HEALTHY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The holidays are a very joyful time of year – at least they are presented that way and for many people they are. However, they are also a dark time for others. For those who have lost loved ones and friends, it is a most painful time of year; a time that amplifies the loss of people who have meant so much to them. Another group of people that the holidays aren’t kind to are those who are dealing with difficult circumstances, such as job loss, income reduction, marital issues, parenting challenges or illnesses.
We also need to remember that even for those of us who may not be battling any of these challenges, the holidays can be a stressful time of year. There is the pressure to over-eat, over-spend and extend ourselves too much trying to get everything we normally do done plus everything that goes with Christmas – decorating, baking, shopping, spending, wrapping, attending dinners and parties, etc.
While we are trying to enjoy the holidays, the busyness of it all, doesn’t allow us to relax much and usually causes us greater stress and anxiety. As a result, we get worn down, worn out, stressed out and often sick.
It is important to always keep a check on our health, but it seems especially important this time of year. In the Old Testament, God had a lot to say about eating well. Much of this had to do with food laws for the Jewish people to be “clean” spiritually and in relationship to Him as opposed to the ungodly nations around them (Leviticus 10:10). But many of these principles were also very practical for the purpose of keeping people healthy as God designed them to be. Both then and now, we live in a world less than God created and wanted it to be. There is much contamination, pollution, diseases, germs and viruses spreading around our world daily. There are also mental health challenges facing us every day such as anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Given world conditions, it is essential to eat well for both our physical and mental health.
In the New Testament, we are reminded that our bodies are the new temples of God’s Spirit who lives in us. We are to honor our bodies and treat them well. We only get one body. Even during the holidays with all of the extra food, cookies, drinks and desserts, we need to respect limits so we don’t overdo eating, drinking and stress causing us physical and mental health issues.
I’m not saying you can’t enjoy some Christmas cookies, but we still want to practice some good eating habits. Here are some to think about, not just for the holiday season, but all year long:
Have a weekly meal plan – a plan helps limit impulsive or emotional food or binging
Good water – while it is very important to drink plenty of water daily, it is equally important to drink good sources of water such as distilled or reverse osmosis water
Limit alcohol – the bible doesn’t even say you can’t drink alcohol, but it does say to not get drunk or drink to excess. In other words, drink within healthy limits for your physical and mental health well-being as well as for those around you.
Limit food that comes in bags – almost anything in a bag, potato chips, cookies, sugary cereals, etc. isn’t real food. You might crave it. It might taste great, but it’s called junk food for a reason. It’s not that you can’t have any, but just don’t overdo it, because it wears your body down.
Omega 3s – make sure you get the right amount of Omega 3s, because most people don’t. They are good for both your physical and mental health.
Move It – we really weren’t designed to sit and play on our devises all day long. We really need to get up and move. Even if you aren’t into exercise or working out at the gym, you need to move around. You’ll be healthier for it and feel better!
Quiet Time – anybody feel like this is in short supply? You bet it is. Between work, your phone pinging at you and your kids fighting with each other, it is hard to find quiet time. But this is exactly why you need it and must work to carve it out, even a few minutes here and there for yourself. We are always healthier when we can hear ourselves think and take some time to reflect on what is going on in our life and how we are responding.
There is so much more to being healthy physically and mentally, but if we would begin to adopt even a few of these principles and integrate them into our daily life, we will be so much healthier, not only during the holiday season, but all year long. And these may propel you to finding the disciplines you need to be even healthier. These will contribute to better heart health, less inflammation, better cell growth in your brain and less depression.
We can take responsibility for our physical and mental health! We can’t leave it up to others, not even our doctors. We need to initiate the first step by stating we want to be healthy. And from here, we begin to put simple principles into action, such as what I have outlined above. Remember, no one will care more about your health than you!
For more and deeper information, you may want to check out these resources:
“What the Bible Says About Healthy Living” by Rex Russell, M.D.
“The Mayo Clinic Diet”
There are many other good resources you can find online from places such as the Mayo Clinic and John Hopkins University
May you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and a healthy holiday season!
See you next year,
Jack
