Embracing Your Healthiest Golden Age
“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” (3 John 1:2)
We’ve lived a long life. It’s now our Golden Age. Are we living our most energetic, healthiest life? Probably not. As we’ve grown older, we’ve probably gained wisdom and some weight, but where has all our energy gone?
As a nutritionist, it’s important that I live as I preach. What kind of role model would I be if I weighed 330 lbs., smoked cigarettes, and ate at KFC every day? Would you want me to lead you in wellness? I doubt it.
Similarly, as a Christian grandfather, you must be a role model. Your grandchildren look to you for wisdom. If you want your grandchildren to lead healthier lives, you should as well. The old axiom: do as I say, not as I do, shouldn’t apply here.
My website, New Creations Ministries, explores how food affects our mind, body, and spirit. It’s what makes counseling so interesting. I found my patients unconsciously go back to their old habits unless they grasp the reasons for their past failures.
In January, many attempt a myriad of diets that last barely three weeks. Why? Because there is no one-size-fits-all diet plan and the only good diet is a lifelong one. Everyone has distinct personalities and specific reasons why they crave certain foods. Do you know yours?
We each have a different mindset derived from different environmental backgrounds. I urge you to recognize why you eat as you do. If you had a mother who insisted you eat everything on your plate, you might clean your plate now to make your wife happy. Unfortunately, she cooks enough for the entire Revolutionary Army.
If you grew up poor, eating at a Golden Corral is like winning the lottery. “I can go back again and again! It’s free!” Food is never free. Neither is life. There’s a price to be paid for each decision you make, good or bad. I prefer making profitable decisions, don’t you?
As a grandfather, have you ever thought, “So what? I’m not young anymore. I’m not fat, I’m cuddly. Who cares if I have a 54-waist now? I’m not hurting anyone by eating potato chips. It’s not a crime.”
Remember, there are no victimless crimes. If you become ill, your family hurts as well. If you eat unhealthily, your energy and memory deteriorate. You’ll lose out on valuable memories with your grandchildren.
How much would you sacrifice for your grandchildren? I’m guessing you would give up your life for them, right? Do you love them more than potato chips? How about mozzarella sticks? Bacon? Silly question. But why do you place food on the altar of selfishness? Preferring that to time with your loved ones? You’re cutting your life short by eating unhealthily.
When you take your grandchild out to eat, where do you go? To the local fast-food restaurant? If you always do, you are building love on an unhealthy lifestyle. That’s not okay. Closeness is then built on unhealthy food choices. Weighed in the balance, is that the legacy you want to leave? Wouldn’t time mean more to them? Create a picnic basket and head to the park.
When the grandkids visit, how do you feel? Has your “get up and go,” got up and went? Look at your diet and ask yourself: Have you been feeling exhausted when you really haven’t even accomplished anything? Do you drag yourself out of bed with your bones and muscles hurting? That’s all food-related. You’ll regain a bit of your youthful energy by changing your diet.
God created everyone with a unique chemical makeup which affects what foods tempt us. Some prefer savory foods like salsa and chips, which affect mental energy. Others prefer sweets like donuts or chocolate, which soothe the psyche or provide quick energy. Most choices break down into crunchy or chewy, creamy or liquid, depending on one’s mood.
Our God is a God of Order and Balance. The body needs a combination of all three food groups to work efficiently. In 1 Corinthians 10:23, God stated anything was fine in moderation.
God provided an uncomplicated diet formula. He advised a fibrous alkaline diet: fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, and fiber-based grains in Genesis 1:29. Disease can’t thrive in an alkaline environment! After the Flood, Genesis 9:3 God endorsed the consumption of meat. All meat is acidic and provides balance on the pH scale. Ideally, consume about 6-8 protein ounces of meat or fish daily.
The brain uses these healthy carbohydrates for mental clarity. Carbohydrates produce brain fuel, turning carbs into glucose. Carbohydrates will only last about 1-3 hours in your system. You burn them as metabolic energy. It’s like feeding coal into a locomotive steam engine. You consistently chug along.
Diet was a simpler process once. Modern man made it complicated. Are you eating a balanced diet? The right foods DO make a difference. If you consume God’s recommended foods above, you’ll also stave off dementia.
If we eat the right mix of proteins, fats, and carbs, our bodies will efficiently produce energy. Strive daily for a balanced dietary combination.
I purposely didn’t provide a diet guide in this article. A sensible diet plan will come in the next post. This week, please focus on why you eat as you do.
Your assignment for the following week is to recognize daily eating habits. Reflect on the reasons behind them. (The who, what, where, when, and why you’re eating. At the time. are you stressed, happy, with family, at a party, alone, bored?) For example: Some people aren’t actually hungry, they simply need something to do.
Strive to understand your habits. It’s empowering.
After attending Graham Jr. College in Boston and Moody Bible College, Ellie Marrandette earned her Bachelor of Ministry (BMIN) from Trinity Theological Seminary. Fascinated by psychology and physiology, God directed Ellie toward a rewarding healthcare career. She became a licensed, certified nutritional counselor, working with doctors, nutritional centers, and independently as the founder of New Creations Ministries, a faith-based solution in overcoming health challenges. In recent years, God has focused Ellie’s path toward writing. She is the author of four Christian novels, a novella, and a non-fiction book on healthy living entitled, Life’s Too Short to Eat Bad Cheese (Nutritional and Life Lessons God Teaches Us.) Her most recent book, God’s Furry Messengers was just published in July, 2023. All can be found Here. Her current endeavor is to complete a children’s devotional this year. For more about Ellie Marrandette visit her New Creations website.
Image by Robert Owen-Wahl from Pixabay
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