If a man so lives as to impair his health, he deprives God of service that he owes Him. Too many give their best years to the world, and when they are old and sick they turn to God. God will accept such, but the fact remains that they have deprived God and humanity of service they could and should have rendered, had they early in life dedicated themselves to Him. “There are but few as yet who are aroused sufficiently to understand how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their characters, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny”. Councils on Diet and Foods, by Ellen White, pg. 51
It is a well known health principle that breakfast should most nearly constitute the heartiest meal of the day. Lunch should follow at least 5 hours later, so as to give the stomach a proper period of work and rest. What’s for lunch? If you were following the SAD (Standard American Diet), you might have a cheeseburger, fries, milkshake and an apple fritter. This food fare is loaded with fat – a villain at work – linking to many life threatening diseases. Some of these major diseases include coronary artery (heart) disease commonly called atherosclerosis, strokes, cancers of the colon, breast and prostrate, plus Type 2 Adult Onset Diabetes.
A good alternative lunch might be a hearty vegetarian soup, whole-wheat pitas stuffed with avocado, lettuce, sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc and fresh fruit such as papaya, pear or mango. This lunch would be devoid of cholesterol and animal fats, not to mention excess salt and sugar. No empty calories! In addition, it would be high in fiber, as well as phytochemicals and antioxidants which lower the risk of cancer.
A little common sense tells us that we need to reduce and even eliminate the unhealthy fats in our diets. Excess fat in foods is probably the most damaging component of the SAD diet. Cholesterol is found only in animal products – a plant based diet contains absolutely no cholesterol! It is interesting to note that, while God did allow man to eat ‘clean’ flesh foods for a short time after the flood, He strictly forbade the use of eating the animal fat and the blood in these foods. God said “It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.” Lev 3:17 “Moreover, ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.” Lev 7:26.
God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to His original diet of subsisting on the natural products of the earth. Fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables should compose our eating fare. All the elements of nutrition are contained in these foods. How much better to get all of them first hand, rather than second hand, and also loaded with fat and cholesterol.
The purpose of teaching, and learning and living health principles is to secure the highest development of body and mind and soul. The laws of nature, being the laws of God, are designed for our good and obedience to them promotes happiness in this life and helps in the preparation for the life to come.
“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6:19,20
LENTIL & BARLEY SOUP
1 – 29 oz can of plan tomato sauce (or blended canned tomatoes)
3½ quarts of water
1 large onion, diced fine
1 cup dry lentils (can be presoaked and drained)
½ cup dry pearl barley
2 stalks diced celery
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp sweet basil
½ to 1 tsp ground cumin
1½ tbsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
4 – 5 fresh sliced carrots
Combine all ingredients and cook for 1½ hours, or until lentils and barley are cooked.
Add carrots and cook another half hour.
Note: Can add 2 or 3 chopped potatoes or ½ cup whole wheat macaroni or other pasta.
by Connie Kiefiuk