Health

Restoring the Temple – The Reproductive System

by

“Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong [thy] days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever.”

—Deuteronomy 4:40.

In the beginning, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. A rib was taken from his side, and from it, woman was created. God had a plan. Part of that plan included marriage and family. In Genesis 2, He said that man should leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. This was, of course, before there were any fathers or mothers, yet God mentions those relationships. Adam named his wife Eve, “because she was the mother of all living.” Genesis 3:20.

A female child is born with all the oocytes (eggs) that she will ever have—approximately 2 million, although only about 400 ever reach maturity. One egg is released—a process called ovulation—each month from puberty to menopause. Some women feel this when it occurs, experiencing a sharp pain or twinge in their lower abdomen. This phenomenon is called mittelschmerz, middle pain. When an egg is released from the ovary, it is “caught” by the fingerlike projections on the ends of the fallopian tubes. From there, the egg journeys through the tube to the uterus. If spermatozoa from the husband fertilize the egg (often in the fallopian tube), then the egg will implant in the wall of the uterus. Several hundred million spermatozoa are released from the male, but only a few thousand reach the woman’s body. If fertilization does not take place, then the egg continues to travel out of the body.

The definition of fertilization is the fusion of two distinctive cells into a totally unique DNA combination. Remember that DNA is what makes you specifically you. You are a unique blend of your father’s and your mother’s DNA. How many possible combinations of DNA can occur with fertilization? About 70 trillion. The only people that share the same DNA are identical twins (or other identical multiples). Most of us have at least seen a set of identical twins and know that although they may be incredibly alike in appearance, they are still very different in personality. Evolutionists like to say that this genetic variation enhances the survival of the population. I like to think that God makes us different so that we each can bring a unique talent and perspective in our relationships to God and to one another.

Normally, one sperm manages to fertilize one egg. When that one sperm gets through the outer barrier of the egg, the egg sends a chemical signal to shut out all the rest. However, there is the possibility of twins, or more. This happens in different ways. Identical twins occur when one egg is fertilized by one sperm, and afterwards, the cell splits into two. Fraternal twins occur when two eggs are released by the ovary and each is fertilized by a separate sperm. There is another possibility, called polar body twinning. This occurs when the egg splits prior to fertilization and two sperm fertilize the subsequent two eggs. These twins share 75 percent of their DNA and are sort of half-identical.

Sometime, after fertilization takes place, the brand new individual (currently a ball of cells) implants into the wall of the uterus. The placenta is a wondrous organ made by interlocking cells of the mother and child. The blood of the mother and that of the baby do not mix, but are separated by only a thousandth of a millimeter. Mother’s blood, hopefully rich in oxygen, water, and nutrients, releases this life-giving material across capillary walls into the capillaries of the fetus in the uterus, which then travel up through the umbilical cord and into the baby. Waste products from the baby are then released into the mother’s blood stream, where they exit her body along with her own wastes.

The period of time between fertilization and birth is usually nine months, divided into trimesters, each about three months in length. In the first trimester, cells become specialized, or differentiated. This means that a cell will permanently become a brain cell, or a liver cell, or maybe a cell on the skin of a toe. By the third week, these cells are forming into organs. The embryo becomes a fetus by the seventh week. By the second month, most of every major organ system is in place.

In the second trimester, the fetus increases in size and the bony part of the skeleton begins to form. The mother starts to feel the movement of her baby. During the last trimester the lungs and heart begin maturing in preparation for breathing air. Antibodies from the mother are transferred to the baby, conferring temporary immunity at birth.

After nine months comes the birth of the long awaited baby. This baby is the result of a combination of a genetic blueprint and what the mother puts into her body. Ellen White also said that fathers are a part of the responsibility of the physical and spiritual welfare of the unborn child. “[God] will enable her [the mother] to transmit to her offspring qualities that will help them to gain success in this life and to win eternal life. Fathers as well as mothers are involved in this responsibility, and they too should seek earnestly for divine grace that their influence may be such as God can approve. The inquiry of every father and mother should be, ‘What shall we do unto the child that shall be born?’ [Judges 13:8.] By many the effect of prenatal influence has been lightly regarded; but the instruction sent from heaven . . . shows how the matter is looked upon by the Creator.” The Signs of the Times, February 26, 1902.

Each of us is a wonder that God made and knew from the beginning. The Word tells us that our bodies are temples. Our loving Father gave us the choice to bring glory to Him by our thoughts and actions, made unique by our created individuality.

“With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.” Psalm 45:15–17.

Sheryle Beaudry, a certified teletriage nurse, writes from Estacada, Oregon where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. She may be contacted by e-mail at sbeaudryrn@hotmail.com.

Will Thou Be Made Whole? Part I

by

One concept that is essential to the principles of health is the intimate relationship between the spiritual and the physical. Those who are in medical missionary work need to understand this.

Owner’s Manual

The Bible is the greatest medical book that has ever been written. “Know ye that the Lord he is God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3. There are two schools of thought in this world upon which hinge all other philosophies, thinking, and modalities—either creation or evolution. We believe that there is a Creator God. At the same time, since we believe that God is the author, the manufacturer, the producer, and the inventor of this fearfully and wonderfully made body of ours, then we realize also that He has given us an owner’s manual.

Every automobile that comes off the industrial line contains an owner’s manual. Would you think it logical for the Ford manufacturers to ask General Electric to produce the owner’s manuals for their automobiles? No, because General Electric did not make the product. The one who made the product is more knowledgeable about the product than anyone else. So if your car broke down, you would not consult General Electric. The same logic applies with the body. Since God made the body, He knows more about the body than anyone on the face of the earth. Those with whom He entrusted gifts of ministry should get their direction from Him.

Do you trust the preacher or anyone else with your salvation? No. So why should you trust anyone else with your health? Even though God raises up men and women to preach, to do Bible work, and to work in the medical field, He has not given them authority, absolute power, over you. We have a personal responsibility for our own lives. God has given us an owner’s manual. Its purpose is to give us instruction on how to operate the product—even how to troubleshoot the product if something happens.

Read the Instructions

Before I became a Christian, the hardest thing I had ever done was learning how to dribble a basketball. I did not know how to use a hammer; I thought beans grew in a can, until God thrust me into this work, out in the country. Then I told my wife that we were going to build a house. She looked at me like I was crazy, because we had never done anything like that before.

Once we built our house, I began to learn a little bit about electricity. I did not know too much, but I began to install some electrical apparatus. This particular product had an instruction sheet with numbered steps. I assumed that I knew how to put a red wire with a red wire, so I saw no need to read the instructions. I thought I did not have time to go through all of the fine print, and that I was intelligent enough to put it together, until I began to blow out circuit breakers and so forth. There is an old saying, “When all else fails, read the instructions.”

We have tried everything else, except God. God has given us an owner’s manual, and in that manual He has given us some very basic instructions. “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.” Psalm 119:73. It is one thing to have knowledge, but we also need understanding—the ability to apply what we know. Sometimes we get a lot of knowledge, but we become spiritually constipated. We get overloaded, and we are not able to share that which we have received. Once we get knowledge, we need to learn how to make the right application of that which we have received. If we do not do that, it is all wasted.

God has given us principles, laws, and with those He wants to give us understanding. These principles are trust, air, exercise, sunshine, rest, water, temperance, and nutrition. All of these anyone in this world can afford. They are so simple that we do not see their impact. In my 25 years as a medical missionary, these principles have been all that I use.

As Thy Soul Prospereth

There is a favorite text of many Christians that is quite significant. It says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 111 John 2. Notice the phrase, “even as.” What does that mean? It means to the same extent, proportionate. That text tells us that, as we grow spiritually, our physical awareness and willingness to preserve the integrity of these bodies will develop proportionately. No one who walks in the Christian life and grows in grace will neglect the house that God built for the dwelling of His Holy Spirit. If we say we are spiritual yet we are not conscious of our health and the house in which we live, then there is something wrong with our spirituality. This text tells us that, as we learn to know God, we will become more conscientious about our bodies. Health is not an option; it is an integral part of our walk with Jesus. Keeping the Sabbath, eating the right things, drinking the right things, or wearing the right clothes will not save us, but these are evidences of our love for Jesus, of our relationship with God. If anyone says that health is just a matter of fact, something is wrong with his or her spiritual barometer!

Mental, Spiritual, Physical

You cannot separate the gospel from the health message. No ministry or church can be successful without the health message. The health message does not take the place of the gospel. It is the very means by which the gospel finds entrance into the heart. God wants us to become awakened to this health message. The Bible tells us that since we grow spiritually and our health grows proportionately, then we need to know what God wants us to be like.

God took dirt, and He exalted that dirt by making it into His image. From that dirt He formed a man into a specimen of Himself. We are nothing but dirt, but we have been exalted by God’s grace. With the molecules and the atoms that God placed into the earth, He constructed a house. “And the Lord God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7. Man is made up of three aspects: mental, spiritual, and physical. The social and emotional are inclusive in those three aspects.

Made Whole

Do you want to be made whole? That sounds very inviting. The Bible says, “There was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” John 5:1–6.

What does it mean to be made whole? The Bible answers that question: “[Jesus] saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17. Wholeness is the very opposite of being sick. This wholeness not only involves the physical aspect, but the spiritual, because Jesus is associating repentance with wholeness. Most medical missionaries focus primarily on the physical, but no one can be physically well unless they realize what Jesus is saying in Mark and in Deuteronomy 6:5: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart [that is mental], and with all thy soul [that is spiritual], and with all thy might [that is physical].” Again the Bible validates that man is physical, mental, and spiritual.

We can define whole as being complete, entire, and total. The word salvation means to save—to preserve from destruction, to heal. “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” Psalm 67:2. To heal, to make whole—Christ came to restore the whole person.

The Blueprint

There is a wonderful book that transformed my life 25 years ago, before I even knew who wrote it. Some of you are familiar with the book—it is called The Ministry of Healing. Another title for it is Health and Happiness. If you do not have the book, please get it. If you have it, blow the dust off of it and read and study it. It is the blueprint. Inspiration says that that book contains the wisdom of the Great Physician. (See Testimonies, vol. 9, 71.) On the very first page of the very first chapter in that book, we are given our example. Christ came to restore the whole man, to bring him health, to bring him peace, and to bring him a moral regeneration. Christ came to restore the whole person.

Whole or Holistic

“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Matthew 9:12. Again Jesus raises the question, wilt thou be made whole? True health is wholeness. The New Age community uses the word wholeness too—they say holistic. The devil does not come up with anything original; he always counterfeits. He speaks enough truth mixed with his error to make it all error. In the New Age philosophy, we find that they believe man is a unity, that he is departmentalized—his spirit is over here, his mind is over there, and his body is somewhere else. God says man is not a unity, man is a unit; he is complete.

If the world has mental problems, they consult a psychiatrist. When a person is physically sick, they see a physician. When they have a spiritual problem, they go to a preacher for counsel. We know, in a general sense, people trust their minds to psychiatrists, their bodies to physicians, and their spirituality to preachers. Do these professionals agree with one another? No, not usually. That is why people are still sick, because they put their minds in one area, their bodies in another, and their spiritual lives in another. The doctor does not agree with the preacher, and the preacher does not agree with the doctor; the psychiatrist does not agree with either one—and we wonder why we are still incomplete.

A true minister will be a medical missionary. A true physician will be a preacher. “The minister will often be called upon to act the part of a physician. He should have a training that will enable him to administer the simpler remedies for the relief of suffering. Ministers and Bible workers should prepare themselves for this line of work; for in doing it, they are following the example of Christ. They should be as well prepared by education and practice to combat disease of the body as they are to heal the sin-sick soul by pointing to the great Physician.” Medical Ministry, 253. “The presenting of Bible principles by an intelligent physician will have great weight with many people. There is efficiency and power with one who can combine in his influence the work of a physician and of a gospel minister. His work commends itself to the good judgment of the people.” Counsels on Health, 546. Any preacher who is not a medical missionary cannot be as effective as he should, and a physician who incorporates the gospel in his work is more effective than without it.

Do you think that God would lead me to give you a Bible study only, when you are sitting there with a headache, or with tumors? No! Jesus is the primary example. His ministry was more involved with teaching and healing than with preaching. Preaching is only the beginning for a minister. His work is outside of the pulpit; it is with the people; it is in their homes. Jesus is our example.

Humanism

Let us return to the pool of Bethesda (John 5). Here was a pool of water with impotent folk lying around it. Think of yourself in this position. You are lying beside this pool with a debilitating disease, and you know that if you get into that pool you might be healed, if you are first once the angel stirs the water. If that were a reality, would you do it? Yes, many of you would. So if there were 1,000 people around that pool, it would mean that only the strongest survived. Because we are so desperate, when we take our eyes off of Jesus, the world presents something that we think is better. The pool of Bethesda is what I call the pool of human philosophy and the pool of human message.

Humanism leads us to believe that we can solve our own problems. We go to human beings; we can solve our financial problems; we can solve our marriage problems; and when we have children who are going astray, we do everything we can to try to solve their problems. We cry; we weep; and we wonder what we have done to fail them, instead of trusting them to the Lord. Wipe those tears away. If you have given them to God, He knows how to care for them. He had a child who went wild, so God can relate to us. The pool of Bethesda is humanism—trusting in self, trusting in man, trusting in man’s inventions.

The Bible tells us, “For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise [is] incurable, [and] thy wound [is] grievous. [There is] none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.” Jeremiah 30:12, 13. Man has no healing medicines; even in the medical field there are no healing medicines. The medicines may give some temporary relief, but there is no true, healing medicine.

At our lifestyle center in Tennessee, the majority of our guests are cancer cases. Prior to a recent session, a friend of mine was desperate to attend. Over a year before she had been diagnosed with cancer. She had had a year to come to the lifestyle center, but she chose not to come; she decided to go the traditional medicine route. Yes, sometimes surgery might be necessary, but she went through chemotherapy and radiation, and now she was dying and wanting to come to the center. If we do not seek God, before we take human action, things do not work out; then we want God to perform a miracle for us. If He does not perform a miracle, then we say that His Plan did not work. There are no healing medicines.

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black;”—He is touched with the infirmities of every suffering soul—“astonishment hath taken hold on me. [Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Jeremiah 8:20–22.

God Heals

Who makes you whole? “Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.” Acts 9:34. “I [am] the Lord that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26. Keep this in mind, no matter what—God is the one who heals you.

I used to be a professional athlete. God had to get my attention, because I would not listen to Him, so He allowed King Arthur to rule my life. King Arthur is arthritis. I was diagnosed at the age of 17, and it lasted until I was 27. It ruined my career, but it kept me out of the United States Army during the Vietnam War, for which I am eternally grateful. I could not have lasted a week in boot camp. My knees and joints were so bad, even steroids did not work anymore, and I began to take street drugs just so I could continue playing basketball.

My team physician looked in my eyes and said, “Tom, you are a good basketball player, but you will never be able to overcome arthritis.” He was a medical doctor, so I accepted what he said. He told me, “You are going to be on drugs the rest of your life.” He also told me there was no known cause for it. As I look back on this I ask, How do you prescribe a remedy for something you do not understand? Sometimes the remedy is worse than the cure.

Different Team

But God got my attention, and He told me He wanted me to trade my basketball for a Bible. Instead of going down the hardwood court, He coached me to go up and down the earth court, to be on a team that will never lose. For 25 years I have been on that team, and I have the best Coach. The pay is wonderful, and the retirement plan is out of this world.

When I picked up the Word of God, I was not a Christian. I grew up in a single-parent Baptist home; and I had a very loving, Christian mother who instilled biblical principles in me. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. The child may go out of the way, but when he is old, he will return. My mother saw her youngest child return back to the Lord. I am 54 years of age; it has been 27 years, and I have no traces of arthritis. I realized that it was Jesus who had the answer to every disease, to every cause, when man did not know. I went first to the Word of God.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23. What does that say? Spirit, soul, and body. When we are talking about holy flesh, about this flesh becoming perfect, we are talking about this body becoming a fit vessel so that it can run the race. We are not going to get new bodies until Christ breaks the clouds of glory, but at the same time, that final church, the 144,000, will be health reformers. Each one of us has the privilege to be part of that elite group, whether we are young or old. God’s grace is sufficient. God said, “As thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be].” Deuteronomy 33:25.

No Healthy Sinners

Man is made up of three aspects—mental, physical, and spiritual. Jesus asks, “Wilt thou be made whole?” We cannot enjoy true physical health without mental and spiritual health. Many medical missionaries might do a little praying and talk a little about Jesus, enough to say they are Christians, but their whole focus is on the physical. Why is it that a man will gain the whole world and lose his soul? Why is it that a man can be healed of cancer of the body but still have cancer of the soul, so he dies, to just die again? God is not in the business of producing healthy sinners. I am not in the business, as a medical missionary, to get you well so that you can turn a gun on me. My point is this: The business of a medical missionary is to prepare people for eternity, and a Christian should not fear dying. If I have cancer, I am going to go God’s way, and if I die with cancer in the Lord, I have been victorious, because healing continues in the resurrection. If my focus is only on giving the person the physical therapy apart from the spiritual and mental, I have done nothing but contribute to Satan’s army.

Only God can teach us His true message. I thank God for the way that He led me. Before I read any other man’s book on health, I read the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. I challenge every medical missionary to spend more time studying the principles from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, for then you have a barometer by which to interpret or decipher all of the other things that you read from other books. I challenge every medical missionary to go back to the Manual.

To be continued . . .

Thomas Jackson is a health evangelist and Director of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He may be contacted by e-mail at godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at 731-986-3518.

Restoring The Temple – Depression and Diet

by

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, for the help of his countenance.” —Psalm 42:5.

Depression affects 200 million people world- wide, which is one person out of thirty of the world’s population. In the United States, it will affect 19 million Americans this year, or one person out of sixteen. In the United States alone, the cost of dealing with this disease is $70 billion per year. It approaches the amount spent on heart disease, the number one cause of death in this country. The United States antidepressant drug sales have risen 800 percent to $10.2 billion since 1990. The number of people taking antidepression medication has also steadily increased. The World Health Organization reports that, by the year 2020, depression will likely be the second leading cause of disease worldwide.

Depression knows no cultural, social, or economic barriers. It afflicts people of every age, race, religion, and educational background. More people are suffering from depression now than in previous generations.

For deliverance from depression to take place, we must determine what the causes and symptoms of the depression are. Depression is one of the most common forms of mental illness, a common mood disorder. Some of the symptoms of depression which are often present include feelings of persistent sadness and gloom, reduced physical activity, feelings of irrational anxiety, and a sense of hopelessness. Depressed people may have other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating; their sleep and appetite may be affected; they may feel tired all the time, may lose interest in life, experience negative thinking, and have thoughts of suicide.

What brings about such a condition as depression? What are some of the causative factors? Some cases of depression appear suddenly for no apparent reason; others are brought about by stressful life events such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss. Research has also confirmed that some cases of depression are brought on slowly and subtly over time by poor lifestyle habits. Science has identified several factors, which can promote and even intensify feelings of hopelessness and despair. Some of these factors include alcohol, smoking, caffeine, physical inactivity, improper diet, stressful living circumstances, food allergies, high blood pressure medication, and various other medications.

How can one be delivered from depression? While medication can sometimes provide temporary relief from symptoms, we find chronic use of antidepressants can lead to physical and emotional dependency and may actually deepen the depression. God has something better; there is a way out. Nearly all types of depression will respond to some fundamental basic methods. The eight principles of GOD’S PLAN—Godly trust, Open air, Daily exercise, Sunshine, Proper rest, Lots of water, Always temperate, and Nutrition—can be incorporated in one’s life to bring about the positive results.

There is deliverance from depression. We must have a firm trust and hold upon God. And in conjunction with this, we need to develop proper lifestyle habits. We need tasks with a purpose. We all need to be productive. We need to have a feeling of accomplishment, completion, and satisfaction in doing something useful each day. We need to have structure and regularity, observing regular hours for eating, sleeping, and working. We need to have a healthful diet, eating fresh natural foods, which give an increase of mental and physical energy. Eating plenty of fresh fruits for a day or two can do wonders in clearing the mind; going on a one or two-day fast, getting adequate rest, and incorporating periods of quietness and calm are especially important. Sleep deprivation can set off or intensify depression. Most people feel their best with seven to eight hours of sleep, daily exercise, and 30 to 40 minutes of aerobic- type activity such as brisk walking, bicycling, or hiking. These stimulate the release of mood altering natural chemicals called endorphins. Ecclesiastes 11:7 says, “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” Daily sunlight has been used successfully for many years in the treatment of many types of depression. Trust in God is very important. Bearing heavy burdens alone is enough to crush one’s spirit. The Bible encourages us to cast all our cares upon Him who cares about us and He will sustain us. 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22. We need to educate ourselves to express thanks, praising God for the many blessings that He has given us. Learn to talk hope and faith; this can have a positive impact upon your life.

Many who are depressed do not know that the kinds of foods they partake of is a causative factor in determining their mental state. With this concept in mind, we need to explore the different kinds of foods that can cause depression. It is also important to examine the scientific evidence of how food affects the mental state of individuals.

What kinds of foods do people turn to when depressed? The most common foods to cause mental disturbance are sugar, milk, and milk products. “Sugars are closely linked to feelings of despair, depression, alienation, and sugar strengthens feelings of individuality.” Annemarie Colbin, Food and Healing, Ballantine Books, New York, 1986, 290.

Wheat can cause unpleasant allergic reactions, often in the form of moodiness and depression. Wheat is an ingredient found in many of the foods we eat. Other common culprits are caffeine, coffee, carbonated beverages, and chocolate. “By restricting the sugar and caffeine intake of people with depression, it has been reported to elevate moods in preliminary research.” W. Lininger Schuyler (Editor), et. al., The Natural Pharmacy, Prima Publishing, New York, 1999, 50.

Sugar, food colorings, and foods that are low in folic acid and vitamin B12 are associated with and can contribute to depression. Here we see scientific research has shown that foods can cause depression. Eating for comfort or overindulging often leads to obesity and bulimia, which is a part of the depression cycle.

Let’s review some scientific facts in regard to foods that can cause depression. In the book Depression: The Way Out, Dr. Neil Nedly states, “Diet has such a profound effect on human metabolism that it comes as no surprise that there are many interrelationships between the foods we eat and our risk of depression.” (Nedly Publishing, Ardmore, Oklahoma, 2001, 34.) The absence of Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids causes an imbalance in the brain, thereby affecting mental health.

How can we overcome? By using God’s Life Activating Diet (G.L.A.D.), a diet low in fat, low in protein, high in fiber, and high in nutrients. It provides the tools necessary for overcoming depression. The highest source of fiber is whole grains. When we make the change to GOD’S PLAN, then we can ask God to give us victory over depression because “with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.

We need to bring into balance the chemical makeup of our brains by making proper food choices. Leviticus 17:11 states, “The life of the flesh [is] in the blood.” “The brain is the organ and instrument of the mind, and controls the whole body. In order for the other parts of the system to be healthy, the brain must be healthy. And in order for the brain to be healthy, the blood must be pure. If by correct habits of eating and drinking the blood is kept pure, the brain will be properly nourished.” Medical Ministry, 291. It is our responsibility to choose the necessary nutrients that will nourish our brains and not eat those things that will strip and rob the brain, causing us to be in a state of mental depression.

In validation of the G.L.A.D. diet, there is documented proof of research done that states that the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.), which is high in fat and protein and low in fiber and nutrients, contributes to bipolar disorder and other mental depression. If you use a low fat and low protein, high fiber and high nutrient diet, it will improve the mental state. “Those who consume a low fat and high complex carbohydrate diet show significantly greater improvement when dealing with depression.” Melvyn R. Werbach, M.D., Nutritional Influence on Mental Illness, Third Line Press, Inc., Tarzana, California, 1999, 221.

LaVerne Jackson is Associate Director and Business Manager of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. She has a Masters Degree in Nutrition and is a Nutritional Consultant. She may be contacted by e-mail at: godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at: 731-986-3518.

Health – Raw is Not New

by

Eating raw food is not a new idea or a new fad. It is an old idea which has again resurfaced to redirect people to a better way of life by replenishing their diets with raw along with cooked. It really is a forgotten art. Let’s look at a little bit of history.

“As early as World War I, leaders in the field of nutrition were unearthing the dangers of processed and packaged foods as well as the powers of raw foods. During that time, a German food scientist named Werner Kollath conducted a test of a processed food diet on lab animals. On the outside, these animals looked relatively healthy, but as they grew older, they developed a number of health complications. Further, it was found upon performing an autopsy after their death that their insides were filled with disease. At the time, there weren’t any available vitamins to give sickly animals for them to regain their health. What Kollath found instead was that a diet filled with leafy greens, vegetables and cereal germs – all enzyme-rich raw foods – helped them return to their normal levels of health, explained Dr. Donaldson.”

“Enzyme-rich raw foods helped them regain their health.”

“Later, physician Max Bircher-Benner found the answer in living foods through his own illness. He eventually opened a clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, that helped heal a number of individuals with whole, raw food – one of the first of its kind. Dr. Max Gerson was another physician who experienced his own ailments, primarily migraines. After trying several different diets, he found that the living food diet, derived from that of monkeys, worked to alleviate their severe headaches. He then found that these raw foods could help a number of other diseases, including cancer.

“Another man who accidently discovered the power of a raw food diet was Norman Walker, who found the answer in juicing: Fresh carrot juice and a living diet helped Norman overcome his nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, a woman named Ann Wigmore took what she learned from her grandmother’s natural treatments during WWI and began eating grass and flowers when she developed gangrene. She was soon healed. In her mission to find the best grasses for health, Wigmore would go on to promote cereal grass and wheat grass.”

Excerpts from: www.myhdiet.com/healthnews/health-news/key-takeaways-from-the-raw-food-webinar

There are many other writers who also agree that including more raw foods for nourishment and health into our diet would be a great idea. Many already know that eating processed and cooked foods for most of their diet is not the best for their health. It is not strengthening to the immune system because most of the vitamins and minerals have been cooked to death and being devoid of nutrition are no longer of use to the body. Processed foods purchased in stores truly have been processed to death.

The main object of healthy eating is to keep our bodies in tip-top shape for the Lord’s service. So why not build up your immune system and do your part to restore and prolong your health. In this way you will give glory to God by the choices you make in what you eat.

Onward Christian Soldiers!

Restoring the Temple – Diabetes

by

Question:

My dad has type II diabetes. What is diabetes and what different types of diabetes are there?

—d.b., oregon

Answer:

That is a simple, yet very complicated question. Diabetes and its treatment are quite complex. Large textbooks and thousands of medical articles have been written about this disease, yet its intricacies often overwhelm health professionals. The important thing is that people with the disease, like your father, and their family members, have a basic understanding of diabetes and its treatment. While there is a library’s worth of information out there, I will try to give you a basic overview of diabetes. Remember, each person’s disease is a little different, and how it is treated is up to him or her and their medical or alternative health care practitioner.

Diabetes has been with us for a long time, although historical accounts indicate that it was totally misunderstood. One document, written by Areteus the Cappadocian, between the second and third centuries, a.d., states that diabetes is the “melting down of the flesh and limbs into urine” and is most certainly deadly. Fortunately, Areteus was mistaken on both accounts. Today, with the understanding of what diabetes is, treatments have allowed diabetics to live healthy, productive lives.

Basically, diabetes is a disease involving the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that sits behind the stomach and produces digestive juices, which are released into the small intestine. The pancreas also produces insulin, which is released into the blood stream. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use the sugar and fat from the food you eat. Diabetes occurs if the pancreas produces little or no insulin or if the body does not respond to insulin as it should. Diabetes is considered a lifelong disease; however, the prospect of health is greatly dependent upon how well the person adheres to their treatment regimen.

Every cell in your body needs glucose to make energy. Glucose is a simple sugar that is broken down from the food that you eat. Carbohydrates are transported from the intestines to the liver (via the bloodstream) where they are broken down into glucose. The bloodstream then delivers glucose to every cell in your body. Extra glucose is stored in the liver or is converted into fat. When glucose enters your cells, it decreases the glucose level in your blood stream (called blood glucose or blood sugar).

Think of insulin as sort of a membership card. Without the card, the member is not allowed into the building, right? Without insulin, glucose cannot enter the cell. So now you have all this glucose building up in the blood stream with nowhere to go. This is hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar.

There are three types of diabetes: Type I, Type II, and gestational. Type I diabetes is caused by the pancreas producing little or no insulin. Persons with Type I must take insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels. Type I diabetes is pehaps better known as juvenile-onset diabetes. It has been called this because it occurs mostly in youth under the age of 20, but it can occur at any age.

Persons who have Type II diabetes do produce insulin, but they either do not produce enough or it does not work properly. Affecting 17 million people in the United States, Type II is the most common form of diabetes. It is interesting to note that an estimated 91 percent of those cases could have been prevented by lifestyle changes. Type II diabetes is the leading cause of health complications such as blindness, non-traumatic amputations, and chronic kidney failure. Risk factors for this type of diabetes include age (usually over 40) and obesity. There is a rise of Type II diabetes in children related to the increase of obesity in childhood.

Type II diabetes is treated differently in different people. Some may be able to manage their blood sugar by controlling their weight, making dietary changes, and by exercising. This treatment is sometimes not enough for some people, and they may need to take a prescription drug or insulin injections.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when hormone changes affect the ability of insulin to work properly. In most cases, blood sugar levels return to normal after childbirth, but women who have had gestational diabetes have a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes later.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The symptoms of diabetes can include increased thirst, increased hunger, dry mouth, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, blurry vision, itching, and increased frequency of infections.

Management of Diabetes

The main treatment goals include keeping blood sugar as close to normal levels as possible by balancing food intake with medication (if necessary) and exercise. The person with diabetes should plan their diets carefully, exercise regularly, and monitor blood sugars faithfully.

Diabetes is a lifelong test of watchfulness and self-control. Sometimes even when a diabetic is doing everything exactly right, something, such as an illness or traumatic experience throws the blood sugar out of control anyway. But, with conscientious care, and, most importantly, with our Lord’s help, diabetics can lead a long, healthy, and active life. Don’t we have an even better life to which to look forward?

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7.

Sheryle Beaudry, a certified teletriage nurse, writes from Estacada, Oregon where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. She may be contacted by e-mail at: sbeaudryrn@hotmail.com. If there is a health-related question you would like answered in LandMarks, please e-mail your question to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Wilt Thou be Made Whole? Part II

by

Recently someone asked me about a book which promotes that the ability of our body to absorb different foods and handle stress is dependent on our blood type. For instance, the book says things like if your blood type is “B” you cannot be a vegetarian because you have to have beef. People actually buy into that stuff!

The Lord’s messenger, Ellen White, wrote: “While we do not make the use of flesh-meat a test, while we do not want to force anyone to give up its use, . . . if in the face of the light God has given concerning the effect of meat eating on the system, you will still continue to eat meat, you must bear the consequences. . . . The Lord is calling for reform.” Medical Ministry, 279.

She also counseled that “The system must be nourished. Yet we do not hesitate to say that flesh-meat is not necessary for health or strength. If used it is because a depraved appetite craves it. Its use excites the animal propensities to increased activity, and strengthens the animal passions. When the animal propensities are increased, the intellectual and moral powers are decreased. The use of the flesh of animals tends to cause a grossness of body and benumbs the fine sensibilities of the mind. . . . The intellectual, the moral, and the physical powers are depreciated by the habitual use of flesh-meats. Meat-eating deranges the system, beclouds the intellect, and blunts the moral sensibilities. We say to you, dear brother and sister, your safest course is to let meat alone.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 63, 64.

Then people read another book, Fit for Life (Harvey and Marilyn Diamond, Mass Market Paperback, February 1987), that says you do not need to eat breakfast, you can just drink fruit juice. But the Spirit of Prophecy says that we need to eat breakfast: “It is the custom and order of society to take a slight breakfast. But this is not the best way to treat the stomach. At breakfast time the stomach is in a better condition to take care of more food than at the second or third meal of the day. The habit of eating a sparing breakfast and a large dinner is wrong. Make your breakfast correspond more nearly to the heartiest meal of the day.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 173.

People believe the secular writers, so they add barley green (which is good) in the juice in the morning, eat a salad for lunch, and ingest a heavy meal in the evening, because that is what some nutritionists and doctors say to do.

Use the Manual

Many people on a juice diet have told me they will be on it for life. They may be diabetic, have cancer, or suffer from another malady. I could give case after case, testimony after testimony, contradicting such a diet, but what does the Word say? We must have a barometer to interpret everything we read. I have hundreds of books, but I know what is right because of the Bible—to the law and to the testimony. If you have never read the law and the testimony, you will buy into everything.

I challenge every medical missionary to go back to the Manual [the Bible]. I deal with Adventists who are off into all kinds of modalities such as acupuncture, reflexology, crystals, and iridology. They claim these things work. The devil believes also; he works and performs miracles too. “Satan is working with everyone who is not under the control of the Spirit of God. It is the lying wonders of the devil that will take the world captive . . . . He is to work miracles; and this wonderful, miracle-working power is to sweep in the whole world. It is now just beginning.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 51.

How are you going to know what is what unless you know the Word of God? Show me iridology in the Bible . . . it is not there. Be straight, be plain. Anything that is mysterious is not of God. God’s Plan is simple. He takes the simple things to confound the wisdom of the world. One rock felled Goliath; eleven unlearned men turned the world upside down.

Faith is Vital

Jesus says, “And He entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” Matthew 9:1, 2, 6. Jesus first said, “Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.” Then He said, “Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thine house.” As Jesus healed, He included the three aspects of mental, spiritual, and physical.

Notice in verse 2 it says, “Seeing their faith.” Whose faith?—when Jesus saw the faith of those who had brought him! Ellen White tells us that we should speak of such faith to those in our care: “You can speak often to the sick of the Great Physician who can heal the diseases of the body as verily as He heals the sickness of the soul. Pray with the sick, and try to lead them to see in Christ their Healer. Tell them that if they will look to Him in faith, He will say to them, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee.’ It means very much to the sick to learn this lesson.” Medical Ministry, 196, 197. [Emphasis supplied.]

The story is repeated in Mark 2 with more details: Jesus was in a place where there was no room for a sick man to get to Him. This man had four friends who knew that Jesus was the Chief Physician, but they could not get their friend near Jesus. What did they do? They climbed up on the roof and tore open a hole! They actually removed the roof to let their sick friend down into the room where Jesus was. The roof was separating the Saviour from them. Are there any roofs in your life that are separating you from the Saviour? If so, you need to tear them out!

When Jesus saw the young man with palsy, and He saw their faith, He said, “Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.” (Verse 5.) What do those words mean to you and me? Does it mean that we can bear someone up in the arms of our faith to give Christ access to their hearts? Yes, it does. We can bear our children up; we can bear our spouses up; we can bear the church up; and we can bear souls up in our faith! That is why we must be sure that our faith is not spotted with the world. We want to be sure that when we pray to our heavenly Father that our prayers do not go up to the ceiling and drop back down. That is why we do not want to regard any iniquity in our hearts. “If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us. He can do what He will with His own. He will glorify Himself by working in and through them who wholly follow Him so that it shall be known that it is the Lord, and that their works are wrought in God.” Counsels on Health, 378. “If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. When all known wrongs are righted, we may believe that God will answer our petitions.” Steps to Christ, 95.

That is why I want to walk the talk. I deal with too many suffering people, and I want God to hear my prayer in behalf of those souls. I want God to access their lives through my faith.

If you have faith, God can touch someone’s life. That is what these Scripture passages are telling us. They also show us that mental healing precedes physical healing.

Be of Good Cheer

As soon as we are diagnosed with a dreaded disease, such as cancer, the mind begins to go through depression. It shuts down. But Christ repeatedly exhorts us to be of good cheer: “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:2. “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50. “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. The opposite of good cheer is fear. Fear occurs when false evidence appears real. Some of us handle problems by faith, with good cheer. Others handle problems with fear. God says that perfect love casts out that fear. When we can rise above the fear, we can live. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

The Bible goes on to tell us that in Him we can have peace. John 16:33 says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” We must come to the conclusion, as a Christian, that we are going to have trouble. Once we resolve that we are going to have trouble, we do not have to focus on it anymore. Man is born into trouble. Do not worry; do not dwell on it; do not look for it; know it is there—it is going to come. We might have financial trouble, children problems, sickness problems, but do not worry about them, because God says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome.” Ibid.

Ellen White wrote that “there are many who desire to love and serve God, and yet when affliction comes upon them, they do not discern the love of God in it, but the hand of the enemy. They mourn and murmur and complain; but this is not the fruit of love to God in the soul. If we have perfect love, we shall know that God is not seeking to injure us, but that in the midst of trials, and griefs, and pains, He is seeking to make us perfect, and to test the quality of our faith. When we cease to worry about the future, and begin to believe that God loves us, and means to do us good, we shall trust Him as a child trusts a loving parent. Then our troubles and torments will disappear, and our will will be swallowed up in the will of God.” Sons and Daughters of God, 193.

Shift Your Focus

Once we shift our focus from the trouble to the solution, then we can go on to live the Christian life.

The biggest challenge in dealing with sick people is to help them shift their focus from their sickness to the Healer. If a person wants to lose weight, all they do is focus on losing weight. Stop dwelling on losing weight, dwell on being healthy. Stop dwelling on gaining weight, dwell on being healthy. Stop dwelling on diabetes, dwell on being healthy. Stop dwelling on the problem! If we will do that, watch the endorphins start kicking in; watch the immune system boost up. Our biggest challenge is to stop dwelling on the negative circumstances.

“The mind will strengthen by dwelling upon elevating subjects. If trained to run in the channel of purity and holiness, it will become healthy and vigorous. If trained to dwell upon spiritual themes, it will naturally take that turn. But this attraction of the thoughts to heavenly things cannot be gained without the exercise of faith in God and an earnest, humble reliance upon Him for that strength and grace which will be sufficient for every emergency.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 408. We should understand “how closely body and mind are related and show the need of keeping both in the very best condition.” Medical Ministry, 263.

Body and Mind Relationship

“The relation that exists between the mind and the body is very intimate. When one is affected, the other sympathizes. The condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater degree than many realize.” The Ministry of Healing, 241. Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, without a light on, and stubbed your big toe on an object? The brain begins to tell the mouth to say, Ouch! The brain says, Hand, grab that toe. Have you ever had that experience? The reaction is automatic! When one is affected the other sympathizes. Therefore, we find that the condition of the mind affects the health to a far greater degree than many realize. “Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression.” Ibid.

When we were in Thailand, we had one stop on our way to another meeting, and I picked up a newspaper to take on the plane with me. An article in this paper stated that 50 percent of the people in Bangkok suffer from mental depression. If we add together the populations of New York City and Los Angeles and multiply that number by 1,000, we would have the population of Bangkok. The reasons they are mentally depressed are the traffic, the noise, the pollution, and the economics. Fifty percent! One out of every five Americans are suffering from depression. Even those of God’s professed people suffer from depression.

Inspiration continues, “Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and to invite decay and death.” Ibid. “Doubt, perplexity, and excessive grief often sap the vital forces and induce nervous diseases of a most debilitating and distressing character.” Healthful Living, 48. God did not say it is a sin to go through these emotions, but He does say that if we continue under their burden it is going to wipe out our vital force. Such a thing could happen even to someone like Elijah, a mighty prophet of God. “In the desert, in loneliness and discouragement [after his mountaintop experience on Mt. Carmel], Elijah had said that he had had enough of life and had prayed that he might die. But the Lord in His mercy had not taken him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do.” Prophets and Kings, 228. Was he depressed? Yes, he was. But God had not forsaken him; He said, What doest thou here? What are you doing under this depression? Instead of being under the circumstances, you need to be master of the circumstances. Elijah’s “petulance was silenced, his spirit softened and subdued. He now knew that a quiet trust, a firm reliance on God, would ever find for him a present help in time of need.” Review and Herald, October 23, 1913.

Jesus was not a depressed man, but depression shrouded Him in Gethsemane—so much so that He sweat great drops of blood. (Luke 22:44.) But Jesus looked through that depressed moment and saw the glory of His Father.

Grief, emotional suffering, disaster, unfortunate outcomes, anxiety, if any of these are chronically part of your life, wearing out your mental, spiritual, and physical vital force, look to Jesus. You cannot get physically well unless you hear Him say, “Be of good cheer.” God’s grace is sufficient.

These mental states can affect the whole body, but God wants us to be on top of the circumstances. He does not want us to carry the world on our shoulders—the whole world is in His hands. The mind has a definite affect upon the body. God has given us the mechanism—the biological and physiological mechanism—to deal with emergency situations short term. Heart rate accelerates, breathing increases, blood vessels constrict, fats are dumped off into the body—this gives us the fight or flight syndrome. That is all right in an emergency. But if it continues two days, three days, weeks, months, and years, it would have a devastating impact upon us.

Attitude of Gratitude

Emotional distresses can cause any disease, but God has the whole world in His hands. Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, and love promote a long life. A contented, cheerful spirit is health to the body and strength to the soul. “A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Proverbs 17:22. So if a merry heart does good like a medicine and a broken spirit dries the bones, that means that when we have an attitude of gratitude the immune system is strengthened. Every time we praise God, every time we count our blessings it has a physiological effect on us. Let us praise God! Let us think of His goodness.

One day take a sheet of paper; draw a straight line down the middle, and on one side list all of your blessings and on the other all of your curses. I will guarantee that your blessings will out-weigh your curses. God is good.

“How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes, God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest prayer, and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 315.

Wilt thou be made whole? Physical healing follows mental and spiritual healing. I pray that God gives you this healing; and may you shift your focus from your problems to the solutions and connect with Jesus. Do not just get theoretical knowledge, but obtain an understanding of how to apply the grace of God to your life so you can enjoy true health and happiness.

Thomas Jackson is a health evangelist and Director of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He may be contacted by e-mail at: godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at: 731-986-3518.

Restoring the Temple – Danger is Brewing in the Cup, Part I

by

The culprit is caffeine! Whether you get it in your coffee, tea, soda, eat it in your chocolate and cocoa, or swallow pills, caffeine is affecting your health in dozens of dangerous ways.

Many people cannot start their day without a cup of coffee. Others must have it at their ten o’clock break. Children and adolescents get their caffeine from cokes and soft drinks. Office workers, construction workers, pilots, and schoolteachers use caffeinated beverages to buy a few more hours of alertness at the job.

With 70 percent of the world’s coffee supply consumed in the United States, the average American has 227 mg of caffeine per day. Four out of five Americans are drinking coffee on any given day. About 20 percent of these use more than 350 mg daily, which is sufficient to produce dependency. Coffee and tea contribute the greatest amount of caffeine in our diet. The caffeine content of coffee and tea depends on the method of preparation and the strength of the brew. It can vary from 30–140 mg per five-ounce cup. Soft drinks are the third largest contributor of caffeine, containing 30–55 mg per twelve ounces.

What’s Brewing?

Caffeine belongs to a family of chemicals called methylxanthines. This drug has adverse effects on our body, which can be felt from head to toe. So, while coffee lovers are brewing their coffee, soda lovers guzzling their soda pops, and pill users are popping their pills, methylxanthines are brewing a whole host of health problems inside their bodies.

Central Nervous System

Many people do not depend on a nutritious breakfast to give them “go power” but on coffee. It is common knowledge that caffeinated drinks affect the nervous system and provide temporary relief from fatigue and sluggishness. At first, caffeine produces a state of alertness and increased energy. When the drug effects wear off, it causes irritability, nervousness, headaches, and depression. Yet, while it may speed up reaction time and improve automatic processing skills like doing arithmetic problems, it worsens performance of more complicated tasks. “Caffeine also worsens fine motor coordination due to an increase in hand tremors.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 43, 1995, 860.

Fetuses and Pregnant Women

Within thirty minutes of consumption, caffeine reaches peak levels in the blood and saturates other body tissues at a level proportional to their water content. Unborn fetuses take in caffeine through the placenta, and breast-fed infants get it through human breast milk.

Caffeine does not get eliminated from the body right away. Depending on age, sex and hormone levels, medications, smoking status, and pregnancy, caffeine may stay around for days. Newborns, pregnant women, and those using birth control pills remove caffeine even more slowly from their bodies. After three hours to four days, only 50 percent (half-life) of the caffeine is removed from a newborn’s body. This is due to the fact that infants do not have the enzymes to metabolize the drug. The half-life of caffeine in nonsmoking adults is 5–7 hours, in pregnant women 18–20 hours.

Caffeine has a variety of physiological effects on the body. See Table 1. Adults who drink 1–3 cups of coffee or have 1–4 sodas daily consume 75–200 mg of caffeine and will experience clear physiological effects.

PMS and Fibrocystic Breast Disease

Women who drink 8–10 cups of coffee daily have a 7 times greater risk of having PMS symptoms than those who do not drink. A female physician with fibrocystic breast disease was consuming 1,300 mg of methylxanthines per day. When she stopped using coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate for a month, the lumps in her breasts diminished. After two months, her fibrocystic disease disappeared.

Osteoporosis

Linda Massey, a bone researcher from Washington State University states that caffeine can have negative effects on our bones. According to Creighton University’s Osteoporosis Research Unit, “The more regularly a woman drinks coffee, the more calcium is excreted in her urine. The loss adds to about 5 mg of calcium for every six ounces of coffee or two cans of cola.” Schardt, D. and S. Schmidt, “Caffeine: The Inside Scoop,” Nutrition Action Healthletter, December 1996.

Birth Defects, Miscarriages, and Infertility

Studies with laboratory animals reveal that mother rats who take large amounts of caffeine bear malformed babies. Three women who drank 8–25 cups of coffee per day reported birth defects in their children. Since caffeine easily crosses the human placenta, the fetus is quite vulnerable to this drug, especially as infants metabolize it very slowly.

In one study 4,000 women who consumed 150–300 mg of caffeine per day during their pregnancy had more than twice the risk of delivering under-weight babies (less than 5.5 pounds) than those who consumed less caffeine. The risk of delivering a low birth weight baby is almost five times greater for women who consume more than 300 mg of caffeine per day. Infants born with low birth weight have an increased risk of dying in early infancy. Due to these adverse effects of caffeine on the fetus, the FDA advises pregnant women to avoid caffeine-containing foods and drugs, if possible, or consume them only sparingly.

Ever tried getting pregnant while consuming caffeine-containing drinks? A 1996 study showed that women who were consuming more than 300 mg of caffeine had double the risk of miscarriage. Allen Wilcox of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle, North Carolina, showed that women who drank just one cup of regular coffee a day were half as likely to become pregnant during any given menstrual cycle as those who drank less. Since then ten more studies have been conducted, and they have found that three or more cups of regular coffee a day impairs fertility.

Table 1 – Physiological Effects of Caffeine Intake

  • Increases urinary losses of calcium
  • Increases risk of low birth weight babies and birth defects
  • Decreases fertility
  • Causes insomnia and disrupted sleep
  • Causes irritability, nervousness
  • Causes headaches and anxiety
  • Produces alertness at first, then depression
  • Stimulates central nervous system
  • Elevates blood sugar and blood cholesterol
  • Aggravates peptic ulcers
  • Elevates blood pressure
  • Causes irregular heartbeat and palpitations
  • Increases PMS symptoms
  • Produces breast lumps
  • Increases risk of bladder and other cancers

To be concluded . . .

Reprinted from Danger is Brewing in the Cup, Northwestern Publishing Association, Sacramento, California.

Restoring the Temple – Danger is Brewing in the Cup, Part II

by

The culprit is caffeine! Whether you get it in your coffee, tea, soda, eat it in your chocolate and cocoa, or swallow pills, caffeine is affecting your health in dozens of dangerous ways.

Cancer

Caffeine does not appear to cause cancer directly but increases the growth of tumors which are caused by other carcinogens. Heavy coffee drinking doubles the risk of bladder cancer, while tea drinking increases rectal cancer.

Ulcers

Caffeine causes increased gastric acid secretion which in turn aggravates peptic ulcers. Even decaffeinated coffee has been shown to stimulate stomach acid through the irritating effect of caffeole which contributes to taste and aroma in coffee.

Sleep

While caffeine can delay the onset of sleep, it also interferes with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage when dreams occur. In a recent study, women who routinely took caffeine-containing medications had more trouble falling asleep at night than those who had no caffeinated medications.

Heart Disease

Caffeine affects the heart and blood vessels by elevating cholesterol and triglyceride levels. At Stanford University, researchers report that middle-aged men who drink three or more cups of coffee per day had elevated blood levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).

A recent Norwegian study of 7,589 men and 8,585 women found that the more coffee they consumed, the higher was their homocysteine level. Those with elevated homocysteine levels have a greater risk of coronary artery disease.

What about decaffeinated coffee? Two studies have shown that LDL cholesterol increases when coffee drinkers switched to decaffeinated coffee. Besides elevating blood fats, coffee can cause heart palpitations and increase the rate of irregular heartbeat. Mild hypertensives should also restrict their caffeine intake.

Caffeine Addiction

Among the most detrimental effects of caffeine on the body is drug dependency. The addiction to caffeine has given rise to a new disease called caffeinism. Increased blood levels of caffeine may cause a craving for nicotine; so anyone wishing to quit smoking must stop drinking caffeinated beverages.

How can you know if you are addicted to caffeine? Individuals who drink 5–6 cups of coffee or caffeinated beverages have shown behavioral and psychophysiological symptoms to caffeine. The symptoms of caffeinism are: restlessness, anxiety, irritability, muscle tremors, agitation, jitters, insomnia, lightheadedness, heart palpitations, diarrhea, increased urination, and headaches.

Children and Adolescents

According to pediatricians, children and adolescents are some of the most targeted groups for caffeine addiction. On a body-weight basis, 1–5 year-olds are the highest consumers of caffeine. A child who drinks one can of soda per day is getting the equivalent of four cups of coffee for an adult. One-third of all the children who drink high levels of caffeinated beverages shows hyperactive behavior, which is typical of caffeinism. No wonder pediatricians are concerned about the growing number of soda-guzzling youngsters and adolescents who come in with irritability, headache, and nervousness.

10 Ways to Overcome the Caffeine Habit

Caffeine is a health and spiritual hazard that may cost you your eternal life. One study showed that increasing consumption of caffeine causes a corresponding decrease in religious involvement as measured by church attendance. For the optimal functioning of the brain, heart, and body, as well as for the abundant health of your family, complete abstinence from caffeine-loaded beverages is the prudent choice. So, give caffeine a “quitting notice”! The methods below will help you to quit for good.

1 Have a dry brush massage.

When you feel drowsy, have a dry brush massage before you shower. Brush the skin with short or long, low strokes toward the heart. Skin brushing acts as a natural stimulant.

2 Take a hot/cold shower.

When you feel sluggish and need a mental pickup, take a hot shower for a minute and follow it by a cold shower. Repeat this up to seven times each. This wet exercise will stimulate your circulation and energize your mental attitude.

3 Get outdoor exercise.

If you are unable to take a shower, take a brisk 15-minute walk, job, or bike ride, and you will have the same beneficial stimulus to brain, blood, and muscles.

4 Watch your diet.

Stay away from sugar and other concentrated sweets. Avoid overeating.

5 Have water or herbal tea on hand.

Keep a glass of cool water, catnip, or other herbal tea on hand to replace the habit of sipping down caffeinated beverages.

6 Take a hot foot bath.

Headache is a serious withdrawal symptom, which can be alleviated by a simple 20–45-minute hot foot bath. Finish the hot foot bath by throwing a bucket with ice and water over your feet.

7 Take a little sip.

When symptoms [headache, dizziness, and backache] begin to appear, take a tablespoon of caffeine beverage and then wait 30 minutes. If symptoms are still there, take another tablespoon. These symptoms will disappear in a few days, and you need to stop the sips of caffeine.

8 Lubricate your body.

Drink 8–10 cups of water daily and eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables.

9 Drink the Water of Life.

Take a daily drink of the water of life which your Maker offers, and you will never thirst for the artificial drinks like coffee, tea, or soda. “But whosoever drinketh of the water the I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14.

10 Keep yourself busy.

Do not allow leisure time to accumulate as idleness produces self-indulgence.

An Alternative Stimulant

We live in a “click-of-the-button” society. People want instant answers to their physical, emotional, and social problems. If they are tired, they want some magical concoctions to pep them up; if they are emotionally down, they want something to instantly lift their spirits. So, thousands turn to caffeine, alcohol, or illegal drugs to get an instant “high.” We must understand, however, that for every mountain peak there is a corresponding valley. The more frequently we depend on artificial stimulants, the greater will be the immediate “high,” but the deeper and more drastic the “low.” The lows create an appetite for bigger and “better” highs, which never get satisfied and so addiction develops.

Our Creator knew that as frail mortals we would have our low and high days. This is why He says, “Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, . . . Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 40:1–5. God sent His Son to lift us out of the valleys and straighten the rough places of our experience. Instead of leaning on caffeine-loaded beverages to pep your spirits up, lift you out of depression, or energize your mind, ask Him to be your Stimulator of positive thoughts and energized living. A friendship with Jesus Christ will give you thousands of positive mental, physical, and spiritual benefits. What’s best, there are no side effects when you get “stimulated” by the Creator of the Universe.

Reprinted from Danger is Brewing in the Cup, Northwestern Publishing Association, Sacramento, California.

Restoring the Temple – Winter Health and Safety

by

“Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.” —Leviticus 25:18.

For most of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, wintertime means months of cold weather. Folks living in the Southeastern or Southern United States may not feel much of a chill, but this time of year can be particularly hazardous to the Northerners around the world. Unless carefully planned for, cold weather can expose us to injury and illness. Vehicle accidents account for 70 percent of the reported snow and ice injuries. Another 25 percent of cold-weather injuries occur when people are caught outside in a storm. Most snow/ice injuries happen to males over the age of 40. Injuries related to cold occur to people over the age of 60 in 50 percent of the cases. More than 75 percent of cold injuries occur to males, and about 20 percent happen in the home.

Exposure to cold can lead to hypothermia or frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops to below 95° F (35° C). Hypothermia can be deadly, but for those who survive, the resulting kidney, liver, and pancreas problems can be lifelong. Some of the danger signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, disorientation, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness, dizziness, and exhaustion.

Frostbite is damage to the tissues of the body caused by cold. The cells of this damaged tissue are dead or dying, so it is important for a person experiencing frostbite to seek medical help immediately. Signs of frostbite include loss of feeling and a grey, white, or pale appearance to the extremities, especially the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. The skin must be rewarmed as soon as possible.

Frostbite and hypothermia can occur even when the temperatures are not extremely low. Wind chill is a phenomenon that can cause these injuries quickly. Wind chill is not the actual temperature but how the combination of wind and cold feel. A wind chill factor of -20° F (-28.8° C), for instance, will cause frostbite within only 30 minutes.

If medical help is not available, warm the person slowly, beginning first with the torso and head. Warming the extremities first can drive cold blood to the heart and cause it to fail. Help the person into dry clothing and wrap them with blankets, including the head and neck. You may have to use your own body heat to help warm them. The person may be given warm, but not hot, fluids. Do not give them food, alcohol, caffeine, or drugs.

Clearly, it is best to be prepared for the expected and, when possible, the unexpected. When going outside in cold weather, dress in layers. If you become warm, you can always take off layers, but have the extra clothing available if it is needed. Since half of our body heat is lost from the head, wear a hat. The hat should also cover the ears for added protection. Mittens will keep hands and fingers warmer than will gloves, but you may want to have gloves available, if you have to use your fingers. It is very important to keep your feet warm and dry, so wear waterproof, insulated boots with a good tread to keep you from slipping.

If you get wet, remove the wet clothing and warm the core body temperature as soon as possible. Avoid overexertion in the cold. Perspiration can lead to chilling and hypothermia. Also, the strain to the body from the cold and the hard work can cause a heart attack.

At home and at work, the major concerns during a storm are loss of electrical power, telephone service, and supply shortage. Be prepared by keeping the following items available for just such an occasion: flashlight and extra batteries, battery-powered radio, extra food and water, extra medicine, baby supplies, first-aid supplies, heating fuel, emergency heat source (ventilate rooms and use properly to prevent fires), fire extinguisher, and smoke alarm. In addition, you will want to have food, water, and shelter for any animals for which you are responsible.

Traveling by vehicle can be hazardous in cold weather, even if it is not icy outside. Plan your trip well, and avoid traveling during storms or when bad weather is predicted. Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition and winterized. To avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines, keep your gas tank full. The following is a list of what a Winter Storm Kit should contain, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Red Cross:

  • Mobile phone, charger, batteries
  • Blankets/sleeping bags
  • Flashlight with extra batteries
  • First-aid kit
  • Knife
  • High-calorie, non-perishable food
  • Extra clothing to keep dry and warm
  • Large, empty can to use as emergency toilet
  • Tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes
  • Small can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water
  • Sack of sand or cat litter for traction
  • Shovel
  • Windshield scraper and brush
  • Tool kit
  • Tow rope
  • Battery booster cables
  • Water container
  • Compass and road maps

It is important to plan ahead. It does not take a lot of effort to do the minimal for safety. Even the animals and insects plan ahead! “The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” Proverbs 30:25. Take a little extra time to prepare yourself and your family or others to have a safe winter.

Sheryle Beaudry, a certified teletriage nurse, writes from Estacada, Oregon, where she lives with her husband and twin daughters. She may be contacted by e-mail at: sbeaudryrn@hotmails.com. If there is a health-related question you would like answered in LandMarks, please e-mail your question to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.

Restoring the Temple – Combating Food Cravings

by

According to a survey published in the book Food Cravings (Lisa Shock, Apple Publishing Company Limited, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1999), food cravings plague 97 percent of women and 68 percent of men. Women suffer more with this disorder than men. Often women will experience food cravings during their menstrual cycle, premenstrual syndrome, menopause, and pregnancy.

Food cravings manifest themselves in many forms, with foods such as chocolate, French fries, potato chips, sour pickles, pizza, ice cream, and alcoholic beverages. These forms indicate different deficiencies in the body. A person may also crave dirt or sand, which indicates a mineral deficiency.

Cravings are triggered by many different things, including depression, anxiety, chemical imbalances, and pregnancy. The main trigger of cravings is stress. Understanding the causes of these cravings will assist a great deal in the process of eliminating them. The body and the mind work together to keep the body healthy and to preserve life.

Food cravings are misguided attempts to restore balance to the body. When one craves starches, it indicates that the brain is low in serotonin. The most common cause for low serotonin is low blood sugar levels, which causes the body to crave starches or sugars. Most sweets and non-complex starches are what we call devitalized foods. Such foods do not provide the body with the necessary nutrients it needs, thus causing the craving to continue even stronger than before. Fiberless foods cause many diseases.

A deficiency of essential fatty acids is often the source of a fat craving. Parasite problems are common with fat cravings also. Parasites have numerous methods of creating food cravings to keep themselves fed. Their favorite foods are fats, sugars, and proteins. Tapeworms absorb vitamin B-12, gradually causing B-12 deficiency. When protein is craved, there may be problems with parasites. Protein craving can also result from protein deficiency. A sour food craving indicates a chemical imbalance, requiring a neutralization of acids in the body. This begins with over-consumption of acid-forming foods. When the body is more alkaline, sour food cravings will not occur. Last, but not least, is the craving for caffeine, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco. These substances rob the body of different nutrients, leaving it deficient.

Is there help for this disorder? Oh, yes! There is help through the use of the Eight Doctors that make house calls. These doctors will help to check all compulsory-eating habits, because they lead to emotional or physiological needs. This is usually filled by food cravings. The doctors will help to re-educate our minds; we cannot do it by ourselves; we need help from above. The first doctor is trust in God. The second is to obtain some negative ions from fresh air. The third is daily exercise that will keep the blood circulating. The fourth is sunshine, which makes rosy cheeks and disinfects. The fifth is proper rest that produces hormones. The sixth is the use of lots of water—both internally and externally—that assists in the revitalization of the body. The seventh is controlling yourself in all things; and the eighth is following the diet that man was given by the Designer of good nutrition. Following these doctors, you will no longer be a slave to food cravings, but you will have victory in Christ Jesus the Lord!

LaVerne Jackson is Associate Director and Business Manager of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. She has a Masters Degree in Nutrition and is a Nutritional Consultant. She has been in Medical Missionary work for over 25 years. She may be contacted by e-mail at: godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at: 731-986-3518.