Eat Healthy in an Unhealthy World

You are in the driver’s seat and reach to turn the key. After saving for months, it is your first time behind the wheel of your very own car.

Before your parents allowed you to drive, they peppered you with advice: Make sure to perform regular maintenance, wash the vehicle periodically and keep the interior clean. Also, they made sure you read the instruction manual.

With such an opportunity comes accountability. Owning a vehicle is a tremendous responsibility. It is a valuable machine that must be maintained or it will break down. The right grade of gas must be used. Oil must be changed regularly, occasional tune-ups must be performed and tires must be checked and kept properly inflated. A car is a complex machine that needs careful upkeep.

Similarly, your body is a “machine”—one created by God. It requires great care if you want it to last and perform.

Just as many neglect their vehicles (you may know someone who does this), we can also neglect or abuse our bodies. Most often the damage is done over a long period of time, and the degradation is not immediately apparent.

Eating overly processed foods—which include the majority of readily available options—perfectly fits the bill for slow-and-steady harm to the human body. Today everything is artificial: sweeteners, colorings and preservatives. Fast-food restaurants are main offenders. School lunch lines and supermarkets are little better.

Ingredient lists read like science experiments gone awry: “What is butylated hydroxyanisole?”

Labeling laws make decisions even more confusing: “How can something be ‘100% Natural’ if it contains something as manmade as high-fructose corn syrup?”

Living in a world filled with unhealthy eating choices poses a big challenge for teenagers in the Church. Avoiding bad food when everyone around you is making wrong decisions is hard!

With a little knowledge and planning, however, you can properly fill your “fuel tank” to make sure your body’s “engine” runs smoothly!

Bad Fuel Options

Would you ever consider putting anything but fuel in the tank of your car? Sand? No. Sugar? Never!

Yet many times people put junk into their bodies’ fuel tanks (their stomachs). By eating such food, their hunger may be satisfied for the moment, but eventually such bad fuel will cause their engines to stop working.

This problem is evident everywhere in society: disease, obesity and overall poor health are often a direct result of bad eating habits and lifestyle choices.

Many make unhealthy decisions simply for convenience. There are more than 36,000 McDonald’s, 17,000 Burger King, and 6,600 Wendy’s restaurants worldwide, meaning they are accessible almost anywhere. While fast food is often a less expensive option, nearly every menu item offered at these establishments can be detrimental to your health and your delicate engine!

Instead of quality ingredients such as whole grains, fresh produce and lean meats, fast food contains an excess of sugar, fat and processed (empty) carbohydrates and calories. Added chemicals in these foods are designed to make you come back for more.

But that is not the worst of it. Because of the thousands of calories that are void of any nutritional value, what you are putting into your body directly contributes to problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, depression, heart disease, cancer, gallstones, stroke, asthma and lower back pain.

An automobile will keep running if the oil is not changed—even for thousands of miles. Yet, the longer you put off changing it, the more damage can be done to the delicate inner workings of the engine. One day the car will break down.

Your body operates the same way. While eating junk may seem to do little harm at the moment, you will eventually feel the pain.

The Why

Everyone knows that junk food is unhealthy—the word junk is in the name! Yet it is good to know exactly what fast food, candy, soda and deep-fried foods do to the vehicle that is your body.

Saps Your Energy: The “empty calories” in these foodless foods do not provide the nutrients needed for vibrant health. In fact, due to a lack of protein and good carbohydrates, junk food causes a blood sugar spike and crash, which leaves you feeling terrible.

Promotes Obesity: No surprise here. Fast foods contain large amounts of fat, which means you will likely pack on the pounds as a result of regular consumption. The more weight gained, the more likely the risk for serious chronic illnesses.

Damages Your Liver and Heart: Foods with large amounts of fat and sodium can raise your blood pressure and clog arteries near the heart. The result is less oxygen to the cells—which need oxygen to survive!

Linked to Diabetes: Eating foods laden with sugar and simple carbohydrates increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Refined white sugar and white flour can fatigue your pancreas as it must work overtime to create the extra insulin that prevents dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels.

Clearly, junk food is not the fuel God intended for human beings.

Pure Energy

The Creator has given us bodies, and He expects us to take care of them just as your parents would expect you to take care of your car. Notice: “Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:31).

Doing something “to the glory of God” means to honor or praise Him. In other words, how we take care of our bodies should reflect well on Him.

What then should we put into our “tanks”?

The majority of your diet should be fresh, unprocessed foods. In fact, this was the average diet for thousands of years. Foods only began to be mechanically processed with the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century. This means food became manufactured so that it could last longer sitting on store shelves and be more easily transported longer distances. Healthy vitamins and minerals were stripped out and artificial chemicals added.

Instead of a society largely made of small family farms where people grew their own food, populations began to shift to developing cities, and the result was a greater need for convenience. The pace of life picked up, and the days of country living gave way to the hustle-and-bustle of urban areas.

Our booklet God’s Principles of Healthful Living introduces a simple formula to buck the modern trends and reclaim good health: “Fruits cleanse, vegetables build, grains sustain, and herbs help to heal.”

Truly grasping these truths will put you on a road to vigor, strength and overall well-being!

Fruits Cleanse: Oranges, mangoes, strawberries, bananas, etc., contain beneficial acids that flush toxins from your system. Cells function better when they have been cleansed from these damaging chemicals.

Antioxidants in fruit help protect against foreign substances that enter the body such as free radicals. These unwanted chemicals, which often come from pollution, can affect cell health and lead to cancer in some cases.

Fruits cleanse your cells by introducing substances that can stop this mutation process. Keeping your cells operating properly is critical to the smooth functioning of your body.

Vegetables Build: When you hear that vegetables build, what comes to mind? What exactly is being built?

One answer is muscle!

Beans do just that. They have a high level of protein, which is used to repair muscle damage and create new muscle cells. Beans also contain complex carbohydrates and fiber, which give those muscles a good supply of sustained energy.

Vegetables build more than just muscle. The minerals found in leafy greens such as spinach and collards build blood, hair, skin and teeth.

There are many more ways vegetables build the body. They have a good supply of vitamins that are foundation al for overall health. They also have an abundance of phytonutrients, which help prevent certain diseases.

Grains Sustain: Wheat, barley, oats, rice, etc., give us energy throughout the day. They also give us stamina—the ability to endure over a period of time.

When we eat anything, our glucose (or blood sugar) levels increase. Our bodies will either use the energy immediately or save it for later by storing it in our cells.

Naturally occurring complex carbohydrates (found in foods that have not been overly processed) contain fiber. Fiber is excellent for your health because it fills you up without adding calories. It also lowers your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

On the other hand, the “simple sugars” found in candy and refined grains such as white flour enter our bloodstreams quickly. The process of refining these foods strips out necessary vitamins, nutrients and minerals. Man often tries to add them back later, but he cannot replace what God has so perfectly designed.

Complex carbohydrates are not broken down in the body as quickly as simple sugars. The increase in blood sugar happens at a much slower rate and puts less stress on the body. When this type of sugar is released slowly into the bloodstream, it means a more stable release of energy, which then sustains you for a longer period of time.

Herbs Help to Heal: Herbs and spices contain essential oils and vitamins that equip your body to fight against germs and toxins. They also prevent sickness by boosting your immunity level.

According to the magazine Natural Health, there are 22 herbs that have been proven to be remedies for 25 common ailments. For example, cranberry can treat urinary-tract infections, red pepper is used as a pain reliever, aloe vera can soothe burns, ginger can settle nausea, tea is good for heart health, and turmeric can treat joint injuries.

One of the most effective natural “medicines” God has given us is garlic. It contains an antibiotic compound called alliin that, when chewed, chopped or crushed, has great healing properties.

The magazine stated: “…an enzyme transforms alliin into a powerful antibiotic called allicin. Raw garlic has the most antibiotic potency, but garlic still has benefits when cooked. According to the National Cancer Institute, preliminary studies suggest that garlic consumption may also reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer, especially those of the gastrointestinal tract.”

As our loving Father, God provides us with ways to counteract sickness and disease. Incorporating the proper balance of fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs into our diets does just that.

Against the Current

Knowing the correct food choices does not take into account that most of the world fails to keep God’s principles of health. Society usually consumes the exact opposite of what human bodies need. Swimming against the relentless current of everyone around you is difficult, but it is doable.

A key step is that you realize where health comes from—the Creator God! Be sure to include this topic in your prayers. It is also important to ask God’s blessing before a meal. If you are in a school cafeteria or in a public place, there is no need to draw attention to yourself by stopping to pray. Such a situation, however, makes it all the more important to regularly ask the Father at other times to keep you from getting sick.

Also, you must plan to succeed. Plan to take along quality energy bars, nuts, fruits and vegetables to satisfy your appetite rather than depending on what is in vending machines, fast-food restaurants and convenience stores.

If you take part in a school lunch program, be sure to select healthier options such as fresh fruits, salads and cooked vegetables.

Remember that you are not in this alone. Work with your parents to come up with solutions to problems. If you see an area in your life where you are consistently left with no options other than junk food, plan ahead.

For example, when at school, you will likely be tempted to make poor choices. Be prepared by packing some raw nuts (almonds or walnuts). Include a healthy granola bar and some fruit. Bring your own lunch, such as a turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread and some raw vegetables. For dessert, instead of a candy bar, bring along fresh fruit, raisins or dates.

Another essential part of a healthy diet is drinking proper amounts of water. God’s Principles of Healthful Living states: “Drink a generous amount daily—some suggest one ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight.”

Take responsibility for your own body. Your parents do not always have to pack a lunch for you. While mothers and fathers are the caretakers of their children, you are still ultimately the one who decides what goes into your mouth.

Also, modern farming practices have stripped soil of many of its nutrients, which means taking vitamin and mineral supplements may be beneficial. Ask your parents to help you find the right supplements for your needs that fit into your budget.

As with all things, strive for balance. Be moderate (another word for balanced) in all things (Phil. 4:5). It is not wrong to occasionally enjoy a burger and fries from the school cafeteria, but do it with wisdom. Consider cutting out the fries and have a side salad instead. Drink filtered water instead of a soda.

Whether at school, a part-time job or a shopping mall’s food court, have the courage to make the right choices.

Realize What Is at Stake!

Plain and simple, putting junk into your tank will catch up with you and break you down just like an abused engine. Sickness, acne, low energy, weight gain, disease and possibly premature death await those who make poor food choices.

As you have seen, there is much at stake. Just as you would diligently take care of a car, your body is a “vehicle” that requires careful maintenance. God’s user manual—the Bible—has much to say about maintaining good health. Just like any instruction book, you must read it to educate yourself. Much of this biblical knowledge can be found in God’s Principles of Healthful Living.

Also, use the internet to do your own research about grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs. Read other books on the subject. Discover how God made these for us to use and enjoy the health He always intended.

Now that you have the “keys” of good understanding regarding your health, cherish the “vehicle” that can carry you to exciting places throughout your life!

Take care of your engine and glorify your Creator. By doing so, you will enjoy both short-term and long-term health benefits.