What? Another blog?

There are certain technological fads I tend to steer myself away from... for example, twitter and blogging. Yet, here I am despite my anti-blogging convictions.


During my undergrad at Samford, I've had just about every nutrition question thrown at me from friends, roommates, acquaintances, and complete strangers. When people find out you are majoring in Nutrition, you become an involuntary contestant on a sort of trivia game show. I do not want to appear as though I despise answering questions about nutrition, because the very fact I'm creating this blog is to do that very thing. I love everything about nutrition and have a passion for teaching others. The part of answering questions that tends to be frustrating is not the person asking it, but the vast amount of misconceptions caused by an abundance of false information in the media, internet, books, and magazines. For example, try typing "calcium" into any search engine online... you will get 5,000,000 or more websites that list very different information about the same topic. One website will say "taking a calcium supplement will protect your heart and lower blood pressure (1)" and the next will say "calcium supplements cause heart attacks (2)." How do you choose what is right? Who is the author? Did you know that anyone can claim to be a nutritionist? There are websites now that allow anyone to pay a fee and receive a certificate in the mail stating they are a "certified nutritionist" or "certified nutrition coach" with little to no training. Anyone can claim to be an expert. This is why there is so much confusion.


So why am I writing a blog?


I am just a grad student... I am in no way claiming to be an expert in nutrition. But the amazing thing about being a student is that I'm in the center of a hub of the latest information and I'm surrounded by experts in my field. I absolutely love learning. It's my passion. I want to create a way for others to find accurate nutrition information that is backed up by scholarly research and agreed upon by experts in the field. But even then, what is the point? The last thing we need is to create one more website amongst thousands for nutrition advice. This is not what I'm wanting to do. I want to go deeper than that.


Friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers, there is more to life than being healthy, fit, and financially secure. To be healthy goes far beyond our physical body. It permeates our flesh and bones right through to our soul. We were designed to be creatures of worship and we are always worshipping something. The question is: what are you worshipping?


It says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." In context, this scripture is talking about sins committed against the body. Regardless, the point being stressed is that the blood Jesus shed on the cross caused a transformation in all of man-kind... we are now His temple. His place to reside. We are his house. Yet, this exchange came with a price. Now, we are no longer responsible to ourselves but responsible to God for the condition of our "house." Note that I said our house, because those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord have entered into a relationship that Song of Solomon describes as a marriage. I am recently married as of 3 1/2 months ago to an amazing man. I looooove marriage and everything that comes with it! One thing about marriage is that I moved in with my husband, and now everything that I've ever had belongs to him as well. After 22 years of living in independence, I must share everything equally with him. This life-change comes with the amazing feeling of deep intimacy and, at times, the display of deep selfishness. The picture of marriage is so perfect to describe how we, as believers, must surrender our entire lives to Christ if we want to have real intimacy with Him. Surrender is the most beautiful display of worship to the Lord because it reveals the deep cry of our heart to be close to Him. That is what He wants... to be with us (John 17:24).


Eating is an act of worship. God created food for our enjoyment and to display His creativity! It is ok to really enjoy food! God did not create food to be worshipped, but to inspire us to worship HIM. If our bodies are His temple, we should desire to make His temple beautiful and healthy. By beautiful, I am describing the Lord's definition and not worldly, passing beauty. His beauty is from the inside-out... we feel loved, we love ourselves. From that place, we will desire to keep ourselves healthy, free from disease, and holy.



This is why I am starting a blog. I want to provide accurate, practical nutrition information that can equip others with the tools they need to keep their temple healthy in a way that points directly to Jesus. If you have any questions relating to nutrition, please ask! I will do my best to update this blog weekly using the input of Dietitians and my peers, as well as answering any questions you may have.  


- Jamie










References:
1. http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitamins/calcium.html
2. http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Risks-outweigh-benefits-for-calcium-supplements-Meta-analysis