152
Counsels on Diet and Foods
poverty-stricken diet. What is the result?—Poverty of the blood. I have
seen several cases of disease most difficult to cure, which were due
to impoverished diet. The persons thus afflicted were not compelled
by poverty to adopt a meager diet, but did so in order to follow out
their own erroneous ideas of what constitutes health reform. Day after
day, meal after meal, the same articles of food were prepared without
variation, until dyspepsia and general debility resulted.—[
Christian
Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 55
]
Counsels on Health, 153-155,
1890
Mistaken Ideas of Reform
316. Not all who profess to believe in dietetic reform are really re-
formers. With many persons the reform consists merely in discarding
certain unwholesome foods. They do not understand clearly the prin-
ciples of health, and their tables, still loaded with harmful dainties, are
far from being an example of Christian temperance and moderation.
Another class, in their desire to set a right example, go to the
opposite extreme. Some are unable to obtain the most desirable foods,
and instead of using such things as would best supply the lack, they
adopt an impoverished diet. Their food does not supply the elements
needed to make good blood. Their health suffers, their usefulness is
impaired, and their example tells against rather than in favor of reform
in diet.
Others think that since health requires a simple diet, there need
be little care in the selection or the preparation of food. Some restrict
themselves to a very meager diet, not having sufficient variety to
[198]
supply the needs of the system, and they suffer in consequence.—
The
Ministry of Healing, 318-320, 1905
Urging Personal Views
Those who have but a partial understanding of the principles of
reform are often the most rigid, not only in carrying out their views
themselves, but in urging them on their families and their neighbors.
The effect of their mistaken reforms, as seen in their own ill-health,
and their efforts to force their views upon others, give many a false
idea of dietetic reform, and lead them to reject it altogether.