Doxa

 I Corinthians 3: 16-17 (ESV):

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Happy New Year!  I pray that 2010 will overflow for you with God’s divine favor, love, peace, joy, prosperity and excellent health. Last week, I talked briefly about God’s mandate, in the Bible verses quoted above, to take care of our bodies, as temples of the Holy Spirit, and about my personal commitment to make healthy living a priority for 2010.

I am glad to report that I have already taken small steps to further my pledge. Between Tuesday and yesterday, I have done three walking/running sessions, each of the last two covering six miles, as part of training for half-marathon (13.1 mile) races (for more information, visit www.charmcityrun.com). I began exploring the idea of training for a half-marathon eighteen months ago, but it was not until last week, Tuesday, that I finally undertook the first outing. During my first session, I would have thrown in the towel but for God’s grace! I arrived a few minutes late at the Goucher College race track in Towson where I had planned to meet up with the rest of the training group and our coach. I encountered a woman who told me that our team mates had already headed out. We set off together, jogging at a low pace, to look for the other trainees.  However, I appeared to have chosen one of the coldest and most bracing nights so far of this winter for my first half-marathon training attempt!  After a few minutes, my companion said to me, “You may run ahead if you’d like.”  I replied truthfully, “I can’t.” At that point, I was breathless and frozen solid, I needed to go to the bathroom, and I was beginning to re-examine my decision to participate. After approximately ten minutes, she began to take the lead- what she had really meant earlier was, lady, I really don’t want to proceed at your snail-like pace, and since I have graciously offered that you don’t have to slow down on my account, likewise, you won’t mind if I take off and leave you behind.  In any case, after several more minutes, she was far ahead of me, and because it was immediately apparent that I would never catch up with her and I had no idea where she was going, I decided that I would reduce my speed, walk as far as the entrance to the campus, which was a good distance away, and then walk back to get my car. 

As I heaved, huffed and puffed on my way back to the car, I came across several groups of runners all racing in the opposite direction, some of whom said “hi” and waved at me in an annoyingly cheery and unflappable manner. Each time I saw a group approaching, I would start to run and put on a cheery and unflappable face; as soon as they went past, I stopped running.  However, when I got to the car, I discovered that I couldn’t bring myself to leave, as that seemed to amount to an unacceptable admission of defeat. I set out again along the route that I had just completed; to abbreviate this tedious tale, I eventually did locate my trainer and team mates and I made the decision that I would stay the course.     

 Making Good Food Choices

I gave my word that, this week, I would start sharing some tips on how to make better food choices. We have documented examples in the Bible about individuals making food choices that were beneficial for them. In Daniel 1:8-15, we read that Daniel requested vegetables and water for himself and his companions instead of the rich food and drink consumed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace, which resulted in healthier appearance and better nourishment for them.

Certain foods we will find are key in fighting disease. We should make it a priority to consume nutrient packed fruits and vegetables. Anti-oxidants like flavonoids and vitamins A, C and E, keep brain cells in prime condition, neutralize free radicals that damage them, and improve memory. Blueberries and spinach are examples of powerful anti-oxidants. The B vitamin folate (found in kale and spinach)) also improves brain function and helps prevent birth defects. Lycopene, another anti-oxidant, may reduce the risk of some cancers.  Lycopene is found in tomatoes, especially when cooked or processed, and better absorbed when eaten with healthy fats (I will provide information about healthy fats in a future column.) Beta carotene, found in tomatoes, apricots, mangoes and carrots, may help fight heart disease and protect eyesight. Isothiocyanates, contained in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, fight breast cancer.

Generally speaking, the darker the fruit or vegetable, the more nutrients it contains.  For example, a cup of spinach has about three times as much folate, and nearly eight times as much beta carotene as a cup of ice berg lettuce. However, iceberg has more potassium than arugula lettuce, and romaine has even more, so you should mix dark and light green leaves for maximum protection from disease.

Now that you are totally confused, you only need remember one rule of thumb, which is that colorful fruits and vegetables contain a range of anti-oxidants and nutrients. For maximum effect, on a daily basis, eat a variety of fruits like blueberries, plums, grapes, pineapple, guava, apples, kiwi, and oranges, and vegetables like spinach, broccoli, eggplant, squash, red cabbage, bell peppers, and carrots.

It is worth mentioning that anti-oxidants are also contained in dark chocolate.  Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, reducing inflammation which may lead to heart attacks. Enjoy one to two ounces a day (look for chocolate containing 70% cocoa). Green tea is rich in flavonoids which improve mental performance and may help with weight loss. Coffee also contains anti-oxidants, but be careful about your caffeine intake and choose decaffeinated as far as possible.

Next week, I will continue my discussion of nutritionally beneficial foods. I will leave you for now with the following exhortation from the Apostle Paul:

Hebrews 12:1 

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

As you set off to achieve your targets for 2010, whether those goals pertain to improving your Christian journey, ameliorating your eating habits, exercising or losing weight, I pray that God will give you the endurance to persevere in spite of any obstacles, the determination to succeed, and the stamina to keep going even when you are weary.