Physiology of Digestion
89
War in the Stomach
184. Another cause, both of ill health and of inefficiency in labor,
is indigestion. It is impossible for the brain to do its best work when
the digestive powers are abused. Many eat hurriedly of various kinds
of food, which set up a war in the stomach, and thus confuse the
brain.—
Gospel Workers, 174, 1892
(old edition)
185. It is not well to take a great variety of foods at one meal.
When fruit and bread, together with a variety of other foods that do not
agree, are crowded into the stomach at one meal, what can we expect
but that a disturbance will be created?—
Manuscript 3, 1897
186. Many eat too rapidly. Others eat at one meal food which does
not agree. If men and women would only remember how greatly they
afflict the soul when they afflict the stomach, and how deeply Christ
is dishonored when the stomach is abused, they would be brave and
self-denying, giving the stomach opportunity to recover its healthy
action. While sitting at the table we may do medical missionary work
by eating and drinking to the glory of God.—
Manuscript 93, 1901
Peaceful Stomachs and Peaceful Dispositions
187. We must care for the digestive organs, and not force upon
them a great variety of food. He who gorges himself with many kinds
of food at a meal is doing himself injury. It is more important that
we eat that which will agree with us than that we taste of every dish
that may be placed before us. There is no door in our stomach by
which we can look in and see what is going on; so we must use our
mind, and reason from cause to effect. If you feel all wrought up, and
everything seems to go wrong, perhaps it is because you are suffering
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the consequences of eating a great variety of food.
The digestive organs have an important part to act in our life
happiness. God has given us intelligence, that we may learn what
we should use as food. Shall we not, as sensible men and women,
study whether the things we eat will be in agreement, or whether they
will cause trouble? People who have a sour stomach are very often
of a sour disposition. Everything seems to be contrary to them, and
they are inclined to be peevish and irritable. If we would have peace
among ourselves, we should give more thought than we do to having a
peaceful stomach.—
Manuscript 41, 1908