Is eating junk food a sin?

[TimAuthor]

Is eating junk food a sin?

I'm really curious as to what the responses will be on this one. I know the first gut reaction someone might have would be of course not. Maybe booze and cigarettes might be a sin, but junk food?

After a lot of study on just how dangerous junk food and sugar is in particular to a person's health, I really believe eating junk food can be a sin. I don't think the occasional snack is necessarily, but I'm afraid what a lot of Christians fail to realize is that sugary junk food is addictive and can easily be turned into an idol in our lives. People turn to it instead of praying to God when they feel bad, or depressed. It really can be a god in a person's life, and when you consider that people will not stop eating it even when faced with obesity, diabetes, loss of limbs, heart attack, loss of mobility in general, etc then you can conclude nothing else than that sugar can be as addictive as a hard drug.

The fact that a lot of Christians dismiss health and fitness as being carnal or vain and less than spiritual motivated me to write Common Sense Biblical Approach to Health and Fitness.

Some folks see no problem with destroying their bodies with junk food and a sedentary lifestyle. I believe we should take care and be good stewards of everything God has blessed us with which includes our bodies.

What do you all think?

 

[miss-a]

Well, Tim, excellent topic.

I'd have to do some serious biblical research to determine if habitually consuming junk food is sin. The Bible speaks about sexually promiscuity as sinning against our own bodies, so we know that sinning against our bodies is possible. And it tells us to not be under the control of anything of this world. And you're are sadly correct that many turn to food as an addiction and fail to turn to God.

It would be interesting to know if determining the above as sin would motivate one eating the standard American diet to change their habits. I'm not sure if it would. But I think most of us posting on this sub-forum will agree that junk food does serious evil to our bodies and quality of life, and it definitely is unwise.

I have to head out to work, but I'm looking forward to reading your article.
Blessings,
a

 

[genetheking]

1 Corinthians 6:20 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

[genetheking]

I wouldn't necessarily say that consuming junk food is a sin but I think wants us to take care of our bodies as best as possible so we can do his work.

 

[miss-a]

A great quote that relates:

Jesus used the hands of the disciples for the distributing of bread and fish. He used their lips and tongues for the preaching of the gospel. If God is going to get his work done in this world, He must use the various members of our bodies, empowered by the Spirit of God.

Satan knows that he can hinder God's work by attacking God's workers and putting their "tools " out of commission. The Greek word translated "instuments" in Romans 6:13 can be translated "tool" or even "weapon." Just as God the Son had to take on a body to accomplish His work on earth, so the Holy Spirit needs our bodies. The members of your body are tools in the Spirit's hands to help build the Church here on earth. Never underestimate the importance of your body. The Christian who is careless about his health or safety is playing right into the hands of the destoryer.
--Warren W. Wiersbe from The Strategy of Satan

 

[TimAuthor]

Very good points. Our bodies are tools for Christ to get his work done.

 

[WannaWitness]

I wouldn't necessarily say that consuming junk food is a sin but I think wants us to take care of our bodies as best as possible so we can do his work.

That's true; also, there is nothing wrong with having an occasional "comfort food". But occasional is the key word, here. Common sense tells us to know our limits when it comes to such things - more of the healthy and less of the not-so-healthy.

 

[TimAuthor]

there is nothing wrong with having an occasional "comfort food

No, there's nothing wrong with it, but it's kind of telling how we refer to bad food as comfort food. I wonder if we would be so tempted if we referred to junk food as poison.

Of course there are healthy foods that probably fit that description. A piece of dark chocolate with some almonds is very healthy, just as long as it's just a piece. In fact, I have one piece with almonds almost every day. After I've had my piece of chocolate, I put the box away and don't think about it anymore.

The thing is to, to just not even buy things like cookies or ice cream. Those kinds of foods are almost impossible to just have a little bit and walk away. Then you know you get in a habit and train yourself to eat certain things and after a while you don't think about all those bad foods folks crave. Good foods are just as tasty, but they just don't have that addictive quality that processed junk food has.

It's like when I used to smoke. It wasn't that cigarettes were good. I was just addicted to them. I thought they made me feel calmer, but it wasn't that. The need for cigs was causing me to get nervous and fulfilling my craving was calming me down. The cigs were actually the problem. I just didn't want to recognize that. Junk food is about the same way.

 

[orangeness365]

I've been on a strict diet of mostly dark chocolate and chips the past couple of days to make myself feel better

 

[WannaWitness]

No, there's nothing wrong with it, but it's kind of telling how we refer to bad food as comfort food. I wonder if we would be so tempted if we referred to junk food as poison.

Of course there are healthy foods that probably fit that description. A piece of dark chocolate with some almonds is very healthy, just as long as it's just a piece. In fact, I have one piece with almonds almost every day. After I've had my piece of chocolate, I put the box away and don't think about it anymore.

The thing is to, to just not even buy things like cookies or ice cream. Those kinds of foods are almost impossible to just have a little bit and walk away. Then you know you get in a habit and train yourself to eat certain things and after a while you don't think about all those bad foods folks crave. Good foods are just as tasty, but they just don't have that addictive quality that processed junk food has.

It's like when I used to smoke. It wasn't that cigarettes were good. I was just addicted to them. I thought they made me feel calmer, but it wasn't that. The need for cigs was causing me to get nervous and fulfilling my craving was calming me down. The cigs were actually the problem. I just didn't want to recognize that. Junk food is about the same way.

You have a point, especially the part about junk foods having an addictive nature. However, it doesn't need to be that way, and it is still possible for a person to eat basically healthy and should really be able to practice control. Sadly, many people do not. But I hardly think that a sliver of cake or pie once in a while equals instant heart disease. After all, the hard-working farmers of yesteryear ate what would probably be considered unhealthy by today's standards: these meals usually consisted of, for example, a goodly serving of meat (sometimes fried), a vegetable, and potatoes and gravy, all seasoned with salt and pepper. There were rolls with butter, and pies or cakes every night for dessert. Yet there was no known case of obesity, due to their active way of life, and these individuals enjoyed a fulfilling (and sometimes long) life. So, the key here was that they apparently knew how to practice good control and moderation (and the fact that they were constantly moving helped some). And although it isn't considered by some to be true "exercise" (as in playing a sport, hitting the gym, or a morning jog), it certainly could count as an active lifestyle. Lazy these people were not. Yes, that was another time and place, but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't have some merit in today's world.

And as far as addictions are concerned, anything can be addicting. The computer is a good example of this. It is good when used as a tool for obtaining helpful information and doing what we need to do. But that doesn't mean that there would be anything wrong with sometimes playing a game for a few minutes to relax, and again, as with the comfort foods, moderation comes into play.

I hope this sheds a little light on what I am getting at.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

I think it's important to feed yourself the best way possible (and I also think it's important to consider the ethics of how your food is produced along with the health considerations).
The problem is how one defines junk food. The peer reviewed literature in books like The China Study would define it differently than someone who follows the Adkins approach, for instance. Is a glass of milk junk food? Considering the effects on the body, maybe it should be? How about an apple? To those who blame sugar or carbs for their weight problems, it might be thought as such.

 

[TimAuthor]

After all, the hard-working farmers of yesteryear ate what would probably be considered unhealthy by today's standards

Besides just their activity level they had one other thing in their favor. Farmers made their own food so it was much healthier as compared to today's food. Today's food is bad because of all the chemicals and additives they put in to preserve and add taste back into the food that is lost during the processing. Sometimes, I wonder how much food is actually in food anymore, at least processed food that is.

But don't get me wrong, I eat stuff that isn't perfect from time to time. My goal is though even if I eat something questionable I try to eat the best choice. Like chips, you shouldn't eat them really, but I keep a bag on hand that usually lasts me a couple of weeks made of organic corn. It's blue hot chips, and it's so hot that you really can't over eat them unless you want heartburn.

 

[TimAuthor]

Is a glass of milk junk food? Considering the effects on the body, maybe it should be? How about an apple? To those who blame sugar or carbs for their weight problems, it might be thought as such.

I don't think milk is all that healthy, not anymore with all the hormones and everything they put into cows these days. Organic is ok, but not if your goal is weight loss which that has to factor into your eating really. A person should be able to control what and how much they eat and achieve whatever goal they might have physically whether it's in appearance or whether it's just to be healthy. One should never compromise their health though to get thin of course.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, if it's organic. If it's not then you are eating one of the most pesticide covered fruits available. Even organic, it does have sugar so more than one a day might be harmful. Fruit is one of those things that is healthy as long as you eat it in moderation. I like to have like one apple after I eat my eggs for breakfast, then later maybe a banana and some berries mixed in yogurt in the evening.

 

[WannaWitness]

Besides just their activity level they had one other thing in their favor. Farmers made their own food so it was much healthier as compared to today's food. Today's food is bad because of all the chemicals and additives they put in to preserve and add taste back into the food that is lost during the processing. Sometimes, I wonder how much food is actually in food anymore, at least processed food that is.

But don't get me wrong, I eat stuff that isn't perfect from time to time. My goal is though even if I eat something questionable I try to eat the best choice. Like chips, you shouldn't eat them really, but I keep a bag on hand that usually lasts me a couple of weeks made of organic corn. It's blue hot chips, and it's so hot that you really can't over eat them unless you want heartburn.

Agreed.

 

[WannaWitness]

Incidentally, here is a book recommendation (along the lines of this topic) that I believe everyone here would enjoy reading. It is by Bill Cosby, and entitled I Am What I Ate... and I'm Frightened!!! I picked my copy up at a thrift store not too long ago, and recently finished it. A healthy dose of laughter is guaranteed (at least in my point of view).

(I hope book recommendations are allowed.)

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

I don't think milk is all that healthy, not anymore with all the hormones and everything they put into cows these days. Organic is ok, but not if your goal is weight loss which that has to factor into your eating really. A person should be able to control what and how much they eat and achieve whatever goal they might have physically whether it's in appearance or whether it's just to be healthy. One should never compromise their health though to get thin of course.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, if it's organic. If it's not then you are eating one of the most pesticide covered fruits available. Even organic, it does have sugar so more than one a day might be harmful. Fruit is one of those things that is healthy as long as you eat it in moderation. I like to have like one apple after I eat my eggs for breakfast, then later maybe a banana and some berries mixed in yogurt in the evening.

That's why there's so much conflict...I think, after reading books like The China Study and Scott Jurek's new memoir (Eat and Run), that all animal products are really junk food, organic or not. Others have a different opinion based on the material they've looked at. There are probably some foods we can all agree on as being bad, but there's a lot of different opinions out there. In my opinion, that's why we need to go to the peer reviewed work to get the best answers.

 

[TimAuthor]

One gauge I use, is I ask myself am I gaining fat, or muscle. If I'm losing strength at the gym, but I'm getting heavier, then I know I'm not eating right more than likely and getting the right nutrients. Maybe too many carbs and not enough protein, that kind of thing.

Also I pay attention to how my mood is in general. Bad food choices can make a person literally feel bad or depressed.

Take vitamin D for instance, every year about this time I get really down until spring comes and then I start to come out of the funk. Why, because more than likely the lack of vitamin D from the sun is getting to me. If the body is imbalanced it will show in a number of different ways.

 

[DaisyDay]

Besides just their activity level they had one other thing in their favor. Farmers made their own food so it was much healthier as compared to today's food. Today's food is bad because of all the chemicals and additives they put in to preserve and add taste back into the food that is lost during the processing. Sometimes, I wonder how much food is actually in food anymore, at least processed food that is.

But don't get me wrong, I eat stuff that isn't perfect from time to time. My goal is though even if I eat something questionable I try to eat the best choice. Like chips, you shouldn't eat them really, but I keep a bag on hand that usually lasts me a couple of weeks made of organic corn. It's blue hot chips, and it's so hot that you really can't over eat them unless you want heartburn.

It's not so much the preservatives (healthier than mold and bacteria), but that junk food is primarily sugar, salt & fat.

 

[miss-a]

I just came from a potluck gathering. Besides what I brought, there was one thing I could eat (blessings on the girl who made the quinoa salad!) and I realizing more and more how much people don't know about food. I'm reminded that a great deal of bad eating is due to lack of knowledge. People aren't always eating poorly because they don't care. They really don't know. I'm still a little stunned, though I suppose I shouldn't be. The media has been brainwashing folks for decades.

 

[TheOtherHockeyMom]

I just came from a potluck gathering. Besides what I brought, there was one thing I could eat (blessings on the girl who made the quinoa salad!) and I realizing more and more how much people don't know about food. I'm reminded that a great deal of bad eating is due to lack of knowledge. People aren't always eating poorly because they don't care. They really don't know. I'm still a little stunned, though I suppose I shouldn't be. The media has been brainwashing folks for decades.

It's not the media, in my opinion, it's a combination of a couple of things...people desperate to look and feel better, people out to take advantage of that, a desire for a quick fix, and woefully lacking science education among the average folks. Nutrition is a science, and there are a lot of good books that present scientific knowledge in a way that is accessible to all, but they usually don't have subtitles like "Lose all the weight you want and eat bacon!" or "Eliminate carbs and watch the pounds fall off effortlessly".

Combine all those out there hoping to make a quick buck by finding the next diet fad, with the lure of the peddlers of junk food ready to console you when you can't live on the grapefruit diet for another minute, and we've got a mess to navigate around.