Our NORMAL Diet is Killing Us!

What we put into our bodies is killing us NOW!  We eat things that we should not eat.  We eat things that are unhealthy for us and are slowly but surely killing us.  How are these foods killing us? Well 4 of the top 10 causes of death in America are:  Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes, Stroke and Cancer. These diseases can be caused by what we eat! We will look at these disease later on in the month.   


First, let's see what Jesus ate while he walked the earth....

His diet consisted of: fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, olives/olive oil, figs and dates.

Now, I am going to be completely honest with you.  I am THE WORST about what I put into my body.  I love me some sweet tea (with extra sugar please), chocolate, pasta, cookies, Dr. Pepper, and anything sweet.  I am however trying to change these things.  I know that when this challenge begins I will no longer be able to eat these things anymore that I oh so dearly enjoy.  Will I be hungry?  Probably.  Will I be starving?  No.  I might say that I am starving, but hopefully I will be able to remind myself of what real starvation is like.  Will I have more energy and be able to focus on the task at hand?  I sure think so!  We will just have to wait and see!

Here are a few questions I have been asking myself:
Don't you think that Jesus ate things that would give Him energy?  Don't you think that He would avoid foods that would make Him ill?  My answer is YES!  I seriously doubt that He would go down to His local Mexican restaurant and eat a huge bowl of cheese dip (with extra salt added to the chips), have a large refillable Dr. Pepper, and order the Chicken and Steak Fajita's with extra cheese (and heaven forbid there be any vegetables on the plate!!!  Have to send that right back, Jack!).  Do you think that Jesus would eat all of that right before He plans to go out and preach the gospel?  NO SIR!  That is what my husband orders!! Ha!  And does my husband get sick every single time?!  Yes he does!  Is my husband able to enjoy himself the rest of the day?  NOPE!  That is why it is so important for us to fill our bodies with nutritious food.

I want you to understand though--I am not saying that we should never have a meal that we can truly enjoy.  I don't think that it is a sin to enjoy the finer foods of this world.  But to eat this way every single stinkin' day?  Probably not the best idea! 


Okay, so let's look individually at these foods that Jesus ate and see why they are good for our bodies.

1.  Fresh fruit- Contains vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants
Duh!!  We all know that right?! But can we add salt to our watermelon, or powdered sugar to our strawberries?  NO!  Not this month at least!  :)
2.  Vegetables-fat free, cholesterol free, come from the earth, full of vitamins and minerals, low in calorie, and are full of phytonutrients. (Phytonutrients are health building substances.)  Also, cancer researchers say that veggies are natures best health foods.
3.  Whole Grains- good source of fiber, selenium, potassium, and magnesium. The Mayo Clinic has said that whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers and other health problems.  What is a whole grain?  They are single foods that have not yet been stripped of their nutrients.  Examples are brown rice, popcorn, and quinoa.
4.  Legumes- contains fiber and iron; is high in folic acid--Hey Preggers!!  This is good for you!  Legumes are low in fat, conatin no cholesterol, high in potassium and magnesium and are a healthy substitute to meat.  So what is a legume you ask?  Well, a Legume can be black beans, chickpeas (hummus), edamame, black-eyed peas, lentils, etc. Bring on the Gas-X!!
5.  Fish- Full of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.  The Omega-3 Fatty Acids can help reduce the risk of dying of heart disease and boosts your body's energy production.  It has been said that these fatty acids are good for your skin and hair, and can reduce signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer's Disease. 
6.  Olives/Olive Oil- Good source of monosaturated fat, full of antioxidants, has been known to prevent heart disease, has anti-inflammatory effects, and can help control blood pressure. It is recommended that we ingest 8-10 olives or 2-3 tbsp. of Extra Virgin Olive Oil each day.
7.  Figs- Full of fiber; high in calcium, iron and potassium. And is a good source of antioxidants.
8.  Dates- High in fiber; good source of potassium and calcium.  Be careful!  These are high in calories.

Honestly His diet sounds a little bland and boring to me!  But, if this diet was good enough for Jesus then it is good enough for Lauren!

So, back to the title of this post... "Our NORMAL Diet is Killing Us!"  We...I...eat crap for a living and need to change up my habits not only for this challenge, but because it is healthier for me.  Why the need and want to be healthier?  Well, if we are not filling our bodies with the healthy foods then we do not have the energy that we need to be able to share the gospel, to be able to spend time with the Lord, to be able to live our lives completely and fully for Him.  I have learned that if I continue to eat foods that are not healthy and that make me sick to my stomach then I can not truly serve the Lord.  There are too many times that I say, "My stomach hurts so I am just not going to go to church tonight".  Or, "My stomach isn't agreeing with what I ate earlier so I am not going to go witness".  And sometimes I even say, "Well, I ate too much and now I am exhausted so I think I will just go to bed early instead."  THIS IS NOT OKAY!!!  We were called to disciple, to tell others about the Lord.  The Bible says in Matthew 28:19-20  "¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Mark 10:45 says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 Ephesians 4:1-3 says, "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

I am committing right now that I will continue to eat better so that I have the energy that I need to be able to serve the Lord.  I know that this will be difficult; but, with the Lord's help I can do it! 



Next time I will share with you which 7 foods I have chosen for my month of fasting!





Just a little extra!  How to use a dried-fig purée as a substitute for fat or sweetener when baking.  I found this interesting!  I will have to try this when I am off of my 1st month of fasting with 7 specific foods!

www.livestrong.com says, "Mix in a blender two cups dried figs with 3/4 cup water and 2 tsp. vanilla. When using as shortening, measure half the amount called for in the recipe. Because they contain a natural humectant, dried figs retain moisture and extend the freshness of your baked goods."

LOVE TO ALL! MuAh  mUah!!