Shortly after changing my diet (about 4 years ago) from one full of wheat, carbohydrates, sugar, and processed (boxed/microwaveable) foods, to a diet of fresh, whole foods, was life-changing. i had more energy, my skin was clear and glowing, i had less moodiness, i slept better, and i was able to maintain my weight (it didn't fluctuate any more).
After embracing this new lifestyle for several months, one thing became very clear. Every time i ate processed food, i felt ill. My stomach would feel bloated and not satisfied. Sugary foods would bring me to a high and then drop me an hour later and leave me feeling moody. i would feel tired after eating, instead of energized. And, it's no wonder—have you ever really studied a food label that has more than 1-3 ingredients. It's crazy! The fast and convenient food that our culture needs to keep up with busy schedules, is full of chemicals, preservatives, toxic food dyes, bleached sugar, flavorings like MSG, artificial flavors, and fillers.
It took me a long time to realize why i didn't switch to a fresh, whole-foods diet sooner. i made the mistake of trusting that food manufacturers have my health and best interest in mind. That, my friends, is far from the truth. Food manufacturers all have common goals:
• To make food as cheaply as possible for maximum profit
• To make food products shelf-stable for as long as possible (by adding chemical preservatives) so that it can be processed cheaply in very large quantities
• To market they products as fast and convenient for the busy lifestyle
i don't know about you, but these goals don't fly with me.
Not to mention, when you buy food, remember that it costs money to make it, package it, ship it, stock it, and market it. If a food product is really cheap, imagine how much it really costs to make it — likely just pennies. So you have to ask yourself, is your health worth more than pennies? Because here's the truth. You either pay the farmer now, or pay the doctor later. A diet full of processed foods may not effect you much in your 20s, but when all those chemicals and toxic food additives get stored up in your system over a matter of years, they will wreak havoc on your system and it will take a long time to rid the body of them (trust my personal experience on this one).
Summer is one of the best times to really start cutting out the processed foods. There are farmer's markets everywhere that are overflowing with delicious, flavorful fresh foods that are nutrient dense.
This week, the focus is on choosing fresh foods that are nutrient dense so that you can start to feed our body the way God intended.
Genesis 1:29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
If this is new to you, do the very best you can to buy and consume fresh foods this week. Try to avoid the pre-packaged foods and try to avoid eating out (especially fast food). My best tip? When shopping, shop the perimeter of the store and avoid the isles because that is where the fresh food is. Oh, and remember this — if your food doesn't spoil within a few days to a week, it isn't fresh and it's full of preservatives.
i promise you, changing your diet to fresh foods (organic when possible) is something you will never regret — you'll have your good health as a sweet reminder.
Lord, show me what foods nurture my body so that i can heal and show me what it means to be disciplined in cutlure that values fast and convenient food. Amen.
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