Wellness: Wisdom Through the Ages
From the beginning of time, women's ability to adapt to their environment, provide and prepare for their family's needs, and bring a sense of curiosity and creativity into action has often meant the difference in whether a community thrives or just barely survives.
With advancements in education, research, and technology, women have participated in vast improvements within fashion, housing design and decor, automobiles, cooking appliances and techniques, and even child-rearing. Most of us chuckle (and say a prayer of gratitude!) when visiting museums and seeing the ways of life before our time. It is fun to see how our grandmother might have lived, but we would not want to return to those ways!
Yes, change is all around us, but one area of transformation that I am reluctant to embrace is our modern day food supply. I believe that the wise Christian woman must be aware of technology tampering with our sources of nourishment. Genesis 1:29 reminds us of our true food source: "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food'" (NIV).
Genetically, the human body has not changed from its original design. We still have two arms, two legs, one head, two eyes, one heart, one liver, and one stomach - just like our God-created ancestors. Our nutrient needs reflect those of our biblical lineage. What Bible scholars have known for centuries, nutritionists and health organizations are only recently admitting may be beneficial for overall wellness.
Modern food technology cranks out refined, processed, adulterated, irradiated "food-like edible substances" that don't resemble natural food. The devitalized ingredients consumed in a regular diet over a long period of time promote nutrient deficiencies often leading to degenerative disorders. Sadly, the United States is frequently referred to as "the land of the overfed and undernourished."
How does the wise woman of God revolutionize her family's wellness (and her own) in the midst of the "modern-day mania" around food and nutrition? Her daily guide and inspiration can be found in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (NIV).
I use these three steps to simplify my own personal wellness program: prepare, protect, and prevent. Let's look at each step in more detail to help you adapt them to your wellness lifestyle.
Prepare
This step promotes efficiency - time, energy, and money. That is one way in which the Christian woman has changed for the better! She is a good steward of her resources. There are several markets that offer fresh, seasonal, and locally-grown vegetables and fruit. Shop carefully and choose a variety of flavors, colors, and textures so that you can ensure a full range of nutrients. Also include a variety of lean, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free protein sources, such as beef, chicken, turkey, and cold-water (not farmed) fish. Try some different cooking techniques to add variety to your favorite menu. Healthy fats (essential fatty acids) include olive oil, flax seed, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and avocado.
Protect
A healthy body and mind cannot be purchased at any price. Take care of what God gave you before you have to repair it. A well-balanced whole-food (mostly plant foods) diet promotes normal bodily functions. Finishing the day with sound sleep provides repair and restoration for those body functions. Healthy relationships filled with laughter and prayer will strengthen your "health" coat-of-armor. Any type of active movement will keep body parts (inner and outer) in much better working order. You don't have to run marathons; just include extra movement throughout the day. Standing and marching in place is a good place to start.
Prevent
Benjamin Franklin's famous saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," has been repeated by women for centuries. By taking the two previous action steps to greater health, we take great strides in preventing numerous maladies and disorders. When our bodies are nutritionally full, we look better, feel better, and perform better, and that allows us to do all that we do for God's glory.
God's natural food sources provide nutrients for strength, stamina, and endurance without added calories, salt, or sugars. They help our bodies burn fat for fuel the way they are designed to do. Too much of the man-made fake foods (yeast foods, processed meats, and sugary sweets) interfere with our natural design, and signs of degeneration become more and more evident.
It takes a woman with godly wisdom and strength to be able to choose the optimal food source, nutrient values, and presentation style in order to live wholly and honor her Creator through all generations.
Cold and Flu Prevention
Nature's pantry provides several God-created foods that protect your body's immune system from frequent colds and flus.
- Add a tablespoon of chopped garlic or onion to chicken or beef broth. Though they cause your eyes to water and your nose to run, onion, garlic, ginger, horseradish, and turnips also stimulate lymph circulation and improve your body's defense system.
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon and clove on your hot cereal, or add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your coffee. Aromatic herbs and spices such as cinnamon, clove, cayenne, eucalyptus, or ginger warm the body as well as provide anti-oxidant protection.
- A few tablespoons of ginger powder added to a warm bath can bring soothing relief from aches and pains. Ginger tea brings warmth, stimulates circulation, and reduces congestion.
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