Still smells as sweet. But a supplement? That’s a different story. Vitamins and minerals come in different forms, from a variety of sources. Many vitamins sold over-the-counter are composed of synthetic ingredients that are more easily and less-expensively manufactured.
A bargain isn’t always better. For example, many popular calcium supplements for women contain calcium carbonate. Did you know that could lead to kidney stones? Calcium Citrate is a better, safer source. Check your labels, and know what you should be taking.
Do you know what's in these? 
What to Look For:
- Magnesium citrate or glycinate or malate.
- Vitamin E as mixed natural tocopherols or d-alpha-tocopherol
- Calcium citrate or citrate-malate
Stay Away From:
- Magnesium carbonate, sulfate, gluconate, and oxide.
- Vitamin E as dl-alpha-tocopherol
- Calcium carbonate
You should also try not to take supplements with artificial colorings or flavorings and hydrogenated fats or oils. Suddenly taking a trip to the pharmacy department can make you feel like a crime scene investigator. Too bad we don't have a lab-assistant to explain to us what kind of chemicals we're consuming.
But don’t avoid the good stuff altogether. Taking supplements can supply our bodies with much needed nutrients we aren't getting elsewhere. So, as I use to ask my college roommate (remember that Melissa?) – Have you been taking your vitamins?
Lately the hype about health and wellness is everywhere. As battling the bulge has become more and more popular, it’s hard to go through a single day without encountering something that has to do with fitness or diet or nutrition.
More than anyone else, it seems to be Hollywood who’s setting a trend. Years ago, people like Jane Fonda were fit when fit wasn’t cool, it was seriously over-achieving. But now it seems every one on the big screen has a personal trainer, their own line of “active wear”, and a kick-box move to ward off any bad guy they may happen across in a dark alley.
Their fitness craze is leaving most of us common folk on the sidelines while we watch their ever-shrinking bodies on the front of fashion magazines. But skinny and tan, [or even muscular] doesn’t necessarily mean “healthy”. And just because the food we buy says “100% natural”, or “full of vitamins and minerals,” that isn’t always exactly what we’re getting.
Somehow, there must be a balance between the busy lives we live, and finding a way to take care of our bodies – in a meaningful, normal, and attainable way. This morning I found some comforting words.
A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man. Proverbs 24:5 (NLT)
Sometimes having the strength, the willpower, to eat right and exercise isn’t enough. We need to arm ourselves with the knowledge about what’s best for our bodies, and what’s harmful – and how to get the nutrition we need. It’s not about living longer; it’s about living the way God intended us to live, taking care of our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit. Being physically (and mentally!) able to carry out the work He gives us as long as we’re on this earth.
But while knowledge is crucial, strength is a necessity as well.
If you fail under pressure, your strength is not very great. Proverbs 24:10
If I fail by giving into the temptation to be lazy and eat junk (ouch!), then my strength isn’t very great. But where does my strength come from?
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Our help comes from God. Why do we forget to ask Him for help in our everyday needs? He’s concerned with every area of our life. And as Pastor Ron said in the sermon Sunday, if we humble ourselves and ask for help, and commit to stop doing the wrong thing, God will definitely help us! (II Chronicles 7:14). God created our bodies – He knows exactly how to help us keep them running properly.
For years I suffered with allergies and severe, chronic sinus infections before I made the connection between my stuffy nose and what I was eating. It was milk products that seemed to be the source of my sinus problems. You mean my beloved Jamocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream is a force of the enemy?
After weeks of denial, I finally resolved to be one of those people who suffered from lactose intolerance, or more specifically, a real allergy to milk – and began to consider therapy for my withdrawal symptoms to all things dairy. (At least I wasn’t allergic to chocolate!) But two years ago, as I began researching health and wellness issues, I ran across source after source, challenging the milk industry’s claims that milk helps build strong bones, prevents osteoporosis, or is even a great source of calcium.
As it turns out, milk is linked to a wide array of illnesses including heart disease and prostate cancer, as well as diabetes, sinus problems, irritable bowel syndrome and digestive problems. (And remember, I’m only giving you tid-bits, here.) Suddenly, my bowl of Baskin Robbins didn’t seem so appetizing!
It kind of makes sense if you think about it. What if we traveled to a remote village in Africa and our tribal friends offered us a nice tall glass of fresh-squeezed elephant milk? What if we witnessed our neighbor milking his cat for his morning bowl of cereal? We only think it’s normal to drink the breast milk of a cow because we’ve done it all our lives.
So what’s the flipside? If we lay off the milk, how do we get our calcium, right? Well, I found out that excellent sources of calcium include rich greens, sesame seeds, beans, nuts, and uh… sardines. (We’ll just pretend we didn’t know about that last one.)
I’m only here to be the messenger, so you may want to do your own research. But be aware that milk may not do the body good after-all. Pass it on.
The main source of information in this post is a book called Ultra-Prevention, by Mark Hyman, M.D. and Mark Liponis, M.D. I highly recommend it, and it may be found at Barnes & Noble.
This weekend, we visited my family in just East of Baton Rouge. While Jeff helped my dad replace the roof, my sister, Sarah, and I helped mom re-vamp the kitchen with a fresh coat of paint. It was a busy weekend, but before we started the road-trip back to Texas, I was able to spend some quality time with my mom.
We looked at old picture albums, and laughed at old hair styles. She told me things I never knew about my grandparents and great-grandparents. Then she sat down with my sister and me and showed us some old jewelry she’d collected over the years for sentimental reasons. [Like the heart-shaped pendant for the National Betty Crocker Award she’d won her senior year in high-school. Is that cool, or what?!]
Amazing that after 30 years of life, there were still tid-bits of knowledge of which Mom was the only source. How sad is it that we often let a lifetime slip by without sharing meaningful moments like this? Once again, I was reminded of a verse God pointed out to me several months ago. One day, as I was reading John chapter 9, I ran across verse 4 as if I’d never seen it before. Jesus said:
“All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.”
Wow. No more excuses for putting off till tomorrow what should have been done yesterday. God keeps bringing to mind the inspirations He’s placed in my heart and reminding me of that verse. I’ve got to quickly carry out the things He’s put me here to do. So, while I finish up this post and get on to something else He’s told me to do, make your own list. Or call your mom. By the way, thanks, Mom, for being so great. Happy Mother’s Day!
