Eat More Tofu!

I read an article a few years back about a healthy people group. The reason? They eat lots of soy. Therefore, we were supposed to eat tofu instead of meat, drink soy instead of milk, and do anything we can to get soy into our diet. Many people did.

This year, a study comes out that says exactly the opposite. What do we need to be doing now? You guessed it: eat organically grown meats, milk (with fat) in the most raw state possible, eggs, etc. 

Just today, I found out that one of the vitamin combinations I was taking actually has extremely negative side effects—for me. I noticed I was feeling lousy a few times over the last weeks, and I commented to my husband that, every since I started taking vitamins, I felt worse than before. So today, I took some and immediately felt terrible. I sat down and Googled the side effects for one of them. To my shock, what’s supposed to help me works for most people, but it is bad for me, since I have a certain condition. My particular situation was first on the side effects list.

So, why am I telling you this? These are my own thoughts. (If you disagree, it’s okay. We can still be friends!) 

1. Health fads get started because someone has a good idea that works for him. He gets excited, because he actually feels better. He wants to tell the world about this great health breakthrough. (Most diet changes actually do make people feel better for the first two months.)
2. Health fads are marketing. Pure and simple. If I believe pomegranate juice can cure almost anything, I will bottle it and sell it and market it. If I am successful, I have created the next great health tonic. Vitamin companies, “fake food” marketers (egg substitutes, low-fat ice cream and cheese, butter-flavored, etc.), healthy drinks and liquid diets, pyramid schemes, and all the other health-based companies are out to make money. They wouldn’t exist otherwise.
3. Health fads usually last only a few years. What’s amazing and cool today will not even be followed in five years. Why? There are no fixer elixirs, no silver bullets, no amazing revelations. I already know people who are getting rid of or limiting their essential oils.
4. Health fads usually go against what the Bible teaches about nutrition. I did a study about what the Bible actually teaches about foods for my book. I was surprised how easy it all is and how balanced a biblical diet is! Are you curious? Study biblical foods. Study what Jesus ate. (Or buy my book!)

No one wants to feel sick and dragging. We all want to be vibrant, with a spring in our step. But, I believe we firmly ignore the fact that ever since sin entered into the world, so did sickness and death. 

I am not saying we’re not supposed to take care of ourselves! We are! The Bible instructs husbands to love their wives just as they love their own bodies: So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:28-30). Obviously, the husband is supposed to take care of himself!

But, there’s a lifestyle that brings more blessing than running after every new thing. Jesus said, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25). The end of this passage gives a clear conclusion: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:31-33).

Oh yes, try to eat as healthy as you can. Take your multi-vitamins. Drink pomegranate juice and eat tofu, if you wish. Exercise, get fresh air, and get your beauty sleep. Laugh—the best medicine—and live fully. 

And, trust your health to the Lord. 

Be careful for nothing; 

but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving 

let your requests be made known unto God. 

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7)