In the previous Health and Happiness I briefly mentioned getting a "New Start". In this blog I plan on expounding on each of those letters in the acronym New Start, and seeing what the Bible has to say about each one.
N=Nutrition What was the original diet given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? Genesis 1:29 "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV Genesis 2:16 "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.2.16 So the answer is herbs, fruit, and nuts. Then sin entered into the world; and by the time we get to Noah, God has allowed man to eat animals, but only specific kinds. See my other blog on clean vs unclean. https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/03/unclean-vs-clean.html Genesis 7:1-3 "1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.7.KJV While Adam lived to be 930 years old (Genesis 5:5 "and all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died."), by the time we get to Abraham he only lived, 175 years. (Genesis 25:7 "And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.") https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.5.KJV https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.25.KJV Genesis 6:3 "And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.6.KJV By the time we get to Moses, he says this in Psalm 90:10 "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,..."(a score is 20 so this says 70 or 80 years.) https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.90.KJV The closer that we get back to God's original diet, the healthier and longer we will live. Huffpost, Newsweek, and Time magazine have done articles on the fact that on average those who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet live many years longer than those who eat meat.https://www.huffpost.com/entry/plant-based-diet_b_1981838 https://www.newsweek.com/vegetarian-diet-linked-longer-lifespan-reduced-weight-gain-new-studies-find-971037 https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2012/10/16/Vegetarians-have-longer-life-expectancy-than-meat-eaters/ While there are opposing viewpoints, most of the people who don't live healthier, longer lives also don't eat a wide enough variety of foods and get enough nutrition out of the foods that they eat. A person could claim to be vegetarian, or even vegan, but that person could exist on just one or two different foods or even junk food. The following article states that eating a plant based diet could protect one from various diseases. https://www.newsweek.com/vegetarians-vegans-lower-covid-risk-1859162 Exodus 15:26 "and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.15.KJV This is God's promise to us IF we follow all of His directives.
E=Exercise Genesis 1:28 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.1.KJV Genesis 2:15 "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.2.KJV Genesis 3:19 "in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.3.KJV Before and after sin entered into this world Adam and Ever were to work. After sin, it became harder to work in order to get food to eat. Exodus 20:9 "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.20.KJV Ecclesiastes 3:13 "And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. " https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.3.13 2 Thessalonians 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2TH.3.KJV (This verse is not talking about those that cannot work because of some disability.)
W=Water The average human is about 60% water, therefore drinking the right amount of water is very important for the health of each of our organs to work optimally. https://sciencenotes.org/how-much-water-is-in-the-human-body/ By an internet search, I found a calculator that gives a person based on age, weight, and level of exercise how many ounces of water a person should intake daily. https://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/water-intake-calculator.php A good rule of thumb however would be to take ones body weight in pounds and divide by two. Whatever the answer is to that would be the number of ounces of WATER (not caffeinated or sugary drinks) that one should take in. More water should be taken in if the climate is hotter or exercise levels are more stringent. Another very interesting component of water has to do with the words that we speak. The wisest man who ever lived says this in Proverbs 4:20 "My son, attend to my words Incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.4.KJV So how are words, life and health? Many years ago Dr. Masaru Emoto conducted a water experiment in which he either spoke or wrote positive and negative statements and then photographed the resulting water crystals as they formed. The water that had positive words and even music formed beautiful, symmetrical crystals. The water that had negativity or rock music spoken or sung over it formed ugly, deformed crystals. https://youtu.be/P78VZzaHDVA Your words and thoughts and even what we listen to or watch have a profound impact on each one of our organs. Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV
S=Sunlight If you have ever lived in a very cold climate where the hours of sunlight can be very few you probably know about a disorder called seasonal affective disorder. Wikipedia presents it this way: "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder subset in which people who typically have normal mental health throughout most of the year exhibit depressive symptoms at the same time each year.[1][2] It is commonly, but not always, associated with the reductions or increases in total daily sunlight hours that occur during the winter or summer." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder I found a good article about the benefits of sunlight. Here are the highlights: "1. Sunlight provides vitamin D Being exposed to sunlight enables your body to make vitamin D from cholesterol in your skin cells. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D benefits your health in many ways, including: Supporting your bone and muscle health, Regulating your blood pressure, Regulating your immune system, Maintaining the health of your blood vessels, Keeping your brain working well, and Regulating your blood sugar 2. Sunlight strengthens bones 3. Sunlight kills bacteria 4. Sunlight may reduce high blood pressure 5. Sunlight can improve sleep quality 6. Sunlight boosts mood 7. Sunlight can boost your immune system 8. Sunlight is associated with weight loss. How much sunlight should you get per day? Depending on your skin tone, you may be able to get the daily recommended amount of sun exposure in as little as 10 minutes. People with darker skin tones have more melanin, a molecule that serves as a natural sunscreen. But this can also make it a little harder to get enough sun exposure. So it takes more time in sunlight to get its benefits if you have a darker skin tone. Here is how much sunlight experts recommend based on your skin tone: Lighter skin tones: 10 to 15 minutes a day, Darker skin tones: 25 to 40 minutes a day. Where you live also matters: If you live in tropical areas where the sun is stronger, you might need less time in the sun to get your recommended exposure. If you live up north where the sun isn’t as powerful, you might need more time outdoors to get the right daily dose of sun exposure for you." https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/environmental/benefits-of-sunlight I can personally attest to number seven, when I have felt a sickness like the flu or a cold coming on and I get outside in the sunlight, it is as if the illness just goes away rapidly.
T=Temperance King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived says in Proverbs 23:2 "And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite.3Be not desirous of his dainties: For they are deceitful meat." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.23.KJV He isn't talking about taking one's life but he is using an illustration that if someone had a knife to their throat they would do whatever was commanded of them, so it should be if one doesn't have apatite control. Solomon expounds in Ecclesiastes 10:17 "Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.10.KJV We should only eat what we need to eat and nothing more. "The quote “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” is widely attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates." https://www.chefsresource.com/who-said-let-thy-food-be-thy-medicine/ Fasting is also a good way to learn about temperance and it resets our metabolism. Periodic fasting can also help with weight loss and weight control. Newsweek did a study on fasting and learned that fasting can help people to live longer healthier lives. https://www.newsweek.com/fasting-could-help-you-live-longer-1110284
A=Air This may seem like a duh, but without clean, fresh air we begin to suffer and die. From the very beginning of time God breathed the breath of life into His creation. Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.2.KJV When the air is tainted with chemicals it causes breathing issues. We cannot control what other people do, but as far as it is up to us we should take great care not to add any chemicals into the air that we breathe. When people smoke it cuts their lives short by tainting the air that goes into their lungs. Ask anyone with COPD, Emphysema or Asthma and they will tell you how hard it is to do normal things when breathing becomes difficult. Fresh air is also important in the winter months when we tend to have the houses shut up. This is probably a reason that the winter months have more colds and flu. It would be good to open the windows regularly to bring in fresh air into our homes, even in the winter. For those of us that don't especially like to make our beds, a good argument can be made that it is actually healthier to leave it unmade so that it can be aired out.
R=Rest Normally when people talk about getting enough rest, they talk about the number of hours of sleep that people should be getting, but we have been taught that even from grade school. According to the CDC "The recommended amount of sleep for adults is at least 7 hours each day." https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/adults-sleep-facts-and-stats.html Of course this varies by person and age. You have probably heard of a circadian rhythm. "Your circadian rhythm is the pattern your body follows based on a 24-hour day — it’s the name given to your body’s internal clock. This rhythm tells your body when to sleep and when to wake up. It also affects several other body processes, like your hormones, digestion and body temperature. It’s like you have a tiny conductor inside your body, orchestrating a 24-hour symphony of biological processes." https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/circadian-rhythm The best time for your body to rest is around 9pm. The more hours of rest that one gets before midnight the better their bodies can repair itself. The body spends the sleeping hours rejuvenating itself. There is another "rest" that I need to mention here. That 'rest' is Sabbath. (I also have several blogs on the rest that we need on the Sabbath day. https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2025/03/sabbath-is-essential.html https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/03/sabbath-vs-sunday.html) "Looking at Sabbath as the marriage of physical rest and worship of God allows us to see how both aspects benefit us in more spiritual and mental health. Each of these aspects has physical benefits as well. Taking time to rest has obvious benefits for your body. According to Integris Health, 'Rest is vital for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, improved mood, and even a better metabolism.' Regular rest has concrete physical benefits such as: Decreased blood pressure. Chronic pain relief. Improved immune health. Stronger cardiovascular system. If you consider the spiritual element of the Sabbath, you can also see amazing physical benefits. Corporate worship, private time with God, and regular prayer as suggested by the concept of the Sabbath can improve everything from hormone levels to breathing. Some examples of how prayer can benefit your physical health are: Faster recovery following medical procedures. Helps your body heal more efficiently. Inhibits the release of cortisol and other hormones that can negatively affect the body. Regulates heart rate and breathing. Relieves stress and offers hope which promotes physical wellness. These things all work together to offer better physical health when you routinely practice Sabbath in your life." https://newportbeachchristiancounseling.com/articles/how-regular-sabbath-improves-your-mental-and-physical-health/
T=Trust in God This is by far the most important, so how do we learn to trust in God? Well, how do you learn to trust a person? You get to know them. So how do we do that? We communicate. One way we can communicate with God is through prayer, and the other is to read HIS WORD. Not only just a surface reading, like, 'Oh yes, I read through the Bible this year,' but a real study of the texts; memorizing passages that help us know what we believe and His promises. A favorite author of mine, outside of the Bible says, “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.” 9T 10.3 https://egwwritings.org/readpanels=p115.45&index=0 She also says in another place, "It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross." DA 83.4 https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.313&index=0 When we realize just how much God loves us and has our best interest at heart we can feel free to trust Him with our plans, our hopes, dreams, fears, our lives and our families. The Bible says in 1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.3.KJV And the infamous John 3:16 and the less famous verse 17, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.3.KJV
