Missouri Health Talk

Health in the Bible

Different Diets in the Bible over Time

 Hosea 4:6 –
“Educate, Educate, Educate—Because the principles of health and temperance are so important, and are so
often misunderstood, neglected, or unknown, we should educate ourselves, that we may not only bring our own
lives into harmony with these principles, but teach them to others. The people need to be educated,..”{ Te
169.2}
 3 John 2 – God wants us in Health
 Matthew 4:4 – We are to live by every word of God, even dealing with our health

Diet before sin:

 Genesis 1:31 - In the beginning, everything God made was good
 Genesis 1:29 – herb bearing seed, fruit given to us for meat(food)
 Genesis 1:30 – The green herb of the field was given to the animals

Diet right after sin:

 Genesis 3:17-19 – The green herb given to man after sin because of loss of minerals/electrolytes
We are mortal, and must supply ourselves with food that will give proper nourishment to the body {CD 207.2}

1656 Years After Sin:

 Genesis 7:1-3 – Clean vs: Unclean
 Genesis 9:3-4 – Can eat any moving thing (referring to the clean, not the unclean)

Man started to decrease in age after the flood:

 Genesis 5:31 – Lamech = youngest to live before the flood
 Genesis 25:7-8 – Abraham 175 years old when he died
NOTE: That’s a 600 year difference
 See  Genesis 15:13 – Abraham told his people would be a stranger and a servant in a strange land

Diet God tried to give His people after they came out of Egypt:
 Numbers 11:1,4-7,10,13,16,18-20, 33
NOTE: This was not a part of God’s original plan for His people, but in mercy He gave it to them (Ezekiel 20:25)
In mercy, we no longer live to 900+ or even 600 years

How much flesh?

 Proverbs 23:20
NOTE: Medical Science is showing that a person should not consume more than the circumference size of a
person’s palm of their hand
For your average person, this is approx. 3 oz

7 Main Rules for Eating Flesh:

 1. Must be clean (Leviticus 11/Deuteronomy 14)
Swine is known for causing high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.

“PORK, ALTHOUGH ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ARTICLES OF DIET, IS ONE OF THE MOST INJURIOUS…God
never created the swine to be eaten under any circumstances. It is impossible for the flesh of any living
creature to be healthful when filth is its natural element, and when it feeds upon every detestable thing.
“{CTBH 48.1} ***continue on next page***
 “THE TISSUES OF THE SWINE SWARM WITH PARASITES. Of the swine, God said, "It is unclean unto you; ye
shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass." This command was given because SWINE'S FLESH IS
UNFIT FOR FOOD. SWINE ARE SCAVENGERS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY USE THEY WERE INTENDED TO SERVE.
NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, WAS THEIR FLESH TO BE EATEN BY HUMAN BEINGS.”(CD 392.2)

THE EATING OF PORK HAS PRODUCED SCROFULA, LEPROSY, AND CANCEROUS HUMORS. PORK EATING IS
STILL CAUSING THE MOST INTENSE SUFFERING TO THE HUMAN RACE.”{CD 393.2}

 2. No Fat (Leviticus 3:17) – Animal fat causes heart disease, diabetes, etc.
 NOTE: But we are to eat the “fat of the land” like avocados, nuts, olives, etc. (Genesis 45:18)
 3. No Blood (Leviticus 3:17) - One of the main culprits of Prostate Cancer is the eating of Red Meat(bloody)
 4. No Blemish (Leviticus 3:1)
 5. Not strangled (Acts 15:20)
 6. Must be eaten by the third day(Leviticus 19:5-7)
 7. Not Dying of Itself(Deuteronomy 14:21)
NOTE: Remember!!! If we want health, we have to follow these laws for eating flesh food. If we don’t follow
these laws, you won’t have health
And also remember!!! Only 70-80 years is promised to meat eaters
Science has now shown that you can live much longer on a 100% plant based diet

See  1. Meet Your Meat

2. Food Inc.

CAUTION: When working with the sick, we are not to take everyone off of the meat right away
We can do more harm than good in doing this
Especially those on cancer and/or with tumors

“…The changes from injurious habits of life to those conducive to health, are great, and should be
made with care, especially if the same habits of labor are continued. It is always best to labor much less at the
time of changing to a vegetarian diet, and adopting two meals a day.
Is a man a tobacco user, a tea-and-coffee drinker, a meat eater, taking his three meals?
1. Let him begin with tobacco, and put that away.
2. Then let him leave off the use of tea and coffee,
3. eat less meat,
4. and make his third meal very light.
He will find this a heavy tax upon his system. He may all the time feel worse; but what of that? There is a
glorious victory ahead.
5. Soon he can dispense with flesh-meats altogether
His appetite will become natural, and he can take simple, healthful food with a keen relish.
6. Next, he leaves off the third meal. As he sleeps, his stomach rests; and in the morning he does not suffer
from faintness, as when his stomach was taxed with the third meal. When right habits of diet are
established, and the victory over morbid appetite is gained, the morning hours, especially in summer, are
the happiest and best. {1890 JW, BHY 223.4}

“This meat-eating question needs to be guarded. When one changes from the stimulating diet of meat
eating to the fruit-and-vegetable diet, there will always be at first a sense of weakness and of lack of vitality,
and many urge this as an argument for the necessity of a meat diet. But this result is the very argument that
should be used in discarding a meat diet. { CD 291.5}
The change should not be urged to be made abruptly, especially for those who are taxed with continuous
labor. Let the conscience be educated, the will energized, and the change can be made much more readily and
willingly. { CD 292.1}
NOTE: We have to use tact and skill
***continue on next page***
 The consumptives who are going steadily down to the grave should not make particular changes in this
respect, but care should be exercised to obtain the meat of as healthy animals as can be found. { CD 292.2}
Persons with tumors running their life away should not be burdened with the question as to whether they
should leave meat eating or not. Be careful to make no stringent resolution in regard to this matter. It will not
help the case to force changes, but will do injury to the nonmeat-eating principles. Give lectures in the parlor.
Educate the mind, but force no one; for such reformation made under a press is worthless.... { CD 292.3}

What About Other Diets that are Very Popular Today?

 The Atkins Diet? – This diet is high in fats, low in carbs, and a good amount of protein
 The Paleo Diet? – This diet is heavy on protein, high in fats, and low in carbs

Q: What does Jesus show us about this in the Bible? What does we serve more of? Protein or Carbs?
A: Matthew 14:15-20 – 5 Loaves of Bread; 2 Fish
Which is more? the complex carbs, not the protein
NOTE: Man cannot improve on that which Christ has demonstrated to us in His word
NOTE: Medical Science has shown that Fat – 10%; Protein – 20%; and Complex Carbohydrates –
70%