The most important organ in the body is not the heart, liver, or kidneys, it is the mind. A heart at peace gives life to the body and strength to the bones (see Proverbs 3).
Our desires are all messed up. If we truly loved what was good, doing what is right wouldn’t even seem like a choice. It would just seem like the thing we most wanted to do. We’d just do what was right because we’d love what is good—seek what is good—and desire nothing more than intimacy with the one who is perfectly good.
Because our good desires are not strong enough, we often behave in ways that we wish we wouldn't. None of us are as kind, honest and as brave as we'd like to be. We like to think we are in control, but we are not even in control of ourselves. But with God's help, we can begin to gain control of ourselves and begin to be set free from sin.
“A free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse. There lies freedom indeed.” ~ George MacDonald.
It can be hard to do what we know we know we ought. It can be hard to obey the God who tells us to love, forgive, and be fair minded toward obnoxious people. It will feel like we are going against the grain; but if we are to be free of all the evil that enslaves us, we must. We must die to live. We must trust the one who is far better than we are.
“To do what we are told is a far grander thing than to lay the severest rules upon ourselves—ay, and to stick to them too!” (p. 187, Donal Grant by George MacDonald, 1824-1905)
God asks us to do things for our sakes, not for his. He asks us to trust him because he loves us and knows what is best for us. He wants us to obey him so we can come to see just how good the good is, and in the process become more like him. He wants us to enjoy intimacy with him. The more you enjoy being with someone, and the more you can be with that someone, the freer you will be. I want to enjoy God. There is no greater freedom than being intimate with God. See here.
That is why I pray and seek to do what Jesus asks of me. (No one else is worthy of my absolute trust and obedience. See here).
The hardest discipline—but the most important—is the discipline of prayer.
Such a suggestion may seem silly to you, but if you take up the challenge and read this small book on prayer by George MacDonald (which is an extract from Unspoken Sermons), and begin to pray, you will be richly rewarded. The following sample is available on Amazon.
Prayer: Three "Unspoken Sermons" by the man who inspired C S Lewis (For why you ought to pray see The Way.)
But does this mean that if I pray, I can eat rubbish and get barely any sleep and I’ll be ok? If I have no choice in the matter, I must make the most of it, but if I have a choice, and I abuse my body, I’m foolish. Because none of us always does what we know we ought to do (i.e., we are weak), we need all the help we can get.
Because I know that I am not what I ought to be—I'm not like Jesus—I can be easily tempted. I must pray and put my best effort into seeking and doing that which is good. And because I'm the kind of person who can be tempted to sin when I'm worn down, I must also look after my health. (I also don't want to be a burden to other people when I'm older.) This is why I also try to eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, and practice intermittent fasting (with the occasional longer fast).
The World’s No.1 Sleep Expert: The 6 Sleep Hacks You NEED! - Matthew Walker
What happens when you don't get enough sleep? See here.
Can you oversleep? See Dr. Gina Poe: Use Sleep to Enhance Learning, Memory & Emotional State | Huberman Lab Podcast
So, when I get home from work I try not to sit down and watch TV. I do what I have to do as quick as I can. If I procrastinate—if I waste time—I’ll eat rubbish and get to bed late, and before I know it, I’m in a downward spiral.
What we eat matters.
If you suffer from joint pain, kidney problems or gout, you will probably find the following video helpful.
I Ate 100 TBSP Of BUTTER In 10 Days: Here Is What Happened To My BLOOD
The Food That is More DEADLY Than Sugar
I also try to put as little stress as possible on my kidneys and liver, and eat foods which help maintain the health of these organs. If they are healthy, I should be healthy (see High Protein Diets & Kidney Function and Decrease Urine Protein and preserve kidney function).
See also 40 Year Vegan Dies of a Heart Attack! The Omega-3 and B12 Myth with Dr. Michael Greger.
One of the most important things I can do in regards to eating the right foods in the right amounts is simply to ask myself this question before mealtime, "Am I hungry?" Sometimes, when I'm not hungry, I'll skip a meal, or I'll just have a very small amount of protein, carbohydrate, and fat, with some vegetables, and if possible, some sprouts. If I am hungry, I'll eat till I'm satisfied. (I also try not to eat between fixed times.)
The quality of the food is often more important than the quantity. When we eat foods that are mineral or vitamin deficient, we will tend to overeat in an attempt to gain the minerals or vitamins we are lacking. One of the best foods for trace minerals are seafoods which I try to eat at least a few times every week (bone broth is also good). I try to eat organic fruit as it doesn't taste like wood, and I also use supplements sparingly and only in the morning as it gives my body to adjust before going to sleep.
Because there’s so much concern about fasting, I highly recommend you watch these videos about fasting.
Fasting: Don't Make this Critical Mistake | Jason Fung
Science of Intermittent Fasting (2022) | Jason Fung
Dr Jason Fung on Diabetic Kidney Disease
New Fasting Study! THIS Length Eating Window is Best
Exercise while Fasting - How to time your workouts with fasting
If you wish to be reasonably healthy and not be completely dependant on others in your old age, I strongly recommend the book Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia (particularly chapters 10 to 14 about the kinds of exercises one should do to reduce problems later in life).
Why is walking or a slow jog or slow bike ride (zone 2) so important as you age? And how intense should such exercise be?
I don't have a lot of time for exercise, so I aim to do zone 2 exercise 3 or 4 times a week, VO2 max training once a week, and some strength exercise (such as the one below, which I try to do five times a week).
Since I don't have much time (like most people) I like to do exercises that are simple and quick (like the ones recommended in the following video, see Exercises that prevent 90% of problems. See also Improve Flexibility with Research-Supported Stretching Protocols | Huberman Lab Podcast #76 and The Most Potent FLEXIBILITY Routine for your legs ).
Now it’s often not possible to do all the things I'd like to do to improve or maintain my health, but even so, I can still do God’s will (see here). No matter how tired or sick I can focus on how good Jesus is and ask him to help me to become like him. No matter how I feel, I can choose to do what God asks me to do. (My spiritual disciplines are simple. I say the Lord’s prayer first thing every morning and before going to bed at night. I also read one chapter from the Bible every morning and try to pray throughout the day. But as important as these things are, they are not as important as simply doing what God asks me to.)
Regarding health, the following are also things which I found helpful (or interesting).*
Oral Bacteria And Your Health - with Dr. Mark Burhenne | The Empowering Neurologist EP. 162
Why Magnesium for Sleep is Bad (Sometimes. See Magnesium - Perfected Health Podcast #10 with Victor Cozzetto)
A note on magnesium: If you take it, take it in the form of magnesium glycinate, in the form of a powder so you can adjust the dose and find the sweet spot for you. See Magnesium & Kidney Disease: What you should know! Also take it in the morning so your body has time to correct imbalances before it is time to sleep (this is a good idea when taking any vitamins or minerals).
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
Copper Toxicity: This Mineral Is Why You Have Constant Anxiety & Chronic Fatigue
Why Fixing the Gut is the Key to Healing Chronic Disease
The Probiotic Diet: Improve Digestion, Boost Your Brain Health, and Supercharge Your Immune System by Dr. Jordan Rubin, Josh Axe, Joseph Brasco
Monash University on Better Blends
Top 10 Foods You Should NEVER Eat Again!
Home made magnesium cream for muscle relaxation, See also.
Real Answers for Better Sleep | Fix Insomnia Naturally
What about lectins?
Since the gut microbiome seems to be far more important than lectins (see Are Lectins in Food Good or Bad for You?) and yet there is an argument for reducing lectins (see The Truth About Lectins)—when I have large quantities of food which are high in lectins, I'll try to pressure cook them.
* I will add videos or articles if I think they are important.