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Nutrition

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Samuel Smith
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NUTRITION

Have you ever heard the expression, 'you are what you eat?' While we can't take this literally, this simple saying contains a lot of truth.

The foods you choose to eat determine which nutrients your body will receive and in what quantities. Nutrients are substances that allow your body to make energy, build and maintain tissues and regulate bodily processes. If you eat a healthy diet filled with a variety of high -nutrient foods, you are more likely to enjoy good health, than if you eat a poor diet that is lacking in nutrients. Just as we earlier said, temperance is needed in all aspect of life and is required even in our diet.

"In order to know what the best foods are, we must study God's original plan for man's diet. He who created man and who understands his needs appointed Adam his food. "Behold," He said, "I have given you every herb yielding seed, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food." Upon leaving Eden to gain his livelihood by tilling the earth under the curse of sin, man received permission to eat also "the herb of the field" {CD 81.1}.

"Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet" {CD 81.2}.

Any food taken into the body must be a well-balanced diet. A well balanced diet contains all the six classes of food: carbohydrate, protein, fats and oil, mineral, water and vitamins. Carbohydrate, proteins and lipids makes up the macronutrients. Carbohydrates are mostly the energy given foods. These are needed in large quantity but must be of good quality to help the body. Proteins are needed for growth and development and are made up of plant - based and animal - based diet. It is better to eat more of plant - based diet than the animal - based diet. "Those who eat flesh are but eating grains and vegetables at second hand; for the animal receives from these things the nutrition that produces growth. The life that was in the grains and vegetables passes into the eater. We receive it by eating the flesh of the animal. How much better to get it direct, by eating the food that God provided for our use!" {CD 313.2}. The micronutrients are made up of the vitamins and the minerals. Micronutrients do not contain calories. This means they do not directly provide your body with energy. They convert calorie-containing nutrients into energy. Other functions of micronutrients include maintaining your vision, protecting your cells from damage and helping with blood clotting. Vitamins are either fat soluble (this means they can be stored in fatty tissues) or water soluble (means they dissolve in water and are easily flushed from the body). These nutrients are also essential for our health. They can be found in fruits, vegetables, cereals and eggs. Water gives life and so is very important in the human body. Water makes up 70% of our body weight. It's easily lost through urine, sweat and evaporation, so you need to frequently fill up by drinking liquids and eating foods that contain water such as fruits and vegetables. The functions of water are important because it lubricates your joints, transports substances around your body and regulates your body temperature, so you never want to be low on water.

There are seven basic dietary principles that have been identified to ensure good health. These are: Variety, Proportion, Quality, Balance, Adequacy, Moderation and Avoidance. Eating unhealthy foods results in diseases of all kinds and even death. This is the consequence of the violation of physical law or health principles. As Christians, it becomes difficult to work effectively or serve God well with sick and dwarf bodies. Hence, the need to be careful about what we eat.

Just as we require physical food each day, we also need to feed the inner person on spiritual food. We should not neglect to make a daily practice of feeding on God’s Word. We have emphasized the need for variety, balance, and flavor in the foods we consume, but we require balance in our spiritual food, as well. We can feast on God’s Word by contemplating on His wonderful promises and exhortations from the Bible, and spending time daily in prayer. These practices will help us to grow spiritually as well as physically. Balance and control in life come from the steady application of the lessons learned in the reading of the Word of God. Let us do these things with praise in our hearts for the God who grants us energy and health.