In Genesis 1:29 & 3:18 we learn about our fifth principle of WELLNESS--Nutrition. We read, “And God said, ‘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.” “And you shall eat the herb of the field.”

Here we find that God designed man to eat fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables. This is the diet that God intended for His children. All the nutrients that man needs to remain healthy are found in these plant foods. You do not need to eat anything else in order to be healthy.

Research bears witness to this fact. Multiple studies show that those who have heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, as well as a host of other diseases improve maximally under a plant-based diet. In experimental studies, those who avoid all flesh foods or animal byproducts have the maximal health benefits compared with those who continue to consume such products. Flesh foods include anything that can run, swim, or fly away from you if you try to kill it and eat it. Animal products include anything that comes from an animal, such as milk, eggs, butter, and cheese.

The Adventist Health Study showed that Adventists eating a plant-based diet live on average 10 years longer than the general population surrounding them. Research also shows that those who live on a plant-based diet have much lower rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other popular degenerative diseases that plague our societies.

A healthy diet not only involves avoiding animal foods, but also avoiding excess sugar and excess fats in your diet, avoiding vinegar, fiery spices, highly refined foods, and other products that do not lead to optimal health. I recommend you read the book, Counsels on Diets and Foods. Another good book is Food for Life.

Before you eat, ask yourself these three questions:

• “Is it healthy for me?”
• “Is it the right time to eat?”
• “Is it the right amount?”

If you can answer yes to all three questions, then go ahead and eat.

Meals should be spaced 5-6 hours apart with nothing between but water.

The closer the food is to how it grows the healthier it is for you.

Choose what you eat for health, not taste.

The most important benefit of a healthy diet is that it leads to spiritual health. A healthy diet leads to a healthy mind, which is better able to communicate with God. A diseased body affects your mind, and thus your communication with God. Spiritual health is intimately tied to physical health. You cannot lack the one and have the other.

God bless you abundantly as you learn to live God’s WELLNESS way.