source: http://www.gnmagazine.org
God
designed the human body. Shouldn't we pay attention to what He says
to put into it and what to avoid? by Noel Horner
Mark
Twain reportedly said, "Don't read health books; you may die of
a misprint." Although the great American humorist said this in jest,
we should be cautious about whose advice we take on health matters, including
diet. The fuel for our bodies is vital to our health. Just as a gasoline
engine will suffer damage if we pump diesel fuel into it, our bodies suffer
if we consume the wrong fuel.
Few people have considered
that the Bible is an authoritative and reliable source of dietary information.
However, it conveys numerous principles by command and example. Modern
dietary science and research verify that the information it contains is
accurate and beneficial—and that's only logical, since
God, the designer of our bodies, knows what we should eat.
Benefits
of a healthy diet
Other than simply keeping us
alive, what benefits should a healthy diet provide?
Perhaps most important, it
should fortify our immune system and help protect us against disease.
It is common knowledge that a proper diet lowers our risk for many diseases.
It should also enable us to
avoid the troublesome weight problems that plague the Western world. "Half
of all adults in Europe and 61 percent of Americans are overweight"
(University of California, Berkeley, Wellness Letter, November
2001).
The situation is serious enough
that the surgeon general of the United States "has declared obesity
a national epidemic, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
says it's fast replacing smoking as public health enemy No. 1"
(U.S. News & World Report, July 1). This statement illustrates
the magnitude of the risk of being overweight, considering that an estimated
500,000 Americans die annually from tobacco-related diseases.
What are the biblical laws
that, if obeyed, would promote good health and combat disease?
Avoid
meats the Bible calls "unclean"
The Bible declares some kinds
of meat, including pork and shellfish, to be "unclean," meaning
they are not meant to be consumed as food (Leviticus 11:4-44). Many don't
realize that the dietary laws God gave in this regard still apply. Indeed,
it appears likely that God gave these laws because the proscribed meat
is simply bad for us, unfit for human consumption.
A common false assumption is
that God meant His dietary laws only for ancient Israel, that they constituted
part of the Old Covenant and were abolished under the New.
Actually, however, the Bible
records commands that make the distinction between clean and unclean animals
that predate God's covenant with Israel by nearly 1,000 years—for,
as Genesis 7:2 records, God instructed Noah to take onto the ark seven
pairs of clean animals and one pair of unclean. When God instructed Noah,
Noah didn't need to ask God which were clean or unclean because he
already knew. Indeed, it seems probable that when God created the
animals in Genesis 1 He designated them either clean or unclean from that
time forward.
For a thorough explanation
of this subject, as well as a listing of animals the Bible defines as
clean and unclean, we invite you to request
our free booklet Clean
and Unclean Meats: What Does the Bible Teach? This publication
thoroughly discusses many biblical passages on the subject, including
those that people mistakenly believe give us permission to eat the flesh
of any animal. It also discusses health dangers associated with eating
unclean creatures, backed by statements from doctors and nutritionists.
(See also "Did Jesus Make All Meats Clean?," )
Eat
a balanced diet of clean meats
God created certain meats for
human consumption (Leviticus 11:2). Red meat—such as lamb or beef—is
high in nutritional value and beneficial for health. But the biblical
example is to eat red meat sparingly; often it was served only at feasts
or other special occasions.
"It is very likely that
Jesus ate beef since we know that many people celebrated His presence
in their homes, and we know from Scripture that He attended weddings,
wherebeef was often included as a feast food. Beef consumption, however,
would not have been a daily or weekly practice ..." (Don Colbert,
M.D., What Would Jesus Eat?, 2002, p. 48).
If you need to reduce your
red-meat consumption, you can supplement your diet with more fowl and
fish. "During the time of Jesus ... domestic fowl such as chickens,
geese, pigeons, partridges, duck and quail [were consumed]" (Colbert,
p. 66).
"On the shores of the
Sea of Galilee, fish was a common article of food in the days of Jesus"
(Fred Wight, Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, 1983, p. 51).
Several of Jesus' disciples were former fishermen, and Jesus Himself
ate fish (Luke 24:42).
Current research demonstrates
that fish and fowl are especially healthy foods. The Wellness Encyclopedia
notes that "a small portion (three to four ounces of cooked poultry
without bones or skin) provides about half the daily adult protein requirement
and has half to one-third the calories and fat of a similar portion of
steak. Poultry is also a good source of B vitamins ..."
It adds: "Like meat and
poultry, fish is an excellent source of protein ... relatively low in
calories, fat and cholesterol ... Fish also supply certain vitamins ...
Moreover, fish fat contains a special group of polyunsaturated fatty acids
known as omega-3s. Research has shown that omega-3s can protect against
heart disease" (University of California, 1991, pp. 185, 189-190).
Don't
eat animal fat or blood
The Bible tells us not to consume
animal fat and blood (Leviticus 3:17). Scientists now realize that a direct
cause-and-effect relationship exists between excess consumption of fat
and heart disease. "Over 53 percent of people in large industrialized
countries die of heart disease. Heart disease is most commonly caused
by fat deposits that build up in the arteries, often beginning in the
teenage years" (Reginald Cherry, M.D., The Bible Cure, 1998,
p. 34).
But that is not the only hazard
associated with eating animal fat. Toxins also tend to concentrate in
an animal's fat. While most of the fat in lean, range-fattened clean
animals is isolated from the meat and easily trimmed away, "the toxins
in pork are held especially in the fat, which is not isolated from the
meat as can be the case in lean beef, but rather, it is dispersed throughout
the meat" (Colbert, p. 50).
There are also important reasons
to abstain from blood. "Scientists have long known that blood carries
infections and toxins that circulate in an animal's body. If people
eat animal blood, they are needlessly exposed to these infections and
toxins" (Rex Russell, M.D., What the Bible Says About Healthy
Living, 1996, p. 14).
Limit
fat consumption
Our bodies require some fat
to be healthy. Nutritionists generally recommend that we ingest no more
than 30 percent of our calories from fat. Some sources of fat are healthier
than others. The best sources include fish and unsaturated plant-based
fat. Fat from olives is among the healthiest plant-based fats. God supplied
His people with this in abundance in that He placed them in a "land
of olive oil" (Deuteronomy 8:8).
A modern example that indicates
olive oil is healthy for food is the dietary habits of the inhabitants
of the Greek island of Crete. "Residents of Crete consume more olive
oil per person than any other nation ... In a fifteen-year period, 38
out of 10,000 Cretans died of heart disease, as compared to 773 out of
10,000 Americans" (Colbert, p. 118).
To realize the maximum benefits
from consuming olive oil, it should be "extra virgin or virgin olive
oil. If a bottle of olive oil is not labeled 'extra virgin'
or 'virgin,' then the oil has been refined in some way"
(Colbert, p. 116).
Oils that are beneficial also
include canola, safflower and sunflower. Nutritionists frequently exhort
us to raise our HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, the "good"
kind. "If raising your HDL is a primary concern, you should replace
saturated fats (found in meats, whole milk, and cheese, as well as coconut
oil) with either polyunsaturated fats (as in sunflower and safflower oil),
or, even better, monounsaturated fats (as in olive and canola oil). This
will lower both total cholesterol and LDL [low-density lipoprotein], and
maintain HDL or boost it slightly" (Wellness Letter, December
2001).
Be aware that many commercially
sold oils are subjected to a hydrogenation process before marketing. When
the oils are hydrogenated, their beneficial effects are largely nullified.
"Depending on the degree of hydrogenation, these artificially saturated
vegetable fats are no better for you than comparably saturated animal
fats" (The Wellness Encyclopedia, p. 95). Because baked products
sold in stores generally contain hydrogenated fats, they should be consumed
in moderation.
Are the fats in dairy products
healthy for us? They constituted part of the biblical diet (Genesis 18:8;
1 Samuel 17:18) and are beneficial if eaten sparingly. Butter, in moderation,
is an acceptable source of fat. "Recent studies reported by Dr. Matthew
Gillman of Harvard Medical School ... confirm that heart patients who
ate margarine had twice as many heart attacks as those who ate
butter" (Russell, p. 68).
Cheese is high in protein and
loaded with calcium but contains a lot of fat. It can be safely consumed
in moderation, though many overdo it. "Cheese is the leading source
of artery-clogging fat in the U.S. diet, according to a report from the
Center for Science in the Public Interest. The average American is eating
three times as much cheese today as 30 years ago—on pizza, pasta,
burgers, sandwiches, and even salads" (Wellness Letter, May
2001).
Eat
whole grains
Bread, made from wheat, barley
or millet, was the staple diet item in Bible times. "Bread was of
such importance that the expression 'eat bread and drink water'
could be used to signify eating and drinking as a whole" ("Bread,"
The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, 1962).
The importance of bread in
the biblical diet is illustrated by Jesus when He said He was the bread
of life (John 6:35, 48). Just as Christ is essential for salvation (Acts
4:12), whole-grain products are essential to healthy eating.
"Eat ... six or more servings
of grains or legumes, daily. Whole grains are especially nutritious. These
foods will help you obtain the 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber you need
each day and will provide most of the important vitamins and minerals"
(John Swartzberg, M.D., and Sheldon Margen, M.D.,The Complete Home
Wellness Handbook, 2001, p. 18).
One caution, however, concerns
hybrid grains. Many of today's hybrids, including wheat, contain
a greatly reduced percentage of protein and an excessive percentage of
carbohydrates compared with the nonhybrid grains in use during the biblical
era. Nonhybrid grains tend to be far more nutritionally balanced than
are most hybrid grains.
Grain products also typically
undergo major changes in their journey from the field to the grocer's
shelf. For example, wheat is generally processed into white flour. The
result? "Both the bran and the germ have been removed, along with
approximately 80 percent of the wheat's nutrients" (Colbert,
p. 31). What about commercially produced breakfast cereals? They "usually
have more than 50 percent of their calories in sugar and very little to
no fiber" (p. 30).
The average Western diet lacks
adequate fiber. "Though not a source of calories, vitamins or minerals,
it contributes to health in several ways, and deficiency of it in the
ordinary diet is a significant nutritional problem in our societies"
(Andrew Weil, M.D., Eating Well for Optimum Health, 2000, p. 136).
A
biblical dietary comparison
Fruits and vegetables, along
with whole grains, constituted the bulk of the biblical diet. "Everywhere
the Hebrew people traveled, they included vegetables in their diet"
(James Packer, Merrill Tenney and William White Jr., editors, The Bible
Almanac, 1980, p. 247). The vegetables included leeks, onions, garlic
and cucumbers.
"The various fruits mentioned
in the Bible show ... the Israelites' ingenuity in growing, harvesting,
and preparing them for use. Fruits were eaten fresh, dried, pressed into
cakes, and squeezed for juice" (ibid., p. 254). Fruits mentioned
include apples, figs, grapes, berries, apricots, melons and pomegranates.
Grapes were particularly popular.
"The Bible has more references to grapes and grapevines than to any
other fruit and plant except olives and olive trees ... Grapes are the
first cultivated plant mentioned in the Bible ... Grapes have been shown
to fight tooth decay and to stop viruses, and they are high in caffeic
acid, a substance shown to be a strong cancerous fighting agent"
(Colbert, pp. 146-147).
Adding more of these fruits
and vegetables to your diet in place of other foods will supply a wealth
of nutrition and also help with weight control. "Fruits and veggies
come loaded with complex carbohydrates and other essentials for life,
such as amino acids and essential fatty acids. They also include many
of the natural vitamins and minerals vital to human nutrition ... Fruits
and vegetables also have both soluble and insoluble fiber that allows
our bodies to select what nutrients are needed. This fiber allows many
unneeded calories to pass through the intestinal tract" (Russell,
p. 90). As this occurs, superfluous calories are eliminated rather than
added as body fat.
"A diet consisting predominantly
of fruits and vegetables is the most important factor currently identified
in the prevention of cancer ... The evidence for this is overwhelming:
Study after study has confirmed that people who have the highest intakes
of fruits and vegetables have the lowest rates of cancer" (Swartzberg
and Margen, p. 16).
Fruits and vegetables may even
help prevent Alzheimer's disease. "A new study ... says a diet
rich in fruits and vegetables and less red meat may ward off the degenerative
brain disease, which affects 12 million worldwide" (U.S. News
& World Report, July 29).
Eating fruit as a substitute
for calorie-laden desserts aids weight loss. The natural sugar in fruit
is nutritionally superior to processed sugars, which are major contributors
to overweight. "In the United States, sugar intake has increased
from 1 percent to 20 percent of total calories during the last 200 years
... The average American consumes 150 pounds of refined sugar a year"
(Russell, p. 88).
A large part of that sugar
intake comes through soft drinks. "Americans, on average, drink 53
gallons of soda [carbonated soft drinks] per year—40 percent more
than they drank two decades ago" (Harvard Health Letter, February
2001).
Eating
habits and your health
Proper eating habits are necessary
for good health. If we stuff our bodies with food lacking in nutrition,
we will eventually pay the price.
Sadly, in many cultures it
isn't easy to select the foods that are best for us. In America,
"of the more than 11,000 new food products that came on the market
in 1998, more than two-thirds were candy, snacks, baked goods, soft drinks,
ice creams and similar items" (Wellness Letter, June 2002).
Once these products are in
the stores, advertisers crank up the propaganda. For example, "the
food industry spends some $30 billion a year on advertising. By contrast
the entire federal budget for nutritional education equals one fifth the
advertising costs for Altoids mints" (U.S. News & World Report,
July 1).
How great is the health risk
if you are overweight? "Avoiding weight gain may guard against cancer
of the colon, kidney, uterus, and breast. Being overweight and/or sedentary
also increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes" (Wellness
Letter, November 2001).
Major strides have been made
in the last century in increased life expectancy. "At the start of
the new millennium, the World Health Organization states that at least
120 countries ... have a life expectancy at birth of more than sixty years.
The global average life expectancy has increased to sixty-six years, compared
with only forty-eight years in 1955" (Bradley Wilcox, M.D., Craig
Wilcox, Ph.D., and Makoto Suzuki, M.D., The Okinawa Program, p.
327).
One reason for this is that
many of the major killers of the past are largely under control. For example,
in America "deaths from infectious diseases have been decreased by
93 percent," and "infant mortality has dropped by 93 percent"
(Parade Magazine, March 19, 2000).
Though our life expectancy
is much greater now, we need to be concerned about health expectancy.
The food we put into our mouths will partially determine not only how
long we live but whether we enjoy the wonderful benefits of good health
in the time
we have.
Recommended Reading
Are
all kinds of animal flesh suitable for food? Should we avoid
certain kinds? Did God design certain animals to be eaten
and others not to be eaten? Are Christians free to eat any
kind of food, ignoring the instructions of the Bible? Learn
the surprising answers—and the science behind them—in
the booklet What
Does the Bible Teach About Clean and Unclean Meats?, yours
free for the asking. Discover what the Bible says about your
diet!
A recent chain e-mail has made some people concerned about eating grapefruit. According to the messages, a 2007 study in 
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