Food: God's Design or Man's
In 1996 I took a health and nutrition class being offered at our church. I learned wonderful things about health and started to apply those things and as a result my health improved dramatically, so much so that my body would literally shake from all the excess energy I had. At the time I lived in a 10 story apartment building and one day I had so much energy I ran down to the lower level and then ran all the way up 10 flights of stairs just to burn it all off, and it felt so good.
I learned to eat wholesome food with no more than 5 ingredients in it (if I couldn't pronounce what was in it, I didn't eat it), and I treated sugar like it was the kiss of death. But by and by, I figured I was doing so well, I decided I could allow myself just a little bit of the things I had cut out, like ice cream, pizza and restaurant foods. In a short time, I developed an appetite for those things and they became part of my regular diet once again. Although I tried to maintain a respectably healthy diet, once we started a daycare, that all went out the window. I bought the cheap fast fix foods like pizza and corn dogs, frozen chicken nuggets and brownie mixes because it was easier and less expensive. I Of course my health got worse! My weight started mounting, my energy was down, I developed a poor complexion, and really just looked bad. I didn't want to be a bad example to the children and I didn't want my husband to be ashamed; I didn't want to feel sick and out of sorts all the time, and I wanted to have a good testimony as a Christian, so I prayed and asked the Lord to help me.
This was back in 2003 and low carbohydrate diets had become very popular. I read several books on the subject like The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet, Protein power, the Maker's Diet, and the South Beach Diet. It seemed reasonable and I believed this would be a good way to boost my body back into good health. At first it went well. I lost around 20 lbs. in a month and a half, I felt good, but once again, I thought that since I was doing well, I could allow myself a treat. So, I got a sandwich, fries and a drink at McDonald's, later Kevin offered me some sherbet for a dessert and two hours later I was in the emergency room. My choice of foods had caused a sudden severe blood sugar drop which threw my whole body out of whack. My hormones were terribly affected. I developed extreme fatigue, insomnia, vertigo, blood pressure problems, hypoglycemia, and a whole gamut of other problems.
I desperately wanted to get better so I started reading, trying to understand what had happened to me and what I needed to do to fix it. I tried lots of different supplements, other diets, a colon and parasite cleanse; I went to different doctors and tried different therapies, but nothing worked very long and my symptoms kept returning. By this time I was overwhelmed and confused with all the different voices out there; some saying, eat lots breads and grains, others saying limit your breads and grains, increase your protein, decrease your protein; eat red meat, eat no red meat; eat only raw food, become a vegetarian, and so on. Then there were all the different methods of eating, such as eat only fruit for breakfast, don't mix breads and meats in the same meal, have a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, then a sensible supper, or eat low carb all day and whatever you want within one hour at supper, then you must count your points, count your carbs, count your calories, weigh yourself everyday, don't weigh yourself every day....!
So I decided there's only one thing I can do to figure this out and that was to discover what God has to say on the subject. I prayed again and asked the Lord to help me and then things really started coming out of the woodwork. As I began to think about the Lord and how he ate foods, I came upon some amazing information. The Lord also brought me across the paths of other people in my community who were also seeking God's plan for good health. I learned what the right kinds of foods are, where to find them and how to properly prepare them. Now as I gain greater understanding of God's plan for health, I am working toward these things, and want to share them with you because I believe God wants us all to be healthy, energetic, and fit to do his work so we can be a good testimony to others around us.
Bible Foods
The first mention of foods:
Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. Herbs describes edible plants which would include grasses, grains, legumes, seed bearing flowers, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. See also Gen 1:30.
The second mention:
Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
Many speculate as to why God allowed animal foods at this time. Some believe it was to shorten man's lifespan, however, meat may have been added due to the climate change. With winter now part of the world's makeup, fresh plant foods were no longer available any time of year, and with the ground being cursed, certain nutrients may only have been available through animal sources.
It's interesting that the first command God gave Adam regarded food. He was told not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Likewise, Satan tempted Eve using food (perhaps this was the beginning of his desire to control the food supply--he could use it to his advantage).
God used the blessing of food to encourage Israel into the promised land:
Exo 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey;
Num 14:8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Jesus ate a variety of foods:
Mat 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
Luk 24:42-43 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
Luk 14:1 And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
Isa 7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
The Lord approves of and provides a variety of food types and refers to them as good gifts:
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Luk 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Jer 41:8 ...for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey.
God considers food essential to our well being and provides for us:
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Mat 15:32-38 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
Joh 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
God gives abundant variety:
Gen 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
Deu 8:8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
2Sa 17:28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
2Sa 17:29 And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
Psa 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honeyout of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Isa 7:22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.
God wants us to prosper and be in good health:
Pro 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Pro 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Isa 58:6-8 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD;
Jer 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Jos 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
We can see what good foods God has provided us and that he wants us to be healthy and prosper. Although we attempt to eat healthy, we as God's people are so sick! Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are ravaging the Christian population as well as the unbelieving population.
Why is this? Are we eating the food God has provided?
The Food Guide Pyramid
In the Bible, Egypt is a type of the world system. When we think of Egypt, what comes to mind? The pyramids. What do we have on the back of our dollar bills? A pyramid. What are the US dietary guidelines modeled after? A pyramid. What's at the bottom of the pyramid? Grains. And the top? Fats (and sugars). The ancient Egyptians were very sick people. They had many diseases, the main ones being heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. The main diet for the Egyptians, was a lot of grains, little meat and very little fat. When Satan tempted Eve, what did he use to tempt her? Food. The devil has had an interest in gaining control of the food supply even from the beginning. Why? Because we are easily tempted by food. Pro 28:21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
And also, the devil wants to control our food because sickly people are easily deceived and easily destroyed. It's plain to see that the devil has unleashed his ancient program on the unsuspecting American masses. This thought made me think of Mat 7:13, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:... How many of us blindly follow this plan having no idea what's really going on? We need to be aware of what this plan is.
What can we learn from God's Word about health?
We can't have good health apart from God:
Psa 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psa 43:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
To be truly healthy, we need to know and understand God's way:
Psa 67:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.> God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
Psa 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
Psa 67:3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Psa 67:4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Psa 67:5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Psa 67:6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
Psa 67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Pro 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Pro 16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Pro 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
We need to trust his way is right and best:
Pro 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Good health cannot be separated from God:
Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
We are not at peace when we're unhealthy:
Pro 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
God's ways are the key to good health:
Pro 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pro 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pro 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Pro 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Lack of nutrition is proven to result in poor behavior: anger, depression, moodiness and consumption of alcohol yields violence in many:
Pro 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Pro 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Pro 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Pro 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
There is a reward for those who follow God's way and destruction for those who don't:
Pro 13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Pro 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Pro 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
We need to encourage each other with positive words; this will help us toward gaining better health:
Pro 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Pro 18:20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Poor health is largely due to laziness and selfishness from which we have to break away if we want to enjoy good health:
Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Isa 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
Isa 58:10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
Isa 58:11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Healing comes from God, not ourselves:
Jer 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
Exo 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Deu 32:39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Those who won't take time to prepare nourishing foods for themselves and their families opt for simple, commercially prepared foods that result in poor health, poor behaviors, and lack of peace.
Frankenfood (noun) - A product that is generally accepted as food but is not.
When mankind takes God's perfect creation that nourishes and heals us and he turns it into a non-living thing so it will have longer shelf life and greater monetary profits for the business man, you have frankenfood. Our bodies cannot handle frankenfood. They don't know what to do but to pack it off somewhere in a mucous coated fat globule away from vital organs. Eventually, the body no longer has anywhere to stuff the unassimulated material and it gets packed in around the lungs, liver, heart, etc. The body can only handle this for so long until the stored material starts to absorb into the tissues causing inflammation which eventually leads to chronic distress like arthritis. Eventually, it reaches the organs and breakdown occurs. The liver gets too full, the pancreas can't keep up, the adrenals go into overdrive and peter out, the toxins invade the brain and short memory sets in which eventually leads to alzhiemers, other sensitive areas of the body (like breast tissue or prostate tissue) can't fight it anymore and cancer sets in. The body fights to throw it off through the skin, causing rashes, hives, and other skin conditions, or through the lungs causing asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughing, mucus, nasal and sinus problems, and then finally through the bowels, which get clogged leading to gas, irritable bowel syndrome, crone's disease and allergies. The love of money is the root of all evil.
On the other hand, real food has life and imparts life and the body knows just what to do with it... so long as you don't eat too much of it! Did you know heart attacks were mostly unheard of until the 1950's when white sugar and white refined flour became main staples in the diet? Neither were diabetes or cancer the epidemics they are today until processed foods hit everyone's tables. You see, disease is not a genetic thing, as the eugenists would have you believe. It is a diet thing and they know it! Those who control the food control the people. Put the food in the hands of the FDA, USDA, and the government controlled big food industries who denature the food and add taste enhancing chemicals to get you to eat it, and you have slow, manipulated mass genocide... it's all part of their plan. They WANT an overweight, unhealthy populace because tired sick people have no fight in them. Seeee???? We gotta wake up! Even pets with human diseases weren't heard of until the last twenty or thirty years. It's even in the pet food!
When mankind takes God's perfect creation that nourishes and heals us and he turns it into a non-living thing so it will have longer shelf life and greater monetary profits for the business man, you have frankenfood. Our bodies cannot handle frankenfood. They don't know what to do but to pack it off somewhere in a mucous coated fat globule away from vital organs. Eventually, the body no longer has anywhere to stuff the unassimulated material and it gets packed in around the lungs, liver, heart, etc. The body can only handle this for so long until the stored material starts to absorb into the tissues causing inflammation which eventually leads to chronic distress like arthritis. Eventually, it reaches the organs and breakdown occurs. The liver gets too full, the pancreas can't keep up, the adrenals go into overdrive and peter out, the toxins invade the brain and short memory sets in which eventually leads to alzhiemers, other sensitive areas of the body (like breast tissue or prostate tissue) can't fight it anymore and cancer sets in. The body fights to throw it off through the skin, causing rashes, hives, and other skin conditions, or through the lungs causing asthma, bronchitis, chronic coughing, mucus, nasal and sinus problems, and then finally through the bowels, which get clogged leading to gas, irritable bowel syndrome, crone's disease and allergies. The love of money is the root of all evil.
On the other hand, real food has life and imparts life and the body knows just what to do with it... so long as you don't eat too much of it! Did you know heart attacks were mostly unheard of until the 1950's when white sugar and white refined flour became main staples in the diet? Neither were diabetes or cancer the epidemics they are today until processed foods hit everyone's tables. You see, disease is not a genetic thing, as the eugenists would have you believe. It is a diet thing and they know it! Those who control the food control the people. Put the food in the hands of the FDA, USDA, and the government controlled big food industries who denature the food and add taste enhancing chemicals to get you to eat it, and you have slow, manipulated mass genocide... it's all part of their plan. They WANT an overweight, unhealthy populace because tired sick people have no fight in them. Seeee???? We gotta wake up! Even pets with human diseases weren't heard of until the last twenty or thirty years. It's even in the pet food!