Well to the Core With Robin LongSample

Real Nourishment

In all my years trying various diets, I became discouraged that what was considered “healthy” kept changing. I had always thought of foods as “good” or “bad” based simply on calorie count or fat content.

Knowing what to eat and what not to eat has never been more confusing. What was once recommended is now problematic, and it’s only a matter of time before the next health discovery will come onto the scene and change the conversation yet again.

The reality is that dieting wreaks havoc on your hormones and slows your metabolism. Repeatedly losing and regaining weight is linked to strokes, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and impaired immune function. And that doesn’t factor in the harmful impact on your brain, emotional well-being, confidence, and spiritual life. It’s clear that it’s time to embrace a different approach.

A significant shift happens when we begin to view food as a source of nourishment instead of a vice we’re constantly battling. Our bodies need specific nutrients to be well nourished. We need things like water, minerals, fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to function optimally. The simple shift of asking ourselves, Will this provide the nourishment my body needs? instead of Should I eat this? will help transform the way we think and the choices we make.

When I learned that food affects our physiology in ways far beyond calories or fat, my eyes were opened to the power of food. What I ate could help me balance what was happening in all the systems of my body, which went beyond merely weight management. This meant I could eat in a way that would support a healthy weight while also nourishing myself.

It was a journey for me to get to a place where I was able to realize obsessing over calories or anguishing over what I ate was not part of the abundant life God intended for me—or for any of his children.

God made our bodies, and God made the food we need to nourish those bodies. He never intended our relationship with food to be marked by internal bondage and self-deprivation. He created us to enjoy a variety of foods in a balanced way.

God knows what we need. And he will take care of those needs—for both our bodies and our souls.