When my parents both died of cancer at an early age I made a solemn decision to choose a healthy lifestyle. I read and researched how to live and maintain a healthy lifestyle. And I believe there are 8 basic principles I need to follow and constantly study, these are: 1. Nutrition 2. Exercise 3. Water 4. Sunlight 5. Temperance 6. Air 7. Rest 8. Trust in God. Since then I read the book that really helped me in making this choice its called “The Ministry of Health and Healing” by a godly woman named Ellen G. White. I consider this book filled with Biblical insights and inspiration to aid me in my quest to achieve optimum health. She writes, “Our bodies are built up from the food we eat.” (Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Health and Healing, Pacific Press: ID, 2004, 166). So I decided to give you 5 reasons why I believe food, especially wise selections, varied and organically farmed supply of fruit, grains, nuts and nearest to its natural state, is good for my health and lifestyle (yours, too).
A. The first reason is plant based food are alive and not butchered. Live foods give us more nutrients and life giving supplements. While meats that are butchered are known to carry with it germs, diseases and are known to cause cardiovascular disorders.
B. Plant based diet are easy to digest and are easy to excrete. I find it very pleasing when my regular bowel movement shows still lush green, yellow and brownish color from the vegetables, fruits, and nuts that I ate.
C. Another reason is plant based diet is a Genesis based diet. The Scriptures mention this in Genesis 1:29, “He said, I have given you every herb that yields seed… and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”
D. Second to the last reason this diet is known to prevent lifestyle based diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and stroke. Studies have indicated that a meat free diet, with right balance of necessary nutritional requirements, can indeed prevent premature deaths.
E. Finally, although there could still be more reasons, I love to garden and pick my own produce fresh from the source and not sprayed by any harmful chemicals. Therefore I would rather pay more to the farmer than later on to a doctor, if I do not watch what I eat I will lose my wealth.
Since high school I do not drink any soda, nor smoke, nor drink alcoholic beverages and or depend on medications. For me the food that is nearest to its natural state is better than those genetically engineered or technologically enhanced. The more synthetic, manufactured, refined or chemically ladened food or medicine is, the more I believe it causes more harm than good.
Besides, the Bible offers instructions on what is best for me (and you) in terms of healthy choices. 1 Corinthians 10:31 sums up my choice, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Eternal life starts when we believe in Jesus as the Son of God and obey His Word.