What Feeding Our Family Real Food Taught Us About Healing
My body seemed to “shut down” in my 20’s, out of nowhere. I’m talking about menopausal estrogen levels, no cycle for two years, depleted, depressed, losing hair, and totally confused by it all. I couldn’t get answers from anyone in the medical field. But I did get a prescription for some estrogen. Thanks?
By God’s kindness, He used someone to get to the root cause– without them really seeking to “fix” me, because he was talking to a GROUP of people. Long story short, a medical professional gave a lecture on the HPA-axis (the body’s stress response system, which directly involves the endocrine system/hormones) and what that looks like when it’s all “out of whack” (medical lingo).
He was talking to a group, yet he named all of my symptoms. I sat there in awe and teary-eyed, wondering if the Lord might provide help through this man’s wisdom. In short, he shared all of this to lay the groundwork for a health challenge. He guided the group through a Whole 30 nutrition challenge, which I happily agreed to do. That just meant I ate nothing but whole foods, no grains, sugar, or dairy for 30 days.
And guess what? A couple of months later, I got my cycle back. I felt better. Estrogen levels returned to normal. Life changed, and since then, I’ve grown in my understanding of nutrition and supplementation. In short, this experience made me a believer in the power of proper nutrition and giving your body the fuel it needs to thrive and heal itself.
This Week's Takeaway
The reason this sits so close to homemaking for me is that running a home requires my body to function! Life is currently very physically demanding with 6 young children, and I'm often the first to wake and the last to go to sleep (well, my husband and I tie for first here). I'm finding more and more that as a homemaker, I need to steward my body as best as I can with the resources God gives me.
But not only that, it’s my job to care for and nurture my family, and part of this is being intentional and thoughtful about what they are putting in their bodies. What I choose to habitually put on the table is either building them up or wearing them down. I am not saying that we eat perfectly over here in the Mefford home (we just had boxed macaroni today as a part of lunch, haha...though it was organic, so...). But generally, most of the time, I seek to give my family real food– and avoid boxes and bags for the most part.
Over recent years, we have focused on this a bit more than we used to. Now, we prioritize whole foods and high quality supplementation to fill in the nutritional gaps and feed our bodies what they need to heal and thrive. And this has completely changed how our sick seasons go (among other things).
One question that my husband asked in this week’s podcast episode is, do your habits reflect your goals? If you take an honest assessment of your nutrition and physical activity (again, with whatever is in your power, I am not talking about debilitating illness), are your habits here going to move you towards becoming the kind of person who will be around and active for your children or grandchildren?
If yes, praise God!
If no, it is not too late to start! I’ve seen countless people, young and old, change the entire trajectory of their lives and well being by taking TINY, intentional steps forward here. So how do you do that? Get specific.
Get clear on what your goals are here and why. Remember, your chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. It’s helpful to remember that doing what we can to steward our bodies is not an end in itself, but is a means to glorify God in this life. It glorifies Him when you fulfill your roles well, and taking care of your body helps you do that.
Consider one habit that you want to start (or stop) to move you towards your goal. Is it doing away with soda? Do that, and replace it with something else you can enjoy. Do you need to get off the couch and start moving? Show up for a five minute workout or walk each day, and gradually increase over time. Are you fueling your body with what it needs? Focus on water intake or high quality supplementation where needed.
Show up. Seek to be consistent, and try not to miss twice where possible. I like to track new habits to keep it visual and help me with accountability. Doing a challenge with a friend or spouse can also help with this.
Remember the old saying: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now.
Onward, my friends. May the Lord grant you wisdom and grace to know where to focus your time and energy here, and to see it as a worthy cause.
A quick note: this is our own experience, not medical advice. Always do your own research and check with your doctor.
