Intentional Living
Eating by God’s Design
Our bodies are temples of God, and our Creator has designed natural whole foods to meet our nutritional needs in every season of life. Psalm 145:15 tells us that “Thou givest them their meat in due season.” He knows what our bodies need, and He gives us perfect foods at just the right time.
Our Creator provides us with citrus fruits as cold and flu viruses begin to circulate in the air, bringing vitamin C to support our immune systems. Apples, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes ripen in the fall, offering fiber and beta carotene to regulate digestion and support healthy skin, while hardy greens like kale and collards grow sweeter after a frost and carry vitamin K, folate, and iron into winter, supplying nutrients the body uses to maintain its own heat, support strong bones, and build healthy blood.
Color and It’s Benefits
There is something beautiful about the character of the fall harvest. The colors of our fruits and vegetables are part of God’s perfect design in sustaining our bodies’ defenses for the cold months ahead. Orange and yellow foods like oranges, sweet potatoes, and carrots keep the skin and the lining of the nose and throat healthy. These are our first line of defense against germs, and the winter’s dry air puts them to the test.
Red and purple foods such as cranberries, pomegranates, and beets carry anthocyanins and betalains, which are powerful, water-soluble plant pigments that act as antioxidants, protecting our cells from everyday wear during cold months. Dark green kale and collards supply folate to help the body make new cells and iron to help carry oxygen and maintain our energy supply. Even the white and tan foods have their place in God’s design as well. Garlic and onions contain compounds for immune support, and mushrooms offer vitamin D when there is less exposure to sunlight.
Small Gifts With Great Purpose
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Genesis 1:29)
Some of our Creator’s most powerful provisions have come in the smallest packages since the very beginning of time. Nuts and seeds are rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds supply vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc, which support the body’s natural defenses through the cold months by helping to maintain warmth, strengthen the immune system, and satisfy the appetite. A serving is about one ounce, a small handful. Since nuts and seeds are calorie dense, there is roughly 160 to 200 calories per ounce. Regular consumption will lower LDL cholesterol and improve heart health.