Welcome. What is the Adventist Health Message? Dr Bevan Hokin BSc MAppSc PhD Director of Pathology SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

Welcome

What is the Adventist Health Message?

Dr Bevan Hokin BSc MAppSc PhD

Director of Pathology

SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

The Adventist Health Message is:

• BIBLE Based• John 10:10 I have come that they may have

life, and have it to the full (NIV)• 1 Cor 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or

whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (NIV)

• 1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?… Therefore honour God with your body (NIV)


• Spirit of Prophesy based• Originated with and is strongly supported by

Mrs E.G.White.• Was developed from around 1880 to 1915 when

many of the ideas were contrary to the beliefs of the day

• Is detailed primarily in the books Ministry of Healing and Counsels on Diet and Foods


• Strongly supported by modern science

The US Government has spent over $US69 million studying the health of Seventh-day Adventists (Adventist Lifestyle Studies). Over 250 peer reviewed papers have been published on the resulting positive findings. The WHO, and the American Dietetics Association have modified their positions on diet as a direct result of these findings.

This,The Adventist Health Message presentation, is Sourced from:• The Holy Bible• The writings of Mrs E.G. White - particularly

Ministry of Healing and Counsels on Diets and Foods

• The book Seventh-day Adventists Believe• Peer reviewed scientific papers published in

reputable journals• Papers presented at the 3rd and 4th International

Conferences on Vegetarian Nutrition


• NOT a means of “currying favour” - or earning brownie points with God - as a means of salvation.

Gal 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace (NIV)


• NOT an excuse to do whatever we like. Since works cannot save us, some are tempted to believe it is OK to do whatever we like.

Gal 5:13 You, my brother, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature. (NIV)


• NOT Judgemental

There is real common sense in dietetic reform. The subject should be studied broadly and deeply, and none should criticise others because their practice is not, in all things, in harmony with his own. MH 319

The Adventist Health Message is?:

So what IS the Adventist

Health Message?

The Adventist Health Message is Balanced :

• Those who understand the laws of health and who are governed by principle, will shun extremes, both of indulgence and of restriction. MH 319


• With many persons the reform consists merely in discarding certain unwholesome foods. They do not understand the principles of health, and their tables, still loaded with harmful dainties, are far from being an example of Christian temperance and moderation…… (MH 318)


• Another class, in their desire to set a right example, go to the opposite extreme…they adopt an impoverished diet. Their food does not supply the elements to make good blood. Their health suffers, their usefulness is impaired, and their example tells against, rather than in favour of reform in diet. (MH 318)


....people are at different stages in their progression toward vegetarianism. We should consider the situation of the people and the power of life-long habit, and should be careful not to urge even right ideas, unduly. None should be urged to make the change abruptly.(MH 317)

The Adventist Health Message is Holistic:

SPIRITUALS MO EC NI TA AL L

PHYSICAL - HEALTH

The Holistic nature of the Adventist Health Message is important because:

• Spiritual: God through the Holy Spirit, can only communicate through our minds. It is important therefore, that the mind be clear.

• Mental: We have an obligation learn all we can about salvation, about living and to prepare for service - this is only possible with a clear mind

The Holistic nature of the Adventist Health Message is important because:

• Social: We have been put on earth to interact with others - to be “loving and lovable Christians” - to improve the welfare of all with whom we come into contact

• Physical: We need to be as healthy as we can be for as long as possible, so as not to deprive others of the service we can offer.

The Adventist Health Message advocates: regular exercise:• Regular exercise is the simple formula for

increased energy, a firm body, stress relief, healthier skin, more self-confidence, effective weight control, improved digestion and regularity, reduced depression, and reduced risks of cancer and heart disease. It is not an option - it is essential to maintaining optimal health, both physical and mental.

The Adventist Health Message recognises the benefits of sunlight:

• Sunshine promotes health and healing• Sunshine (in moderation) is involved in

the production of vitamin D in the skin - essential for calcium metabolism (Rickets and osteoporosis) (Note findings of 3rd World Conference on Vegetarian nutrition).

• Sunlight kills germs and mould and promotes a clean environment

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of water:

• Used for cleanliness and relaxation!!

• Water is lost through exhaled air, perspiration and excretion of waste

• Must be replaced

• Require 6-8 X 250mL glasses per day

• Thirst plus 1/3 rule

• WATER is superior to all other sources of fluid, including fruit juices

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of fresh air:

• Fresh air provides the oxygen essential for every cell in the body

• Polluted air contains excessive amounts of dust, nano-particles, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide

• Polluted air can contain dangerous chemicals such as lead, and other industrial pollutants

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of rest:

• Proper rest is critical to a healthy body and mind.

• Rest is more than sleeping or ceasing our regular work.

• Weariness is not always caused by stress or working too hard. Our minds can be wearied by over stimulation through the media, sickness or personal problems

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of rest:

• A compassionate Christ said “ Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”. Mark 6:31 (NIV)

• Periods of rest provide times of quietness for communion with God. “Be still, and know that I am God”. Ps 46:10 (NIV)

• God stressed our need for rest by setting aside the 7th day of the week, as a day of rest.

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of sleep:

• In addition to rest, we need 6 to 10 hours sleep each night, depending on the individual and the type of work performed.

• Require a comfortable bed, a comfortable temperature and good ventilation in the bedroom

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of sleep:

• A lack of sleep induces the production of a hormone that stimulates hunger - leads to over eating

• Sleep apnoea

LACK OF SLEEP Production of sleep OVEREATING deprivation hormone

Too tired to exerciseSleep apnoea Overweight

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of regular meal times, & avoidance of snacking:

• “Regularity in eating is of vital importance. There should be a specified time for each meal. At this time let everyone eat what the system requires and then take nothing more until the next meal”. MH 303

The Adventist Health Message recognises the importance of regular meal times, & avoidance of snacking:• Snacking impacts stomach emptying function. • Excess calories lead to childhood obesity• Poor breakfast- morning tea. Not hungry at

lunch time, so poor or no meal. Hungry at afternoon tea - snack. Not hungry at dinner, but “haven’t had a decent meal all day”, so have a large meal just before bed-time….

• “Another pernicious habit is that of eating just before bed-time…” MH 303

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of harmful drugs:• Illegal drugs - heroin, ecstasy, amphetamines,

LSD are clearly harmful• Medicinal drugs. Mrs White is referring to

drugs in use in her day which included arsenic, mercury, opium, tobacco

• Modern drugs, carefully and thoughtfully used are acceptable

• Prevention of disease through a healthy lifestyle, is preferable

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of tobacco:

• At a time when tobacco was prescribed for lung conditions, Mrs White wrote in 1864: (MH 327-330):

– Tobacco is a slow, insidious, but most malignant poison

– It is more subtle (than intoxicating drink) and its effects are difficult to eradicate from the system

– Multitudes have fallen victims to its poisonous influence. They have surely murdered themselves by this slow poison

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of alcohol:

• Alcohol, the most widely used drug, has devastated untold millions of lives.

• It hurts the user, and society in general through child abuse, wife beatings, broken homes, accidental death and poverty.

• God communicates with us only through our minds…alcohol adversely affects every body function, clouding the mind and impairing judgement


• As the level of alcohol in the system rises, the drinker progresses through loss of co-ordination, depression, confusion, intolerance leading to explosive anger, disorientation, stupor, anaesthesia, coma and death.

• Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages results in loss of memory, lack of judgement and reduced learning ability.


• Many who would not be guilty of serving wine or liquor of any kind, will load their table with food which creates such a thirst for strong drink that to resist the temptation is almost impossible. Wrong habits of eating and drinking destroy the health and prepare the way for drunkenness. (MH 334)

• Lab animals when fed the typical ‘teenager diet’, choose alcohol to drink, instead of water when offered both at the same time.


But what about the ‘benefits’ of red wine?• There is evidence that the moderate

consumption of red wine (1 - 2 X 125 mL glasses/day) reduces the incidence of coronary artery disease.

• The same beneficial effect can be obtained from drinking red unfermented grape juice. The benefit comes from the grape skin (Resveratrol), not the alcohol!

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of coffee, (and cola):• Tea, coffee and other popular drinks act as a

stimulant…there is short-lived increased energy to the entire system. When the influence of the stimulant is gone, the unnatural force abates and the result is a corresponding degree of languor and debility. (MH 326)

• The continued use of these nerve irritants is followed by headache, wakefulness, palpitations of the heart, indigestion, trembling and many other evils…that wear away the life forces. (MH 326)

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of coffee, (and cola):• Caffeine is addictive - its action is damaging• Coffee contains nitrosamines which are

carcinogenic• Adventist lifestyle findings:

– men who drank two or more cups of coffee a day had twice the risk of fatal bladder cancer, and a modest increased risk of colon cancer

– men drinking 1-2 cups of coffee a day had a 50% higher risk of heart disease, while women had a 20% increased risk.

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of coffee, (and cola):• Actions of caffeine:

– Acts on sympathetic nervous system to increase heart rate

– Acts on adrenal glands to increase production of adrenalin – flight or fright hormone

– Acts on adenosine receptors in the brain (ATP to ADP to AMP to A) Receptor-bound A lass available for energy production in cells

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of tea drinking:• Ellen White does not differentiate

between tea and coffee - both are equally condemned for the same reasons

• Claims that tea is a good source of antioxidants are true.

• There are plenty of other sources of anti-oxidants that do not have the harmful effects of tea.

The Adventist Health Message recommends the avoidance of tea drinking:

Antioxidants Caffeine

Addictive

Diuretic

>BP

The Adventist Health Message recommends consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables 1:

• In order to know what are the best foods, we must study God’s original plan for man’s diet…Grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in a simple and natural manner…are the most healthful and nourishing. (CDF 81)

The Adventist Health Message recommends consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables 2:• Nicely prepared vegetables and fruits in

their season will be beneficial (CDF 200)

• …fruit are essential to health (HFM 39)

• We are to regard the trees laden with fruit as the gift from God, just as much as though he placed the fruit in our hands (1BC

1081)

• Vegetables, fruits and grains should compose our diet. (CDF 380)

The Adventist Health Message recommends consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables 3:• Of 156 scientific studies examining the

relationship of fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of developing cancer, 128 showed a protective effect.

• Persons with low fruit and vegetable consumption (those in the lowest quarter of the population) had double the risk of developing most cancers, compared with those who ate the most fruit and veges.

The Adventist Health Message recommends consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables 4:• Those consuming 2 or more servings of fruit/day

had 26% (1/4) the risk of developing cancer compared with those eating fruit less than 3 times/week.

• Those who consume less than 3.5 servings of fruit/day increase their risk of developing cataracts by 500%

• Those over age 60 who are high consumers of fruit had an overall mortality of 30% compared with low consumers.

The Adventist Health Message advocates consumption of nuts 1:

• Grains , fruits, nuts and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our creator (CF 363)

• When properly prepared, olives like nuts, supply the place of butter and flesh meats (CDF 359)

• Some nuts are not as wholesome as others Almonds are preferable to peanuts (CDF 364)

The Adventist Health Message advocates consumption of nuts 2:

• SDA Health Study:– men who ate nuts at least 4 times each week,

had half the fatal heart attacks as those who rarely ate nuts

– Walnuts and almonds lower blood fats, including cholesterol

• Nuts are an excellent source of essential Omega-3 fatty acids

The Adventist Health Message recommends the use of dried fruit:• Wherever dried fruits such as raisins, prunes,

apples, pears, peaches, and apricots are obtainable at moderate prices, it will be found that they can be used….freely…with the best results to the health and vigour of all classes of workers. (CDF 95)

• SDA Health study: Those who use dried fruits regularly had only 19% of the usual risk of getting pancreatic cancer and a 50% reduction in prostate cancer risk.

The Adventist Health Message recommends the use of whole grains and whole-wheat breads:• Fine-flour (white) bread cannot impart to

the system the nourishment that you will find in unbolted-wheat (wholemeal) bread (CDF 320)

• For use in bread making, white flour is not the best…it is lacking in nutritive elements to be found in bread made from whole wheat. Its use is neither healthful nor economical. (Ibid)

The Adventist Health Message recommends the use of whole grains and whole-wheat breads:• There are two types of fibre in the diet;

– soluble fibre helps lower cholesterol and triglycerides, hence reduce heart attack risk. Best sources include oats, beans, apples, barley.

– insoluble fibre as in wheat bran, reduces the risk of colon cancer.

• SDA Health Study: Men who customarily ate whole wheat bread had a 44% decreased risk of having a heart attack.

The Adventist Health Message recommends the (moderate) use of dairy products:

• Fruits, grains and vegetables, prepared in a simple way, free from spice and grease (animal fat) of all kinds, make, with milk or cream, the most healthful diet. (CDF 92)

The Adventist Health Message recommends the (moderate) use of dairy products:

• The time will come when we may have to discard some of the articles of diet we now use, such as milk and cream and eggs; but my message is that you must not bring yourself to a time of trouble beforehand, and thus afflict yourself with death. (CDF 206)

The Adventist Health Message recommends the (moderate) use of dairy products:• The incidence of some cancers is reduced in

those who use milk: stomach cancer, oesophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer.

• There has been reported an increased risk of prostate cancer in high consumers of meat, milk and cheese. (?contribution of the meat v dairy)

• Recommend modest use of low fat milk as a source of vitaminB12

The Adventist Health Message recommends the moderate use of sugar, &

avoidance of milk and sugar combinations:• “Far too much sugar is ordinarily used in food”MH301

• “Especially harmful are the custards and puddings in which milk, eggs and sugar are the chief ingredients.”Ibid

• “The free use of milk and sugar taken together, should be avoided” MH 302

Dr Garry Fraser’s NZ study into heart disease implicated ice cream as the worst single contributory factor. Impact on immune system

The Adventist Health Message recommends the cautious use of salt, & avoidance of condiments:

• “…do not eat largely of salt” MH 305

• “Mustard, pepper, spices..irritate the stomach…Soon ordinary food does not satisfy the appetite.” MH 325

Danger of aflatoxins

The Adventist Health Message recommends a vegetarian diet:

• Grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables constitute the diet chosen by our Creator. (CDF 81)

• Vegetables, fruits and grains should compose our diets. Not an ounce of flesh meat should enter our stomachs. (CDF 380)

• The money that is expended in buying meat, would purchase a good variety of fruits, vegetables and grains. (RH 5-8-83)

The Adventist Health Message recommends a vegetarian diet:• Vegetarian men live 3.7 years longer than

non-vegetarian men• Adventist consumers of meat have a 33%

higher death rate from all causes combined, compared with vegetarian Adventists

• Meat users in the general population in their 40’s, have four times as many heart attacks as vegetarian men

The Adventist Health Message recommends a vegetarian diet:• Non-vegetarian Adventist men have 3.8

times the risk of having “diabetes” on their death certificate than vegetarian Adventists.

• Persons consuming greater amounts of fruit and beans and lower amounts of meat had a lower risk of colon cancer, lung cancer and cancers of the urogenital system.

The Adventist Health Message recommends a vegetarian diet:

• Consumption of meat, poultry and fish is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer

• The intake of both red meat and white meat double the risk of colon cancer.

• Men who consumed beef at least 3 times/week had a 60% increased risk of fatal coronary heart disease

The Adventist Health Message recommends a vegetarian diet:• Adventists who ate meat at least 4

times/week had four times the risk of a fatal heart attack in their 40’s; twice the risk in their 60’s, compared with lacto-ovo-vegetarian men.

• For women over age 55, consuming meat at least 4 times/week, the risk of a fatal heart attack was 1.5 times greater than in lacto-ovo-vegetarian women.

The Adventist Health Message recommends a vegetarian diet:• Men who adopted a vegetarian lifestyle before

age 20, had 1/2 the risk of fatal heart disease compared with those who adopted vegetarianism in their 50’s.

• Daily consumption of meat doubles the risk of developing diabetes

• Non-vegetarian’s risk of fatal stroke is 30% higher than in vegetarians

• Meat eating doubles the risk of dementia

The Adventist Health Message advocates living a life of service, at peace with God and man:

• The Christian lifestyle is a response to salvation through Christ.

• All true obedience comes from the heart. If we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims…that when obeying Him, we shall be carrying out our own impulses. The will refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. (DA 668)

The Adventist Health Message:CONCLUSIONS• The Seventh-day Diet. Rucker. Random House

– Eat breakfast– Cut out empty and refined calories– Eat more fruit and vegetables– Consume less fat– Learn to fast (not eat between meals)– Get plenty of exercise– Reprogram your mind

The Adventist Health Message:CONCLUSIONS• The Seventh-day Adventist Diet:

–before the 1960’s : Ridiculed

–in the 70’s and 80’s: Tolerated

–in 90’s: Accepted

–now: Acclaimed

The Adventist Health Message:Our response• What are we going to do with the

Adventist health message?– Ignore it? OR– Learn all we can about it?

– Give intellectual assent to it? OR– Adopt it?

Documents

Welcome. What is the Adventist Health Message? Dr Bevan Hokin BSc MAppSc PhD Director of Pathology SYDNEY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL