Our divinely designed bodies were made to naturally eliminate waste. In a Final Call article from Vol. 45, No. 29, titled “Declare War on Obesity (Fat),” the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan says, “The body must, of necessity, have a certain amount of fat.
However, to eat as we are eating and to put in our bodies the kinds of poisons that we are ingesting, is to act in diametric opposition to the Law of Life itself.”
He further states, “Too much Fat in the body is an accumulation of swill (garbage.) EXCESSIVE FAT [The Minister’s emphasis, not mine] is an enemy, and we must take it as an enemy,” Minister Farrakhan continues.
Since we know that “self-improvement is the basis of community development,” we also know that keeping garbage (bad and unhealthy foods) out of our bodies will help us develop a healthy, safe body to live in.
What does it mean to make our bodies “safe?” According to Webster’s online dictionary, one definition of “safe” is “free from harm or risk.” Safe also can mean “secure from threat of danger, harm, or loss.”
When we “eat to live” as taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and exercise, we help keep our bodies safe from harm and risk. What are some of the risks we want to avoid? One is the risk of having high blood pressure or diabetes.
Did you know that walking five times a week for at least 30 minutes a day can help regulate your blood sugar, reduce your stress and elevate your mood?
Moving throughout the day is very important, along with building our muscles. Building muscles helps to strengthen our bones and protect us from falls.
In the Holy Qur’an, Section 2 of Surah 17 is entitled “Every Deed Has a Consequence.” That title serves as a reminder to us of a principle we see throughout our lives. That principle is that with every action comes a result.
As a result of not taking charge of our bodies in various ways, our bodies are not as healthy as they could be. As we make our bodies healthier, we can make our communities healthier.
Never underestimate the power of movement. Several years ago, I had a desk job as an academic advisor. I taught only one class and spent most of my time sitting at a desk, advising students. I noticed that everyone in the office was overweight.
After a month of working there, I also noticed I was putting on weight, even though I still exercised for at least 30 minutes or more a day. Do you know what the problem was? I was still spending about six hours sitting down. A sedentary job is a silent killer of your metabolism and slows down your body’s ability to burn fat.
One day, I went to the transcript office to ask a question and met a very slender woman. She was using a standing desk! I said, “Oh, is this why you are so slender? She just smiled and mentioned that a standing desk keeps her more active.
I asked her where I could get a standing desk. I got one for my office that week and started slimming back down because of that one simple adjustment.
What is a simple thing that you can do this week to improve your health?
Insha’Allah (God-Willing), we will share more in an upcoming article. Read the books, “How To Eat To Live,” by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad to learn about which foods you should include and avoid on your health journey.
May Allah bless us all with peace, love, health, wealth and happiness.
Dr. Audrey Muhammad is an educator, aerobics instructor, and author of “Get Fit to Live: Be Your Best You!” Contact her at [email protected] and for more information, visit www.virtuetodaymag. com. Please consult a physician before beginning any new exercise or dietary program.