Introduction:

Proper nutrition is the foundation of good health and recovery. Cooking classes, meals, and cookbooks all demonstrate the variety, appeal, and satisfaction of whole plant food vegetarian cuisine. In addition physicians explain the issues that link nutrition with health or disease in their lectures.

I. Importance:

The light that God has given and will continue to give on the food question is to be to His people today what the manna was to the children of Israel. The manna fell from heaven, and the people were told to gather it and prepare it to be eaten. So in the different countries of the world light will be given to the Lord's people, and health foods suited to these countries will be prepared.  {MM 267.2}

The skillful preparation of food is one of the most essential arts, standing above music teaching or dressmaking. By this I do not mean to discount music teaching or dressmaking, for they are essential. But more important still is the art of preparing food so that it is both healthful and appetizing. This art should be regarded as the most valuable of all the arts, because it is so closely connected with life. It should receive more attention; for in order to make good blood, the system requires good food. The foundation of that which keeps people in health is the medical missionary work of good cooking.  {MM 269.3}

Let not the work of cooking be looked upon as a sort of slavery. What would become of those in our world if all who are engaged in cooking should give up their work with the flimsy excuse that it is not sufficiently dignified? Cooking may be regarded as less desirable than some other lines of work, but in reality it is a science above all other sciences. Thus God regards the preparation of healthful food. He places a high estimate on those who do faithful service in preparing wholesome, palatable food.  {MM 270.6}

The one who understands the art of properly preparing food, and who uses this knowledge, is worthy of higher commendation than those engaged in any other line of work. This talent should be regarded as equal in value to ten talents; for its right use has much to do with keeping the human organism in health. Because so inseparably connected with life and health it is the most valuable of all gifts. (Ms. 95, 1901).

II. Our original Diet:

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave exacting instructions regarding what they were to eat. Gen. 1:29, says: “I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”

Adam’s diet of fruits, nuts and grains was modified to include the whole plant after he was exiled from the Garden of Eden.

Gen. 3:18 – Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee, and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

A millennium later, following the flood in Noah’s time, there was a total destruction of all the vegetation, which led God to permit using animals for food. God said, Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you, even as the green herb have I given you all things. (Gen. 9:3)

This specific permission has three accompanying qualifications that are often overlooked.

1.     The flesh was to be drained of blood (Gen. 9:4)

2.    Only “clean” animals were to be used as food (Gen. 7:2; Lev. 11:1-28)

3.    No unnecessary killing of animals was to be done (Gen. 9:5)

Notes:

𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐎𝐃 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐍

God gave to our first parents of 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 for foods in eden, but 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧 God gave 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 or 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 and 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐬 the original diet of Human. Thirdly, God permits to eat  𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐭 after flood of Noah the Clean animals.

God gave our first parents the food He designed that the race should eat. It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature taken. There was to be no death in Eden. The 𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 of the trees in the garden, was the food man’s wants required. God gave man 𝐍𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 to 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 until after the flood. Everything had been destroyed upon which man could subsist, and therefore the Lord in their necessity gave Noah 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 to 𝐞𝐚𝐭 of the 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 which he had taken with him into the ark. But animal food was not the most healthful article of food for man. CD 373.1

The people who lived before the flood 𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 and gratified their lusts until their cup of iniquity was full, and God cleansed the earth of its moral pollution by a flood. Then the third dreadful curse rested upon the earth. The first curse was pronounced upon the posterity of Adam and upon the earth, because of 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. The second curse came upon the ground after Cain slew his brother Abel. The third most dreadful curse from God came upon the earth at the flood. CD 373.2

After the flood the people ate largely of animal food. God saw that the ways of man were corrupt, and that he was disposed to exalt himself proudly against his Creator and to follow the inclinations of his own heart. And He permitted that long-lived race to eat animal food to shorten their sinful lives. Soon after the flood the race began to rapidly decrease in size, and in length of years.—Spiritual Gifts 4a:120, 121, 1864 CD 373.3

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞:

Today God's people were back to the original design of God. Fruits, Vegetables, Grains and Nuts should compose our diet. NOT at the OUNCE of FLESH MEAT should enter our Stomach.

III. The Adequate Diet – A Vegetarian Diet is Best for us.

Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet.  {MH 296.1}

a.    The Properly-timed Use:

Breakfast should be the most substantial meal of the day. Two substantial meals daily, are preferable to three. If food is eaten in the evening, it should be light and easily-digested: such as fruit, and toast, or the equivalent.

Five hours to elapse with no snacks between meals. At least three hours to elapse after the last lunch of the day, before retiring; -- to allow the stomach to rest during sleep.

b.    The Right Amount:

Enough to provide energy sufficient for the type of work done, and to maintain optimal weight. But NOT TOO MUCH, --- which would lead to obesity, with its burden of increased incidence of disease.

c.    Variety:

Let each meal be comparatively simple, but use a good variety of foods through the week.

d.    Natural food:

Preferably as it comes from the garden, orchard, or field, with little refinement. Emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables; Whole-grain cereals and flour.

Minimize the use of Highly-refined and highly-milled food, (such as sugar and Highly-milled flour).

Science has discovered that man has specific body functions and processes which operate under certain laws of nature. These laws of nature, if followed, will keep the body healthy and operating at normal levels. To deviate from these laws of nature can have a disastrous effect on the human body.

1.     We were created to be vegetarians. 

There is a difference between herbivores (plant eating animals) and carnivores (meat eating animals), ie:

-      Mouth: Man’s mouth has a small opening, where as carnivores animals such as the dog had a larger mouth opening which allows bigger chunks of meat to go into the mouth.

-      Dental structure: Man has sharp cutting incisors with flat or modular surfaced molars used for crushing and grinding foods just like the herbivorous animals. On the other hand, the carnivore has elongated, strong, and sharp canines for grasping and tearing flesh. The molars have sharp lateral edges in approximating jaws that are used for slicing flesh.

-      Motion of the Jaw: The carnivores’ jaw motion is singular – open and shut only. On the other hand, herbivorous animals have three distinct jaw motions – vertical, or up and down, lateral, or side ways, and forward or backward, just like man.

-      Intestines: Carnivores have a simple stomach, relatively short small intestines, and a large intestine that is very short, straight and smooth. On the other hand herbivores have a larger stomach capacity with the parts sometimes complicated, such as the multiple stomachs of cattle. The small intestine is very long and the large intestine is long and smooth. Man’s intestine has certainly no carnivores features.

-      Perspiring Route: Herbivores perspire through the skin just like human beings, while the carnivorous animals perspire through the mouth.

-      Man’s saliva contains the enzyme ptyalin, as does the herbivores, which is used for the digestion of starch, while the saliva of carnivorous cannot digest starch.

-      Man drinks water by suction as other herbivores, while all carnivorous animals lap the water with their tongue.

-      Man’s bile salt is like that of the herbivores and unlike that of the carnivores.

Rita Butram, PhD, Chief of the Diet and Cancer Branch, at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) USA, said that 35-49% of all cancer deaths are diet related.

2.    A Vegetarian Diet Prevents Disease

Since man is designed not to eat meat, no wonder there are many frightening diseases that have appeared resulting from meat eating, which include cancer, Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke, hypertension, etc.

Science has long proved that a vegetarian diet could prevent these diseases. As far back as 1961 the “Journal of American Medical Association” stated: “A vegetarian diet can prevent 97% of our coronary occlusion.”

3.    A Vegetarian Diet Increases Endurance

Dr. Per Olof Astrand, a world famous, Swedish scientist, conducted experiments to determine the best diet for athlete. Choosing nine athletes for his experiment, he fed them three different kinds of diet, continuing each diet for three days. The diets were as follows:

Phase I:  normal mixed diet

  (meat, potatoes, carrots, milk, cabbage and margarine)

  The athletes pedaled on their stationary bike for an average of 114 minutes.

Phase II: high protein and fat diet from animal products

  (meat, fish, butter and eggs)

  They could pedal the stationary bike for 57 minutes before exhaustion took place.

Phase III: High Carbohydrate diet

  (bread, potatoes, corn and various vegetables and fruits)

  They were able to pedal on their stationary bike for an average of 167 minutes.

In other words their endurance was almost three times more when they ate the vegetarian diet compared to when they were on the meat and dairy products diet.

IV. Nutrients

Foods are those substances (such as rice, maize, beans, bananas, eggs) which we eat to nourish the body and sustain life. Each food contains several nutrients known as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, vitamins and minerals. Te body uses food for three purposes, and nutrients can be classified, then into three groups, according to use: -

1.     For growth and repair                       - Proteins

2.    To furnish energy for work and Heat - Fats and Carbohydrates

3.    To regulate body activities, and allow it to work normally - Vitamins and minerals

Every food contains a different amount of each of those nutrients. So, to make sure that the body gets the right amount of each one, it is necessary to eat a variety of foods.

GOD’S NATURAL PROGRAM SATAN’S SUBSTITUTES

VEGETARIAN (Hi-CHO) VS. FLESH FOODS   (Hi Fat; Hi-protein)

Natural Foods Refined Foods

Little Processing, Natural Sweets Cereals Highly-milled, Sucrose Emphasized 

Simple Preparation Complicated Mixtures:

Rich pastries; Roasts

Non-stimulating Stimulating: with spices, caffeine

Alcohol and Tobacco

Regular: with No Snacks 5 hrs. between meals Irregular, with between meal snacks

Breakfast, the most substantial meal Supper emphasized

Abstemiousness Indulgence

In Amount of food

In food-types – Appetite controlled