millersburg, OH

Simphiwe                               South Africa

Sincera                                  Nederland, Texas

Sonya                                    Savannah, GA

Susan                                    Buford, GA

Tamiya                                   Arcadia, CA

Tarah                                     Wright City, MO

Terrea                                    Cary, NC

Tina                                       Calera, AL

Tonya                                    riverside, ca

Tyra                                       Cedar Hill, TX

Usha                                      Dubai – U.A.E

Victoria                                  El Mirage, AZ

Walter                                    Marietta, GA

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