“The only hope of better things is in the education of the people in right principles.”
The Ministry of Healing, 127
God laid out in the garden of Eden the best diet for man, revealing basic principles that we can all implement. The fine tuning is up to each one. God’s diet is meant to nourish the human beings He created. The foods we eat provide the calories and nutrients required to live well, to have energy, and live healthy all the days of our lives.
“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.
“In order to maintain health, a sufficient supply of good, nourishing food is needed.” Counsels for the Church, 222
Taste is important, and while much of today’s food tastes good, it is killing us. On the other hand, some food may not taste very good, but has all the nutrients necessary for a strong body. We need to marry good taste and good nutrition. When we give our bodies the proper fuel to operate, we are better able to follow that message laid out in the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy to be in alignment with God’s will for our lives.
“Those foods should be chosen that best supply the elements needed for building up the body. In making this choice, appetite is not a safe guide. Through wrong habits of eating, the appetite has become perverted. Often it demands food that impairs health and causes weakness instead of strength. We cannot be guided safely by the customs of society. The disease and suffering that everywhere prevail are largely due to popular errors regarding diet.
“In order to know what are the best foods, we must study God’s original plan for our diet. He who created human beings and understands their needs appointed Adam his food.” The Ministry of Health and Healing, 166
In Genesis 1:29, God said to Adam and Eve, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” Seed includes all the grains: rice, millet, quinoa, kamut, oats, amaranth, wheat; and legumes. In addition, are chickpeas, lima beans, black-eyed peas and cannelloni beans, and seeds such as the sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, sesame seed, flax seed, chia seed; and many nuts, although not typically thought of as seeds: almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts. “Upon leaving Eden to gain his livelihood by tilling the earth under the curse of sin, man received permission to eat also ‘the herb of the field [vegetables].’ Genesis 3:18.” Counsels for the Church, 222
“He [God] causes the grass to grow for the cattle; and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth.” Psalm 104:14
An herb is a plant or a plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities. Every herb affects different parts of the body and there is an herb for all of its different aspects and functions. Herbs work with the needs of the body. They come in and say to the body: Where would you like me? Where can I help you?
Herbs, fruits, grains, nuts, and vegetables were given for meat and work with the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.
There are three essential food groups:
Fiber – All the foods mentioned above, as well as fruits and vegetables, are high in fiber.
Protein – 50% of the membrane around every cell is protein. Protein is the building block of the body. The body cannot heal without protein. The body cannot build without protein; protein is an essential nutrient. Vegetarian protein is a very clean burning fuel compared to animal protein which is not a clean burning fuel, and was not in the garden of Eden as there was no death. All foods mentioned above are high in protein.
Fat – Nuts and seeds particularly, as well as avocadoes, olives, olive and coconut oils, are excellent sources of the fat our body needs to function properly. Fifty percent of the membrane around every cell in the body is fat.
There must be a balance of these three essential nutrients incorporated into our daily diet.
The same blood that pulses through the body pulses through the brain. Thus our food absolutely affects our mind. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. This takes us to a whole other level where the Bible says that our body is actually the temple of God.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. We are not our own. When we love God and want to please Him and want to live according to His ways, we will take better care of our bodies. The human body is designed to give glory to God because He owns it, and this means putting into our bodies food according to His design.
We have no right to hurt this body, and when we do hurt it, we are the ones who suffer. It is not pleasant living in a body that doesn’t work, and unfortunately, so many people are in that condition. One of the beauties of our health message is that we can live in a body that will serve us well, with a clear mind to more easily discern spiritual things.
God gives us an abundant variety of foods in a beautiful rainbow of color. Food is not only for necessity but for delight, richly to enjoy. How careful we should be that, as we live upon His bounty, we live to His glory. He who provided for Adam provides still for the creatures within His care. He satisfies the desire of every living being.
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them. For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with gooness.” Psalm 107:8, 9
The message that God brings us is simple—to delight in what you eat and to eat what God has intended you to eat. When you eat what is right and good for you, this will not only impact your physical body, but also your mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmBhtr-oEx8&t=23s/ https://guardian.ng/features/principles-of-nutrition-genesis-1-29-diet