Is healthy eating Script
ural? The American Heart Association did some major studies on healthy eating, and I did some research on whether or not it is Biblical.
“The American Heart Association says: “The major kinds of fats in the foods we eat are saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and trans fatty acids. Saturated fats, trans fats, and dietary cholesterol raise blood cholesterol. A high level of cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attack.”
A study by the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center stated, “The fourth most common cause of prostate cancer may be related to saturated fat consumption.”
Saturated fats come from animals. Leviticus 7:23-24 records God’s instruction regarding eating animal fat. “You shall not eat any fat from an ox (beef), a sheep, or a goat. Also the fat of an animal…you must not eat.” Hmm. That’s pretty direct. (The fat was burned on the altar as an offering, in case you’re wondering what happened to the fat.)
I know. I know. Meat with fat is juicier and tastier, but, it’s not good for us.
God even lists the animals that are edible: Animals with split hooves and chews the cud, but not those that have split hooves but does not chew the cud such as the camel; and those that chew the cud but do not have split hooves such as the rock badger or the pig. Remember: skip the fat. However, any fish with fins and scales is on the ‘good-to-go’ list.
Ezekiel 4:9 gives us the OK to eat grains and beans. The list includes: Wheat, barley, millet, lentils, soybeans, spelt. Ezekiel 4:9 breads and cereals contain these organic sprouted grains and beans.
God planted fruit trees and veggies before He created man, so that man would have everything he needed to live healthy lives. But eventually, man came up with his own concoction of ways to “enhance” the flavor or the appearance of foods when he refined sugar, bleached flour, and added preservatives. For a time, natural sugars, were replaced with artificial sweeteners. Chemicals and fertilizers made with every chemical imaginable appeared on the scene, and a myriad of other food-altering mechanisms too numerous to mention.
Is Healthy Eating Scriptural?
Daniel is a classic example that eating veggies was better than eating the choice, rich foods of the king when he took the veggie challenge. He ate veggies and drank water for ten days while the other youths ate the fattening foods of the king. After ten days, Daniel was found to be healthier than the other youths. And that was just for ten days! (Daniel 1:12-16)
Cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are rampant in our country. It’s not hard to figure out why. We just have to check our grocery list. I get that we can’t control how the bulk of our food is grown and processed, but we can control eliminating as much as possible by changing our eating habits to healthy eating.
So, is healthy eating Scriptural? Yes. Definitely!