You Are What You Eat
In our health-conscious society, I am sure you have heard the phrase “You are what you eat.” The implication behind this is essentially what you put in your body impacts your overall energy, health, and well-being. I agree! A year and a half ago, I transitioned from being a vegetarian to a vegan. I had been living in California for six months and was constantly feeling tired and sluggish. A coworker recommended a doctor who focused on a holistic approach to medicine. At my first appointment with the doctor, I had my blood drawn. The test results indicated I had several vitamin deficiencies. On top of that, my adrenal gland was totally out of whack and my body was functioning in a perpetual state of stress. The doctor explained it was as though I was in the flight or fight mode for years! What an eye opener! When she recommended a vitamin regimen to bring my body to a healthy state, I did not hesitate to buy them all! I even purchased a vitamin holder; the one I have does not have the days of the week on it and I bought it from Targét so that makes it fancy. After leaving the doctor with vitamins in tow, we scheduled an appointment in two months where my blood would be tested again to assess my progress.
Two months later, while sitting in her office, Dr. Lee asked me how I was feeling. I told her I felt much better but still a bit sluggish and bloated at times. I expressed I thought it might have something to do with the macaroni and cheese I had eaten during Thanksgiving. She explained I may be lactose intolerant based on the symptoms I was sharing. My deficits had decreased dramatically so the conclusion was plausible. Her recommendation was to remove dairy from my diet for a set amount of time and then reintroduce it. During this period of abstaining from dairy, I accidentally ate soup that had heavy cream. Once I realized it, the damage was done. My stomach was in knots and I was nauseous. It was not worth the discomfort. That day, I became a vegan.
As I share this story with you, I find it is packed with lessons worth sharing. One lesson was recognizing something needed to change. This speaks to being honest with where you are. My constant fatigue was abnormal; I knew something was off. My physical symptoms where attached to an internal problem. It was not solely connected to the food I was eating. For my stress levels to be so high was a clear indication I needed to change what I was doing (or not doing) because it was causing more harm than good. Moving to California was a step towards changing my life for the better. While I will always love Jersey, I knew it was time for me to leave. I was dying there. Maybe for you, it is not about physically leaving a place but perhaps it is leaving a relationship or a situation that is toxic.
Another lesson from this experience is once you recognize what changes are needed, you must take action. One thing I started was my daily vitamin regimen. However, this was not enough to deal with the inner turmoil I was facing. What was causing me to live in a state of continual stress? The answer was I was afraid of my future. All I could see were my weaknesses and failures. I knew the key to breaking this cycle of stress was reconnecting with the God who created me. The more I spent time talking to Him (prayer) and reading the Bible, the more I feed my mind the right things. There is one Scripture in particular that always reminds me what my diet should consist of. I like how it is translated in the Message Bible:
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. “ Philippians 4:8 The Message (MSG)
I also learned the value of consistency. Just like our bodies need food every day, so do our minds. When we eat the right things daily, the results are evident. When we don’t, the same is true. I am still growing in this area and actively working to be more consistent throughout the various areas of my life.
Lastly, I rediscovered the power of reassessment. After beginning the vitamin regimen, we scheduled several appointments to track my progress. At one point, we realized I no longer needed one of the vitamins so I stopped taking them. This same concept applies to other parts of our lives. Do you need to tweak something? Honestly evaluating where you are is part of the process of being intentional what you are eating.
So what about you? Are you filling your body and your mind with the right things? Take a moment and reflect on the questions below.
Reflection Questions:
What does my physical and spiritual diet look like?
What needs to change?
What actions do I need to take?
Where do I struggle consistency and discipline?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the grace to change. Help me to identify the areas in my life that need adjustment and the strength to make the necessary changes. Help me to take care of my mind, body, and spirit. I trust You and thank You in advance.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.