Nutrition

Everything I have to say will be consistent with what I have learned from the Bible, and with my best understanding of current nutritional research. Although I am not a physician nor a certified nutritionist, I have greatly enhanced my wellness by following what I have learned by extensive study. A few selected references are listed on the Authorities page.

No matter what your wellness concern, it is likely to be improved by proper nutrition. For an overall perspective, see the Wheel of Wellness also.

From the consistent teaching of the Authorities, I strongly encourage everyone to adopt a whole foods, plant-based diet. Dr. Colin Campbell found animal protein to be the switch that turns cancer on (and lack of it turns cancer off!). Further, in decades of research, he found that the less animal products one consumes, the better the prospect for wellness. Dr. Dean Ornish found that a diet low in meat and fat was very beneficial to those with heart disease. Also, the trend toward perpared food has adversely affected the wellness of western society; the less processing our food gets, the better its nutritive value. The typical western diet includes about 42% fat (mostly animal fat), far above the 30% in the "Recommended Dietary Goals for the U.S.", and even farther above the 12% fat in the macrobiotic diet. Which provides the best wellness? Without question, people on the macrobiotic or Hallelujah diet have wellness far better than the typical consumer of the western diet.

I personally have adapted the Hallelujah Diet as my guide for eating. If I had known about macrobiotics sooner, I might have tried it instead; they appear to be comparable in terms of effectiveness. I am not aware of any detailed comparisons, nor of anyone who switched from one to the other and found better wellness. There are countless witnesses to the wellness benefit of changing from the typical western diet to either Hallelujah Diet or macrobiotics.

I also strongly encourage the avoidance of manufactured beverages. Many contain sugar in quantities that are far in excess of what the body can deal with, contributing to our epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Diet beverages are even worse; not only is Aspartame (Nutrasweet), the most common sugar substitute, poison, but also the demonstrated effect of diet beverages is to induce the body to consume more sweets. The proven effect of diet beverages is continual weight gain; don't take my word for it -- research it for yourself.

The beverage of choice at my table (whether at home or away) is Wellness Water. It hydrates far better than other waters on the market: it has been filtered to remove objectionable materials, and it has been enhanced to provide the properties that hydrate better.

The Wheel of Wellness

Picture a wheel, a simple wheel with six spokes.

The names of the spokes are:

SPIRITUAL LIFE
RELATIONSHIPS
ATTITUDE
REST
INTAKE
ACTIVITY

What they represent are:

SPIRITUAL LIFE -- knowing God, saved by grace for good work, true to being created in His image

RELATIONSHIPS -- forgiving, compassionate, loving my neighbor as myself, at peace with others

ATTITUDE -- optimistic and able to cope when “life happens,” a positive outlook on life

REST -- sufficient sleep and relaxation, renewing my mind and my body as needed

INTAKE -- consuming just what my body needs for adequate nutrition; clean environment

ACTIVITY -- exercise, developing bone, muscle, endurance, and balance

If your spokes are in balance, the wheel of your life rolls along smoothly.
If one or more spokes of your wheel are short or missing, you will have a bumpy ride!

True wellness is more than just health; it is having a healthy, compassionate heart and mind in a healthy body.
I can imagine situations in which a person may be physically limited and still fit my definition of wellness.

There may be other significant spokes. If you have identified them, please let me know.

© 2006 W Myron Remington