I hope you had a blessed Memorial Day weekend as we honor and remember the veterans who died fighting for our freedoms that we enjoy today. We must continue to pray that no one takes away from us those freedoms of life, liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness for ALL human beings from the day of conception until the day we depart this earth for our eternal life. For Christians, that means Heaven; for those who have not made Jesus their Lord and Savior, it means an eternity of separation from Jesus. None of us want that for ourselves or anyone we know.
Since I hoped you would all be enjoying the holiday Monday and not on your computers or phones, I saved this informative blog to go out on Tuesday this week rather than my typical Monday Morning Blog.
Susan Neal is our guest blogger today as she gives us tips and reminders of how God designed our bodies to eat the food He created, not food man created in a factory. I know you’ll appreciate her personal testimony of how what we eat can maintain and restore health or destroy it.
Are you living life to its fullest? Is your health or weight impeding you from serving God to the best of your ability?
[Tweet “Over 50 percent of Americans live with a chronic illness and 40 percent suffer from obesity.”]
Over 50 percent of Americans live with a chronic illness and 40 percent suffer from obesity. Jesus told us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 NASB).
[Tweet “The decline in the health of Americans correlates with the food we eat.”]
The decline in the health of Americans correlates with the food we eat. Processed and fast foods are loaded with calories but lack nutrients. Often, we eat foods created by food manufacturers versus created by God.
Eat God’s Food
Let’s check out what God told us to eat.
“Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food’” (Genesis 1:29 NLT). A seed-bearing plant produces seeds we can plant again, such as grains and vegetables.
Fruits are so delicious they’re like God’s candy.
Instead of eating a dish of ice cream, eat a juicy strawberry, tangy green apple, or crunchy pomegranate. Fruits are not just juicy and sweet, but also provide the body with nutrients our bodies need to be healthy.
[Tweet “God created over a hundred different vegetables because the human body needs various nutrients.”]
God created over a hundred different vegetables because the human body needs various nutrients.
For example, spinach contains vitamins A and K, whereas broccoli is full of vitamin E. God gave us a variety to choose from to ensure we get the proper amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Grains provide carbohydrates the body uses for energy.
We have an assortment of grains to choose from amaranth, barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, quinoa, rice, rye, wheat, and wild rice. Two grains I do not recommend are white rice and wheat, because of today’s processing methods with the nutrients stripped away; all others are beneficial.
Nuts are excellent sources of protein.
Again, God created numerous varieties to choose from including almond, Brazil, cashew, chestnut, hazelnut, macadamia, pecan, pistachio, pine, and walnut. Be sure to buy raw nuts because they contain more nutrition in their natural, raw form instead of roasted, salted, or sugar coated. Nuts are full of omega 3 oils, which are essential for brain function.
After the flood, God introduced meat into the human diet—another source of protein.
Seeds are full of trace minerals the human body needs, but in small amounts. God gave us chia, flax, hemp, poppy, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds.
[Tweet “Since God made us, he knows what our bodies require, and he provides it in different ways.”]
Since God made us, he knows what our bodies require, and he provides it in different ways. Today, many consume “food-like” substances packaged in colorful boxes and bags and laced with ingredients that get us hooked on tantalizing flavors.
[Tweet “Have you succumbed to eating the standard American diet?”]
Have you succumbed to eating the standard American diet?
Eight years ago, I lost my health. I could not serve God well. I fought nutritionally to get my health back and my weight under control. Did you know that you could improve your well-being simply by changing the foods you eat? I did and so can you.
Change Your Mindset
[Tweet “Changing your lifestyle begins with changing your mindset.”]
Changing your lifestyle begins with changing your mindset. Gain knowledge to understand that processed foods stripped of their God-given nutrients and enriched with synthetic vitamins, are not healthy for the human body. This includes all foods made from white flour.
Every time you sit down to eat, evaluate whether God created the food, like a baked potato, or a manufacturer created it, like potato chips. When you consume foods God created, your body and mind may heal from numerous ailments—mine did.
[Tweet “God knew what he was doing when he created nutrient-rich foods for us to consume.”]
God knew what he was doing when he created nutrient-rich foods for us to consume. They not only provide what our body needs, but they are delicious to enjoy as well.
[Tweet “When you take care of your body by eating God’s natural foods, as close to harvest as possible, you’re happier and healthier.”]
Jesus wants us to live an abundant life. When you take care of your body by eating God’s natural foods, as close to harvest as possible, you’re happier and healthier.
What is one change you can make to improve your eating habits?
Susan Neal Bio
Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, lives her life with a passion to help others improve their health so they can serve God better. She is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors. Her mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ. She is the author of six healthy living books including Healthy Living Journal and Healthy Living Series: 3 Books in 1. Her best-seller 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, a Selah award winner, sold over 5000 copies in its first thirteen months. You can find her on SusanUNeal.com.
Janet’s Note: You might also enjoy my blog post on reading labels. I read every label of food I’m not buying fresh. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, or you do and know it’s not good for you, don’t put it in your temple.
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