Page 22 - Aruba Today

A22
HEALTHWednesday 10 February
Happy Lenten
By: Dr. Carlos Viana
Ash Wednesday in our Chris-
tian church calendar marks
the beginning of one of the
most significant times of the
year; the beginning of Lent.
You might not know that
Lent is a shortened word
from the Old English “lenc-
ten” which means “spring”.
Actually, the words are ul-
timately from a prehistoric
Germanic word (ancestor
also of English “long”, re-
ferring to the lengthening
days of spring). Actually,
we know that more than
the name was borrowed
since we know that the
modern “Christian” holiday
of Easter, is based on the
Germanic goddess Eoster’s
spring festival and both are
still timed according to the
full moon.
Lent originated in
the very earliest days of the
Church as a preparatory
time for Easter, when the
faithful rededicated them-
selves and when converts
were instructed in the faith
and prepared for baptism.
By observing the forty days
of Lent, the individual Chris-
tian imitates Jesus’ with-
drawal into the wilderness
for forty days. The ancient
church that wrote, collect-
ed, canonized, and propa-
gated the New Testament
also observed Lent, believ-
ing it to be a command-
ment from the apostles.
During Lent, it’s tra-
ditional to give up some-
thing that we do a lot of
and that we find pleasure
in. This ‘giving up’ is done: as is what prompted them to
a discipline for learning self-
control, to free our minds
from the chase after mate-
rial things; as a reminder of
Christ’s sufferings and what
our true pleasures are as
followers of Christ; or, as an
act of sorrow over our sin.
Sometimes we don’t notice
how certain things we do
have gained power over
us and dictate our actions.
During Lent, we discover
these things and give them
up.
The most common
thing is to fast for Lent. To
Catholics, this means giving
up meats for the season (or
just on Fridays) or to fast en- God never does. More seri-
tirely for one day a week.
For the many diabetics, it
can be dangerous if not
designed with blood sugar
levels in mind. You might try
giving up pizza, other fast,
junk food, snacks alcohol
and soft drinks.
A 15-year study has
officially confirmed that
eating lots of fast food can
make you fat and increase
your chances of develop-
ing diabetes. Those who
ate fast food twice a week
or more gained 10 pounds
more and were twice as
likely to develop insulin re-
sistance, which is linked to
diabetes, than those who
ate it less than once a
week, even after other life-
style factors were account-
ed for. Yet even though
fast food is known to be of
poor nutritional quality, the
fast-food industry claims it
can be part of a healthful
diet. Researchers said this
set the record straight once
and for all.
What we put in our
bodies does matter. God
is living in our own bodies.
In all our actions, we show
God to others; our bodies
are temples of God. The
issue is to treat your body
with the respect that you
want to be treated with.
Whenever we take advan-
tage of another person to
gratify our own physical
needs, economic desires,
or even our political am-
bitions, we ignore the full
humanity and dignity of
another person, something
ously, we are ignoring and
debasing the fact that God
is living in the other person’s
body. This is the Christian at-
titude; when are we going
to apply the same respect
to our own body?
Lent is not all about
giving things up. It’s also
about adding good things
to our lives or to others’ lives. CARLOS VIANA, Ph. D. is
Do acts of kindness for peo-
ple, just because they’re
there; give them little tastes
of God’s love. However, do
not forget that “charity be-
gins at home” and the first
act of kindness should be
to take care of your corpo-
ral body.
The best things that
you can do for yourself and
your family is to set aside
some time to prepare
healthy food. If you want to
get or stay healthy, some-
one is just simply going to
have to spend some time
in the kitchen. The time you
save by eating at fast food
restaurants is not worth the
future health complica-
tions it will cause. Avoid
exchanging convenience
for your health. Your health
is far too precious to lose
for a few moments of free
time.
Get The Point! This
season of Lent is about be-
ing born again, about fol-
lowing the path of death
and resurrection, about
participating in Jesus’ final lectures extensively. For
journey. To become some-
what more concrete, some
of us may need to die off
continuing to eat comfort-
ing junk food and resurrect
into healthy human be-
ings. It is possible to leave Winning BOOK: Prescrip-
behind the land of the sick
and dead. The journey of
Lent is about being born
again--about dying and
rising, about mortality and
transformation. Make an
appointment so we can
show you the way.
an Oriental Medical Doc-
tor (O.M.D.) having studied
in China; a US Board Cert.
Clinical Nutritionist (C.C.N.),
an Addiction Professional
(C.Ad.), Chairperson of
the Latin American Com-
mittee of the International
Academy of Oral Medicine
and Toxicology (IAOMT), a
Rejuvenating Cell Therapist
specializing in Age Man-
agement, has a weekly
radio program, writes and
information: VIANA HEAL-
ING CENTER, Kibaima 7, St
Cruz TEL: 585-1270 Web Site:
www.vianaheal.com
“Prescriptions from Para-
dise” - Dr. Viana’s Award
tions from Paradise, Intro-
duction to Biocompatible
Medicine – Available at
local Bookstores, Hotel Gift
shops and Boticas. Signed
copies at Viana Healing
Center, EBooks: Amazon
kindle, Nook, Itunes check
for Events at: facebook.
com/vianahealingcenter.
Join the discussion: www.
facebook.com/prescrip-
tionsformparadise