Oghomwen (Owen) Jones
The availability of healthy foods is not dependent on our location. God has graciously blessed us with healthy, nutrient dense and often delicious foods, right where we are. It’s up to us to make healthy food choices, from what is available…
It is true that not all types of healthy foods are available everywhere. The most nutritious foods readily available will be closely related to the part of the world that we live in. Therefore, if we live in areas where say mangoes or kiwi fruits are grown, we will enjoy more nutritious and delicious mangoes and kiwi fruits than those who live far away from these areas.
A good starting point, is always eating seasonal produce, fruits, vegetables, game etc. Have you noticed how delicious particular fruits and vegetables are at certain times of the year? This is the best time to eat various produce…when in season. They are also the most nutritious at this time.
I personally don’t care for fruits that are not native to the country I am in. So for instance, when in Europe and North America, I enjoy black and blue berries. I will however not buy them in say West Africa as they are not locally grown, and so would have been imported and therefore will not be fresh.
Typically, fruits exported round the world are plucked before they are ripe with the ripening process continuing as they are transported across the world. These fruits are less nutritious and not nearly as delicious as those allowed to tree ripen before they are picked, sold, and consumed near their source. There is nothing like fruit in season that has been allowed to ripen before they are plucked. They burst with flavour and are at their best nutritionally.
God has graciously blessed us with good quality foods (crops and animals). Poor farming practices will affect their quality, making them less nutritious. The best crops are grown on land grazed by free roaming farmed animals. They ensure that the soil is naturally fertilised with their drippings.
Animals raised in concentrated feeding systems are typically fed abnormal foods, not what they would naturally eat. They are often given hormones to fatten them up. These animals end up quite sick and are often given various antibiotics, which eventually are consumed by us when we eat them. Never forget that we end up eating what the animals we eat have ingested.
Another unhealthy farming practice involves the genetic alteration of produce. This is a common practice in the USA and other countries. These products are labelled with the acronym for genetically modified organisms, GMO. These foods contain altered genetic material, using genetic engineering techniques. These foods can weaken our immunity, and are increasingly being found to be unhealthy in many other ways.
The foods that God has blessed us with with are the healthiest foods available to man. When these foods are grown and cooked in a healthy manner the way that God intended,our bodies will enjoy and benefit from the nutrients contained in these foods.
We will do well to include moderate amounts of these high-quality foods in our daily meals. They have been graciously provided by our good God and should be eaten and enjoyed in moderation. He loves us and wants us to enjoy and be nourished by our foods.
Let’s endeavour to get acquainted with the variety of wholesome foods where we live and in combination with exercise, be healthy to fulfil our unique purpose. No excuses…we can do this.
This article contains only snippets of what is contained in my book ‘Moderation Is Key’. Please get your copy today if you have not already. It is a comprehensive healthy living manual with fresh insights into this well sought after area.
