Let’s talk about ingredients. What? Yes, ingredients count – big time! They’re the little things we put into our bodies when we eat and drink, or into our minds by what we look at and listen to. They become a part of our physical, mental, and spiritual health – or they can cause us harm.
A few years ago, I was at my neighborhood grocery store, walking through the bakery section and thought, “I’m craving a little dessert.“ I looked at all the choices and decided on a piece of carrot cake, hoping it would be “healthier.”
I got home, had a few bites, and it was ok. I finished it a day or two later, and as I was throwing away the plastic box it came in, I turned it over to look at the label. I was shocked! I counted the ingredients and there were – no exaggeration – about 90!! Anything natural was glued together with artificial additives, colors, and flavors. Anyone know what glucono delta-lactone or propyl gallate or polysorbate 60 is? Me, neither! This wasn’t even made for a long shelf life, it was “fresh” from an in-store bakery.
Then I thought about my Mom’s carrot cake and remembered how much I loved it. I was on a mission to compare how many ingredients she used, so I searched through three recipe boxes and found it. There were 13. 14 if you added raisins. The list was actual food like grated carrots, cinnamon, and walnuts. Guess what? Glucono delta-lactone wasn’t on the list!
There are many types of unhealthy ingredients that can sneak into our lives. We need to become more aware because by ignoring them, they can build up and make our lives toxic. Here are just a couple of examples:
- What you watch online or on tv can increase depression or cause a distorted view of life.
- Some video games will likely cause you to normalize violence, along with certain types of music.
- Careless words you use with family members or in other relationships can wound them and you as well.
In Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT), the Apostle Paul writes about the fruit of the Spirit:
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
These ingredients are pure and good for us in every season and situation. Let’s remove the impurities and add more of these to make our heart and soul truly healthy from the inside out.
RESET HIGHER: What “harmful additives” can you reduce or eliminate from your life – like a cleanse? What comes to your mind? Can you admit to the “toxins” you know are harming you and replace them with healthier choices whether in your relationships, habits, or food choices? We change by actually doing what we already know we need to, one ingredient at a time.
Said perfectly! We all need to have good ingredients in our life’s . I always look at the ingredients and make sure there’s not so many to stay healthy. Loved reading this !! It was great!
Thanks Ginger! As Hippocrates (who lived from 460 to 377 B.C.) said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” He didn’t say add a bunch of artificial stuff… Yes, check those ingredients and eat healthy every time you can. I will too!
LC,
I had to laugh at you trying to say the names of those ingredients.
As you know I talk to ppl all day long about said ingredients. What goes on the end of your fork matters in more ways than one.
I also totally agree with what we consume daily through other things like reading, watching TV, listening to music and talking with others plays a big role in how we think and see the world.
Junk in junk out is the old saying.
I tell my patients to use the 80/20 rule as no one but Jesus is perfect.
When you make your mom’s carrot cake please ship me some:) I’m always down for a healthy piece of carrot cake:)
…and there were many more! Say no to junk, yes! Fall off the horse, get back on the horse – right away. Instead of shipping Mom’s cake, let’s have it in person, hopefully soon!