My Personal Journey
Being raised on a farm and also being a white-water guide, I stayed fit growing up. When I moved to Boulder, CO, to do graduate work and to help develop the nation’s atomic clock and GPS , I took up jogging to stay in shape. When we moved to Fountain Green, UT, in 1992, I was in very good shape. Being the architect and general contractor as we built our solar home. I needed to be strong. We poured all 125 cubic yards of concrete needed for that unique structure.
We have always followed our churches health code, but after finishing our home, I gained some weight. When we went on a vegan diet, I lost 15 pounds and felt good. Later on, when I encountered the disease called Rouleau, I went on a raw food vegan diet and lost another 15 pounds.
We have learned much more about nutrition over the years and have broadened our diet considerably. We buy organic and fresh as much as possible, and we grow our own food extensively. We built a geodesic-dome greenhouse, which allows us to grow our own food year around. We have learned the great importance of body hydration. Very often when people think they are hungry, they are really thirsty and would be much better off drinking a glass of Kangen filtered water with no chlorine.
We enjoy fresh fruit for breakfast and occasionally an omelet or boiled egg. We use cage-free eggs. I avoid bread because of the yeast problem I discuss in my book. We like sour-dough bread. I don’t trust the meat processing we have now because of anti-biotics and pollutants. We enjoy wild caught salmon. I like Jefferson’s counsel using meat as a condiment and having a plant-based diet and pushing away from the table before you are full.
I realize everyone’s metabolism and genetics are different, but as we look over time and space for this planet’s history we can learn some very important and highly relevant lessons. Let us take a careful look, and then I will share some fundamental causes and cures for America’s obesity epidemic.
Spiritual Warnings and Answers
The Lord in His infinite goodness always warns a people of impending dangers and consequences. In Deuteronomy chapters 28-32 the Lord through Moses warns the Israelites that if they keep the commandments, they will be blessed. And when we look closely, those blessings were both dietary and for how they used the land and their animals.
The Lord through Moses warned the Israelites the consequences if they did not keep the commandments. History profoundly tells the story of the fulfillment of the prophecies made by Moses with the scattering and now in our day the gathering of Israel from the nations of the earth with the ultimate goal the Lord has of providing an opportunity for all of His children to hear His glorious gospel message that all nations may be blessed. (Abraham 2:10-11) The Lord can turn every evil into good, and we will see miracles — dietary and “heal their land” — as the Lord prepares a people for His Coming. We need to clean up our act to be part of those to receive the Lord. We have the great promise that our polluted lands will be healed.
In recent American history, the Lord, in his loving kindness, knowing “In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” has given us a basic health code called “A Word of Wisdom”.
The Lord gave these health guidelines in 1833 to His prophet, Joseph Smith. Along with these health guidelines, He gave a wonderful promise to those “who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments shall receive health to their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the lord give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” I am a recipient of those promises and I thank the Lord for them. All who will heed can enjoy these blessings as well.
Hidden Offenders Causing Health Issues
In 1939, Dr. Weston A Price wrote a book titled: Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. This book describe his field work during the 1920s and 1930s among various world cultures. He studied these various world cultures with the original goal of recording and studying dental health. However, his research results became a game changer as he found that many modern diseases are a result of the industrial revolution which has added subtle toxins to the environment which had already pervaded our food sources at that time.
As we know, industrial contamination continues to be a problem. An excellent cookbook by Sally Fallon challenges this issue. Nourishing Traditions, The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, This is one of the best cookbook I have ever seen — providing much more information than just recipes..
Because his research is such a game changer as many modern diseases are a result of the industrial revolution, A Weston A. Price Foundation has been set up (1999) to promote that technology can be a kind father if he joins with a feminine partner – the mother of the “nourishing traditions of our ancestors.”
What Has Happened to The American Diet?
That obesity is an epidemic in America is evident everywhere. See the movie “Fed Up.” However, obesity can happen for a number of reasons: diet, sedentary lifestyle, genetic factors, and certain medications. Of course, everyone’s metabolism and genetics are different. In addition, different cultures, food traditions, societal influences, etc. affect what we eat and who we are. However, we can control some of the factors that cause obesity, beginning with diet. It is not just a matter of the selection of the different types of foods we ingest but how those foods are grown and processed. Also, there are other considerations, like body hydration and exercise.
As a result of the American diet, several other diseases have increased rapidly: for example, Type II diabetes, increase in heart disease, strokes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and several other debilitating diseases.
Five Major Contributors to Obesity
1. Recently, Michael Pollan has written a book, Omnivore’s Dilemma, which documents what has happened to food processing in this country, which is so harmful to our health. He specifically points out the pervasive and harmful effects of high fructose corn-syrup (HFCS). It is hard to find processed foods and drinks that don’t use HFCS as the sweetener. I highly suggest you look at the ingredients, as do we.
Developed in the 1970s, HFCS became a huge economic success in the 80s, but from a health standpoint, it is subtle disaster. HFCS is linked as one of the main causes of the obesity epidemic as well as to the diabetes epidemic. It tends to suppress the satiation sense, so that when we have eaten enough, we don’t know it and overeat. It also tends to be addictive. Its abundance in the American diet – especially in sodas — is often causing liver problems. As a synthesized sugar, the body doesn’t know how to digest it and turns it into fat.
2. Proper body hydration is extremely important. Unfortunately, most soft drinks and caffeine beverages are diuretic – tend to dehydrate the body. So they work opposite to good body hydration.
3. The need for regular exercise that you enjoy; otherwise, you will not persist in doing what your body needs to become slim and trim and fit.
4. Table sugar is a culprit. It is a slow poison to the body, table sugar is a slow poison. As I mentioned before, when I had Rouleau, cutting out sugar along with proper diet caused me to lose 15 pounds in two weeks. Two books that address the sugar issue are: Sweet and Dangerous by John Yudkin and Sugar Blues by William Dufty. In a wonderful CD by Dr. Lorraine Day is: Eye See; Prevent and Reverse Eye Diseases. Lorraine documents the causes and the cures for many eye diseases and that sugar contributes to eye cataracts. ( I used to wear glasses; now I don’t).
5. The book “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schosser is an excellent read. Most of your processed foods use vegetable oils – most of which you don’t want to eat if you are interested in your health and want to lose weight. However, some are very good – coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, for example.
General Counsel – Avoiding Obesity
Read through all the links and information above, and then listen to your heart, mind, and your body and it will guide you to where you need to be. As I explain in Chapter 8 of my book, the Lord will help you overcome any addiction, and consider His promise: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matt. 11:28-30)
A yoke for a team of oxen is carved to exactly fit so that it is most comfortable; so the promise the Lord makes is for you to be comfortably yoked with Him as He helps you overcome addictions and find your divine purpose and joy in the Lord. He wants you to be happy and to fulfill the promises you made with your Loving Heavenly Father when you were with Him in your pre-mortal epoch.
As you look at the signs of the times — Satan, knowing it is his last hour — he is doing everything he can to destroy us body, mind, and spirit. Let us be valiant in know who we can trust and not be deceived by the philosophies of men.
David W. Allan
P.S. Follow the Healthy Habits Series:
Healthy Habits: 1 Mind, Heart and Soul
Healthy Habits: 2 Healing, Recovery from a Stroke
Healthy Habits :3 Arrhythmia Solution
Healthy Habits: 4: Failing Eyesight and Blood
Healthy Habits 5: Healing Back Pain
Healthy Habits 6: Healthy Bones
Healthy Habits 7: Spiritual Well-being
Healthy Habits 8: Controlling Hypertension
Healthy Habits 9: Healing 8 Health Challenges