Nutrition — the Last Natural Physician

This is the 1^st of several on a huge subject of Nutrition. I call it a huge subject because there are many different opinions about what is best, it is also a field that is changing rapidly as the quality of our food supply is changing – we will look at that thought in more detail.

A New Car comes with an owner’s manual!!! In this manual you learn the proper gas, oil, filters to be used in the regular up keep of the car. Which is more important your body or your car? Sometimes we think that our body has come without an owners manual. I’d like to suggest that we do have an owners manual that was given at Creation & that the original diet given to man by his Creator gives us a good clue as to what will keep our bodies in Optimum Health. Genesis 1:29 shows that the original diet contain fruits, grains, nuts. After sin entered the world & man must now labor to get enough to eat, growing vegetables by the sweat of his brow became mans lot (Genesis 3:18,19). At the time of the flood Noah was instructed to take 7 pairs of the clean animals & 1 pair of the unclean into the ark. Later the clean animals were defined as those that could be used for food. Today the FDA defines the food groups in the following way.

There are 6 basic Food Classes as pictured in the food pyramid:

**Protein = the building blocks of the body

**Fat = stored energy, flavors, needed in cell walls

**Carbohydrates = available energy, fiber

**Vitamins = important to metabolism; occurs in small amounts

**Minerals = inorganic chemicals many of which are necessary for life

**Fibers = non-digestible carbohydrates; provides bulk

FDA food pyramid as it used to be.

The broad base is rich in fiber, as well as vitamins & minerals although they are featured in the 2^nd level. Usually found in whole grains, vegetables, fruits – often thought of as only breads, cereals, & pastas as pictured here. This layer represents the amount of servings needed to get the optimum number of carbohydrates & fiber needed by the body. Since it is on the bottom this should be the largest contributor to our diet.

The 2^nd layer up has Fruits on the right & Vegetables on the left. Years ago 3-5 servings per day is what used to be recommended (currently this is different – we’ll look at that in the next article). This is also where the greatest amount of the vitamins & minerals are found.

Moving up the pyramid the next smaller section, or the 3^rd layer is for Proteins. Legumes (Beans, lentils, soy beans, tofu), dairy products are also included here. If you must eat meat for a balanced diet, eat only the clean meats, which we will talk more about later.   All protein foods should be eaten in moderation.

Finally, the tip represents the fats & sweets that are a part of most diets & we should eat sparingly.  Nuts & seeds are good sources of good fats for our bodies.  Butter, cheese & sweets should especially be used very sparingly.   Most of us get way too much in the sweet category!!

We need some nutrients from each group to meet the needs of our body.  No one food contains everything so we need to eat some of each.

God wants us to live happy, healthy for a long time. So He has provided everything we need.

Tags: eating, food pyramid, nutrition