Whatever we ingest we digest, and what we digest either contributes to or robs us of our health. If we start our day with a beverage high in caffeine along with a refined sugar cereal or muffin, we will feel a big surge of energy. Later, we will find ourselves in a slump, out of gas so to speak, and wondering what happened to our happy mood and zippy energy.  

But, if we take time to sit down to a nutritious wholesome breakfast that includes fresh fruit and a source of protein, we can avoid that feeling of crashing and burning. Instead, we’ll feel sure footed and steady as we go. 

        Health and Happiness

The food we eat not only influences our physical wellness, but also our mental wellness too. The relationship that we have with what goes into our mouths should be a good one. Not necessarily just because we like the taste of what we eat, but also because we know how it impacts our bodies by rejuvenating, satisfying, and nourishing them.  

Food shapes our lives literally and figuratively. If everything in our digestive system works correctly, and the food we eat is nutritious, we digest our food well enough for our bodies to absorb the nutrients. A body that absorbs the healthy nutrients will be a healthy body. 

If, on the other hand, we habitually overeat or eat foods that promote inflammation, heartburn and weight gain, our bodies will not benefit from the food and our digestive system will gradually break down and work less efficiently. Just as a healthy body is evident to everyone, so too will an unhealthy body be evident to everyone.  

Food shapes our bodies figuratively as well because we form habits around when and how we eat. 

Do we slump over the newspaper or our phones while eating? Do we eat unconsciously while driving? Do we sit in front of the television or computer and miss savoring the taste of our food? How about standing over the kitchen sink while slurping down a bowl of cold cereal for dinner or a midnight snack? We shovel food in, but how well do we appreciate and pay attention to what goes into our mouths? 

The tradition of sitting around a table with family or friends while enjoying a meal may be more of an anomaly than normal. But, when sitting with family or friends during a meal we receive both nourishment for our bodies and our souls. Being attentive to both food and friends adds to our experience of ingesting food. 

There is a verse in the Psalms that encourages us to taste and see that the Lord is good. I get a taste of God’s goodness every time I sit down and absorb a bit of the Bible. The words  rejuvenate, replenish, nourish and shape my soul. 

Why bother considering what we ingest? Food alone is not the only thing we ingest that shapes our lives. We ingest what we believe and what we believe shapes our lives.