Disclaimer: this blog is not a religious blog. This blog is about food and health. However, I will be testing a fundamental belief of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: the Word of Wisdom.
The Word of Wisdom (W.o.W.) is defined in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 89. It is allegedly an outline from the Lord about how human beings should treat their bodies and offers great promises if followed. This blog isn’t to debate whether or not the scripture is true, the L.D.S. church is true, or even if a God or higher power exists. I simply want to test the elements for one year; four seasons, to see if following it makes a difference for me. I will test recipes, learn about herbs, grains, and other goodies as outlined in the W.o.W. diet and will share them with you.
I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when I was eight-years-old. I ultimately stopped following the principles of the church and I currently do not associate with any religion. However, through my life the Word of Wisdom has always seemed to make sense to me. Imagine truly following a seasonal diet and never trying to keep up with fad diets again. That’s what I’m testing.
I am 46-years-old. I workout 4-5 days each week with weight training; cardio; and yoga. I do not eat a lot of bad food. I cook as many meals at home as possible. Every now and then I eat crackers or cake, but it’s not a daily thing. However, my weight has topped the scale at the highest it’s been since my parents greeted me on my first birthday. I have a bad thyroid and painful edema in my legs. I find it difficult to move most days. My intake of Monster energy drinks and diet Pepsi is an almost daily thing. Basically, I’m a caffeine junkie through-and-through. Oh, and no matter how much I want to debate differently: caffeine is a drug. Yet even with my high ingestion rate of caffeine, I’m always exhausted and even after sleeping I have no energy!
The point: my health is screaming at me; it is essentially begging me to stop being horrible to it. I’ve looked into gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, Paleo, Keto, etc., and all of these “diets” seem like voodoo to me. It just doesn’t seem right to restrict myself from some real, whole, foods; but instead stuff myself with fat, lard, “WonderPop”, or other non-food items that leave me feeling empty, hungry, and well…fatter and less healthy. Debating “the secret” to curing my health, the Word of Wisdom’s principles keep wandering through my mind, whispering: “Hey dummy, why don’t you give me a try…”
Who am I? For now, I’m any person you pass on the street. Perhaps I’m your neighbor, or maybe you see me at the gym. For purposes of this blog, I am anonymous. The reason for this is because I want to do the experiment without people I know bugging me or trying to talk me out of it. I want it to be really truly personal, as nutrition and health are. At the end of the year, you will know who I am and if this information is really worth the experiment. I’ll tell you everything. But for now…I silently test the W.o.W. diet.
Summarizing the Word of Wisdom
1. Do not drink alcohol.
2. Do not use tobacco.
3. Do not drink hot drinks. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leaders have defined hot drinks as coffee and tea). This article has surprising new research indicating that it’s not about the caffeine in the drinks, but the actual temperature of the drink.
4. Eat fruits, vegetables, and herbs in season. But how do we know what’s in season and what to make and how to use them!? Exactly what we’re going to learn on this blog.
5. Eat meat sparingly, or in times of winter, cold, or famine – but preferably not at all. As I understand the verses as a whole, meat is defined as beasts of the fields or wild animals that run, and air fowl. The Bible often offers many limitations on animal flesh, (for one: Leviticus 11:1-47):
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. …”.
Many verses also go on to say that the pig is unclean for the same reason as the camel and the rock badger, but I am only focusing on the Word of Wisdom as written in the D&C. I cannot find any mention that one should avoid eating any animal from the water. In the Bible, Jesus and his followers eat fish in abundance, therefore for purposes of my experiment, I’m going to assume that fish is alright to eat at any season.
6. Grain is the Staff of Life. What is a staff? I think of Gandalf of “The Lord of the Rings”, with his magical, powerful staff that performs miracles. I assume in the Word of Wisdom, Staff of Life is exactly how it sounds: your life continues and is sustained by the magical properties of grain. As I will lay out for you in this blog, grain is wonderful. Your body wants and craves grain. When your diet is keto or gluten-free, what does your body miss? Bread. Yes, do not lie and tell me it doesn’t. There’s a reason for that. It’s not only “comforting” but necessary. Your body wants bread, or at least what bread is made of; that’s why it comforts you. You’ll see!
7. 24-hour Fast. This is not part of the Word of Wisdom, but I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints religion advises its members to refrain from eating or drinking for a 24-hour period. Most, if not all, religions have a type of fasting. Intermittent fasting has also become a popular trend. There are a few documentaries about the power of fasting. In my experiment, I will fast once each month, as recommended by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, because I assume that it will work in tandem with the Word of Wisdom. A recommended fast is 24-hours. Before a fast, it is suggested to eat breakfast and lunch, then immediately after lunch (approximately 12:30 p.m.), do not eat or drink anything until after 12:30 p.m. the following day. This way, you can still eat food on both days and are not entirely taxing yourself, as you can sleep 7-9 hours of your fast. Do not do this if you are pregnant, nursing, or ill, as it will weaken you and could do more harm than good.
Promises of the Word of Wisdom
1. Health.
2. Wisdom and Knowledge.
3. Run and not be weary; walk and not faint.
4. The angel of death will pass you by.
Doctrine & Covenants 89:4-21
“Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—
“That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
“And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
“And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
“And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
“And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
“And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
“Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
“Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
“And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
“All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
“And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
“All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
“Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
“And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
“And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.”
The Purpose
The purpose of this experiment is to actually go back to before there was a fast-food place on every corner; before we ate things out of packages; when we really ate food that nature intended for us. I want to feel better.