The Beauty of God's Resources

I've been on a quest lately.  For a VERY long time my health has not been great.  Even with steps I've taken to improve my health, the challenge had been great.  My weight is probably the biggest challenge.
A few weeks ago I was watching a report on the 700 Club about how beneficial coconut oil has shown to be with Alzheimers patients.  Afterward the piece the reporter began discussing other benefits of coconut oil. 

That began a research campaign on my part.  The benefits of coconut oil have been widely advertised in recent years.  Studies have proven that, despite years with a very negative reputation as an unhealthy fat, the reports are simply not true.  Even Dr. Oz has had a show about the benefits of coconut oil.

I guess my head has been stuck in the sand.  I hadn't heard much about  of coconut oil.  I had researched olive oil, and that has been my main oil for over a year now.  Since it was the "Biblical" oil, I just assumed it was the best.

I'm just learning that olive oil is wonderful until you cook with it.  Then, it can lose the benefits.  Personally, I still love olive oil.  Add in some yummy spices, it's a great salad dressing or dipping sauce. 

The research seems to be showing that coconut oil is amazing. Doctors seem to be split on whether it is as good as it claims.  It may be that the soybean companies don't like that research is showing that their genetically modified beans are causing more damage than good.  Many doctors still believe that because coconut oil is a saturated fat, all the partakers are going to keel over with a heart attack or a stroke.  Instead, a study of the lives of people in areas where coconuts are plentiful (like the Philippians) and the health and longevity of the people have showed a very different reality.  From my research, heart disease and stroke only appear in inhabitants with a more modern, western (American) diet.

Now, I'm no expert.  I'm just a Christian, homeschooling mama trying to find a way to be healthy without growing broke. I've been to the doctor, trying desperately to get answers.  What have I found?  First, my gall bladder needed removed.   Then, my weight ballooned even more.  I went back to the doc, had blood work.  Nothing.  Then, the tests were repeated a coupled years later. A vitamin D deficiency showed up.  I began supplements.

Believing that I might have developed Celiac (sister diagnosed), I had a comprehensive allergy test run.  The results?  I have mild allergies to timothy grass and cats.  I have moderate allergies to cedar and dairy.
Dairy?  I'm the cheese loving, yogurt eating machine.  I've never liked white milk.  I had to add lots of chocolate during my pregnancies to get the needed calcium.  I never realized or was tested for an allergy before now.
 
So now I'm trying very hard to live dairy- free, limit carbs, and get my health under control.  But, no matter what my diet, I don't lose weight.  I've done the fat-free diet.  I've tried the low-carb lifestyle.  As a Christian, I've been on Daniel fasts, though weight loss was not my goal in those situations.  I spent all last summer and part of fall walking miles and miles every week. No matter, I could never lose more than five pounds.

Despite blood tests that say I'm fine, I believe my thyroid is not working properly.  There's a strong family history of thyroid disorder.  My research into coconut oil is not just about having soft skin or hair, though I enjoy this.  I know that, with thyroid disorder, there is a strong family connection to diabetes.  Auto-immune disorders have developed in many members of my family.
 
My mother has at least three auto-immune disorders.  One sister has thyroid disorder.   My other sister has thyroid disorder, alopecia, and celiac.  Both of my older daughters have type 1 diabetes. 

This broke my heart.  One daughter was difficult. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age thirteen. Her health had been such a major challenge.  The diagnosis of my second daughter last summer with type 1 diabetes (and a thyroid diagnosis just months later) made me realize how truly horrible our health in America has become.  Auto-immune diseases are literally killing my loved ones. 

I'm determined to live a full, healthy life.  God never intended for his people to live continually in poor health.  While I believe in the supernatural healing power of God, I also believe we perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).  So much of our knowledge on health had been adversely affected by eating in ways that God would never recommend.

So, maybe it's time to truly look into His ways and see how we should truly eat.  I expect that eating His way could only positively change our health.

Join me on my journey.