His Breath and Spirit In Us

His Breath and Spirit In Us

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. - John 20:21-22

Oh, the life-giving breath of God! He called the world into being with the power of His Word. Yet, only man who was made in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27), came alive with God’s breath.

In Hebrew, neshamah (נְשָׁמָה) means "breath" and is most commonly used to refer to the soul or spirit. Neshamah is the source of life that vitalizes humanity (Job 33:4). It is the intangible, unseen human spirit that governs man’s mental and emotional existence.

After the Fall, our neshamah or spirit was blemished, burdened by the consequence of sin, and disconnected from God. Banned from the Garden so as not to eat from the Tree of Life. Unable to live as God intended, for sin caused us physical and spiritual death. We were dead in our transgressions (Ephesians 2:4-5).

But Then Jesus

Jesus’s disciples were behind shut doors after the resurrection, for fear of the Jews. And yet, no doors could shut out Christ. Like the Father who breathed life into the first man, Jesus Christ breathed a new life into His disciples and those who followed Him: the life force and power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. - John 20:21-22

We see an incredible change in the disciples after the Holy Spirit was breathed onto them. From fearful to fearless, the Holy Spirit’s supernatural force would provide wisdom, courage, and boldness for standing up against terrible odds- to proclaim the Gospel to the world, drive out demons, and heal in the name of Jesus Christ, at whatever cost.

We have this same change after our baptism into Christ and choosing to follow Him. We died with Christ, was resurrected with Him, and then came alive with the power of the Holy Spirit. He takes up residence in our hearts, and not only makes it His home, but His workshop. In fact, the Holy Spirit of God joins with our own spirit in ways we cannot comprehend. The apostle John said, “This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:13).

Oh, the sinless Second Adam! He breathed a new life into us while we were dead, sharing the same life and power with us that resurrected Him from the dead. Jesus fully restored our relationship with God, the relationship God had intended with us in the Garden.

Just as the disciples would have remained scared, doubtful, and ineffective if Jesus had not left them with the indwelling Spirit, we too would be ineffective as believers and carriers of His message. The Holy Spirit provides supernatural wisdom, supernatural courage and boldness. He is our supernatural strength, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Love Him and embrace Him! He is a gift to us, breathed on us by Jesus! 

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Health

Astaxanthin: A Powerhouse Antioxidant

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring red-orange pigment that is part of the carotenoid family. It’s a powerful antioxidant found in microalgae, yeast, and seafood like salmon, krill, and shrimp. It is produced by microalgae and gives marine animals like salmon, shrimp, and trout their pinkish-red color. Due to its antioxidant properties, astaxanthin is studied for its potential health benefits, including supporting skin, eye, heart, and brain health. 

What Is Astaxanthin?

• A type of carotenoid, which are naturally occurring pigments.

• It is found in organisms like microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, and shrimp, and crayfish. The organisms such as salmon, trout, shrimp, and crayfish accumulate the pigment, which gives them their red color. 

• Its powerful antioxidant properties are believed to be stronger than vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.

• Unlike some other antioxidants, it doesn't become a pro-oxidant when exhausted. 

Potential Benefits

• Antioxidant: considered one of the most powerful natural antioxidants, it helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

• Skin health: It may help improve skin elasticity, moisture, and reduce signs of aging and UV damage.

• Eye health: It may help protect the retina from UV exposure and eye strain.

• Heart and brain health: Studies suggest it may have benefits for cardiovascular and neurological health. A human trial that evaluated astaxanthin supplementation with a 12 mg daily dose for 12 weeks suggested that astaxanthin may help protect against age-related cognitive decline.

• Inflammation: Its antioxidant properties are thought to help with inflammation. 

Dosage

Recommended dose of astaxanthin as a supplement is 2–4 mg/day. A study reported that no adverse effects were found with the administration of astaxanthin (6 mg/day) in adult human subjects. Exact dosage depends on your area of need, whether it be prevention of age-related cognitive decline, or if you’re looking for a strong antioxidant effect and facial skin rejuvenation.

Astaxanthin supplementation (4 mg/day) for four weeks has been shown to rejuvenate the skin, mainly attributed to its antioxidant properties.

Human studies showed that 6 mg/day of astaxanthin for six to eight weeks might reduce wrinkles, water loss, and age spots. Astaxanthin also improved elasticity, moisture content, and skin texture, and the effects seem to be enhanced when combined with the application of astaxanthin topically.

Astaxanthin should be taken along with dietary fats to enhance bioavailability.

General Precautions

Astaxanthin is generally considered safe with no side effects. Check with your doctor before starting a new dietary supplement. It's a good idea to avoid astaxanthin if you:

• Are pregnant

• Have autoimmune problems 

• Take immunosuppressant medication

• Have allergies to carotenoids

• Take medicines inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase

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_{†All health information in the articles is exclusively gathered from clinical/medical resources that have been industry vetted, with no conflict of interest in the information they present/publish.} 

_{*Holy Nutrition does not diagnose, treat, or give medical advice. Information provided is not medical advice and should not be relied upon for diagnosis or treatment. Consult with a healthcare provider or medical practitioner for any health concerns, questions, or before making any decisions related to your health. Individual health conditions and needs may vary, and therefore, professional medical advice is essential for personalized guidance. Holy Nutrition is not responsible for any harm or damage resulting from the user's reliance on the information contained in the articles.}