Nutrition
Nutrition. This one is huge, really huge. Entire books and websites have been devoted to this one subject alone when it pertains to health.
Just like we have to sleep and drink water to live, we also have to eat to survive.
There is a common phrase that says: "You are what you eat."
It's true.
What we eat breaks down in our digestive system, and our body then uses that for nutrition to make new cells in our body.
That is why the subject of nutrition is such an important one.
For me to attempt to share something on this subject in one blog post looks slightly daunting to me. And yet, even with all of the thousands of books and websites out there, this subject really is a very simple one if you approach it with a Biblical outlook.
You might be thinking... the Bible has something to say about nutrition and diet?
Indeed, it does!
When God created the world, He also created food for mankind. What did God create for us to eat? The first chapter in the Bible tells us.
Genesis 1:29 says: "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat."
God created plants to be food for us.
Genesis 1:30 goes on to say that God created plants to be food for every living creature on earth; that included even the animals.
Genesis 1:30 goes on to say that God created plants to be food for every living creature on earth; that included even the animals.
"And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so."
God's original, perfect diet for animals and man was a totally plant based diet.
God's original, perfect diet for animals and man was a totally plant based diet.
Psalm 104:14 reaffirms this:
I think we all know the story about what happened in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the one and only tree that God told them not to eat from. Sin then entered the world, and God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden they lived in.
Later, after the world wide flood, God gave man permission to eat animals. (meat)
Genesis 9:3 says: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."
Later, God told His people, Israel, in Leviticus chapter 11 the difference between clean and unclean animals. God told His people which animals were safe (clean) to eat and which animals were not safe (not clean) to eat. God told them this from a heart of love. God knows things about the animals and creatures He created.
Pigs, for example, are unclean. They are part of God's "garbage disposal" system. They literally clean up garbage on the earth. That is why God created them. God Himself calls them unclean.
The same is true about shellfish such as shrimp, crab, and lobster. (and others!) They are bottom feeders and clean up garbage on the ocean floor. That is why God created them. God Himself says they are unclean.
Other fish, such as salmon, trout, and tuna (and many others!) are not that way. Those fish are called clean (safe) by God.
There are also many common animals that are called clean (safe) by God to eat such as: chicken, turkey, and beef.
Obviously, God gives mankind a choice, but there is tremendous blessing and wisdom in not eating animals that God says are unclean.
The royal family of England will not eat shellfish for this very reason. (if you don't believe me, Google it!) Shellfish is known to cause illness. The same is true of other unclean animals.
Fish is a favorite of mine. (I especially love salmon!) Jesus must have enjoyed fish when He was on earth because we read about Him serving fish to His disciples. (John 21:9)
There is also tremendous blessing and wisdom in eating primarily plant based foods - the food that God originally intended for us to eat.
What are plant foods?
Fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, etc.)
Vegetables (potatoes, onions, carrots, etc.)
Grains (wheat, oats, rice, etc.)
Nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, etc.)
Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flax, etc.)
Legumes (beans, lentils, peas, etc.)
Herbs (mint, basil, chives, etc.)
God also created a wide range of spices on the earth, like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger (and so many more!) to make our food even more flavorful. (and with added health benefits!)
The Jewish people say that the 3rd day of the week (Tuesday) is doubly blessed. Why that day? They say that, when God created the world, the 3rd day was the only day when God said it was good twice.
When I first heard that, I looked it up in Scripture and sure enough! The 3rd day of creation is the only day when God said "it was good" two times. (Genesis 1:10 and Genesis 1:12)
Naturally, I had to ask myself, what did God create on the 3rd day?
God created dry land and plants on the 3rd day.
Plants are good. God Himself said so. Plants have been known to heal the human body with their incredible nutrition!
About two years ago, I found out about a medical doctor who helps people to heal from auto-immune diseases (like Lupus) by simply following a high nutrition protocol with only plant based foods. People who faithfully follow her high nutrition protocol heal from their diseases. (I hope to share more about this medical doctor on this blog sometime.)
Like another quote says: "The proof is in the pudding."
Plants heal the body.
Animal products, such as meat and dairy, have some nutrition in them, but they can (and do!) feed inflammation in the body.
Sugar, which most people know is not good, also feeds inflammation in the body. Sugar, which is highly addictive, also causes people to put on extra, unwanted weight. As much as possible, eat fruit and honey instead!
There are some healthy sites that would encourage people to not eat meat, dairy, or sugar at all. If you are dealing with a severe illness, I would encourage the same!
However, for the average, healthy person, eating a little meat, dairy, and sugar is okay. (unless you're allergic to them) Sadly, most Americans do not eat those things in small amounts; we eat them on a daily basis in large amounts triggering all kinds of disease and inflammation in the body.
Most Americans eat like kings and queens. What do I mean by that?
In Biblical times, only the wealthy, such as kings and queens, ate meat on a daily basis. The average person in ancient times only ate meat for special times and on special occasions. (like the story of the prodigal son coming home in Luke 15:23 when they killed the fatted calf in celebration.)
Proverbs 23:1-3 gives this admonition:
"When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat."
Most Americans eat meat every day with every meal. Is it any wonder that heart disease, due to clogged arteries, is the number one killer in our country?
Plants will not clog arteries; animal products do when eaten in excess.
Everything I'm sharing in this blog post, my mom learned when I was growing up as a girl.
Growing up, dessert was limited to just the weekend. (we no longer do this since we're all adults now) I grew up in California for 6 years (ages 10-16) so our dessert was usually ice cream. We eagerly ran to the freezer on Friday evening to see what flavors of ice cream were in there for us!
For lunch, I frequently ate peanut butter and jelly (or peanut butter and honey) sandwiches as a girl. I also grew up eating avocado sandwiches. (that was always a treat!) We did not eat meat and cheese sandwiches very often. Why? Meat and cheese is more expensive, and my mom knew it wasn't as healthy. If we had a meat and cheese sandwich, it was only once a week.
As a girl, I didn't always understand why my mom limited certain things, but as an adult woman now, I'm so thankful.
For clarification, I am not a vegetarian (no meat) or a vegan. (no meat or dairy) I eat meat, dairy, and sugar, and I enjoy it, but I don't eat very much of it. I try to limit those things.
If this blog post contains new information to you, or if you feel like you are on "information overload", but you would like to try incorporating some of the things I shared in this post, begin by taking small steps. If you eat meat three times a day, try eating it just once a day instead.
If you are a wife and mom and your husband and children love meat, you might enjoy serving meat with your evening meal for supper.
When my mom serves meat, it's usually in the evening for supper. Breakfast and lunch are very simple in our home, and we rarely eat meat for breakfast or lunch.
In future blog posts, I hope to share practical tips, ideas, and pointers on ways to incorporate more plant foods into your meals.
This blog post was long overdue. It took me two months to think, to pray over, and to write this post. (I pray over each post that I write!)
The things I shared in this post are things that I've known since I was a girl, but going through a health trial two years ago, helped to strengthen me in what I already knew. (and I learned even more!) I simply want to pass along these health blessings to others!
Hosea 4:6 says:
Obviously there is a greater context behind the verse I just shared, but I shared that verse to make a point: Knowledge (and a lack of it) is a very powerful thing. God's Word says so.
I'm thankful that God's Word has everything we need for wisdom and direction in life, including nutrition and health!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and I have no medical training. The things I share on this blog are simple, practical things that I've learned help with good health.
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