Our ancestors – the First Peoples of North America – were amazingly strong and healthy. There are many accounts of our people running over fifty miles in one day, and of our Elders living to a hundred years or more. Back then we didn’t have televisions, cell phones and videogames where we just sat all day. We didn’t have grocery stores where we could buy soda pop or soft drinks, potato chips or donuts. We were part of nature, spending our time harvesting food in the fresh air and sunlight, and getting plenty of exercise.
The good news is that our People even today can become healthier if we return to the original plan that our Creator gave us with a “new start.” An easy way to remember what this is to think of the words “New Start” – Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in our Creator God.
As much as we all love frybread or bannock with powdered sugar on top, it is not very good for us. Too much white flour, sugar and fried foods will make us sick and fat. White flour and sugar have no vitamins or minerals in them, and they make our bodies susceptible to disease. Fat, like lard and hard vegetable oil, contributes to our getting diabetes. The best foods we can eat are the ones that our Creator gave us straight from the land – like corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, apples, pears, peaches, nuts, and seeds (like sunflower and pumpkin seeds). Natural whole grains are good for us, too. Pork eating should be switched out for moose meat and salmon. And it is smart to stay away from processed meats like bologna, salami, sausages and hotdogs, as they are full of substances that can lead to cancer. A good rule of thumb is that the closer the food is to the way the Creator made it, the better it is for us.
Exercise is important, too. We don’t need to run a marathon, but we should at least walk twenty minutes a day without stopping. At first it may be very slow, and that’s okay. After a while you will automatically start to walk and will even want to walk farther. Experts say that walking is the best exercise as we use our whole body, especially if we swing our arms. Take a buddy - it will be more fun. Other kinds of exercises are good, too, but always start slowly and work your way up. You may want to check with your doctor regarding your new exercise plan, to be sure its safe for you. Exercise sends oxygen to your whole body and helps to heal it. And it keeps our muscles strong and firm instead of weak and flabby. But one of the best things about exercise is that it actually creates a feeling of well-being and makes us happy.
All of our villages were close to water, as our ancestors knew that without it, we just couldn’t live. When we think of water, we think of clean clothes, nice warm baths, and the rain cleansing mother earth. But we need water to clean the inside of our bodies, too. Every time we drink a glass of water, we are washing away poisons that are trying to make us sick. Water is needed for every part of our body to function, such as keeping our blood thin so blood clots won’t form, and to digest our food. We should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you don’t like water, try adding a little cucumber or berries to it. Or maybe have some peppermint tea throughout the day. But stay away from caffeine and sugary drinks as much as possible.
When sunshine hits our skin, it triggers Vitamin D to be made. This is good for us as First Peoples, because we tend to be deficient in Vitamin D. Vitamin D lowers our blood pressure, helps against heart disease, and keeps our brains working well. Sunshine also has ultraviolet light that kills many kinds of viruses and bacteria. During the 1918 Spanish flu, the death rates dropped dramatically when infected people were put into the sun. We need only to look at our animal brothers. You may have had a dog or cat that was not well and sure enough, they would stop eating and lie in the sun. We hear a lot about skin cancer these days, but luckily with our darker skin, that is not as big a concern for us. Still, it’s a good idea to be in the sun before or after the hottest part of the day.
Temperance is a word that is not used much these days, but it basically means that we should have self-control, balance in our lives, and not overdo anything. Temperance movements in the United States and Canada pushed for abstinence from alcohol use, especially for our people. Every one of us needs to make our own good decisions about our health. This pertains to abusing drugs and alcohol, as well as self-control over how much we eat, work, exercise, watch television or play video games. Anything we do too much of is unhealthy.
The air around us is filled with oxygen. As we breathe in, oxygen is sent throughout our bodies to heal our cells. The poison carbon dioxide from our cells travels back to our lungs to be exhaled. Our wise Creator designed the plants, especially the trees, to “inhale” the carbon dioxide we make and to “breathe out” oxygen that we can use. So, the air is better to breathe when we are out in nature where the trees are, rather than in the cities with its polluted air. Every day breathe in the fresh air deeply, then exhale as much as you can several times a day. Hang on to something in case you get dizzy. Open your windows and allow fresh oxygen into your home. You probably already know that cigarettes starve our bodies of oxygen and they are full of deadly poisons. That is why pregnant women shouldn’t smoke and why people who’d rather not have lung cancer shouldn’t smoke. Be sure to let no one smoke in your home, too as the second-hand smoke is extremely unhealthy for the whole family.
If you are tired, and feel like resting, it does not necessarily mean you are lazy. It might simply mean you should rest. Our Creator designed our bodies to heal during rest. That is one reason why He wants us to rest each week on the 7th day Sabbath. If you are working hard during the week, take a break now and then so your body can recuperate. Sleeping is the most obvious way to rest as when we fall into bed dead tired, most of us wake up refreshed and full of energy again. Our bodies heal the most if we fall asleep before 10 pm and if we sleep at least 7 hours a night. If we are doing the other health points like exercising, getting enough sun and not overeating, we will sleep better and even have better dreams.
Lastly, to be really healthy, we need to trust in our Creator God. Life is not easy, and we are bombarded with many difficult challenges in our communities. But the Bible tells us that we are not alone. All we need to do is to ask our Creator in the name of Jesus for help and He will instantly send us help. We can face any problem with courage and have victory with His help. The Bible is full of promises like these: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 “But I will be kind to them and cause good things to happen to them again.” Jeremiah 33:26, “Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 Worry and stress can literally kill us, but it’s such a relief to hand over our problems to Jesus. He will be by your side as you face each new challenge every day!
And there it is!
We hope you decide to follow the N-E-W-S-T-A-R-T plan so that you can have a new start in life with good health, real happiness and a longer, better life that the Creator planned for you.
