You Are What You Eat

The phrase, "you are what you eat," has been around forever. But children have not been around forever, nor have I. So each generation has to learn and re-learn certain truths. Using a Hebraic method of interpretation, let's explore the word "eat." The simple understanding is to consume food via one's mouth and digestive system. This is a meaningful way to interpret the phrase, "you are what you eat.' The food we eat is important to our physical well-being, which also affects other aspects of our lives. I know for a fact that if I eat refined sugar, I feel tired and will eventually gain unwanted pounds. However, if I eat sensible amounts of protein, fruits, and vegetables, I have plenty of energy and will maintain a healthy weight. Simple explanation.

The second level means a hint of something a bit deeper. If the food I eat has been grown organically in good soil, then it should provide my body with the appropriate nutrients for sustenance and energy. However, if the fruits and vegetables have been sprayed with chemical poisons or the animals have been given hormones and antibiotics, my body will incorporate these and the outcome may not be as positive. Natural as well as processed and treated foods may contain the same proteins, carbohydrates, and fats but their effects can vary in some unseen ways. My oldest grandson has learned to read labels. One of the worst things for him to discover is high fructose corn syrup. He will not knowingly let this substance pass his lips! Reading labels gives us a hint of the quality of food we are consuming. It may look good and taste good, but a little investigation will reveal more of the truth.

Next is the conceptual meaning of the phrase. Let's explore the word "eat." While eating is usually associated with food, let's consider anything we consume that affects the way we are able to function. Physical food causes us to grow and stay alive. What about mental food? Some examples are what we read, the websites we visit, the movies and television programs we watch, and the people we are around. The thoughts and ideas we ingest from these sources also affect what we know and believe to be true. As a result, what we think and believe affects what we say and do. The same concept applies to our spiritual health. A steady diet of wholesome, quality time spent reading the Bible and sitting at the feet of good teachers will result in a vibrant yet, peaceful spirit.

The fourth level is a hidden meaning and often difficult to ascertain. The state of being human carries some hidden characteristics not easily understood. We have a physical body that eventually dies. We also have a mind that is controlled by a physical brain. The brain can be seen and dissected but what about thoughts, memories, understanding and reasoning? What about the soul? How is it formed? Does it grow and change? Obviously, there are some things Nana knows and some things about which Nana is clueless!

In summary, we are what we eat, especially over time. Just like eating one candy bar won't cause me to gain 10 pounds, neither will watching one evil movie cause me to become a serial killer. It's the diet I consume day in and day out, year after year, that determines the status of my health. This matters to me physically because I want to be able to enjoy life and move about freely and energetically for as long as I live. It matters mentally because I want to think clearly and rationally and be able to contribute to the world and especially to my grandchildren's world. It really matters to me spiritually because this affects how I live today and where I will spend eternity.

Israel is one of my favorite places on earth. I spent time there consuming physical, mental, and spiritual food. This food has become part of who I am forever. The same goes for the time I spend in other places - some I want to become a part of me and some I don't. The next time I tell my grandchildren, "you are what you eat," we will discuss more than the food on their plate.