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Take Responsibility for Your Own Health--Nobody Else Will! By Tom Damour Why do people get sick? Sickness is not a natural state-of-being. Learn how to protect your health by changing the way you think about food.
housands of scientific studies over the past thirty years have shown that our lack of proper nutrition is perhaps the single most significant factor behind the reason people get sick. Last year over a trillion dollars ($1,000,000,000,000) was spent on health care in the United States alone. What has this staggering expenditure of funds and resources produced? Let's see what the experts have to say. What do experts say? Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famous Mayo Brothers in Rochester, Minnesota, made the following statement in 1900: "We are all afraid of germs...but what we should be afraid of is lowered resistance which comes from within... Normal resistance to disease is directly dependent upon adequate food. It never comes of pill boxes... Adequate food is the cradle of normal resistance, the playground of normal immunity, the workshop of good health and the laboratory of long life." Almost a century later Dr. Julian Whitaker wrote: "The greatest medical discovery of our time is the awesome power within the human body to heal and rejuvenate itself! This tremendous discovery is destined to change the way we practice medicine in America. In the future, instead of cutting the body...instead of drugging it...instead of working against its natural systems...doctors will strive to feed and enhance the body's amazing power to self-heal. We're starting to see the shift in awareness already" (Julian Whitaker, in Wellness Today, July 1993).
Disease model or wellness model Since emphasis has been on treating illness rather than prevention, a disease care system has developed rather than a health care system. Dr. George Malkmus states in his book, God's Way to Ultimate Health, "We've been looking at health from a Disease Model for many, many years now. The time has come for a paradigm shift to a Wellness Model." There is hope Thankfully, things are beginning to change. The American Institute for Cancer Research conducted The Diet & Cancer Project. This project was an outgrowth of the National Academy of Sciences' landmark 1982 report on diet and cancer in which, for the first time, a clear link between diet and cancer was established.
War on cancer a bust Drs. John Bailar and Heather Cornick published an article in the June 1997 New England Journal of Medicine in which they said: "The effect of new treatment for cancer on mortality has been largely disappointing." Bailar continued: "I can't say the money spent on new treatments is definitely wasted, but it certainly hasn't paid off. At this point, I can't see whether it will ever pay off. Frankly, I'm not convinced that there are wonderful cancer cures waiting to be discovered. We have given it our best effort for decades; billions of dollars of support, the best scientific talent available. It hasn't paid off" ("$30 Billion 'War on Cancer' a Bust?" USA Today, May 29, 1997, emphasis added throughout). Obesity--deadly killer "Overweight and obesity may soon cause as much preventable disease and death as cigarette smoking," Surgeon General David Satcher said. "People tend to think of overweight and obesity as strictly a personal matter, but there is much that communities can and should do to address these problems." Approximately 300,000 U.S. deaths a year are currently associated with obesity and overweight, compared to more than 400,000 deaths a year associated with cigarette smoking. (U.S. Department of Human Services Press Release, December 2001). S.A.D.
Without a doubt, the ranks of the "walking wounded" have become a serious problem in the United States in particular and the Western world in general. What is causing this human disaster, and what can be done about it?
Change eating habits Most people don't want to change their eating habits until forced to do so. In other words, they are willing to gamble with their health, hoping to beat the odds. Changing the way one eats is not easy. But those who do so will experience a transformation in their lives. This transformation will impact their physical, mental well being as well. The primary reason people turn from the Standard American Diet is because they feel they have no other option available to them. They have lost their health from one of hundreds of major illnesses and have not been able to find relief from other sources. What should be our focus? In Romans 14:17, we are reminded that the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. While it is very important to make sure we nourish our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit, it is critical that Christians keep their focus on the spiritual. The apostle Paul reminds us that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, which includes moderation, self-control and diligence. It takes character to make right choices. This is true in every area of life, including our eating and exercising habits. What should I eat? Clearly eating the S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) is not conducive to the enjoyment of abundant health. The purpose of this article is stir the reader to change the way he or she thinks about food. Seven basic rules of health are listed below to arm the reader with information needed to make informed decisions. They are presented in a general nature and are not intended to replace advice from dieticians and other competent medical professionals. These seven rules are not all-inclusive but are meant to provide a framework by which to live. Basic rules of health Rule #1: Your life is not your own. Remember, your body is not your own. It is the physical instrument through which God lives in us. In 1 Corinthians 6:20 we read: "For you were bought at a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." Christians must recapture the sense that their bodies belong to God.
Those who understand proper nutrition don't eat to deal with emotional discomfort. Instead, they eat to maintain good health through proper nutrition. In other words, they eat to live, not live to eat. Rule #3: Eat living food. Raw food has been called "living food." Numerous scientific studies have shown the unmistakable benefits of eating a diet of mainly raw fruits and vegetables. Doing so will help ensure that the vitamin and mineral content is preserved. Living foods (raw or uncooked foods) are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of good health. A diet of mainly cooked food is not going to provide the body with the nutrients it needs to support health. Many who encourage a largely raw food diet say that an 80/20 ratio is called for. That is to say, 80 percent of one's diet should consist of fresh raw foods, while the remaining 20 percent should be cooked.
Eating raw foods will also maintain the enzymes needed to properly digest them. It is critical that "living food," be the staple of our diet in order to maintain good health. Many authorities claim that a diet rich in "living foods" actually enables the body to rejuvenate itself from certain common ailments. Rule #4: Eat only "clean" meats. It is clear that God never intended that human beings eat those creatures labeled as "unclean." The reason for this is not explicitly stated in Scripture, but upon closer examination it is quite possible that the primary reason was for health matters. Recent scientific studies support this conclusion. Modern science is catching up with God's Word. Over 3,200 years ago God declared creatures like shellfish, clams and shrimp were not fit to eat. Now scientists are telling us why. "All crustacean and mollusk shellfish have no scales and are therefore unclean. Mollusks include clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops. Crustaceans include crabs, lobsters, shrimp, prawns, and crayfish. "Raw shellfish is a major source of food poisoning in our nation and diseases commonly carried by shellfish include salmonella and the Hepatitis A virus... Clams and oysters can filter between twenty and fifty gallons of seawater a day. The toxins, however, remain in the flesh of the shellfish" (Don Colbert, M.D., What Would Jesus Eat?). Rule #5: Drink pure water. Make it a habit to drink water free of as many man-made substances as possible. Remember, strive to eat or drink things in the state God created them. For example, drink water in as pure a state as you possibly can. Rule #6: Exercise on a regular basis. Exercising on a regular basis is vitally important for maintaining health. Walking is a practical form of exercise, which most people can do without spending a lot of money. Others enjoy jogging, tennis, golf, etc. No matter what form of exercise you choose, it is important that you check with your doctor before starting your exercise program. Tell him/her what your exercise goals are, then make sure you exercise according to those goals.
It should go without saying, don't smoke. More than 30 years of research has proven beyond a doubt the detrimental effects smoking has on health.
Rule #7: Make sure you get sufficient sleep. Tips for getting a better night's sleep:
Proper sleep habits are just as important as proper nutrition and exercise. By correcting poor sleep habits and revising your routine, your sleep patterns should fall into place. If they don't, talk to your doctor. He or she can give you a thorough evaluation to help you determine the cause and treatment. Take charge of your health--nobody else will Remember what Paul said in Romans 6:13: "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." It's time to take charge of your own health by educating yourselves about the laws of health. Be careful to avoid extremes. Strive for balance by staying away from extreme dietary doctrines, which claim to be a cure-all. At the same time, avoid those who argue diet is not important for maintaining good health. Remember, each of us is responsible for taking care of the body God has given us. As you learn more about the basic principles of health, be sure to put them into action. By doing so, you will be choosing life: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). May God bless you on your journey to better health. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3 John 2). Copyright 2002 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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