Don't Fall for the Counterfeit

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV

Like countless other runners around the world, I'm always looking for easy ways to become a better trail runner. Hence the reason my eyes were drawn to an article titled “Can Blueberries Make You A Faster Trail Runner?” yesterday. And this is what the writer said…

Blueberries contain polyphenols that may influence oxidative stress, inflammation, blood flow, and recovery. A small International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism study tested whether those effects translate into trail-running performance.

Nine experienced runners completed a 13-mile (22.2-kilometer) simulated trail race after seven days of freeze-dried blueberry supplementation and after seven days of placebo in a crossover design. Runners ran faster after blueberry supplementation without any increase in race heart rate or perceived exertion.

The blueberry condition also produced a lower resting heart rate and less tiredness, more efficient breathing/lung function, and preservation of muscle power 24 hours after the race, suggesting improved or expedited recovery.

What this means for runners

Blueberries are a reasonable food to include for general nutrition, but we do not know whether a specific seven-day protocol reliably improves trail performance. If you experiment, keep race fueling and gastrointestinal tolerance unchanged, and judge the result across multiple sessions rather than one good day. Even if you don’t experience a performance boost, you at least got a tasty treat.

And you know, when it comes to tasty treats, you and I would do well to remember that our bodies are not our own but temples of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Furthermore, we were bought at a price and are to glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which are God's. 

"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV

This means that we are to choose the foods that we fuel our bodies with very carefully--both on and off the racecourse. You see, as can be seen by the enormous benefits of blueberries, God has provided clean and healthy nutrition that comes straight from nature. 

The problem is that we have an enemy, Satan, who "transforms himself into an angel of light." This mask the devil wears to deceive and destroy us also extends to food. Take the blueberry for instance. It's one of the best fruits that you and I can eat, but somewhere along the way, the devil came along and turned that amazing fruit into a "fruit snack" (something runners regularly fuel on and is a staple in many homes) and then spread the lie that a blueberry-flavored "fruit snack" is just as good, or even better than a real blueberry. After all, they're sweeter, more portable, come in a colorful package, and have a long shelf life. But, no matter how the devil tries to spin it, it's a counterfeit fruit that has no real nutritional value. 

Here are the facts:

A real blueberry is one of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods. Every handful provides fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and hundreds of naturally occurring plant compounds called polyphenols, including anthocyanins—the antioxidants that give blueberries their deep blue color. These nutrients help support your immune system, heart health, brain function, and recovery from exercise. The natural fiber also slows the absorption of the fruit’s natural sugars, helping keep blood sugar more stable while leaving you feeling satisfied.

A blueberry-flavored fruit snack, on the other hand, often contains little or no actual blueberry. Instead, the “blueberry” flavor usually comes from artificial or natural flavorings designed to imitate (or masquerade) the taste. The vibrant blue or purple color often comes from food colorings rather than real fruit (another masquerade). The primary ingredients are commonly refined sugars or corn syrup, followed by processed starches, gelatin or modified food starch, fillers, emulsifiers, acids, preservatives, and flavor enhancers that improve texture, shelf life, and appearance—not nutrition.

While these snacks may taste like fruit, they don’t nourish your body like fruit. They provide calories but very little fiber, few vitamins, and virtually none of the beneficial phytonutrients found in fresh blueberries. The rapid absorption of added sugars can cause spikes and crashes in blood sugar, leaving you hungry again sooner and encouraging cravings for even more sweet foods.

And that's just one instance of counterfeit food!

So, as you can imagine, one of the greatest challenges facing Christians today isn’t simply overeating—it’s what we are eating. Many of the foods filling our grocery carts aren’t really food in the way God designed food. They are ultra-processed foods: products engineered to maximize cravings (driving up the obesity rate), shelf life, and profits rather than nourish the body. 

So, don't fall for the lie that counterfeit food is as good as what God made my friend. It’s not. Strive to treat your body like the temple that it is by eating only that which is in it's original form (or is as close to it as possible), and is free from harmful additives, pesticides, and poisons. You will not only feel better, but will be obedient to the command to glorify God in your body and in your spirit. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and are meant to be diligently cared for. Help us to understand that we are called to glorify You in all things, including by the way we eat, drink, exercise, and live. Help us to be good stewards of these bodies You have given us Lord that we might be healthy and serve You to the best of our ability. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!