Living an authentically wholesome life

of the Holy Spirit ? Don ’ t you see

“ Or didn ’ t you realize that your body is a sacred place , the place

that you can ’ t live however you please , squandering what God paid such a high price for ? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you . God owns the whole works . So let people see God in and through your body .” ( 1 Cor . 6:19-20 MSG )

This Scripture highlights the fact that , as Christians , our bodies are sacred dwelling places for God . We are stewards of this body , we need to take the best care of it .

We hear the terms “ eat healthy ,” “ exercise ,” “ stress kills ,” “ spend time in the Word ,” “ find time for those who matter to you .” “ You have to get your rest .”

These admonishments speak to good nutrition , regular movement , controlling your thought life , daily spiritual practice and tending to your relationships . All of these are elements of a wholesome life , and should characterise the Christian ’ s life . We are often unintentional about these facets of our lives until something starts to go amiss .

What does eating healthy mean ?

It ’ s eating clean . Clear skin , weight loss , increased energy , stronger hair and nails , improved mental health

and better sleep are all the benefits of eating clean . It ’ s easy to eat your way through two or three bags of your favorite chips or cheesy snack . A plate of fruit and vegetables doesn ’ t seem so appealing . Eating foods that occur in nature and that do not go through a lab or manufacturing is what eating clean looks like . These are whole foods . They fill you up and fuel you . Whole foods improve your mindset . You feel like you have treated your body right when you fill up on genuine nutrients . They regulate cholesterol levels , ward off cancers , dementia and a plethora of other conditions . Plus ! The high fiber content of fruits , vegetables and whole grains helps keep the digestive system in tip-top shape , which is essential to optimal health .

Many of us know or have access to this information . However we still struggle to make healthy choices . We battle to give up the taste and flavours we love . Here is what I recommend , take it a little at a time Increase your water , increase your fruits and vegetables and reduce your sugar .

Keep track of sugar !

Sugar is sneaky . It gets into bread , crisps , spaghetti sauce , it loads tomato ketchup , it is everywhere even places you think it ’ s not . So if you must eat packaged / processed food , read your label . look at the sugar listed in the ingredients and match it with the nutritional panel . Ensure that , if you are an adult female , you only have 6 teaspoons

of sugar or less , per day , and an adult male is allowed up to 9 teaspoons or less . To calculate the amount of sugar in the package , divide the amount of sugar in grams by 4 and multiply by the number servings . Is it within limit ? Please note , Sugar is more addictive than cocaine and the packaged food industry knowing this , relies on sugar to keep business up .

Keep active

Timothy 4:8 states , that bodily exercise profiteth us . These days , we live sedentary lives : we sit at our desk , we drive to work , to school , to the store . We use the remote to change the channel or worse our laptops , phones , or tablets sit on our laps or in our hands as we imbibe media . There is no reason to get up or to move . When we sit to eat , energy foods fill our plates . Energy foods are starchy foods which convert to sugar and when unused , convert to fat . Regular exercise is crucial to supporting a fast metabolism and burning up the calories we consume daily from this food group . It also helps you maintain your muscle mass and supports weight loss .

In her article , the top 10 benefits of regular exercise , Arlene Semeco , MS , RD , defines exercise as any movement that makes your muscles work and requires your body to burn calories . These include , but are not limited to , swimming , running , jogging , walking and dancing . Being active has been shown to have many health benefits , both physically and mentally .

• It can improve your mood and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression .

• It helps you build muscles and strong bones . It may also help prevent osteoporosis .