Taking Care of the Body God Gave Us
The world we live in is constantly spinning, constantly changing, constantly moving and constantly evolving. In ways this is a great thing. Evolution has allowed us great break throughs in medicine, education and even in transportation just to name a few. While this is great, progression can have a negative impact on our bodies, minds and even faith if we're not careful. Processed foods such as sodas (both regular and diet), sugary prepackaged sweets, and processed meats like hot dogs are packed full of refined sugars, excessive amounts of sodium and chemicals that can impact our physical and mental health. When our physical and mental health are in the tank, we can be vulnerable to spiritual decline. It is so important to take care of our bodies through exercise, eating right and even prayer. Yes, you can pray for your body and your health.
Don't get me wrong, eating right and exercising isn't always easy. I believe there's a common misconception that you must have a gym membership, run a half marathon, and meal prep bland chicken and rice in order to be healthy and fit, but this isn't exactly the case. People eat certain foods and exercise in certain ways in order to train towards their personalized goals. You, however, know your body. You are in charge of setting your own health goals. With that being said, your diet and exercise routine are customizable to suit your needs. A little bit of change goes a long way. I personally feel better when I make good health choices. When I feel better physically, I feel better mentally, and I feel like I'm better able to get closer to God. Why? Because I'm not battling with the fatigue and the overall "ick" that I feel from the processed foods and the lack of body movement.
Believe me when I say that I do have my bad days. I do have my days when my Oreo stash speaks to me from their top-secret hiding place (I have to hide them, or my kids will steal them). This is okay! We must allow ourselves some grace to enjoy some of those not-so-great foods we love or else we will resent the process.
** Side note: I am not a registered dietician, nor do I claim to be. My knowledge has been gained through experience, research and of course the good Lord. This section is brought to you out of my love for feel good food and making improvements to our overall health. These claims are not backed by a formal education but simply out of my desire to share what I've discovered with you. Please do your own research when customizing your dietary and exercise needs. ***