Tuesday, May 3, 2016

The American Farmacy

   I might make some folks mad with this one but we're the only ones to blame for relinquishing any sense of control.
   I embarked on a journey 7 years ago getting into natural health and pursuing a degree. It was sadly cut short when the school closed for lack of funding. Since then I've carried on my search, personally and have turned up a plethora of interesting results.
  I still have my own personal struggles in this area but any of you that know my heart, I enjoy sharing while I'm learning too. But this... I have to share and I have to jump head long into.
  It takes your body 10 years to completely rebuild itself, it was designed that way by God. Your brain; a year, bones 3 months, blood 4 months, skin 1 month, DNA 2 months, you liver 6 weeks, stomach 5 days and lungs 2-3 weeks. Not everything would be as new again but it would begin rebuilding healthy cells, once toxins are removed.
   What are these toxins? Additives in the food; smoking, drinking, drug usage, environmental toxins, poor diet, poor sleep and a lack of exercise. Depending on where you grew up some of these things may not be a problem for you. It's never too late to make a change now if you struggle with any of these.
  Haven't you wanted to feel good? Be full of energy? Take a deep breath of cleaner air? I know I sure do that's why it's time for yet another round of dropping off the dead weight. Thankfully, my husband is on board.
   I've had a sugar craze since I was a kid. I blame it mostly on poor habits when I was younger and the goodies weren't stored somewhere I couldn't get to them. So I ate as I pleased. When I was pregnant with my 2nd child I developed gestational diabetes, meaning it would go away after she was born. It did. But it also puts me in the risk for diabetes later in life, that sucks.
   As Americans we consume 150-170 pounds of sugar a year, sugar is in everything, hidden and tucked away under clever names. In the 1800's the average sugar consumption was around 18 pounds a year and in the 1900's it jumped to 60 pounds. As time has ticked on sugar consumption has risen and so has sickness and disease. This is no coincidence.
   Our meals are conveniently packaged for us or delivered through a drive through window- for our convenience, of course. All the while we're getting sicker and sicker eating our way to a less healthy and less convenient life style.
   We also eat way too much meat in this country. Don't get me wrong, I love my chicken and pig products and I used to love cow until my body completely rejected it. Sadly, we just weren't made to eat all this meat. But where will be get protein??? Google it! Leafy greens and legumes, even nuts have plenty of protein. It isn't absolutely vital to our survival to scarf down meat.
   We've been spoon fed so many lies about the food we consume and the drugs that we take it's baffling. Few have been willing to question it. But why? Why have we become a country that seeks control over everything except our own bodies? Because we're told we have to do this or that. Or take this or that because if you don't you'll die? That's insane!
   The way I'm beginning to see it, it's very black and white, very obvious. It leads me back to a story in the Bible where Daniel challenged the king to allow him and his men to eat their own diet. The other men remained on the king's apportioned diet, comprised of meat and other things. After several days Daniel and his men appeared to be healthier and stronger than the king's men.
   That says something to me. It's Biblical to eat more fruits and veggies. God made them. You can purchase them organic and non-GMO now. I'm not even going to rip into GMO at this point, this post would be miles long.
   I'm going to challenge myself from here on out to do something better for myself. I don't expect you to dear reader but please do at least consider. Do some research yourself, you'd be foolish not to. There are several good documentaries out there to watch too, I'll list them at the bottom. My challenge, to incorporate as many fruits and veggies into my diet as humanly possible. And eventually, I'd like to be all fruits, veggies and grain. It's going to take some skillfulness in the kitchen as my sweet tooth doesn't think it sounds appetizing but I sure want to wake up feeling recharged and ready for the day. After 3 kids and getting sleep when we can (It's slowly getting better) I wake up in the morning foggy eyed and in dire need of caffeine to function. As much as I enjoy my caffeine, I know there will be a day when I will no longer need it because my body will be functioning as it should.
   If anyone is honestly inspired by this post leave a comment and I'll post updates on my blogspot. But for now (deep breath) wish me luck!



Documentaries:
Fork over knife
Food Inc.
Vegucated
Food matters
Supersize me
Hungry for change

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