By Annette McEndarfer
Being run down, suffering from viruses and other ailments can certainly keep us from being and doing all that God wants of us. Prevention can go a long way in keeping us healthy and able.
Good Food
Because we’re talking about the kitchen, we’ll begin here. I’m sure you don’t need someone to tell you that eating healthy is good for you, however, there is much confusion about what is healthy. Everyone seems to have an opinion with the evidence to back it up. My thinking is simple. God created food as a blessing to us, knowing we needed it for our health and enjoyment. When we eat in moderation food that is as close to what He created, then we should accept it with thanksgiving. Our kitchens can be looked at as places where we can take preventative measures against illness.
Rest
Many folks today are running themselves ragged. As a mother of seven I understand what sleep deprivation can do. It affects every aspect of life and makes things much more difficult to handle. God Himself rested and He commands that we rest too. As a young mother I would have to force myself to take a nap when my little ones were napping. My instinct was to do all of the things that “needed to be done” while they were sleeping but, in reality, if I wasn’t rested I couldn’t do those things well.
Sunshine
Being outdoors, I believe, has more health benefits than anyone realizes. Vitamin D absorbed from sunshine has a multitude of positive effects. It reduces cancer and diabetes risks, builds immunity, lowers blood pressure, improves metabolism, and improves sleep.
Exercise
We were made to work and, having become a society that sits more than anything, it takes effort to ensure we are getting enough exercise.
Water
Another blessing from our kitchen is water. I know drinking water is difficult for many people, but it is truly one of the most important prevention tools we have. Our bodies must have water to detoxify themselves. It improves our heart and skin health, keeps our digestive system working properly, and so much more.
That might sound like common sense, and it is, but when you look at our culture many of us lack common sense. There are so many health issues on the rise. We know what to do, but we don’t do it. Let’s purpose to be good stewards of these bodies so that we can be and do all that the Father is asking of us. It’s a shame to become ineffective simply because we choose to not take care of ourselves. Join me next week when I discuss treating symptoms with items in our kitchens.
With more than twenty years of homeschooling under her belt, Annette McEndarfer continues to teach her seven children on their small homestead in northern Maine where she also has the privilege of investing in the lives of other ladies.
