The Science of Shelf-Life and Your Health

The One Thing You’re Doing Wrong With Your Health

Walk into any grocery store, and what do you see? Rows of brightly packaged, long-lasting snacks that can sit on a shelf for months—or even years—without spoiling. It’s convenient, but it comes at a cost. The reason why you might be struggling with fatigue, brain fog, or even anxiety is because what you’re eating isn’t feeding your body—it’s poisoning it.

There’s a reason why Scripture refers to food as something that gives life. In Genesis, God provided Adam and Eve with “every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it” (Genesis 1:29). The early Church understood that food wasn’t just fuel—it was a gift, meant to sustain not only the body but also the soul.

The Science of Shelf-Life and Your Health

Highly processed foods—those that last the longest on the shelf—are designed to resist decay. But the preservatives, artificial ingredients, and chemical stabilizers that keep them from breaking down in a warehouse also disrupt the body’s natural functions. Research shows that diets high in processed foods increase inflammation, raise stress hormones, and contribute to chronic disease (Monteiro et al., 2019).

Your body isn’t meant to process these artificial substances. Someone once warned against overindulgence, saying, “Gluttony is the mother of disease.” When we fill our bodies with things that are designed for long shelf-life rather than human nourishment, we risk shortening our own.

The Spiritual Weight of What We Eat

Food is deeply spiritual. The act of eating is meant to be one of gratitude and sustenance, not just consumption. Christ Himself used meals as moments of teaching, healing, and communion. But today, food has been turned into an industry of convenience rather than nourishment.

Someone once said, “Do not dig your grave with your teeth.” That might sound extreme, but modern nutrition science backs up this wisdom. Diets filled with whole, natural foods—fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed grains—reduce stress, stabilize blood sugar, and improve brain function (Lassale et al., 2019).

A Simple Shift Toward Health and Peace

Try this:

1. Read ingredient labels. If you can’t pronounce it, your body probably can’t process it.

2. Eat foods that perish. If it can last for years on a shelf, it’s not going to bring life to your body.

3. Give thanks before meals. Shift your mindset from consumption to nourishment.

4. Follow a natural rhythm. The Church’s ancient fasting practices weren’t just spiritual—they also promote physical renewal.

Your health isn’t just about avoiding illness—it’s about living in alignment with how God designed you to thrive. Choose foods that give life. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.

References

Lassale, C., Batty, G. D., Baghdadli, A., Jacka, F., Sánchez-Villegas, A., Kivimäki, M., & Akbaraly, T. (2019). Healthy dietary indices and risk of depressive outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Molecular Psychiatry, 24(7), 965-986.

Monteiro, C. A., Cannon, G., Levy, R. B., Moubarac, J. C., Louzada, M. L., Rauber, F., … & Jaime, P. C. (2019). Ultra-processed foods: What they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutrition, 22(5), 936-941.