Adventist Health Teachings Further Confirmed

by Clive M. McCay, Ph.D.

Professor of Nutrition, Cornell University

A problem of much concern in America today is that children insist upon watching television and eating snacks in the late evening. They then arise too late in the morning to eat breakfast. Before noon they are tempted to eat snacks and thus spoil their lunch. Mrs. White wrote:NADEGW 8.1

“Irregularities in eating destroy the healthful tone of the digestive organs, to the detriment of health and cheerfulness. And when the children come to the table, they do not relish wholesome food; their appetites crave that which is hurtful for them.”—The Ministry of Healing, 384.

Every thinking person today would agree with such wise statements of Mrs. White as,NADEGW 8.2

“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies.”—The Ministry of Healing, 127.

“Parents should early seek to interest their children in the study of physiology and should teach them its simpler principles…An education in the things that concern life and health is more important to them than a knowledge of many of the sciences taught in the schools.”—The Ministry of Healing, 385, 386.

Or take these statements:NADEGW 8.3

“The best food for the infant is the food that nature provides. Of this it should not be needlessly deprived.”—The Ministry of Healing, 383.

“In the entertainment of guests there should be greater simplicity.”—The Ministry of Healing, 322.

“Where wrong habits of diet have been indulged, there should be no delay in reform.”—The Ministry of Healing, 308.

“Take active exercise every day, and see if you do not receive benefit.”—The Ministry of Healing, 310.

“One of the surest hindrances to the recovery of the sick is the centering of attention upon themselves.”—The Ministry of Healing, 256.

Mrs. White wrote:NADEGW 8.4

“There is a large class who will reject any reform movement, however reasonable, if it lays a restriction upon the appetite....By this class, all who leave the beaten track of custom and advocate reform will be opposed, and accounted radical.”—Counsels on Diet and Foods, 195.

Today this class is greatly strengthened in its opposition by the tremendous forces of advertising and the mass control of activities as described in such works as that of Vance Packard in Hidden Persuaders. Hence, improvement of the diet of people is probably far more difficult than it was in the time of Mrs. White.NADEGW 8.5