CommandmentKeepers Exclusive Take Your Pulse A Biblical guide to good health Jerome W. H. Niswonger, MD, MPH

It is clear that Our Heavenly Father desires the best for His children for He said in His Word, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”. (3 John 1:2) Now He doesn’t just say that it would be nice for us to “prosper and be in health”, but that “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health.” If this is so important one would expect that Scripture would show us how to achieve this special blessing, and indeed, it does.

It is no secret that among health and illness issues, diet plays a major role. Is the Bible a good source of counsel on dietary issues? We only have to go to the Garden of Eden to find the ideal diet instructions God gave to Adam and Eve. “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Gen 1:29) It is reasonable to assume that the ideal diet would be similar to that in the Garden of Eden and it is clear that this was a “flesh free” diet. After “the fall” God reiterated the prescribed diet, “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.” (Gen 3:18) It was not until after the flood that God granted man flesh for food for then He said: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” (Gen 9:3) It was only a few generations after the flood that the longevity of man was reduced from 800-900 years to 100-200 years. Was that a result of a “flesh” diet? Modern nutritional studies would suggest that this may be the case. (See The China Study link at the end of this paper.)

Now, let us fast forward to one of the most striking nutritional studies recorded in the Bible.

What is pulse? Strong’s Concordance tells us from H2232: something sown (only in the plural), that is, a vegetable (as food): - pulse. So what was the outcome of this vegetable diet?

Of course, not all of the results of this special blessing can be attributed solely to the diet. However, if Daniel had not “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank”, could God have bestowed upon him and his three companions such a special blessing? I think not.

Is appetite important to our spiritual health? From Scripture we find that Adam and Eve were tempted by appetite, to eat what God told them not to eat. Jesus began the work of redemption just where Adam failed, on the issue of appetite.

Christ was hungry and in need of food. Why did He not work this miracle? It was not in God's plan, for Christ was to work no miracle on His own account. By doing such He would have yielded to Satan’s temptation, and by yielding be overcome by the enemy.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1Cor 3:16 & 17) Thus, we are admonished to take care of our temple and not abuse it by a careless lifestyle.

Modern science has discovered the teachings of the Bible in that the healthiest diet is that which is prescribed in the Scriptures, a diet of “pulse” which is basically that of whole plant food. This should be enjoyed in its almost infinite variety, and in sufficient quantity to provide our daily energy needs.

Please see the following web sites to learn more.

http://www.thechinastudy.com/about.html