A look in the mirror

How often do you see your reflection? It seems we are being constantly bombarded with seeing our reflection. We have all sorts of items that reflect our image, including our cell phone! How often do we check and adjust when we see our reflection? We desire to look our best at all times, but what about our heart? What reflects our hearts? How often do you allow yourself to look at that reflection of your heart?

Do we focus more on checking and adjusting the outward that we neglect the inward? The mirror used to reflect the true image of our heart is the Bible, God's inspired Word. If we never open His Word, we never see the true nature of our heart. The Bible states in Jeremiah 17:9 that the heart deceitful and extremely wicked, who can know it? Only God can change the heart.

You wouldn't pass by your reflection, see an issue to fix, and just ignore it; so why would you ignore the condition of your heart when you see its wickedness and know it needs to be fixed? We all have our excuses, and we all use them over and over. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself, "how much do my excuses for not changing my heart's condition hurt a God who died for me?" Consider this concept: You are a mess, clothes wrinkled and disheveled, hair a mess, teeth not brushed, and shoes untied. You go to leave your home that morning and your family stops you and informs you have things to fix. Instead of acknowledging them, you grunt, shrug your shoulders, grab your coffee, and drive to work. As you enter your workplace whispers filter throughout the offices and shortly a co-worker approaches you and informs you of things you need to fix. Instead of doing something about it, you glare at him, mumble something under your breath, and grab another cup of coffee as you head to your meeting. Pretty soon, clients and supervisors are confronting you about your appearance and the necessity for you to address those issues. With each confrontation your patience decreases and your frustration increases. Finally the day ends and you head to the restaurant to meet your loved one. As you look forward to a relaxing evening, you meet your breaking point when your loved one confronts you about your appearance and the items that need to be fixed. Outraged, you explode with the statement, "What do you mean!? I look fine! There is nothing wrong with me!"

Isn't that so often the case with our hearts? We have neglected the upkeep of our hearts so much that we have become blinded to our own wickedness that we don't even notice the filth and mess. Although we are blinded, others are not. We can try to hide the condition of our heart but the outward is simply a mirror of the inside. Equate it to this example. Our body is like vessel, constantly being filled with something-either the fruits of the Spirit or the vanity of a selfish life. Just as a vessel has its level before reaching an overflow point, so do we. When the pressures of life begin to come and the trials of life rock us back and forth, our vessel will spill. What's spilling out? Are others seeing that mess of a self-filled life or the love and kindness of a Spirit-filled life?

We may not even realize what is spilling out because we are too overwhelmed with the circumstances that are surrounding us, but I guarantee you that people see what is spilling out. Some may not be so bold to confront you but the ones who truly love you will. If you are spilling out fruits of the Spirit, people will share with you how much you are encouraging them and will thank you for being such an encouragement. Do you stand there baffled when that occurs? Does that even happen to you? Or are you getting bombarded with confrontations and you feel as though you might explode?

 Have you checked the mirror lately?

From the kitchen

I like to spice up the way I cook and prepare beans. Below are some of my recipes that I have discovered. I hope you enjoy trying these out!

Garbanzo Bean Flour Pizza Crust

Ingredients fill a 10 x 16 pan. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and line pan with parchment paper

Ingredients:
2.5 cups of garbanzo bean/chick pea flour
2 cups warm water
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper, garlic powder, basil, parsley, oregano (I use 1/2 tsp. each to add a kick to my crust)
generous amounts of black pepper

Stir in ingredients until smooth. Batter will be extremely runny. Let stand for 30 mins.

Pour batter in the lined pan, will still be runny after the 30 mins

Bake for 15-20 mins until crust is cracked

Add selected toppings and bake an additional 15-20 mins

Red and Black Bean Salad

Ingredients:

1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup diced radishes (approximately 10)

1 diced medium tomato

1/2 c diced celery

1/2 diced sweet onion

1/2 cup Hendrickson's Original Sweet Vinegar and Olive Oil dressing (can substitute Italian dressing)

Black Bean Soup

Servings - 4 medium bowls 

Ingredients:

3 15 oz. black beans, rinsed and drained

3 8 oz. mild Rotel tomatoes - do not drain 

1/2 diced sweet onion

Stir in ingredients into a crockpot and let simmer for 4-6 hours on low

Ingredients for salsa topping:

1 small lime, squeezed

1 large diced tomato

1/4 cup diced cilantro 

Cut up ingredients and place in separate bowl, squeeze lime juice and stir

Kickin the craving

What are you craving? 

When I was growing up, I remember the popular advertisement for Pringles, "Once you pop, you just can't stop." Catchy phrase and yet so true! Once you start feeding that craving it just grows and grows and pretty soon, it's an addiction. 

But what about your spiritual craving? Or the perhaps the lack of spiritual craving. Are you feeding your fleshly desires, or are you feeding the fruits of the Spirit? Galatians chapter five verses twenty-two through twenty-three states, "The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance." The works of the flesh are in opposition to those from the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians also discusses the manifestations of the flesh in the same chapter verses nineteen through twenty-one stating, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, and revelings."    

If you are a child of God, you have been freed from the sin that binds us to damnation, and although our soul is saved, we still have the old nature inside of us warring with the new nature that is led by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians six presents the war that as Christians we face on a daily basis. This war is not with people but with the powers of the air wanting us to fail, to rely on our own strength, and to not submit to God. 

So how do you stop the cravings of the flesh? You have to starve them but that takes time, discipline, and replacement. For example, when a person cuts out sugar, it takes approximately two weeks to get over that craving. Two weeks is not a lot of time in the whole scheme of life, but it does require much discipline. It also requires a replacement of something healthy to ensure success. 

In the case of your spiritual walk with the Lord, replace those cravings for the flesh with time spent in His Word. I'm not talking about mass amounts of time, but perhaps five minutes. You could read a chapter or even just a verse. There are Bible apps for your smartphone, IPad, IPhone, or write down specific verses that help you overcome that temptation and carry it in your pocket and pull it out when you feel your flesh becoming stronger and stronger. 

The second step for overcoming flesh-driven cravings is prayer. 1 Thessalonians chapter five verse seventeen, states to pray without ceasing. That doesn't mean we are just kneeling all day talking to God; God doesn't expect that! It's a state of meditation and mulling over and over what the Lord has been teaching you and asking for His strength. Today, we are engulfed in our cell phones and technological gadgets. We are connected in every way possible. We have instant communication to God and can talk to Him whenever we want; that is what Paul is referring to in this text. 

The final step for overcoming those fleshly cravings is submission to God. This is the concept that hits me the hardest. Why? Because it all boils down to trust. Submission was presented to me in this aspect: If we can trust God with our soul and eternity, we have submitted that part of our life to Him. But now He wants our entire heart, even the little things, the wants, needs, desires, dreams, goals, hurts, sadness, disappointments, and the list can continue. Every aspect of our life must be submitted to God, not just our soul, but also our heart, mind, and body. He created you, and you are not your own. If you are a child of God, your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost because you were bought with the price of Jesus' shed blood on the cross. It's not a feeling of bondage but a feeling of freedom, peace, and contentment beyond belief! 

Submission isn't something that happens once and it's a done deal. Like I said earlier, we are two natures living in one body: the new and old, and they war against each other. Submission for some may only need to occur once a day by deciding to die to yourself and live through the power of God. Or you may be like me who struggles with submission constantly. I feel like I'm constantly asking God to give me strength to die to myself and live through Him. But you know, God doesn't mind, He desires to take our burdens and have us be dependent on Him. It's like a father who desires his baby girl to ask him to help her tie her shoe or put a band-aid over her cut. God is the same way, He sits and waits for us to call out to Him for aid. And He promises to deliver and give peace, comfort, and contentment. 

When this concept of submission was presented to me about six months ago, I was just saved and was struggling with submitting all the other areas to God. I was in such torment. Yes, God had my soul, finally, but now the Holy Spirit was convicting me of my choices, lifestyle, and behavior. Why was I clinging to things that were so bad for me? Because I was feeding the craving of the flesh. I will be the first to admit that I still struggle with kicking the cravings of the flesh, but I can look back in the past six months and see how I have been starving that craving and replacing it with spiritual fruits, and the craving for those spiritual fruits are becoming more and more while the cravings of the flesh are becoming less and less. God is always good because He can't be anything but good. He is in control and when we submit to Him, He will give us strength to kick those fleshly cravings. 

Benefits of Beans

Have you ever stopped and considered the nutritional value of something before you shoved it into your mouth? Have you thought about the digestive process that occurs the moment you start chewing? Many foods that we consume present issues with good nutritional value but also can be high in cholesterol, fats, and sugars. This can be a problem when someone is trying to cut back in a certain area. You may be struggling with finding foods that have both high nutritional value and low in cholesterol, fats, and sugars. The search is over because there is a food out there, and it is the magical, powerful little bean! Beans are a powerhouse of goodness that have several benefits.

The first major benefit of beans is that it is a good source of insoluble and soluble fiber. Why is this so important? Insoluble fiber acts as a broom that sweeps clean the intestines. Other examples of insoluble fiber include broccoli, celery, lima beans, and carrots. If the vegetable resembles a root or has a rough exterior, it is insoluble fiber because it cannot be dissolved in water. Soluble fiber acts as a sponge and absorbs items form the intestines. Other examples of soluble fiber include oatmeal, whole wheat, and barley. So why are beans a good source of both insoluble and soluble fiber? The skin or casing of the bean consists of insoluble fiber, which acts as a broom; the inside of the bean is soft and is easily absorbed in water which acts as sponge and is the source of soluble fiber. Fiber is extremely important for a well-balanced diet. Fiber is what pushes the excess digested matter out of the body. Whatever goes into the body must come out, and fiber is the source of that happening smoothly and most healthfully.

A second benefit of beans is that aids in lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL). Cholesterol is a scary word these days and often is frowned upon when talked about. As you read, there are two types of cholesterol-good and bad. It is important to "feed" the good and "starve" the bad. Most medical establishments focus in cutting out foods that are high in cholesterol. The most common and well-known food is eggs. Doctors then prescribe medications to lower LDL levels. So, let me get this straight, people would rather pay for regular doctor appointments as well as a regimen of synthetic materials that supposedly lowers cholesterol but also damages the body's organs in the process. That seems rather ridiculous! Why don't you just cut out high fats and sugars and eat beans! Look at how easy that was! It will also save your budget.

So why are beans so important in lowering and preventing bad (LDL) cholesterol? First of all, we must understand how cholesterol is produced and how to avoid high levels of production.

Your adrenal glands are wonderful. The adrenal glands produce adrenaline that boosts your energy so you can climb out of bed in the morning, walk up the stairs, as well as a whole slew of activities. Adrenaline is also used in cases of emergency, when you feel a sense of danger and need to protect yourself or run away. This is where cholesterol comes into the scene. When you feel a sense of surge of energy, either through feeling in danger, becoming angry, or intense excitement, adrenaline is produced-a lot of adrenaline is produced because your body is gearing up to take action in some way. For example, let's look at this in two ways, the incorrect way and correct way. The incorrect way of producing excessive adrenaline is by becoming intensely angry. When a person becomes angry he either holds it in or blows his top. All that adrenaline quickly produced has to go somewhere because the body is expecting him to run or jump into action. However, he doesn't, he sits and fums and either becomes settled down or more angry. Because the body didn't use that extra adrenaline it turns into cholesterol and that gets stored in any area of the body it can find. Yikes! The correct way to utilize excessive adrenaline is by taking action. The action doesn't have to be extensive, just do something. Go for a walk, a run, vacuum the house, walk up and down the stairs. It doesn't matter what you do, just get rid of all that excess adrenaline so that it doesn't turn into bad cholesterol and get stored and compacted into your veins. 

When this was presented to me by my nutritionist, it was like a huge spotlight was turned on over my head. I never realized how something like adrenaline could be so helpful when used correctly but so harmful when not used correctly. Adrenaline is not just triggered by anger and fear but can also be triggered by stress, sugar, and caffeine. So the next time you grab that bottle of pop, ask yourself, "is this worth beating my adrenaline system up and producing cholesterol?" Instead of grabbing that pop or raiding the vending machine, grab a few spoonfuls of beans. It will give you that quick energy buzz you need but will also protect your adrenaline system, combat against cholesterol, and sustain your energy needs longer than a snickers bar and a coke.        

A third benefit is the protection from heart disease. As we look at this third benefit, we will focus more on the concept of weight gain and it's negative impact on heart disease. Weight gain is a growing pattern in America. Today, 35.7% of American adults are obese. This is following with a 17% of our adolescent children becoming obese. Studies show that children who are obese will struggle with obesity throughout adulthood and will be at high risk for major diseases, including but not limited to, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Other problems associated with obesity can include joint problems (arthritis), bone replacements, and sleep apnea. (There are several other diseases and complications associated with obesity. Please refer to www.cdc.gov/obesity for more information.)

So how does excessive weight gain and obesity lead to heart disease, and how do beans have anything to do with that? First of all, excessive weight on the body causes stress on the skeletal frame and internal productivity. Once a fat cell is produced it will never die. This is why individuals who have gained weight struggle with keeping it off once it is lost. It is easy to get those fat cells packed again. Fat cells have to go somewhere and so they congregate anywhere and everywhere, especially around organs. This includes the heart. A healthy adult heart beats an average of 60-80 beats per minute, while a heart of an obese individual beats approximately 100 plus beats per minute. This excessive amount causes intense stress on the heart. Because so much fat is weighing down on the organs, the heart has to pump harder to get the blood to all the places it needs to get to in order to provide adequate nutrients delivered throughout the body. (Although there are several other causes for heart disease, I will only discuss that of obesity for today.)

We talked about how beans clean out your body by latching to bile and removing it from your body. With that in mind, because beans pull that bile out of your system, your organs can run more effectively and efficiently. How does this contribute to weight loss? Beans clean you out. Plain and simple. It's not some complex equation or a series of steps to get the answer. All you have to do is eat those beans, regularly, and the body will take care of itself. Pretty cool, right? From my personal experience, I consumed a 1/2 cup of beans four times a day and lost approximately 30 pounds. Of course, I cut out those bad fats, sugars, and even dairy. Another example (for privacy of that individual, I will not share his name) an individual has shared with me that he has lost 15 pounds doing the same thing! It really works. If it didn't, I wouldn't be such a strong believer in the magical, powerful little bean.

Remember, the body is like a machine and if we put the correct foods inside of it, it will run efficiently and effectively. Take care of your body, you only get one. 

Enduring the valleys

Endurance. A word that symbolizes strength and character, but what does it mean? As defined by dictionary.com, endurance is the ability to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions. So many examples of endurance have been presented throughout our lifetime, but have we really taken a step back and thought about true endurance? Endurance is more than a runner finishing a marathon; it is more than a growing tree bearing the weight of a harsh winter. Endurance is equivalent to persistence. Endurance is that of a river carving out a canyon. It never rests; it is always flowing at a steady pace. Think about it, the endurance of that river molds and shapes that rock, though as hard as it can be, over time, that river is able to mold and shape that rock in the way the water flows. The water influences that rock and defines what that rock will look like. The rock is strong, but strength is defeated here by the endurance of the water.

So what does endurance have to do with me? Why did I chose to focus on endurance versus strength? How is this beneficial to my life? With every mountain top there is a valley. With every valley there is usually a source of water. That very source of water has shaped and molded the base of that mountain and ultimately defines it. Something so small has such an impact on something so big. 

Spiritual endurance has the same effect. The valley defines your mountain. People refer to moments in your life as either mountain top experiences or valleys. The mountain top experiences are those that involve the exciting, flashy moments. You're on fire for the Lord, and it seems like nothing can touch you. Nothing can go wrong. Valleys are quite the opposite. Those are the low points; the times when you feel abandoned, discouraged, and unable to get out of the rut. Those are the moments that define you and your endurance. You can't have mountain tops without valleys; they go together. The valleys are when the endurance of faith comes into effect. It's so easy to love God, be on fire for him, and praise his goodness when everything goes right. But what do you do when the ball drops? How do you respond when hurt happens that seems more than you can bear? What actions do you take when you think your dreams have been snatched away? How deep is your endurance in the Lord during this time? How will your endurance shape your valley? 

Psalm 55:22 states that you must cast your cares on the Lord because he will sustain you and never allow you to be moved. Christ is the only source of your endurance. He is what gets you through those valleys because he promises to never let you be moved. He is what keeps you going; he is what defines you, if you allow him to take control of your life. 

Valleys are just as much part of life as the mountain tops. Discouragement, disappointment, hurt, anger, and sadness will come but faith and strength in the Lord is the only way to endure these hardships to reach that mountain top again. How will you let your mountain be defined? Is the Lord your source of endurance, or is your own strength the source? 

Battle of the brains

Migraine headaches are extremely debilitating. They can take an on-the-go, get-it-done type of person and imprison him to a life stuck in bed in a dark room unable to seek relief. What causes migraines? How can relief be attained? I have battled migraine headaches since I was 13 years old. From November 2012 to currently, I have been migraine free after a 10 year battle. I have tried everything. I used home remedies, sought doctors' advice, used multiple medications, and cut out certain foods. So is there relief? No worries, migraine-relief seekers, there is relief!

Migraine headaches can begin in two different ways, either a constriction of the blood vessels or a dilation of the blood vessels. Picture the composition of a wine bottle; it has a wide base which narrows to the opening. That is what is occurring in the blood vessels in the brain. The blood vessels are their normal size and something triggers the constriction; when this constriction occurs, the rushing blood cells are forced to squeeze through a small opening and those cells bang on the vessel wall. That sharp, throbbing pain that pulsates through your head is caused by the this constricting of the blood vessels. The other way a migraine can begin is when the blood vessels dilate. Although there is no banging of the cells along the vessel wall, pain is still very evident due to the blood vessels expanding abnormally. Symptoms of sharp, cutting pain, sensitivity to light and smells  is extremely common.

So how do you find relief? Aren't we just supposed to pop a pill and it will fix everything? Let me ask, how's that working out for you? Pill popping for migraines is one of the worst ways to treat migraines. Yes, you read it correctly, taking medications, including over-the-counter, is one of the worst ways to treat a migraine. You might respond, "but my migraine goes away." Does it return? Do the symptoms seem to worsen so you have to increase the amount taken to get the same level of relief? Let me explain to you how your body responds when you pop a pill for a migraine. There is nothing natural about a Tylenol or any other pain medication. When you ingest this synthetic product, the stomach immediately begins to break this down, and those broken down elements are dispersed throughout the body. Pretty normal process, however; all your systems have to react to this new element that has arrived. Hormones are secreted from the adrenal system as well as other systems to regulate the break-down and distribution of these foreign elements. These actions are taking away from the body doing what it's supposed to do-to heal you. Now that the body has regulated all these foreign objects, you are able to start to feel some relief. Finally! Or did you just make things worse? Because you wanted such instant relief, you took that pain medication, so therefore your body became distracted from correcting the issue of the migraine from the source. Once that pain medication and all its elements have been used up, the systems spike again causing the migraine to return and usually with intensified symptoms.

I couldn't begin to tell you how many different types of medications I have been on for my migraines. The most recent medications I was on included the following: muscle relaxer, sleep aid, and anti-seizure. I was prescribed at least twice two different anti-depressant medications which I didn't pursue. The above three were prescribed a year ago this summer, but I have been on and off medications since I was 13 years old. I had to come off of those medications, prescribed to me over the summer, because it negatively responded to my body and I was unable to perform daily functions as well as affecting neurological and cognitive responses.

How else can you gain relief from a migraine headache? When the blood vessels are constricted, they need heat to expand. This can be accomplished by drinking hot water or taking a hot shower. I would, however, recommend with the hot shower that you don't stay in the shower too long because you may become light-headed and faint. When the blood vessels are dilated, you need cold to bring them back to normal size. You can either drink cold water or take a cool shower. If you can't tolerate a cool shower, place a cold, wet washcloth behind your neck. A bag of ice would be too much and may cause shock to your system and intensify the migraine. There are also pressure points on the back of your neck, the palms of your hands, and soles of your feet that help control and decrease the pain of migraine headaches. I would recommend a professional to administer these massages to ensure that you do not become nauseated and sick. 

If you're like me, you've tried all of these and still nothing seems to relieve the pain, nausea, and sensitivity to lights, sounds, and smells. So what really works? Food. Food can be your worse enemy or best friend. So how do you know? Because every person is different and created by God, not every "prescription" is for every individual. However, there are a few foods that are migraine triggers and should be avoided by all if you battle with migraines. These foods include high fructose corn syrup (its composition is actually that of table sugar), table sugar, honey, milk and dairy products, caffeine (includes decaffeinated products), and even processed foods due to the increased amounts of sodium and sugars. Yes, it is quite a list, but I promise you, if you're serious about seeking relief from those chronic migraines, this is your starting place. I have been migraine free for 6 months and have not ingested these foods for 10 months. You need to get your body cleaned out, and starting with eliminating these foods, will help accomplish that.

In my situation, my chronic migraine headaches were a warning sign of other intense internal issues. I'm not stating that all migraine headaches are warning lights to other internal issues, but it is important to be aware of that possibility. Besides cutting out all the above foods, I also cut out whole grain products because of how much sugar is produced from those whole grains during the digesting process. Please remember that my diet is under supervision from my nutritionist, Karen Hurd; I do not advise drastic diet changes without consulting a registered nutritionist. Along with changing my diet, I also included legumes and lots of them. If you read the post, "A bean for your thoughts" you know I am believer of the bean. I will not repeat myself here but keep in my mind that beans help in so many areas. Beans especially aid in cleaning out your body and regulating your systems, this includes regulating your blood-sugar level which has a direct affect on migraine headaches.

Relief from chronic migraines is out there, but it's not a quick fix; it takes sacrifice, discipline, and lots of patience. 
    

Depression: a three part concept

The body is more than just flesh and bones. It is comprised of complex emotions, a will to persevere, and a soul that longs for answers. A body is a three part concept that involves the physical, emotional, and spiritual. When your body is sick, you do everything you can to get relief. When your heart hurts, you seek reconciliation. And when you are overtaken in spiritual warfare you pursue counsel. Laid out, it appears that these are three separate entities; however, each one is intertwined with the other. Therefore, when one part hurts, they all hurt. So why would you just focus on the physical when your body is sick? Why would you ignore the physical and spiritual when the heart aches? Why would you dismiss the idea that a spiritual battle could penetrate and destroy emotional stability and physical strength?

Depression is very real and it's effects on the body are very real. No one seems to raise on eyebrow on that statement. The controversy arises when we define the source of depression. Some say it is completely a chemical hormonal imbalance. Others argue that it is caused from emotional stress, while others staunchly believe it is all from spiritual issues and lack of trust in God. Who is right? Answer this for me, if depression can be fixed by popping a pill every morning, then why are people on it for ten, twenty, or thirty plus years? Aren't medications supposed to fix the problem? A second question, if depression is simply caused by emotional stress and a diagnosis of regular counseling sessions are prescribed, then why does that individual continue to suffer with physical pain and evident physical limitations and impairments? Last question, if someone just needs to increase his trust in the Lord to cure his depression, who has the right to judge, mediate, and weigh another person's level of trust?

Just as the health of the body doesn't involve one source, neither is depression caused by one source. Depression involves the entire body-physical, emotional, and spiritual. So, how do we treat something that is comprised of three drastically different concepts? Does a pill fix spiritual? Does counseling fix the physical? Does increasing one's trust in the Lord fix emotional stress and abuse? When we ask those questions, the answer is pretty obvious; no, it's not a cure all or a fix it quick remedy. All three aspects of the body must be involved in the healing, maintaining, and preventing depression.

Let's start with the physical body. Your physical body is a miraculous machine; it runs more efficiently than any man-made machine, stores more information than a super computer, and each part communicates with each other instantaneously. Just like a well run machine must be maintained, so the body must be maintained. How you care for your body will determine the efficiency of its output. The body is fueled by food-the right kinds of food. You wouldn't put regular gasoline in a diesel run truck, so why would you put the wrong food in your body? I'm talking about all those man-made processed foods, the Pizza Rolls, Hot Pockets, Lean Cuisine, Kashi, and the list could continue. Even the health conscious frozen meals and snacks are loaded with sodium for preservation. And if the brand advertises low fat, I guarantee you it will be loaded with sugar to compensate taste for the low fat content. All these products are enhanced, fortified, and modified. There is nothing natural about these foods. Many foods have had increased hormones added to increase the body mass of the animal so that retailers can sell more. When you ingest these foods it messes with the natural composition of your body which leads to chemical imbalances, such as increased or decreased hormone production, insulin, and even white and red blood cell production (to name a few). When your body is not working right it will lead to system problems which will lead to signs of depression. I guarantee you this.

Because the body is ingesting the wrong types of foods, systems are suffering, production is inadequate, and mutations have a high probability of occurring (source of cancer cells). The chemical imbalances eventually lead to emotional instability. You may not be able to see any physical signs of depression, but emotionally you can't handle the everyday tasks; getting the milk out of the fridge becomes more and more difficult, going grocery shopping seems like a daunting task, and exhaustion overtakes you in an instant. You don't understand why such medial tasks seem so overwhelming; frustration begins to build, and your emotional stability begins to become a house of cards. Not only does emotional instability affect you but also everyone around you. From my personal experience, I struggled with comprehending what people were telling me. I could sit there and listen to someone tell me a one sentence statement, a joke, a story, or his entire day, get up from that conversation and have no idea what we just talked about. When the inside isn't working right, it will be revealed through your cognitive responses.   

Spiritual is a special concept because not everyone agrees on the same philosophy. I believe that God is the creator of this world and His Son, Jesus Christ, died to save every person's wicked soul so we can live eternally with Him after we die; while those who reject His love will live eternally in hell. This takes faith, faith is the substance of things hoped for, not the evidence of things seen. When we are not eating correctly, our emotional stability is compromised; when our emotional stability is compromised, our mental defenses become weakened. Why is this such a cause for concern? When our body isn't healthy, our mind won't be healthy, and Satan will have opportunities to discourage us through circumstances. You have already helped him out with that process because you have put yourself into a state of emotional instability due to lack of nutrient dense foods. When Satan gets a foothold, he can wiggle his way into your mind and weaken you even more. Becoming spiritually sick is extremely dangerous and Satan can use discouragement, overwhelming situations, and even the lack of knowledge of depression and its treatments against you.

Am I stating that depression is cause for all spiritual warfare and discouragement? Absolutely not. Am I saying that all emotional instability leads to depression? No. Does all depression cause physical ailments and limitations. No, it does not. But depression is very real and its treatment is possible-naturally. The body isn't just chemicals and hormones, neither is it emotional and spiritual; but a concept of all three, working together to perform and maintain a healthy body.