It's Time to Make a NewStart
One day I glanced at an advertisement that came in the mail and saw on the back of it a notice for a missing child. One picture showed the child as an infant, and the other was an age progression as she would look at approximately age 5. The pretty little girl had beautiful bronze skin, bright, dazzling eyes, and two cute short braids. That’s amazing! I thought, wondering how they could so accurately depict her, based only on a photograph taken years earlier. Then a scary thought hit me. What if someone were to do an age progression on me? How would I look, say, 10 years from now?
After giving it some thought, I was a bit relieved. I remembered that while I can’t control the fact that I am getting older—as we all are—I do have some control over how quickly I age. I was also relieved that, after taking the Real Age Test (on Oprah’s Web site), my real age is considerably lower than my chronological age. (OK. In case you’re wondering about my age, we’ll just keep that a secret.)
So what’s all this business about real age versus chronological age? And what does religion and the Bible have to do with it? Actually, God’s plan for healthy living is found right in His Word. His original plan was for us to live forever with no sickness, old age, or death—not even to get the tiniest scratch or feel pain. One day that plan will be restored, but for now, by following a few simple principles, we can enjoy a longer and healthier life on this earth.
In a brochure entitled “Five Diets of the Bible,”* author Henry C. Martin shows, from a biblical perspective, how humanity’s lifespan has shortened over time, as a direct result of diet. The book of Genesis tells us that God’s original diet for humanity was fruit, nuts, and grains (Genesis 1:29; 3:2). After sin, God permitted people to eat green plants (Genesis 3:17-19), which were originally reserved for the animals. Interestingly, people lived much longer when they ate only fruit, nuts, grains, and vegetables. Look at Adam; he lived to the ripe old age of 930 years (Genesis 5:5), and Methuselah outlived them all—969 years (Genesis 5:27).
But what’s really revealing is what happened after the Flood, when meat was introduced into the diet. The life expectancy dropped dramatically. Read through Genesis 11 and you’ll find the genealogies of several people including Salah, Serug, Nahor, and Terah—quite a contrast to Methuselah’s 969 years.
Do you get the connection? Lifestyle and longevity are closely related. We not only have biblical evidence for this, but scientific research confirms it as well. In 1990 two researchers conducted a study on the leading causes of death in Americans and published their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They discovered that the nine leading causes of death in the United States are related to our lifestyle choices: what we put into our bodies and what we do with our bodies. (Proof Positive, by Neil Nedley, M.D., p. 2)
The good news is: God has a plan for healthier living and it’s based on the principles you’ll find below. These principles are best described in an acronym coined by Weimar Institute of Health and Education, a California-based lifestyle education program. It’s called NEWSTART®, or what I like to refer to as God’s eight natural doctors. They are:
Nutrition
Here are some quick pointers for improving your diet. First, try cutting back on fat and cholesterol. Avoid, like the plague, hydrogenated oil. Next, decrease your meat consumption. If you’re not ready to go totally vegetarian, the ideal, start with meatless days weekly. Also, reduce your salt and sugar intake. If you’re thinking, So what can I eat? here’s the answer: eat lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains in as close to their natural state as possible. I could share more, but you can “chew on” this for starters.
Exercise
Most of us tend to rust out rather than wear out. Our bodies were designed for movement. Exercise has a beneficial effect on the heart, joints, bones, muscles, blood sugar, immune system, and much more. The easiest approach is to simply walk, but most important, do something you enjoy (check with your doctor first, if you have a medical condition).
Water
Did you know that your body is about 70 percent water? We’ve all heard that we need at least eight glasses of water per day. But what you might not know is that water is like medicine for the heart. A study at the Loma Linda School of Public Health found that men who drank the most water had a 50 percent lower risk of fatal heart attack than those who drank the least. So drink up!
Sunlight
Sunlight has gotten a bad “rap” lately. But the truth is, most of us aren’t getting enough. Here are just a few things sunlight can do for you: increase your circulation, lower your blood pressure, enhance your immune system, lower your cholesterol and triglycerides, increase your metabolism, and help you beat depression. Pretty good medicine, isn’t it?
Temperance
This is a word we don’t hear much anymore. It’s just another way of saying that we should use the good things in moderation and avoid all the bad stuff, such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
Air
OK, now just relax. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. How did you feel? Better, right? That’s because deep breathing and a healthy dose of fresh air help soothe the nerves and give us more oxygen to vitalize our tissues. Remember to practice good posture, take deep breaths regularly, and spend some time outdoors in the fresh air every day.
Rest
Recently I wrote an article entitled “The Rest of the Story,” which was the cover story in the March/April 2007 issue of Vibrant Life magazine. As I was writing, I discovered some astonishing facts. First, most of us are sleep-deprived. But what’s really alarming are the effects of sleep deprivation. Researchers have found that heart disease, elevated blood pressure, and increased blood sugar—even weight problems—can all be associated with lack of sleep.
Trust in God
Last, the most important factor in maintaining good health is to put your trust in God to give you lasting peace, restful sleep, and His soothing balm for every sickness, pain, or discomfort. He will give you the strength to follow His plan for healthy living because He wants you to prosper and be in health (see 3 John 2).
Does leading a healthy lifestyle sound hard? On your own, it definitely is. But with God’s help, you can do it. Here’s a little exercise: Put your name in the following text: “_________________ can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). And remember, whatever you do, and whatever you eat or drink, do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
PAT HUMPHREY is an avid health enthusiast whose passion is to help others achieve a healthier lifestyle. For more tips, information, or resources on health and wellness, contact her at health.wise26@gmail.com. She writes from Keene, Texas.
*For a copy of “Five Diets of the Bible,” send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Henry Martin at P.O. Box 1881, Grants Pass, OR 97528. |
