Monday, April 03, 2006

Russell Stover, D.D.S.

I just started reading a book called Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About by Kevin Trudeau. I don't care for his writing style at all, but I suspect I would have to agree with one of his basic tenets: that the Food and Drug companies work hand in hand to make us sick with overly-refined and often unwholesome foods, in order that we might then seek out medication to try to "heal" our unnatural state. The Doctrine and Covenants speaks of just that kind of conspiracy in the beginning of the "Word of Wisdom":

D&C 89:4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

The title of this post is in reference to a sign I saw once back in Texas. I was driving by, and saw a huge sign that read "Russell Stover, D.D.S." I had to actually drive into the shopping centre and and see the dentist's office for myself. I was cracking up with laughter...Grampa rots out their teeth with his candy, and Grandson makes a killing trying to keep the candy-rotted teeth in quasi-repair. I told lots of people about it, but they hadn't seen it. The next time I went by, the sign was gone. I drove to the back again, and this time, there was a tiny sign that read merely: General Dentistry, R. Stover, D.D.S. Why they changed it, I dunno. Perhaps lots of people had made the same joke that had occurred to me, or maybe they were just overrun with people who thought they'd found the candy store.

The food that grows in nature was given to us by God to sustain our health. When we think to "improve" it by overprocessing it into an less-wholesome state, we do ourselves no favors. And it is so easy to reach for ready-made food. This is a real struggle for me, as I have never been much of a cook. I am learning to reach for fresh fruit, and to make salads I actually enjoy. It's hard. But I believe that we are all meant to enjoy health, and that we can, if we learn to live according to the Word of Wisdom, not just the "don'ts", but the many things that we are told to do. Wholesome herbs, grains, fruits. Chocolate is a problem for me, and sugar, really. How do I eat well, and keep turning down the constant stream of proffered goodies? I don't want to be obsessive about this, but where is the line? The Church once had a sugar factory, I believe, and several of the foods in the Bishop's storehouse contain sugar. I don't want to be a foodnazi. I would appreciate any advice or support, thanks!
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