Meat, Milk & Cheese, or Whole Wheat Bread & Cherries

The World is Ready for Health Reform,
Are We?

If you have been following the news of late, you are aware that it has been full of stories of disease, both animal and human. While the world struggles to cope, Adventists have been watching as prophecy (and insight) has been verified before their eyes.

Most Adventists know that Sister White, about a 100 years ago, described what caused many diseases and what we could do to prevent disease. In many cases she was ahead of her times. The most famous example of her advanced knowledge was her statements describing cancer germs and how they could be transmitted from animals to humans through the eating of meat.

“Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing. Those who use flesh foods little know what they are eating. Often if they could see the animals when living and know the quality of the meat they eat, they would turn from it with loathing. People are continually eating flesh that is filled with tuberculous and cancerous germs. Tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases are thus communicated.” Ministry of Healing pg.313

What most Adventists may not know is that the scientific community didn’t officially catch up to Ellen White until 1979. It was known as early as 1910 (after Sister White made her statements) that a virus (known as the Rous sarcoma virus) could cause cancer in chickens but because human cancer organisms move more slowly, scientists did not accept the evidence that ‘germs’ were causing cancer in humans until 1979 when a virus known as HTLV –1 (which is endemic in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean) was linked to some leukemia’s and lymphomas. Now we are familiar with many more organisms that are capable of causing cancer in its host; from the Eptein-Barr virus now associated with B-cell lymphoma’s, to the papilloma virus now associated with cervical cancer, to the SV-40 virus transmitted to the human population from Rhesus monkeys by polio vaccines in the 50’s and 60’s. There are many more examples that we know of and I’m certain there is an even greater number that we aren’t aware of.

When Ellen made the intriguing statement describing cancer germs being transmitted from animals to humans through meat eating she also stated that Tuberculosis and OTHER fatal diseases were also communicated. Science is just now beginning to discover that many diseases we once thought were caused only by environmental or genetic factors may also have infectious origins.

The most widely known recent discovery, is the discovery of the ulcer ‘germ’ Helicobacter pylori. Just as cancer can be caused by other things besides a virus (like chemical toxins, radiation, etc), Ulcers can be caused by other things besides the Helicobacter bacteria but in most cases the bacteria is a factor. The bacteria can also increase the risk for stomach cancer.

Now science is discovering infectious agents that can cause or contribute to other fatal diseases. Chlamydia pneumoniae is a bacteria that until recently was only known to cause pneumonia, but recent studies in Finland have discovered that 68 percent of heart attack patients had antibodies to the organism in their bloodstream. Also, 50 % of patients with heart disease had the antibodies but only 17 % of healthy controls had them. That is circumstantial evidence but researchers examining coronary-artery tissues and especially clogged arteries have discovered the bacteria as well. Some early animal studies have also pointed the finger at C. pneumonia. Researchers in Salt Lake City infected rabbits with the organism and then fed them a diet moderately high in cholesterol. A control group was left uninfected and another group was fed antibiotics shortly after being infected. The infected animals showed thickening of the arteries similar to heart disease while the uninfected animals did not (including the animals fed antibiotics). The bacteria seem to precipitate arterial plaque by infecting the walls of the arteries and causing inflammation. Then if the infected individual has a large amount of cholesterol in their blood stream it will precipitate out and form plaques on the arteries. Since animals can carry the disease it seems possible they are a vector carrying the disease and passing it to humans.

As if heart disease wasn’t bad enough C. pneumonia has been discovered in Alzheimer patients and a virus (the Borna virus) which can cause depression, apathy, weakness of the legs, abnormal body postures, hyperactivity, an exaggerated startle response, and a staggering gait has been found in horses and can infect all warm blooded animals. And that’s not mentioning Mad Cow disease. This all makes you wonder how many of our modern ills can be traced to such diseases and it makes Sister White’s advice to -avoid meat- avoid anything that might weaken our bodies- and her council to practice hygiene that much more relevant.

It seems likely that the list of organisms that can be passed to man from animals (and of course other people) will continue to grow.

Another prophecy Adventists are watching in action, is the prophecy that animal disease would increase to the point, that before Christ comes many in the world would become vegetarians and Adventists would have to give up milk and eggs.

In 1902 she wrote…

“Let the diet reform be progressive. Let the people be taught how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. Tell them the time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth. God will give His people ability and tact to prepare wholesome food without these things. Let our people discard all unwholesome recipes.” 7 Testimonies pg135

Also, in the same book she prophesied…

“Animals are becoming more and more diseased, and it will not be long until animal food will be discarded by many besides Adventists.” 7 Testimonies pg. 124

The vegetarian trend has been getting stronger every year but the outbreak of mad cow disease has converted many to vegetarianism who would not otherwise have been interested. In England, Britain, France, and Germany the number of new vegetarians has increased dramatically. Even the outbreak of hoof and mouth disease has inspired many to make the diet change even though the disease is not suppose to be able to infect humans (of course they said that about mad cow disease too when it was first discovered).

Because of these events we see more and more the wisdom of following the advice God gave His people through a little lady who only had a third grade education and lived in a time when doctors thought smoking tobacco cured lung problems. If we continue to follow the instruction she was given we will be able to avoid many more diseases and perhaps help and inspire those around us.

"And (God) said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26

 

Wendy

The Remnant-Online

Page 2

---