God’s Design
Your body was perfectly and intricately designed. When you ingest God-designed fuel, your body uses every vitamin, mineral, and phytonutrient to ensure your brain and body are functioning optimally. When you eat the foods that God intended, your immune system is strong and your hormones are in balance. This way of eating allows your body to fight off toxins from the environment and food contaminants you consume.
Man’s Interference
Problem arises, however, when you eat man-made foods – foods with multiple unnatural ingredients.
Man-made foods are heavily refined, altered, and processed. They are full of high fructose corn syrup, sugars, artificial colors, imitation flavors, hydrogenated fats and toxic preservatives. Your body attempts to utilize these lifeless foods for energy, but they are stripped of their fiber and nutrients. There is nothing in them to fight off toxins; in fact, many processed foods contain carcinogenic ingredients. They are void of essential fatty acids that fight inflammation; instead man-made foods cause digestive problems and promote inflammation. Man-made foods do not contain phytonutrients or antioxidants to promote health, vitality, and longevity. Sadly, these foods do not have any life left in them; rather they draw from life and contribute to disease.
Most likely, you or someone you know is affected by an ongoing health condition. Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
- Among Americans, 7 out of 10 deaths each year are from chronic diseases.
- Diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity affect the quality of life of 90 million Americans.
- Two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight. 1 in every 3 adults is obese (>20% over ideal body weight).
- Our children’s health is also declining as almost 1 in 5 youths between the ages of 6 and 19 is obese.
Educate Y
ourself and Take Action
These conditions are preventable and, in many cases, can be reversed, but it’s important that you educate yourself and take action.
There is not a magic pill, food, or drink that will make you healthy or cause permanent weight loss. You have to make dietary changes and exercise.
It has taken me many years of studying and researching nutrition to realize that the only true guidelines for nutrition are laid out in the Bible. What the “experts” are telling us to eat changes every few years and is largely influenced by wealth and power. Foods that were regarded as safe are now proven to be disease promoting, like hydrogenated fats, artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. Fats, like butter and coconut oil were given a bad rap in the past and now the recommendations have reversed. In fact, coconut oil has been shown to have tremendous health benefits. I have learned that if I question whether a food should be eaten, then I should first consult my Bible. Biblical truths are always accurate and never changing. The truth of nutrition lies in God’s original plan.
What to Eat and What to Avoid
Meat – (Leviticus 11) Eat any animal that has split hooves and chew their cud. This includes; grass-fed beef, venison, elk, veal, goat, lamb, and buffalo.
- Avoid Pork – Pigs have hooves, but do not chew the cud. They are scavengers that eat anything, which quickly becomes a part of their meat.
- Avoid Grain-Fed Beef – Most of the beef in grocery stores and restaurants are grain-fed. This is unnatural and negatively affects the fats in the meat.
- Avoid Seafood – (Leviticus 11) Never eat any animal from the water that does not have both fins and scales. Shrimp, oysters, crabs, clams, snails, and catfish are bottom feeders that clean the ocean floors which are laden with toxins.
Fish – (Leviticus 11) You may eat anything from the water if it has both fins and scales. This includes wild-caught fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut, scrod, haddock, pompano, trout, grouper, cod, mahi mahi, snapper, orange roughy, tilapia, sea bass, mackerel, and sole.
Eggs – Organic/Cage Free is best.
Dairy
Raw milk is the best since it is not homogenized and pasteurized, but it is not sold in stores. It is available from local farms and coops.
- Raw cow’s milk cheese, goat, and sheep cheese.
- Plain organic yogurt and kefir
Fats and Oils – Fat does not make you fat! If you eat God-designed fats, you will burn fat and reduce inflammation. Healthy fats include; coconut oil (great for cooking), organic butter, olive oil (not for heating), flaxseed oil, sesame oil, and avocado.
- Fats and Oils to Avoid – Man-made fats cause weight gain and lead to disease. Avoid hydrogenated oils, canola oil, margarine, and substitute butters
Nuts & Seeds – These are a great source of healthy fats, protein and fiber. Raw nuts and seeds are the best. Avoid coated nuts. Most commercially prepared nuts are heated at high temperatures, above 170 F, which causes a breakdown of their fats and the production of free radicals.
Fruits and Vegetables – Eat plenty and eat a variety. Fruits and vegetables are packed full of nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Organic is best to avoid pesticides (foodnews.org has a list of foods with the most and least pesticide load).
Grains – Whole grain, organic are your best choice. Whole grains contain an abundance of nutrients and fiber. When refined, the health benefits of grain are completely stripped away. Experiment with some of the wonderful grains God has provided, such as sprouted grain breads, brown rice, quinoa, millet, oats, and barley.
Avoid Fructose/Refined & Processed Foods – Fructose in the form of High Fructose Corn Syrup is in many beverages and processed foods. Not only is it addicting, but it diminishes your feeling of fullness. Sugar and refined grains are the leading cause of insulin and leptin resistance, which affects your weight and risk of many diseases.
Sweeteners – Sweets are and occasional treat. Natural sweeteners include raw honey, maple syrup, dates, and the herb, stevia.
Avoid Artificial Sweeteners – Artificial sweeteners can stimulate your appetite, increase carbohydrate cravings, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain. They are linked to obesity, heart disease and cancer.
God provided us all these delightful foods in every color of the rainbow. Take the single ingredient foods that God abundantly provided and put them together to make foods you enjoy. By staying clear of man-made foods and eating live foods, your body will have the nutrients to heal and restore you to be what God so wonderfully created you to be.
