Selecting “Higher” (PART 1) – Kristin Sterk

I’ve contemplated penning this put up for effectively over a yr.

I’ve been hesitant as a result of I’m undecided the way it’ll be acquired. However by no means do I need to weblog about what’s stirring in my coronary heart for worry of what others may assume. I’ve given a glimpse into this a part of my journey in the direction of higher well being, however I need to share the “why”. So right here it goes…

Again in September 2022 (wow, how is that nearly 3 years in the past already?), I used to be identified with acute myeloid leukemia, whereas having a coronary heart ablation. Yeah. Speak about a shocker. I went by means of 6 months of intense remedy and got here out the opposite aspect in remission! Although 3 months later, I relapsed. And it didn’t look good. As in the one choice I had was chemo for all times, till leukemia took my life. By way of many miraculous moments (and miraculous is an understatement, simply ask my docs), God healed my coronary heart simply sufficient in order that I might have a bone marrow transplant. So, in January 2024, I had an allogeneic (donor) BMT and might as soon as once more say, I AM IN REMISSION! Nevertheless it’s nothing of my doing. IT IS GOD. ALL GOD.

And I need to make that clear in my journey. I share due to what GOD has taught me by means of all of it and I imagine it wasn’t for naught, however for His good and excellent will as He so faithfully continues to mildew and form me into the particular person He has designed me to be!

I can’t serve God to one of the best of my skills if I don’t deal with myself to one of the best of my skills. I’m not saying I received most cancers due to one thing I personally did. Perhaps I did? I don’t know. It was a part of God’s good and good will for my life so I’m studying to just accept it. However I additionally know God is educating me lots by means of it. And I hope in sharing what I’ve discovered, will in a roundabout way, encourage you as effectively.

PART 1

After I was identified with leukemia, there was the query: How did I received it within the first place? We nonetheless don’t have any clue, however one of many issues I did find out about have been TOXINS. A easy Google search will inform you that toxins are “dangerous substances, naturally occurring or launched, that may trigger sickness when ingested.”

Throughout a bone marrow transplant, the bone marrow is totally worn out. You might surprise, okay, so what does that imply? Effectively in your bone marrow, that’s the place your white blood cells (an infection preventing cells) dwell. So when the bone marrow is killed, so is your capacity to struggle any kind of an infection. A lot in order that any an infection had the danger of loss of life. Significantly. Evidently, it’s an intense, worrisome, and significant time because it takes months for the physique to rebuild itself.

I needed to be INSANELY cautious about what I uncovered myself to and what I put in my physique due to toxins, viruses, micro organism, and so forth. Every day I needed to determine what I felt snug exposing myself to and making one of the best selections I might.

Consuming was very similar to consuming if I have been pregnant – being cautious of any micro organism. However then I spotted it wasn’t simply micro organism that might hurt me, however toxins, as my digestive system had main points after my BMT. A lot in order that I needed to have scopes by means of the mouth and colon, to see what was happening. All regarded okay, however I knew I needed to watch intensely, what I ate, in hopes of therapeutic my intestine too.

The factor is, you’ll be able to by no means eradicate each kind of toxin from the meals chain. You are able to do ALL YOU CAN, however you’ll NEVER eradicate all toxins in any a part of the world. They got here with sin and so they have now include our meals.

Is natural the one manner? It’s higher, however even natural isn’t good. What about rising your individual meals? It’s higher, however that’s to not say the soil was as soon as sprayed or launched to toxins. You see what I’m getting at? There isn’t a strategy to know and no strategy to stop it fully.

So the place can we go from right here?

We do one of the best we will. And that’s the motto the Sterks have taken on. Higher is all the time “higher”! I’ll by no means discover “finest” till Christ comes once more, so I simply keep on with “higher” as a result of going to far the opposite manner, is definitely now categorized as a potential consuming dysfunction – orthorexia nervosa (not formally a DSM-5 dysfunction but). Perhaps you’ve heard of it, possibly you haven’t, however orthorexia goes past wholesome consuming; that is whenever you develop into obsessed about it. This may end up in nervousness, not consuming out with others, consuming solely sure meals teams, obsessively specializing in solely “pure” meals, and even limiting the wholesome meals. I believe our tradition can borderline this at instances. Like most issues in a life, an excessive amount of of a very good factor generally is a dangerous factor – when it turns into an obsession.

Let me be clear: we nonetheless eat gluten, dairy, sugar, desserts, sweet, fried meals, boxed gadgets, hen nuggets, scorching canine, white bread, pasta, milk, and an entire slew of different “not good for you” meals. How are this stuff higher, Kristin?

Here’s what we contemplate…

The way it’s made.

MAKING AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM SCRATCH. Why?

• I do know EXACTLY what it’s in.
• I can determine if it’s a more healthy model than store-bought.
• There’s a sense of accomplishment in making your individual meals.
• Usually cheaper.
• Now we have discovered it typically tastes higher too!
• Some issues we make from scratch: spaghetti sauce, tomato juice, diced tomatoes, salad dressings, soups, dipping sauces, seasonings (taco, ranch), sweets, breads, and extra…

What we purchase.

EVERYTHING I PUT IN MY GROCERY CART IS A CHOICE I’M MAKING FOR MY FAMILY.

You may be pondering I’m overthinking this all, however have you ever ever regarded in your cabinets and questioned, “How did that get in there? What did I purchase that for?” All the pieces that’s in our cabinets is due to a alternative I made. Our selections matter when it come to what we buy. Listed here are some issues I contemplate when buying meals now:

INGREDIENTS.

• Pronunciation – if I can’t pronounce majority of the components, it’s not for me.
• Style vs. Well being Profit – Earlier than, I took one thing off the shelf as a result of it tasted good. However now, I contemplate whether it is good for US. For instance, we love popcorn! As an alternative of shopping for microwavable, we purchase Lesser Evil’s Himalayan Salt Popcorn (THE BEST). Mazy LOVES mac n’ cheese – now we purchase Annie’s versus Kraft. Not finest, however higher. We love chips – Boulder Avocado Oil Potato Chips are higher than chips cooked in vegetable oil. Not good, however higher. AND they style higher – added bonus!
• Dyes – This isn’t a political viewpoint, however a well being standpoint – RFK Jr. is engaged on eliminating dyes from our meals and just a bit analysis, will present the adverse impression dyes have on our techniques! Mazy is an ideal instance as to why. Anytime she has a slushie, she finally ends up with a headache, digestive points for just a few days, and feels off. We lastly attributed it to dyes. We attempt to eradicate them as a lot as we will.
• Man-Made vs. God-Made. That is typically my motto when taking a look at meals. Did God make it? Or did man make it? If man did, it’s not actual meals and my physique wasn’t created to digest it. If you begin to dig into how sure meals are made or what the ingredient it’s, it’s mind-blowing. Our “higher” is selecting God-made after we can. Don’t get me improper…like I stated, we nonetheless eat man-made meals! We’re simply extra cautious about how typically and taking a look at what’s in them!

Meals for Gas.

Meals acts as gas for our our bodies. For those who put the improper “gas” in your automobile, it’ll do some main harm. Similar to meals! For those who put the improper meals in your physique, your physique will let you recognize. After we now have slowly made modifications in our own residence, I requested my household what they thought. Each Dan and Mazy have stated that they really feel good and benefit from the modifications! WHEW. It’s a LONG course of to show a ship round, however we’re slowly making “higher” selections. Not good, by all means! It’s not about perfection, however progress.

I’m trying ahead to sharing with you a meals record of a number of the tangible modifications we now have made and meals we now have tried. Not a “finest” record, however a “higher” record. Once more, the Sterks won’t ever be good at this. Only a work in progress.

I hope that as I share extra about our journey, that once more, chances are you’ll be impressed in a roundabout way as effectively. God has given us all we have to maintain us right here on this earth. I aspire to make one of the best selections I can, to make sure I can dwell my finest life for HIM. And my household too.

What questions do you might have? What are some issues that you just surprise? What are a few of your favourite “higher” selections you might have made?