Ellen G. White Health Counsel on Disease and Reform

The prevalence of cancer and tumors is a serious health concern largely attributed to the consumption of meat and the practice of "gross living on dead flesh"SUFF 4.1+2. As animals increasingly languish under the curse of sin, they suffer from pulmonary diseases and cancers at an alarming rate, which are then communicated to humans through the ingestion of their tissues14MR 297.4+2. Beyond dietary factors, cancer can also be triggered by the inflammation of "cancerous humors" dormant in the system through physical self-abuse or the use of certain medications like calomelEGWSCC 1.8+2. Environmental and lifestyle factors, such as the use of unhealthful and fashionable dress that causes physical displacements, also contribute to the development of these terrible diseasesT30 160.2. Furthermore, a lack of spiritual health can manifest physically, as seen when a "cancer" of distrust and suspicion eats away at one's spiritual life and vigor12MR 342.2+2. While the medical field often offers little encouragement in advanced cases, there is hope through the Great Physician; indeed, faith and earnest prayer have resulted in the complete and instantaneous removal of cancers when the work was wrought by the LordLS80 306.2+2.

...caused by meat eating.—Testimonies for the Church 9:159. From the light God has given me, the prevalence of cancers and tumors is largely due to gross living on dead flesh.—Medical Ministry, 278— SUFF 4.1 (1960)

The meat diet is the serious question. Shall human beings subsist on the flesh of dead animals? The answer, from the light that God has given, is, No; decidedly no. Health reform institu...— GCDB March 2, 1897, par. 9 (1891)

... long stay in the living system. It inflames the joints, and often sends rottenness into the bones. It frequently manifests itself in tumors, ulcers, and cancers years after it has been introduced into the system.”—Selected Messages 2:445, 447, 449— EGWSCC 1.8 (1964)

...-long invalids through their compliance with the demands of fashion. Displacements and deformities, cancers and other terrible diseases, are among the evils resulting from fashionable dress— T30 160.2 (1881)

...sed the change in my countenance, he could praise God with me. My afflicted eye was free from pain. In a few days I looked in the glass, the cancer was gone, and my eyesight was fully restored. The work was complete— 2SG 186.1 (1860)

Inflammation is a state of physical derangement often caused by improper diet, unhealthful living environments, or sudden illnessTSDF 174.4+2. While it can be a painful and alarming condition, the Lord has provided simple, natural remedies and principles of health reform to help the body recover its vitalityPOSDAI 13.5+1.

Dietary Causes of Inflammation

• Flesh Meats: The eating of flesh meats produces a poor quality of blood and flesh, leaving the system in a state of inflammation and prepared to take on diseaseTSDF 174.4+1.

• Disease in Animals: Many animals are butchered while their blood is in a high state of fever; those who eat such meat are subject to inflammation and blood poisoning5LtMs, Ms 22, 1887, par. 28.

• Spices and Seasoning: Using highly seasoned food causes inflammation of the delicate lining of the digestive organsTSDF 113.1.

• Sugar and Milk: The combination of sugar and milk is harmful as it can cause fermentation in the stomach, leading to diseaseCD 196.4.

• Specific Cases: Excessive use of animal flesh was shown to cause severe inflammation of the eyes, nearly leading to a loss of sight15LtMs, Ms 41, 1900, par. 36.

Environmental and Lifestyle Factors

• Improper Dress: Fashionable attire that fails to protect the limbs while over-covering the vital organs induces heat and congestion, which is a major cause of diseaseCTBH 89.1.

• Impure Air: Breathing air impregnated with poisonous impurities in small, closed rooms conveys waste matter to the blood and results in internal inflammation2SM 462.4+1.

• Damp Dwellings: Houses built on low, wet ground or surrounded by dense shade trees collect dampness that breeds sore throats and inflammation of the lungs2SM 463.3+1.

• Exhaustion: Taking a cold when in an utterly exhausted condition can cause inflammation to settle in the joints or lungsHR April 1, 1871, par. 24.

Simple Remedies and Divine Healing

• Charcoal Poultices: Pulverized charcoal is a most successful remedy for overcoming the poison of inflammation; it can be used in a bag with water for bruised hands or the bowels2SM 299.2+1.

• Eye Care: The most severe inflammation of the eyes can be relieved by a poultice of charcoal dipped in water12LtMs, Ms 162, 1897, par. 10.

• Water Treatments: Inflammation and pain can be subdued using compresses of varying temperatures according to the degree of feverPH144 19.2.

• Prayer and Faith: In cases of inflammatory rheumatism and lung fever, the Lord has often responded to the prayer of faith with immediate healing3MR 414.1+2.

Types of Inflammatory Afflictions

• Lung Fever: Inflammation of the lungs is often a result of sudden chilling of the blood or sleeping in damp bedsLS88 342.3+2.

• Rheumatism: Inflammatory rheumatism can prostrate an individual for months, causing intense agony in every nerve and muscle2SAT 85.5+2.

• Internal Organs: Neglecting to keep the extremities warm can lead to inflammation of the liver, kidneys, and lungsHR September 1, 1868, par. 6.

True health reform regulates every article of clothing and every item of diet to ensure the blood remains pure and the system free from inflammatory poisonsCTBH 89.1+1. By following these principles and looking to the Great Physician, we can find victory over disease 2 Timothy 4:22LtMs, Lt 18, 1872, par. 16. We are encouraged to remember that the Lord is with us always, even in our times of physical trial Matthew 28:20.

Tuberculosis, often referred to as consumption, is a fatal disease frequently communicated through the consumption of meat and exacerbated by improper lifestyle habitsCD 388.3+1. While it is a dread destroyer that has claimed many lives, many individuals can recover through faith in the mighty Healer and a strict adherence to the principles of health reform9MR 287.1+1.

Causes and Communication of Tuberculosis

• Meat Consumption: A meat diet is a primary cause of tuberculosis because animals are increasingly diseased; eating their flesh communicates cancerous and tuberculous germs directly to the human systemCD 388.3+2.

• Impure Air and Ventilation: Breathing "poisoned breaths" in crowded, unventilated rooms or associating closely with many other consumptives hastens the disease and endangers caregivers9MR 282.3+1.

• Environmental Dampness: Houses surrounded by dense shade or built on low, wet ground breed a poisonous miasma that causes lung diseases which often end in consumption2SM 463.3+2.

• Improper Dress: Fashionable dress that compresses the lungs or leaves the extremities chilled impedes circulation and is a chief cause of pulmonary disease3MR 319.1+2.

• Vocal Abuse: Speaking in a high, unnatural key or failing to use the abdominal muscles for deep breathing can injure the lungs and result in consumptionVSS 182.2+2.

Prevention and Natural Remedies

• Outdoor Life: Living much in the open air and taking full, deep inspirations of fresh air is as healing as medicine and can cure many suffering from pulmonary disease3MR 319.1+2.

• Deep Breathing and Voice Culture: Learning to use the abdominal muscles in speaking and practicing deep breathing strengthens the lungs to resist consumptive tendencies9MR 14.3+2.

• Dietary Reform: Replacing animal fats and butter with properly prepared olives and olive oil is highly beneficial and healing for consumptivesTSDF 124.8+1.

• Hydrotherapy: Using water treatments, such as cold or warm compresses on the lungs, can help subdue the fevers and pain associated with lung afflictions2SM 304.1+2.

Institutional and Home Care

• Isolation and Location: Sanitariums for consumptives should never be in congested cities but should be isolated near pine forests and flowing water, as these have healing properties14LtMs, Ms 89, 1899, par. 5+2.

• Avoid Large Groups: It is a mistake to gather large numbers of consumptive patients together, as seeing others waste away destroys the hope of recovery9MR 281.3+1.

• Home Care: Whenever possible, those with consumption should be cared for in their own homes by friends to prevent the spread of the disease in public institutions9MR 282.3+1.

• Precautionary Measures: Great care must be taken to separate consumptives from other patients with weak lungs to ensure the disease is not communicated14LtMs, Lt 40, 1899, par. 4+1.

Faith and Encouragement

• Divine Healing: Many who are threatened with consumption will be healed through faith and by taking hold of God's strength9MR 287.1.

• Hope for Recovery: Even those thought to be in a hopeless condition may recover entirely if they act sensibly and follow the light God has given regarding health17LtMs, Ms 230, 1902, par. 15+1.

• Personal Victory: Although physicians may pronounce a case hopeless, as when they stated my own lungs were decayed, the Lord can restore health and enable a person to labor for many yearsLS88 192.5+2.

The Lord invites you to trust in His providence during times of illness, saying, "Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me" Isaiah 27:5.

Heart disease is often the result of violating nature's laws through intemperance, unhealthful habits, and environmental poisons7MR 56.1+1. The heart is the capital or citadel of the human organism, and its sound action is essential for the health of the entire body5MR 65.4+2.

Causes and Contributing Factors

• Intemperance in Diet: Heart failure and sudden death are frequently caused by intemperance in eating and drinking rather than mere old age3MR 329.4+1. Immoderate eating and the use of unhealthful foods like rich pastries, spices, and flesh meats derange the system and burden the heartHL 176.3+2.

• Tobacco Poison: Living in an atmosphere charged with tobacco smoke acts as a fatal poison to the heart, causing violent action followed by a feeble, intermittent pulse19MR 284.2+1. Many wives and children suffer from heart disease simply by inhaling the tobacco-poisoned air created by those around them19MR 284.2+1.

• Improper Dress: Compression of the waist through tight-lacing or corsets is a sin against the body that trammels the heart and prevents it from performing its vital work4MR 269.1+2. When the limbs are not properly clad, the blood is chilled back from the extremities and thrown upon the heart and other internal organs, causing congestion and palpitationMH 271.3+2.

• Stimulants: The use of tea and coffee provides a false strength by exciting the nerves, which in turn imparts an unnatural, increased action to the heartTe 75.3+1. This constant stimulation wears away the life forces and leads to palpitationTe 78.2+1.

• Mental and Spiritual State: The mind has a powerful influence on the body; an unyielding will, lack of self-control, and uncontrolled temper can develop diseased spots on the heart1LtMs, Ms 12, 1863, par. 4+1. Anxiety, grief, and soul-agony over the condition of others can also deeply affect heart health14MR 66.2+2.

Personal Experiences with Heart Disease

I have personally suffered with severe heart disease for many years, often finding it difficult to breathe or sleep unless propped up in a sitting postureLS 151.1+2. At various times, physicians pronounced my condition dangerous, predicting sudden death or paralysisLS80 305.1+2. My heart has been affected by high altitudes, the poisonous odor of tobacco on trains, and the exhaustion of public labor9MR 346.1+3. However, through the grace of God and the prayer of faith, I have been repeatedly restored to strength even when brought near death's door17MR 45.4+2.

Prevention and Restorative Principles

• Physical Exercise: Combining mental exertion with physical labor in the open air quickens the circulation and makes the action of the heart more perfectTSDF 179.2+1. Useful labor should be systematic, and the heart should be in the work to be truly advantageousMH 238.5.

• Proper Circulation: For the body to be healthful, the blood must make its way quickly and easily to the extremities at every pulsation15LtMs, Ms 24, 1900, par. 9+1. This is achieved by wearing loose clothing and ensuring the limbs are as warmly clad as the chestHL 175.4+1.

• Ventilation: Sleeping in unventilated rooms or covering an infant's head while it sleeps enfeebles the action of the heart and lungsRH December 26, 1899, par. 3+1.

• Spiritual Healing: God reveals the defects of the heart in mercy so that we may modify our dispositions and be purified through the fire of affliction2MCP 617.1. Bringing the appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God is our only hope for eternal lifeTSDF 154.1.

The Creator watches over the human machinery, and it is by His constant care that the heart continues to beat15LtMs, Ms 24, 1900, par. 9. We are not our own, but have been bought with a price; therefore, we must glorify God by preserving our bodies in the best possible condition 1 Corinthians 6:19-202T 65.2. He promises that if we set our hearts to His words and walk in His laws, He will take away sickness and provide health to all our flesh Deuteronomy 7:15+2.

Tumors are frequently identified as a consequence of violating the laws of nature, particularly through the consumption of diseased animal products and improper lifestyle habitsEGWSCC 1.2+2. The light given by God reveals that the prevalence of these inflammatory conditions is largely due to gross living on the flesh of dead animalsSpM 47.2+1.

Dietary Causes and Meat Consumption

The use of flesh meat is a primary contributor to the development of tumors and other fatal diseasesCCh 235.6+1.

• Diseased Animals: Animals are increasingly suffering from alarming rates of disease, including cancers and tumors, which are passed to humans when they consume the "corpse" of the animal14MR 297.4+2.

• Pork Consumption: The eating of pork is specifically linked to the production of scrofula, leprosy, and cancerous tumors2SM 417.5+2.

• Impure Blood: When the blood is filled with the juices of diseased animals, it becomes torpid and impure, leading to the formation of tumors and inflammatory conditionsSUFF 3.4+2.

• Discovery in Meat: Even meat sold as healthy can contain hidden dangers; a disgusting tumor was once discovered within the tissues of what was thought to be young lamb23LtMs, Lt 50, 1908, par. 15.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Beyond diet, various habits and medications can trigger or exacerbate the growth of tumors.

• Harmful Medications: The use of calomel is known to manifest in the system as tumors or ulcers many years after it has been introducedHL 190.5.

• Fashionable Dress: Unnatural styles of dress that cause physical displacements and deformities are among the evils resulting in tumors and other terrible diseasesEGWSCC 1.17.

• Self-Abuse: The practice of secret vice or self-abuse can inflame cancerous humors that would otherwise lie dormant, causing them to commence their destructive eating workEGWSCC 1.2+1.

• Tight Lacing: Lacing the chest too tightly with corsets has been known to force the lungs out of their natural position, creating protrusions in the neck that appear as tumorsHR December 1, 1871, par. 17.

Spiritual and Metaphorical Growth

Tumors can also serve as a figure for spiritual decline and the lack of healthy development.

• Lack of Vitality: Just as a healthy plant shows growth, spiritual vitality is testified by growth in character; a lack of this growth results in a "dwarfage" of the soul9T 184.2+1.

• Dreadful Influences: When a church neglects its privileges, "fungus growth" and spiritual stagnation can take the place of vigorous healthST September 18, 1901, par. 14.

• Satan's Work: Sin is described as a cancer or tumor eating away at the prospect of a future holy life12LtMs, Lt 69, 1897, par. 7.

Principles of Healing and Education

The Lord has provided instruction on how to treat the sick and educate the public to prevent these afflictions.

• Natural Remedies: Simple remedies like pure air, sunlight, and water, combined with an intelligent knowledge of how to eat and dress, are powerful in assisting nature to recover15MR 277.3+2.

• Charcoal Poultices: Pulverized charcoal mixed with flaxseed has been used successfully to relieve painful swellings and discharge matter from afflicted areas2SM 299.3+2.

• Education in Restaurants: Hygienic restaurants and cooking schools are established to demonstrate that a nourishing diet can be provided without flesh foods, thus avoiding the seeds of disease8MR 397.2+2.

• Avoid Forcing Changes: In medical institutions, physicians should educate patients on the dangers of meat-eating but should not force sudden radical changes on those with perverted appetites or those wasting away from incurable tumorsCD 286.2+2.

The Lord desires for His people to have a healthy experience that demands constant growth and careful attention to the laws of nature14MR 295.3+1. By following His plans, we may find that life which is without infirmity or affliction, measuring with the life of God1SAT 239.2+1. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin" Matthew 6:28. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, bringing life and refreshment to those who trust in Him Psalms 72:6+1.

Blood diseases and the corruption of the vital current are primarily traced to the indulgence of appetite, the use of stimulating substances, and a disregard for the laws of physical health9LtMs, Ms 108, 1894, par. 2+1. To have good health, one must have good blood, as it is the "current of life" that repairs waste and nourishes every part of the human organismCCh 218.1+1.

Causes of Impure and Corrupted Blood

The quality of the blood is dictated by what is taken into the system and the environment in which one lives.

• Flesh Meats: Eating the flesh of dead animals is a leading cause of corrupted blood18MR 355.2+1. Because animals are often diseased and kept in filthy conditions, partaking of their flesh plants seeds of corruption in human tissue and bloodCCh 229.4+1. This creates a feverish condition and "animalizes" the system, making it unable to resist epidemics and contagious diseasesTSDF 68.11+1.

• Intemperance and Stimulants: Luxurious living, the use of wine, and beer corrupt the blood and inflame the passions9LtMs, Ms 108, 1894, par. 2+1. Tobacco is a "disgusting, filthy poison" that stupefies the user and taints the life current9LtMs, Ms 108, 1894, par. 2+1. Tea and coffee also enter the circulation, gradually impairing the energy of both body and mindCH 87.1.

• Improper Diet and Poor Cooking: Food that is poorly prepared, sour, or highly seasoned with spices and grease cannot be converted into good blood2T 537.3+1. Interestingly, an "impoverished diet" or a "poverty-stricken diet"—one lacking in necessary nutritive elements—is just as dangerous, leading to a "poverty of the blood" and general debilityCTBH 57.2+1.

• Drug Medication: The use of poisonous drugs to treat illness often leaves the blood impure and burdens the internal organs long after the initial sickness has passedHL 185.4+1.

The Role of Circulation and Environment

Pure blood is dependent not only on diet but also on the free and healthful movement of that blood through the body.

• Fresh Air and Breathing: The blood is cleansed and vitalized by contact with pure air; full, deep inspirations of oxygen purify the blood and impart to it a bright, healthy color2MCP 484.1+1. Conversely, living in ill-ventilated rooms makes the blood move sluggishly and remain unpurified2MCP 483.2+1.

• Physical Exercise: Inactivity is a fruitful cause of disease because it prevents the blood from circulating freely1MCP 116.3+1. Useful manual labor quickens the circulation and helps the blood expel impurities through the skin and lungsMM 106.3+1.

• Proper Clothing: Fashionable dress that leaves the limbs and extremities chilled drives the blood away from the surface to the internal organs, causing congestion and making the remaining blood impurePH134 7.1+1. To secure a healthful condition, the clothing must be distributed so that the extremities are as warm as the chestCT 305.3+1.

The Legacy of Disease

The effects of blood corruption are not limited to the individual but are often passed down through generations.

• Inheritance of Woe: Intemperate parents transmit their inflamed and corrupted blood to their children as a "legacy of woe"9LtMs, Ms 108, 1894, par. 2+1. This transmission includes physical maladies, enfeebled intellects, and a predisposition toward evil tendencies and licentiousnessAH 173.1+1.

• Parental Accountability: Parents who neglect physical laws in their own lives or who dress their children unhealthfully are responsible for the "vitiated habits" and "inflamed blood" they bequeath to their offspringTe 173.4+1.

Restoration and Prevention

The foundation of health is the production of a pure, vigorous life current.

• Simple Nutrition: Grains, fruits, and vegetables contain all the nutritive properties needed to make good bloodPH031 6.1+1. Simple rolls made with soft water and milk are specifically noted for making good blood and imparting strengthRH May 8, 1883, par. 6.

• Essential Elements: Salt is an article that is actually essential for the bloodTSDF 133.6.

• Mental Influence: A happy, cheerful mind reacts upon the system to cause a freer circulation of the blood1MCP 59.3.

The Bible warns against the shedding of innocent blood and reminds us of the consequences of our choices14MR 343.1+1. Judas, in his despair, realized too late the weight of his actions when he confessed he had "betrayed the innocent blood" Matthew 27:4. Similarly, those who disregard the laws of health are often "making haste to shed innocent blood" in their own systems through their thoughts and actions1888 1658.2. Manasseh's history also serves as a warning, for he "shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another" 2 Kings 21:16. We are encouraged to walk in God's law and observe all His commandments, judgments, and statutes to ensure the health of our bodies and souls Nehemiah 10:29.

The laws of health and principles of development are divine rules that govern our physical being, and we are under a solemn obligation to study and live in harmony with them2MCP 568.1. These principles are not merely suggestions but are the laws of God, designed for our highest good and happinessCD 457.4.

The Obligation to Understand Physical Law

• Solemn Responsibility: God has made the laws of our physical being so clear that they can be understood by all intelligent beingsPHJ February 1, 1902, par. 15. It is a positive duty to gather every ray of light regarding our physical well-being, as we are God's property and our habits bear His inspection20MR 8.4.

• A Living Sacrifice: We are besought by the mercies of God to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him Romans 12:1. This means we must speak and act intelligently regarding eating and drinking so we do not bring feebleness upon ourselves20MR 3.3.

• The Penalty of Violation: We have no right to wantonly violate a single principle of the laws of healthHL 18.4. Those who disregard these laws and then ask for God’s healing are asking Him to encourage sin, as He will not work a miracle to counteract the effects of a course that makes people sickCCh 304.1+1.

Key Principles of Health Reform

• Self-Control and Temperance: Every person striving for mastery must be temperate in all things 1 Corinthians 9:25. Habits of eating, drinking, and dressing must be held in control by reason and intellect rather than animal gratificationCG 392.2.

• Proper Diet: Diet should be chosen for the upbuilding of the body rather than the mere gratification of appetiteCCh 225.8. While common sense should be used because not all can eat the same things, we should generally return to a diet of simple, wholesome foodCCh 224.6+1.

• Natural Remedies: True health reform emphasizes the use of nature’s own remedies: pure air, pure water, sunlight, and a knowledge of how to eat and dress healthfully15MR 277.3.

• Physical Education: Ministers and teachers should stand erect and use their abdominal muscles when speaking to preserve their life and usefulnessCE 241.1+1.

The Purpose of Health Reform

• Highest Efficiency: The physical and mental powers must be trained and developed so they can reach the highest efficiency and reveal the divine nature in its fullnessCH 445.1.

• Preparation for Truth: Health reform is the "entering wedge" that prepares the mind to receive the special truths for this timeRH June 18, 1914, par. 10+1. As the health of the body is restored, the mind is better able to grasp the great truths of the gospel20MR 327.1.

• Character and Influence: Those who are governed by principle and shun extremes of indulgence or restriction will have a wide influence for good2MCP 395.1. When churches respect these physical laws, God gives them grace to be an influence in their communityMMis October 1, 1893, par. 8+1.

Practical Implementation

• Avoid Extremes: Those who understand these laws will avoid both indulgence and the extreme of a meager, insufficient dietCCh 225.8+1.

• The Importance of Cooking: Many become discouraged with health reform because they have not learned how to cook simple, proper food in an appetizing wayCME 36.1. Cooking schools and house-to-house instruction are essential to educate people in this artCD 474.3+1.

• Education of the Young: Parents and teachers must have a practical knowledge of health principles before they are fitted to care for the physical, mental, and spiritual growth of childrenCG 63.2+1.

Obedience to these physical laws is a part of obedience to the truth, and whatever a man sows, he shall also reap Galatians 6:7MMis October 1, 1893, par. 8. We must strive to bring our appetites under the control of reason and conscience to be successful in our service to God20MR 8.4+1.

Knowledge of physiology and hygiene is the essential foundation of all educational effort and health reform practiceCG 360.4+1. Since the mind and soul express themselves through the physical body, mental and spiritual vigor are largely dependent on physical strength and activityEd 195.1.

The Educational Priority of Physiology

• Basis of Education: A knowledge of physiology and hygiene should be regarded as the basis of all educational efforts in our schoolsCG 360.4+1.

• Instruction for Youth: It is of the highest importance that physiology occupies the first place among the studies selected for childhood2MCP 641.2. Parents and teachers must become acquainted with the human organism to secure for children "a sound mind in a sound body"RH January 10, 1882, par. 6.

• Practical Hygiene: While children study the structure of the body, parents must ensure that practical hygiene is added so that their knowledge becomes a practical benefitPH124 13.1+1.

• Ministry Preparation: Those preparing for the ministry must make a diligent study of the human organism to know how to care for the body through nature's laboratory rather than drugs6T 302.1+1.

Spiritual and Moral Implications

• Moral Responsibility: No one can properly understand or fulfill their obligations to themselves, their fellow beings, or their Creator without healthCG 360.4. Therefore, health should be as faithfully guarded as characterEd 195.1.

• Sin of Ignorance: He who remains in sinful ignorance of the laws of health, or willfully violates them, sins against GodCT 295.1. Our bodies are God's property, bought with an incredible price20MR 8.4+1.

• Discernment of Truth: The right balance of mental and moral powers depends on the condition of the physical systemPH136 6.4. Those who understand the laws governing their marvelous organism will regard health reform as an inestimable blessing rather than a sacrificeCH 390.2+1.

Practical Benefits of Physical Knowledge

• Prevention of Disease: Thousands of children die annually because parents and teachers are ignorant of the laws of their beingFE 159.4+1. Understanding physiology allows one to prevent disease by coordinating right habits of eating, drinking, and dressingWM 127.1.

• Mental Balance: Knowledge of physiology helps prevent the abuse of the mindFE 321.1. When the physical powers are equally taxed with the mental, the circulation of the blood is equalized, keeping the "living machinery" in running orderLS 353.3.

• Discarding Drugs: An intelligent understanding of bodily necessities teaches people to use nature's own remedies—pure air, sunlight, and water—and to discard injurious drugs7MR 378.2+1.

Role in Medical Missionary Work

• Removing Prejudice: Making people intelligent on physiology and health reform prepares the way for them to give attention to the present truth and removes prejudiceCW 124.3+1.

• Gospel Medical Missionary Work: Medical missionary work is the "right arm" of the gospel message6MR 310.2. By teaching the laws of the human system, workers can reach the sick and suffering, helping them regain health of both soul and bodyCH 470.3+1.

The Call to Action

• Sanified Reason: All must strive to bring appetite under the control of reason and heed the instruction given on this subject20MR 8.4.

• Self-Denial: We are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God Romans 12:1. This requires temperance in all things to obtain an incorruptible crown 1 Corinthians 9:25.

• Constant Education: The directive given by the Lord is to "Educate, educate, educate" so that the mind may be enlightened and the soul not debased by perverted appetiteCW 124.3.

Every heartbeat and every breath is the inspiration of the ever-present GodRH March 17, 1904, par. 13. By understanding the laws of our being, we cooperate with the Master Worker in restoring physical and spiritual healthWM 137.3. "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye" Proverbs 7:2.

Preventing inflammation is a sacred duty for every health reformer, as our bodies are the property of God, bought with an infinite price 1 Corinthians 6:19-2020MR 8.4+1. We are under a solemn obligation to study the laws governing our physical being and to live in harmony with them to avoid the penalties of disease2MCP 568.1+2.

The Duty of Temperance and Self-Denial

• Abstinence from Stimulants: It is a moral duty to lay aside "darling luxuries" like tea and coffee, which create an unnatural state of mind and body20MR 7.1. Giving up these habits can clear the mind, remove severe headaches, and allow for a better understanding of the Scriptures20MR 5.2.

• Discarding Flesh Foods: Meat-eating creates a poor quality of blood and leaves the system in a state of inflammation, prepared to take on diseaseT15 50.1. Because flesh meats are out of harmony with health reform, we should allow reason to take the place of impulse and refuse to taste the flesh of dead animalsTSDF 66.10+2.

• Controlling Appetite: All are called to bring the appetite under the control of reason and to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul20MR 8.4. Those who indulge their appetites cannot attain to Christian perfectionTSDF 190.4.

Practical Prevention and Simple Treatments

• Wholesome Diet: Health reform involves a return to a diet of milk, fruit, grains, and vegetables, which provides firmer strength and prevents the "goneness" common to meat-eatersTSDF 66.10+1. We must also be careful not to use unwholesome articles like hot biscuits or highly seasoned foods that cause inflammation of the digestive lining8MR 175.2+1.

• Natural Remedies: If we live out the principles of health reform perseveringly, using pure air, water, and sunlight, we can recover from ailments in nine cases out of ten without poisonous drugs2SM 287.4. Pulverized charcoal is a powerful, simple remedy that can overcome the poison of inflammation in the bowels, eyes, or bruised limbs2SM 294.2+1.

• Proper Clothing: Women must ensure their limbs are not chilled, as cold feet lead to internal congestion and inflammationHL 125.1.

The Responsibility to Educate

• Public Agitation: God desires that the minds of the people be deeply stirred to investigate the principles underlying true health reformPM 340.6+2. It is the duty of those who have the light to agitate the subject and instruct those suffering for want of knowledgeT11 45.1.

• Setting an Example: Those who represent our health institutions must not give an example of meat-eating, as these sanitariums are established to teach people to separate from habits that destroy the powers of body and mind19LtMs, Lt 214, 1904, par. 5+1.

• Teaching Children: Parents are accountable for every ray of light regarding physical well-being and must lead their children in safe, healthful paths20MR 8.4. If parents indulge in base passions, they transmit a stamp of lustful propensities to their children, weakening their moral and intellectual faculties2T 391.1.

By respecting the physical laws God has instituted, our churches will stand where they can be an influence for good in the community7LtMs, Lt 19, 1892, par. 15. We are besought to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service Romans 12:1-220MR 3.3+2.

Sugar should be used sparingly because it tends to clog the system and is a frequent cause of diseaseCTBH 56.4. God has provided an abundance of healthful fruits, grains, and vegetables that are naturally palatable and nutritious without the need for unwholesome additionsCG 380.2.

The Dangers of Sugar in the Diet

• Fermentation and Digestion: Using a large amount of sugar on items like mush is a mistake, as the combination of sugar and milk is particularly harmful and liable to cause fermentation in the stomachCTBH 56.4.

• Disease and Congestion: The free use of sugar in any form has a tendency to clog the bodily system and often serves as a direct cause of illnessCTBH 56.4.

• Unwholesome Compositions: Sweet puddings, custards, and sweet cakes are known to disorder the digestive organs, and such articles should not be placed before others as a temptationCD 395.1.

• Effect on Children: Parents often tempt their children to indulge their appetites by placing preserves and cakes upon the table, leading to sallow complexions and abused stomachsCD 239.1+1.

Principles of Reform and Moderation

• Discarding Rich Desserts: As part of a clear testimony for health reform, it is well to discard rich desserts alongside flesh meats, tea, and coffeeHFM 34.6.

• Simple Alternatives: While a plain, simple pie may occasionally serve as a dessert, it becomes a snare when individuals eat multiple pieces merely to gratify an inordinate appetite10LtMs, Lt 17, 1895, par. 27.

• Natural Sweetness: The products of the earth, including fruits and grains prepared in a simple way, provide all the gratification an unperverted appetite requiresCG 380.2.

• Moral Power: Individuals should exercise strong willpower and principle to control their appetite for articles they know are not the best for their health2LtMs, Lt 46a, 1874, par. 3.

The Spiritual and Mental Connection

• Mental Clarity: Indulging in wrong habits of eating can weaken intellectual powers, making it difficult to appreciate the value of salvation and eternal lifeCH 566.4.

• Self-Denial: True temperance requires that we cut away every unhealthful indulgence in eating and drinking to bring our daily practice into harmony with nature’s lawsGosHealth November 1, 1897, par. 12.

• Glorifying God: Whether we eat or drink, every action should be done to the glory of God, recognizing that our physical health impacts our service to Him 1 Corinthians 10:31Te 237.4.

By choosing a simple, nutritious diet and avoiding the clogging effects of excessive sugar, we preserve the "living machinery" of the body in its highest efficiencyLLM 178.8+1. We must remember that we are being tested and proved, and it is our duty to separate from everything that would drag us downTSDF 195.8. As the scripture encourages us, "Add to your faith virtue... and to knowledge temperance" 2 Peter 1:5-6.