Is Your Diet Nutrient-Dense or Nutrient-Wise?

It is no secret that the average American diet is controversial. However, have we, as Christians, ever sat down and asked ourselves what God says about our diet? Moreover, what does the Bible say about processed food?

With obesity rates growing 20% since the 90s and chronic illnesses rising 3% each year. It may be time for us to wonder. Is our food a blessing to our bodies or a curse?

Friend, you and I have the key to unlock THE truth. An absolute truth that the whims of humanity cannot change. Maybe, just maybe, it is time for that key to unlock the truth about how we should eat.

Now, the Bible does not specifically mention processed foods. Nevertheless, it does show us how we should take care of our bodies. Those expectations will greatly impact how we view processed foods.

Example one, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Example 2: “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I would argue that you and I are in an era where it is normal to consume “the king’s food.”

Let’s talk about that by pointing out a very popular story from the Bible, following a young man named Daniel.

To give a little context, in history, Israel had just been conquered by Babylon, as prophesied in Jeremiah. The Israelites were not being obedient to the law of God, and as a result. They had to deal with the consequences of their actions by being enslaved for approximately 70 years! Crazy right?

Daniel’s story starts during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar in his third year. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted every young, healthy, and able-bodied Israelite man to be in his army. During training, the men were given a daily portion of the king's food. However, Daniel requested that he and those under his care eat only the diet God had deemed clean. He asked the overseer to eat clean foods for 10 days. And if that food made a difference in his ability/appearance, then he could stay on the diet. If not, he would obey the king and eat of his food. Well, wouldn’t you know it? Daniel and his group not only looked better but also performed better. The men on the king’s diet were sluggish and appeared to be fatter with a dull complexion, while Daniel and his men had glowing skin and looked ready for battle.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. Daniel 1:15 NIV

Thus, everyone was given that diet, and the king's food was taken away. (This is a crude paraphrase of Daniel 1. If you want to know the whole story, I encourage you to read it for yourself.)

Why is this story important? Because our food isn’t just for pleasure. This fuel sustains and helps support our body's functions. Without it, we are unable to do the work God calls us to do because we have no energy, are full of brain fog, or are fighting off illness constantly.

Scientifically, we know that your body is made up of 60% water, 15% to 20% of protein, and 10% to 20% fat. You also have hormones, nerves, an immune system, and cells that help you complete daily tasks. Each of which requires vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, protein, probiotics, and water.

You know what this list doesn’t include?

Refined sugar: Refined sugar is not only more addictive than cocaine but is also a stomach acid disrupter. With incredibly high acid levels, every time you eat, it changes the pH balance in your stomach.

Seed oils: these were invented to help polish or stain furniture, depending on the type of seed used. Doesn’t sound very appealing after knowing that fact…

Flavor-enhancing foods: Many of these flavor enhancers are incredibly inflammatory to you. Things such as citric acid, which is black mold. Or monosodium glutamate, which is fermented corn. Go in and cause damage to your stomach lining.

Synthetic food dyes: these guys are hormone blockers, and many of them go straight to the brain fat. Causing brain fog or focus issues.

Preservative chemicals: Many of these chemicals can cause gut inflammation, which can affect digestion and often lead to leaky gut.

Not only do processed foods contain tons of toxins, but they have also been stripped of the nutrients we need to function. I will add that many of these products were created with a genuine desire to be helpful. For example, many foods are processed the way they are because it is safer and easier to store them. It is also cheaper for companies to function this way. Making your food more affordable. The problem is, we now have super-hungry, chronically struggling people, all because the nutrients we need to thrive are no longer available.

Things like hydrogenated milk are literally sugar, water, and fat.

Processed wheat is sugar and protein.

Eggs are so mass-produced that chickens are depleted of nutrients, and as a result, so are we.

Our produce is sprayed with chemicals that are difficult for us to digest, creating gut fires and fatigue. As well as ruining the soil we plant in, leaving it depleted of vitamins and minerals. Thus, even our produce is only a shadow of its former self.

The list can go on and on. But the truth is, processed foods are hurting more than helping.

So, really, our current diet is no better than the king's diet. It tastes good, but that is about it. The food we eat isn’t helping us do the work Jesus has called us to do. We are hungry, tired, burnt out, confused, and constantly sick. All in the name of ease of living. I believe it is time to see that the benefits are not worth the costs.

Our goal was to stop the consequences of sin and death, but what we ended up with is a faster way to achieve it. If we take God out of the center, we will always end up with less than what we want. It’s a harsh reality, but if we truly stop and look. It is also the truth.

I challenge you to ask yourself, " Am I functioning at 100 percent? If not, where am I really functioning? Do I still want to function there?

Now, I hear ya. You are probably a bit discouraged at this point, but I don’t plan to leave this post on a sour note. Instead, I want to encourage you to adopt a clean-living approach. Hopefully, it will help you give your bones some life by eating the way God calls us to eat. If that doesn’t convince you, then I say.

Do it so that you can look different than the world. Called to be in it but not of it.

Do it to take care of the temple your body is called to be.

If nothing else, do it so that you actually have the energy to feel like a person.

Here are some tips to live a little cleaner. Start small and give yourself grace as you work towards a new normal.

Find a local farmers' market to get your produce from. Or shop in the organic section. Look up the dirty dozen, a list of fruits and vegetables with porous membranes. These are more susceptible to chemicals.

Avoid eating heavily toxic meats. For example, lobster, shellfish, catfish, and pigs (pork) are animals that absorb toxins but lack a system for releasing them. So every time you eat them. You are eating the toxins they absorbed.

Choose wild-caught fish, free-range eggs, and grass-fed, grass-finished beef. Try whole milk and choose A2 cow's milk, a specific breed that produces a different protein, which is easier to digest. Even lactose-intolerant people have found they can drink it without complications. Try to avoid having too many processed foods if cooking overwhelms you. Start with crockpot meals. You can make incredibly nourishing soups with bone broths. As well as many different types of meat and vegetable combos that can be cooked all day while you continue to live life.

Lastly, living clean doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It does take time. Time that you may not feel you have. So I encourage you. Take it to the Lord. Ask Him what He would have you do with this information, and allow Him to help you build a schedule to prepare more food at home.

This is not here to condemn, but to share with you what I wish I had known when I first got sick.

Welcome, my friend, to those who have a nutrient-wise outlook and a nutrient-dense diet. Those called to be the difference in how they act, think, and eat.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬