Beet'n
Wish I can say I’ve been doing this once a month, but that’s bit of a stretch. I’ll need to live in obedience which isn’t easy at my age. This would be my third or fourth go at the Daniel fast. My last one consisted mainly of grapes, broccoli and mushrooms. This time, the focus is towards a different type of vegetable…
My mother started consuming these shakes in the mornings to help her with the physical demands of her job. She’s been a banquet waitress for decades along with my father. They both earned good money for simply serving plated dishes at a pristine hotel. I was an employee there for about 9yrs during my college days. Was the only job I could find making great money for less time. Bless my folk’s hearts though for they both underwent back surgeries. Till this day I’m uncertain if my old man’s incident stemmed from heavy tray lifting or the slipped disk was because of a mundane angled position he was in. Regardless the doctors remove the disc since it was pinching a nerve which put him out of commission for a few months. Come to think of it, both their scars are within similar proximities. Inevitably, many years of heavy lifting didn’t help avoid the ER trip. For my mother this was definitely the case. She was past the chiropractor visits, was impeding her daily walks and regretfully felt hopelessness that surgery was the only option left. In conclusion the procedure was successful. They’re both healthy now and with mom’s daily shakes, she recommends buying a blender to creative my own concoctions. Baffled from the red color tone smoothie, I asked what her beverage contained? Out of all the ingredients listed, I never heard of beets. She wasn’t well versed in the vegetable either, however it was a good source of fiber with other nutrients she explained. Her now kitchen-savvy-husband makes her these in the mornings before her shifts. After tasting one, my facial reaction wasn’t overly harsh. It savored that of a corn on the cob. I grew up with corn all my life. The only thing was this vegetable resembled a burgundy lemon size food. Anxiety subsided. And now the next task would be to implement this as part of my Daniel fast. My mother is aware of these fasts I take on, so what does a mother resort to do? She goes protective mode. I remember mom having a panic attack with my first fast. Seeing me super thin, you can only imagine the level of anxiety and stress I added. To her I looked sick or gradually disappearing. She advised me not to eat too many beets. That this can cause health issues. Eating too much of anything will do that in my opinion. But I did my due diligence. According to Google, the leaves were the prominent focus instead of the actual beet itself in ancient times. I won’t bore you with a history lesson, but looking at the pros and cons, here’s what I found. Again, this is Google…
Pros
Sports performance
Better heart health
Antioxidants
Good for digestive track
Better cardio
Cons
Could develop kidney stones
Gout
Upset stomach
Beeturia (urine/stool to turn pink or reddish)
Low blood pressure
These are some of the items found to be watchful. After researching a bit more, combining other veggies may not be a bad idea. Going solely on beets daily throughout each day, I wonder how the body would react. Mid-forties aren’t what it used to be when I started this. The plan is about 2-3 beets in a span of 3-4hr. Should be about 4 servings each day. Now I’ve always gradually climbed this hill. Don’t recommend cold turkey. Right now, I’m on coffee, chicken protein salad, fruit and snack intake. This should ease my way to the fast.
As mentioned before, it’s a Daniel fast so it has a biblical context. For those not familiar, the passage is rooted from Daniel 1:8-14 and 10:2-3. In chapter 1, Daniel and his friends ate solely vegetables and water rather than the rich foods and wine offered by Nebuchadnezzar—the Babylonian king. Daniel refused to defile himself with royal foods, therefore remain faithful to God. Daniel knew the consequences which lead to being beheaded. But God was behind Daniel. He Informed the chief and staff to test them for 10 days and afterwords compare them to the other servants. Turns out they were healthier looking and well-nourished from the rest. In chapter 10, Daniel fasts for three weeks (21 days straight), abstaining again from chosen foods. This was due to a vision he had that would lead to war and hardships. So, during mourning, he fasted for those three weeks. The Daniel Fast, as practiced by Christians, is intended to be a spiritual discipline, encouraging individuals to draw closer to God. By abstaining from certain foods, individuals may focus on their spiritual needs and cultivate a greater dependence on God. Many do resort it to a detox, which it is, and impacts the body and mind. The lens or perspectives you see will change from when you start this process. I’d recommend everyone to experience this at least once in their life. However, the disclaimer would be to consult your physician if you battle any health challenges first. Let’s get Beet’n.