Nutrition

The human body is made up of Chemicals elements which are stored in the earth . Since one cannot eat earth then food is the chief ,easiest and most pleasant method of delivering nutrients to the body

Nutrients are chemicals elements found in foods necessary to keep it alive and healthy. The science and study of these nutrients is called nutrition .

By this everyone may be aware of the six groups of nutrients that supply the body with nourishment. They are namely Protein, Carbohydrates, Fats, Minerals, Vitamins, and Water. Notice I said groups of nutrients because there are numerous types of vitamins and mineral each is responsible to maintain a particular function in the body.

Let us take a look at the term balanced diet and what it really means. It basically means eating meals that contains the required quantity and types of nutrients the body needs to sustain it to achieve maximum performance.

The six basic groups of nutrients and their functions

• Protein is necessary to build, repair, and maintain body tissues and to produce enzymes and hormones. It may be called on to supply energy if the need arises.

• Carbohydrate provides the body with first hand energy for basal metabolism, activity level and is necessary for the digestion of some nutrients.

• Fat is used as a second source of energy and is necessary for maximum performance of some vitamins, it also provides satiety value to a meal.

• Vitamins are needed to give protection to the body from diseases and enables shorter recovery time from illnesses.

• Minerals are necessary to regulate body functions such as hormones productions and enables body organs to perform

• Water is extremely necessary it is the base for all body fluids. It neutralizes and balances electrolytes in the body

Malnutrition A diet that is deficient in these six groups of nutrients will result in malnutrition and cause the individual to perform at reduce capacity. A diet that is deficient in nutrients such as protein, fat, and carbohydrates can result in underweight. A diets that takes in too much of one nutrient especially fats and carbohydrates resulting in obesity is also classified as malnutrition.

When the meals are continually lacking in minerals, vitamins and water the result is a poor immune system, susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections and weakening of vital organs.

People are now opting for vegetarian diet over meat diet stating that meat is getting the nutrient second hand. Many believe that a vegetarian diet is healthier because the animals are carrier of many disease, others believe that a vegetarian is healthier than it meat counterpart, however this may not always be case.

Animal protein is classified as complete protein because it has all the essential amine acids and the very important vitaminB12 which is said to be found only in meat. On the other hand plant protein is said to be incomplete protein except for soy protein which is classified as a complete protein.

Sometimes ago I came across a botanist and a practitioner of herbal medicine and a Doctor who promotes vegetarianism and he told me that while vegetarian diet is good there are some specific blood type who will definitely feel much healthier it they add a little piece of meat to their diet.

So where do we go from here.

The Seventh Day Adventist promotes meatless diets and according to their early founder Ellen G White in her writings in the book Counsels on Health page151. She states.

"I have spoken to the importance of quality and quantity of food being in strict accordance with the law .I have been shown that many take a wrong view of health reform and adopt a poor diet. They subsist on upon cheap , poor quality food without care or reference to the nourishment of the system.

What should we understand here? I would think that if one plans to adopt a vegetarian diet then one should ensure that time is taken to plan meals.

So many time you see people especially Caribbean people who have adopt the vegetarian diet eat red peas with yams, breadfruit, potato and a lovely toss salad. Do you realize that this diet is not nutritionally sound? If peas and beans are eaten to supply protein then some form of cereal such as rice ,wheat flour, cornmeal, bulgur must be added so as to bring up the protein obtain to a complete protein. You could however eat soy beans with yam, bread, bananas, and have a balanced meal.

In the said book Counsel on Health page 395 Mrs. White states meat is not essential for health and strength. All the elements of nutrients are contained in fruits, vegetables, and grains. On page 96 she went on to say "When meat is discontinued there is often a feeling of weakness, this is not because flesh is essential but because it is a stimulant. When flesh is discontinued its place should be supplied with a variety of grains, nuts ,fruits and vegetables. The operative word here is variety.

According to Mrs. White these are some of the reason we should refrain from meat consumption.

• Many of the animals are carriers of deadly disease such as viral infections

• and bacteria. Studies show that people who eat meat are more prone to cancers, tumors and pulmonary diseases. We cannot be bias studies are also turning up results of people who consume high quantities of soy products are having also showing abnormal growth of tumors and cancers also.

• She said that meat eating animalizes the nature and robs one of the ability to sympathize .

So what do we do. I believe that we should not get carried away with vegetarianism. We must pay attention to all the aspects of a balanced and healthy diet. Mrs. White goes on to say in her book that there are other thing apart from meat eating that are harmful to health. A combination of milk and sugar, sweets cakes and rich pudding, consumption of processed foods strong drink very hot or very cold beverages ,sodas white denatured flour, spices can also do great harm.

She says what is important especially to the poor who cannot afford a true vegetarian diet, because peas ,grains and nut can prove to be very expensive. So as not to suffer from an malnourish diet one should eat the best of what is available as long as it is within the clean foods as set out the book of Leviticus in the Christian Bible

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At no time one should anyone feel, or be made to feel guilty because he is not consuming vegetarian diets. Although at creation man was given plants and herbs as meal. He was also instructed to eat meat after the flood by God. Many times God instructed man to eat meat. It was part of the sacrifices required by God for the Priest in old testament times. It was given at the Passover. While there is no record of Jesus eating meat he did eat flesh in the form of fish and many times gave it to individuals when they were hungry, such as the feeding of the five thousand. We all know that Jesus is the master teacher and came here to show how we should live. Mrs. white warn us against eating flesh not because it is sinful but because more and more it is getting dangerous for our health.

I have listened to a few Adventist speakers bemoaning the fact that Adventist first got the health message but other religions are far advanced in it such as the Hindus. When they mention the health message many like the other religions are most times referring to meat eating. The Adventist health message is vast and wide encompassing diet, exercise physically activities and training of the mind.

Individuals need to know that other religions such as Hindus and Christian organizations such as scientology are not using vegetarian diet to really promoting health. They have an agenda of becoming one with the spiritual life force, of communicating with outer intelligence.

Many years ago I read an article that a vegetarian diet produces a fluid known as akasa. This is a fluid that enables one to be connected to a demonic force. It was an article written in a Jehovah witness magazine so I took it with a grain of salt. At the time I had not the resources to research it.

I started researching it recently and although I may not be able to fully explain it . It is said that Akasa is one of the elements associated with metaphysics, such as earth water, air, fire. Akasa is seen as a fluid called the ester which enables one to go into his inner self and meet up with a force into the inner or fourth dimension where you can meet and commune with other entities of other dimension.

I do hope someone reading this paper and understand it more will make and entry in the comments area.

Were the Jehovah witness right?

It is thought provoking. We know that many prophets were instructed not to eat meat. Daniel, John the Baptist. These were men caught up in other dimensions. These were men who were closely connected to God. Men who tried to live clean, holy and God fearing lives, men who had daily communion with god ,men who followed his instructions.

Having read all this I come to the conclusion that a vegetarian diet should not be entered into lightly.

It is very good for one's health, good at increasing the perception, good at connecting individuals to a spiritual source. However as Christians we are to make absolutely sure that we are connected to Jesus Christ in order to be able to recognize his voice . I believe as a vegetarian one is more susceptible to be linked to a spiritual source be it heavenly or demonic.

 Author:(Soy Criada) Juliet Christie Murray