148
Counsels on Diet and Foods
eating, has led to recovery through nature’s own recuperative effort.
An abstemious diet for a month or two would convince many sufferers
that the path of self-denial is the path to health.—
The Ministry of
Healing, 235, 1905
310. There are some who would be benefited more by abstinence
from food for a day or two every week than by any amount of treatment
or medical advice. To fast one day a week would be of incalculable
benefit to them.—
Testimonies for the Church 7:134, 1902
311. Indulging in eating too frequently, and in too large quantities,
overtaxes the digestive organs, and produces a feverish state of the
system. The blood becomes impure, and then diseases of various kinds
occur....
[190]
The sufferers in such cases can do for themselves that which others
cannot do as well for them. They should commence to relieve nature
of the load they have forced upon her. They should remove the cause.
Fast a short time, and give the stomach a chance for rest. Reduce the
feverish state of the system by a careful and understanding application
of water. These efforts will help nature in her struggles to free the
system of impurities.—
Spiritual Gifts 4a:133, 134, 1864
312. Persons who have indulged their appetite to eat freely of meat,
highly seasoned gravies, and various kinds of rich cakes and preserves,
cannot immediately relish a plain, wholesome, and nutritious diet.
Their taste is so perverted that they have no appetite for a wholesome
diet of fruits, plain bread, and vegetables. They need not expect to
relish at first food so different from that which they have been indulging
themselves to eat. If they cannot at first enjoy plain food, they should
fast until they can. That fast will prove to them of greater benefit than
medicine, for the abused stomach will find that rest which it has long
needed, and real hunger can be satisfied with a plain diet. It will take
time for the taste to recover from the abuses which it has received, and
to gain its natural tone. But perseverance in a self-denying course of
eating and drinking will soon make plain, wholesome food palatable,
and it will soon be eaten with greater satisfaction than the epicure
enjoys over his rich dainties.—[
Spiritual Gifts 4a:130, 131
]
Counsels
on Health, 148