UK Study Supports Daniel Diet

Notice the following from the Book of Daniel:

5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”

11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.” 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. (Daniel 1:5-16)

The “king’s delicacies” probably would have included meats that the Bible teaches as unclean and that would be a reason that Daniel and his companions would not wish to be “defiled” by it (the Bible absolutely does allow the consumption of meat per Deuteronomy 14:4,9,11 and Jesus is shown to have consumed fish in Luke 24:42, etc.). And by avoiding them and eating more vegetables Daniel and his companions appeared better looking relatively soon than those who did not avoid them.

Notice the following news story:

How fruit and vegetables could make you more attractive

New Zealand Herald – March 8, 2012

If the fact that they’re nutritious isn’t enough to get you eating more fruit and vegetables, here’s some news that may convince you – they make you look good too.

People who increased their intake were rated more attractive after just six weeks, UK researchers found.

Scientists at St Andrews University in the United Kingdom monitored the food consumption of 35 people and took pictures of them over this period.

Eating an average of 2.9 more portions of fruit and vegetables a day made them look more healthy when the rated by others at the end of the study, while an extra 3.3 portions enhanced their attractiveness. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10790685

You look good enough to eat

Wednesday 07 March 2012

Eating more fruit and veg can make your skin glow within a matter of weeks, according to new research.

The new study, by scientists at the University of St Andrews, proves that eating ‘five a day’ really is good for you.

The researchers hope that their findings, which don’t preach about long term health benefits, will appeal to the nation’s vanity instead.

The research, published today (Wednesday 7 March 2012), examined the impact of carotenoid pigments – orangey-red pigments found in fruit and vegetables – on skin colour.

The results showed that just two extra portions of fruit and vegetables per day created a detectable change in skin colour within six weeks…Poor diet represents a major source of preventable illness and death worldwide. The researchers say that 75% of people in the UK currently do not eat the NHS recommended “5-a-day” http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2012/Title,82727,en.html

I have long realized that people who do not eat enough fruit tend to wrinkle faster than those who average at least two servings per day (smoking cigarettes also increases wrinkling). And while the above study was only a short-term one, I suspect that a long-term study would tend to confirm my observations related to wrinkles here.

Eating more fruits and vegetables tends to fill people up more and decrease their consumption of excessive amounts of meats and refined carbohydrates–avoiding excessive amounts of meat (Proverbs 23:20) and eating less refined carbohydrates (cf. Isaiah 55:2, Proverbs 25:16,27) also seems to be something that the Bible advocates.

Here are a few other scriptures about food from the Hebrew scriptures (often called the Old Testament):

4 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, 15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart. (Psalms 104:14-15)

27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants. (Proverbs 27:27)

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: 3 Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud — that you may eat. 4 Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 5 the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 6 the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; 7 and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you. 9 ‘These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers — that you may eat. 10 But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, all that move in the water or any living thing which is in the water, they are an abomination to you. 11 They shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination. 12 Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales — that shall be an abomination to you. 13 ‘And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, 14 the kite, and the falcon after its kind; 15 every raven after its kind, 16 the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; 17 the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; 18 the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; 19 the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 20 ‘All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. 21 Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. 22 These you may eat: the locust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. 23 But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you. (Leviticus 11:2-23)

Basically the Bible advocates eating real food (it does not consider unclean meats to be food) and not too much of it.

While overeating and obesity are major problems in the Anglo-lands and many other nations, the fact is that the overwhelming majority of Westerners do not consume the recommended minimum of two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables per day. Not only does consuming them help appearance, this also helps reduce risk for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Something to think about.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The New Testament Church and Unclean Meats Are foods considered to have been unclean in the Old Testament considered to be food in the New Testament? This article discusses this from the perspective of the New Testament. It also has a list of clean and unclean animals. It also answers the question, is pork healthy or is pork dangerous?
Obesity and Prophecy Does the Bible warn about the consequences of being obese? Is overeating dangerous?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?
The Bible: Fact or Fiction? This is a booklet written by Douglas Winnail that answers if the Bible is just a collection of myths and legends or the inspired word of God.
Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading.