Your lifestyle and lifespan

pharmacy

You may not know it, but there is a powerful link between your lifestyle and your ultimate lifespan. While an undergraduate, I moved with some peers who were smokers and alcoholics. I admired them and consequently started trying their vices. Expectedly, I grew with these habits, not fully understanding the implication on my health, even as a pharmacist.

One day, in 1978, I smoked my pipe while returning from my office in Apapa to Maryland in my air conditioned car, in a traffic jam. When I got to the house and tried to come out of the car, I staggered and nearly fell headlong. I had inhaled a high dose of nicotine and other poisons contained in the tobacco. That moment, I decided to give up smoking and asked my wife to destroy my pipes and tins of Erinmore and St. Bruno tobacco packed in our wardrobe.

Sometimes, I am tempted to regret that I did not join the Scripture Union (SU) or the Students Christian Movement (SCM) while in the university. I might have started earlier to re-shape my life.

We do many things out of ignorance. This is why the Bible says in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Today, many people are sick, with some dying prematurely because of their ignorance of the deleterious effects of certain foods they eat and their lifestyles. Christians, in particular, are familiar with spiritual laws and God’s promises for good health but ignorant of the natural laws that will ensure good physical health. If I had continued with the habit of smoking and drinking, it is obvious that I might not be enjoying as much good health as I am today.

At a meeting of the Haggai Institute in 2011, my friend and professional colleague, ‘Lere Baale, gave me a book titled, “The Hallelujah Diet” written by Rev. George Malkmus. Hallelujah diet basically comprises fresh fruits, seeds, nuts and vegetables – all plant-based – and described as living foods. Using himself as a case study, Malkmus demonstrated that chronic diseases in his body that defied all orthodox medical treatments gradually disappeared when he strictly maintained this diet. He believed that with proper elimination of toxins and taking in of clean air, clean water, moderate sunlight, exercise, rest, and raw living foods, we should enjoy good health.

“Hallelujah Diet” classifies the following as dead foods, which bring diseases to the body: all animal flesh foods, dairy products, refined table salt, sugar, white flour, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine etc. The ultimate results of eating dead foods are slower metabolic function, digestive problems, constipation, formation of diseases, low vitality, loss of quality of life, loss of spiritual and mental clarity, early death etc. In general, the living foods are cell-building while the dead foods are cell-destroying.

Sometime ago, I bought another book by the same author, Rev. George H. Malkmus, titled, “Why Christians Get Sick.” According to him, the Bible gives only three reasons for sickness. First, for the glory of God (John 9: 1-3). Here we read of a man who was born blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked: “Who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, “Neither hath this man sinned, norhis parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Second, because of unconfessed sin. “That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgement upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died (1 Corinthians 11:28-30). Third, the violation of God’s natural laws. “Don’t you realise that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”(1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

The Bible teaches that the Christian’s body is not his own. It belongs to God. If a Christian fails to care properly for his body, God will destroy that body. When we continually eat those things that defile our bodies, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the result is sickness and death.

George Malkmus attributes over 90 per cent of all sicknesses and physical suffering being experienced today to violation of natural laws of God.

One major violation of God’s natural laws is sugar consumption. Many people do not know the havoc sugar causes in the body. Glucose, fructose, and sucrose are naturally occurring sugars found in raw fruits, vegetables, and honey. Sucrose is made up of equal amounts of glucose and fructose. Fructose is slowly converted to glucose, which is a simple sugar that is quickly released into the bloodstream.

Sugar is toxic and addictive. Heavy consumers of sugar develop tolerance (needing more and more to have the same effect). Common long-term effects of sugar addiction include fatigue, pain, obesity, mental maladies, weakened immune system, chronic fatigue, hormonal and gastrointestinal problems.

Excess sugar in diet increases the overall risk of heart disease. It promotes belly fat. There is increasing rate of obesity because of excess sugar consumption.