Meditations on Healthy Living

Genesis 1:29-30 Then GOD said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beast of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it---I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. [New International translation]

BIBLICAL COMMENTS

The first food diet included green plants. Fruit and green plants were to sustain all animal and human life. Before “the Fall” there did not appear to be any eating of meat. Nor was there any killing of animals. Fruit and green plants alone were sufficient for life.

EAT GREEN PLANTS

According to Allison Aubrey in “Eating Leafy Greens Each Day Tied To Sharper Memory, Slower Decline,” a study published in Neurology, finds that healthy seniors who had a daily helping of leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, kale, collard greens) and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower) had a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those who ate little or no greens.

One of the participants in the higher cognitive group noted the following:

"My goal every day is to have a big salad," says Candace Bishop, one of the study participants. "I get those bags of dark, leafy salad mixes."

See, https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/05/582715067/eating-leafy-greens-daily-may-help-keep-minds-sharp

The U.S. Department of Agriculture states dark leafy greens may be one of the best cancer-preventing foods because of their high content of antioxidants. According to research studies:

[E]ating 2 to 3 servings of green leafy vegetables per week may lower the risk of stomach, breast, and skin cancer. These same antioxidants have also been proven to decrease the risk of heart disease.

See, https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/gfnd/gfhnrc/docs/news-2013/dark-green-leafy-vegetables/

Green leafy vegetables help in maintaining an ideal body weight because they are low in calories and have low carbohydrate content and a low glycemic index. They also help regulate the digestive systems and aid in bowel movement. They tend to be high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. For example, kale, spinach, broccoli, bok choy, and salad greens are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K. Id.

Broccoli also has vitamin B9 (Folate), Potassium, Zinc, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C, Niacin, Phosphorus, and Selenium. Additionally, broccoli has a sulfur compound called sulforaphane that helps lower blood sugar. One of the benefits of broccoli, according to WebMD:

If you have type 2 diabetes and obesity, you may notice a bigger improvement in blood sugar than other people would.

See, https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-benefits-broccoli

FOOD FOR LIFE

Fruit and green plants are still good food for the body. The WORD of GOD is still essential to physical and spiritual life.

GOD IS----ALL-KNOWING.
ALL-POWERFUL.
ALL LOVING.
ALWAYS.

Today, enjoy a green meal, bask in GOD’s LOVE, and BE BLESSED.