Intro to Health pt. 2

Last time, we discussed why we should care what we eat, that eating well along with exercise is essential, health concerns, and what the next step is. So.....what is the next step?

Again, the next step is to take action! Unless we take the first step in anything that we want to achieve, we will never finish. So if our goal is to live a healthy lifestyle, we need to focus on achieving the "result". I think a good look at an excellent source of vitamins is a great place to make our first step.

Vitamins are "an organic compound required by an organism as a vital nutrient in limited amounts." (Wikipedia).  So, we're going to look at a few of the vitamins and look over just some of the fruits and veggies to put on your next grocery list! Where's the best place to start? Let's go with Vitamin B12.


Vitamin B12: 


Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin, and is not only a notable source to aid in the formation of blood, but also plays a key role in our nervous systems and brain functions. The lack of B12 in our systems may result in depression, poor memory, and fatigue. It can also be linked to symptoms such as mania and psychosis. So what are some good sources of B12? Not in food or animals, which are both incapable of producing the vitamin. Instead, B12 is taken from archaea and bacteria, which are then made into tablet form. Local stores carry this product in pill form and I feel that this vitamin is a necessity.

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C? Oh yeah, everyone's heard of that one. Isn't another name for that an orange? Well, though the orange is an excellent source to get your C's from, it is only ranked at #7, according to Health Alicious Ness website. There are ten sources of Vitamin C you need to consider. And I never would have guessed the first! 

 1. Yellow Bell Peppers
 2. Guavas
 3. Dark Green Leafy Veggies (like Kale)              
 4. Kiwi
 5. Broccoli
 6. Berries (like strawberries)
 7. Citrus (like oranges)
 8. Tomatoes
 9. Peas
10. Papaya    


Vitamin A:

This vitamin "is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, and cellular communication. Vitamin A is critical for vision as an essential component of rhodopsin, a protein that absorbs light in the retinal receptors, and because it supports the normal differentiation and functioning of the conjunctival membranes and cornea. Vitamin A also supports cell growth and differentiation, playing a critical role in the normal formation and maintenance of the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs." (according to http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/)

Foods that are rich in Vitamin A are found in:

1. Sweet Potatoes--213.5%

2. Carrots --113.2%

3. Spinach--104.8%

4. Kale--98.3%

5. Mustard Greens--96.2%

6. Collard Greens--80.2%

7. Turnip Greens--61%

8. Swiss Chard--59.5%

9. Winter Squash--59.4%

10. Romaine Lettuce--45.4% 

Vitamin E:

Deficiency with this vitamin is rare, but is known to cause conditions such as: neurological, neuromuscular, anemia, retinopathy, and impairment to immune response problems. Though a poor diet can never cause a deficiency in Vitamin E, this substance benefits your body in five ways: helps to prevent sunstroke and coronary artery disorder or heart disease; alleviates fatigue and aids in getting blood to the scalp; can help heal sunburn and just in general, protect your skin from the sun; has an anti-aging effect on your skin; and lastly, makes your skin and cuticles healthy and fresh.

You can find this vitamin in the following ten food items:

1. Tofu
2. Spinach
3. Nuts
4. Sunflower Seeds
5. Avocados
6. Shellfish
7. Fish (like rainbow trout)
8. Plant oils (like olive oil)
9. Broccoli
10. Squash, pumpkin, and butternut squash

(according to Health Aliciousness)

There you have it! A place to start on a healthy diet of fruits and veggies. I do recommend, however, that you continue to eat your lean meats. People who only eat plants (vegetarians) are at risk for problems down the road such as low cholesterol levels (may lead to early death), colorectal cancer, and "lower bone mineral density" (according to Mother Nature Network).

I again urge you to do research for yourself to find a multitude of other healthy treats that God has provided for us. He knew what He was doing when He packed them with so many nutritious goodies! I hope this helps you know what to start looking for at the grocery store and I pray that God blesses you if you decide to take a healthier view on food.

God bless,
Julianna

   

Intro to Health pt. 1

I know it seems rather odd for me to write about healthy living on Anna's Insights, but it's about time to discuss some other topics! When I think back on how much I used to keep active and ate more fruits and veggies, I keep wondering how I got so hooked on Twinkies and root beer. Perhaps, it was the snacks my Grandma would pack in her car for me whenever we would go on road trips. It was almost like keeping that part of the trip hidden from my Mother. I would hurry out to the car first and Grandma would tell me that the "little, black snack pack" was full of goodies. What a child's dream come true, right? I'd grab the bag, jump to the back seat in the van, and open up the delights that were inside. The bag had Velcro to keep the contents inside fresh, so I had to be very careful opening it if Mom was already in the car.  Yes, quite sneaky.

But I fondly remember those times...

And I'm not going to say that I don't have those sugary, delectable treats any more. I enjoy an occasional blueberry pie or raspberry doughnut. However, I also think there is a fine line between an appropriate amount and an excessive amount. Proverbs 25:27 starts by saying, "It is not good to eat much honey..." Honey is a natural sweet creation and even it is stated that one can have too much.  In our day now with stores like Wal-mart having at least one whole row dedicated to the candies of the rainbow, how much less should we be eating of them to not hit that red, excessive mark? So.......

Why care what I eat?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is a good place to start:


"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 


As Christians, our body is not our own. God's Spirit lives in us. I doubt that if I remembered this at a fast food restaraunt, I'd want to graze on artificial sweeteners or chicken that's been drowned in trans fats. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we need to watch what we feed our bodies. Our bodies are God's temple. Do I want to fill my stomach with junk food, or should I instead be eating the pure products that God has created for us to enjoy?

Again, an occasional snack does fill my mouth and I don't think it's going to kill you if you partake of them a couple of times a week. However, I believe that 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 answers the question as to why we should care what we eat.

"You are what you eat":

Probably a quote we remember hearing from time to time, right? Although I do believe that what we put into our bodies effects our health 75%, what we eat is not the answer in and of itself. So what makes up for the lacking 25%? Exercise.

Exercise is crucial in having a healthy body. Food that we take into our bodies helps to preserve our organs. Such as bananas that contain a high level of potassium which are excellent for the heart. But walking every day, jogging, bicycling, riding horse, swimming to name a few, are what we need to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

As with all things, exercise should be done in moderation. Don't overdo it. Again, eating right is the biggest part of living healthy. I hope to discuss exercise further in the following blog post, but would like to stick to the "why's" of eating healthy for this post.

Health Concerns:

Many people I know stick to Gluten-free products or they may have certain allergies to certain food choices. And still others' stomachs may not be able to tolerate general kinds of foods (like hot and spicy). If you're seriously wanting to get away from the chemicalized foods in the grocery and convenience stores, you should first of all ask your doctor about a healthy diet plan. Remember, eating healthy isn't about losing weight. It's about living a healthy life. Of course, life is not pain or sick-free; but, when eating the way God has designed us to eat, we will be avoiding a lot of the diseases that may have been knocking at our door ten years down the road if we didn't correct our food habits today.

When I first started to seriously think about eating differently, I just wanted to lose weight. I went off on a couple of different tangents--even not eating at all--until I would get caught. People who quit eating entirely or throw up after eating have developed either one of these mental disorders: Anorexia or Bulimia. Compulsive Overeating disorders are just as damaging.

But that's not what eating healthy means. There was a reason mom put broccoli on our plate and milk on the table when we were kids. To build strong bones and again, stay healthy. God has designed our bodies to be healthy, not sick. So I believe that, "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." [1 Corinthians 10:31]. Whether we're sleeping, exercising, reading books, or yes, even eating, all we do should be to the glory of God! 

Next step?

 The next step is to do something about it! Take action and make the change. It's hard to cut out sweets and I don't think a person should give up on them entirely. God has given us so many wonderful things to eat, that in comparison to the food man has processed and ruined to give things a "better" flavor, we need to turn back to the days before processed, artificial, and genetically modified food.

God knew exactly what vitamins and good proteins our bodies needed and continue to need after all generations of farmers. And with this being June Dairy month, let's take the time to not only thank farmers, but to enjoy the food that they harvest.


Next time, we'll be discussing different food choices that are some of the best sources of nutrition.

3 John 1:5 "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."

Julianna