The Word on Health

A book review by Chet Day
February, 2001

Although I take a secular and non-denominational approach to writing about human diet and wellness, I've long been interested in the religious and spiritual aspects of health, and I know that's also true of many Health & Beyond readers.

Because of my eclectic interests and background--I even worked for 18 months with an organization that promotes a scriptural approach to health--I found quite interesting a new book on biblical nutrition that I recently finished reading: The Word on Health: a Biblical and Medical Overview of How to Care for Your Body and Mind. 

This book was written by a doctor named Michael Jacobson, the founder of Provident Medical Institute, an educational ministry that, according to the back of the book, "assists church leaders in addressing health-care issues with principles that are biblically and scientifically sound." Jacobson also serves as an associate pastor and travels extensively, conducting church-based medical seminars.

Using the Bible as his primary source, Jacobson presents what those who follow a scriptural approach to health may will consider a convincing case for a diet based on fruits, vegetables, and "clean" animal foods.

Jacobson soundly trounces those who promote strict vegan diets based on Scripture: "Unfortunately, some modern nutrition prophets tend to stop somewhere between Genesis 1 and 9, claiming that, since plant food is what God originally gave to Adam and Eve, plant food is what He intends us to eat today and nothing else. But Scripture has much more to say about diet than what we find in the first six chapters."

Jacobson continues: "The Flood ends on page 9 in my Bible; there are still 1,314 pages of Scripture left. Does the Word have anything more to say about diet? Absolutely. Do these later references confirm that God intends that we be vegetarian today? Absolutely not. In fact, within just three verses of the completion of the Flood story, the Creator gave animal flesh as food to mankind: 'Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.' (Genesis 9:30)"

Jacobson then goes on to quote extensively from the Bible, building a powerful case for eating from plant and "clean" animal foods.

Regarding an ideal diet for humankind that also confirms to scripture, Jacobson summarizes the important characteristics of his diet on page 142:

• Pure water, six to ten glasses per day, is a key aspect to proper diet.
  
  
• Ideally, food is minimally processed, seasonally fresh, and locally grown.
  
  
• Grains should be fresh milled, whole, and consumed liberally.
  
  
• Vegetable servings are one-half cup each and, like grains, are of fundamentally importance.
  
  
• Fresh fruit is the typical daily dessert or snack between meals.
  
  
• Legumes (beans and peas) and nuts: at least one serving of these best plant sources for protein should be consumed daily.
  
  
• Olive oil is the principle fat. Butter may be used in moderation, particularly when high heat is needed. No margarine or other products made from hydrogenated or damaged oils are allowed whatsoever. This would include any foods fried in vegetable oil (chips, fries, etc). Once gain, the only fat used in frying should be butter or olive oil.
  
  
• Cultured milk products such as yogurt and cheese are consumed daily. Milk is avoided unless it can be obtained raw from a safe source or as pasteurized skim milk. These should be used conservatively.
  
  
• Eggs are consumed in moderation (limit four per week if necessary).
  
  
• Fish is eaten a minimum of once or twice per week. Poultry slightly more.
  
  
• Sweets containing sugars or honey are limited to a few per week. Remember to avoid candies with hydrogenated oils.
  
  
• Red meat for special occasions and guests. Goal: less than once weekly.

Anyone involved in biblical health and the Genesis 1:29 diet will find interesting reading in Dr. Jacobson's book because it challenges assumptions, assumptions that do not hold water according to the perspective given in The Word on Health.

Fascinating reading from Moody Press and Michael D. Jacobson, D.O.