94
Healthful Living
and the imagination to be more vivid.—
Testimonies for the Church
3:487
.
489. To a certain extent, tea produces intoxication. It enters
into the circulation, and gradually impairs the energy of body and
mind. It stimulates, excites, and quickens the motion of the living
machinery, forcing it to unnatural action, and thus gives the tea drinker
the impression that it is doing him great service, imparting to him
strength. This is a mistake. Tea draws upon the strength of the nerves,
and leaves them greatly weakened. When its influence is gone and the
increased action caused by its use is abated, then what is the result?—
Languor and debility corresponding to the artificial vivacity the tea
imparted. When the system is already overtaxed and needs rest, the use
of tea spurs up nature by stimulation to perform unwonted, unnatural
action, and thereby lessens her power to perform, and her ability to
endure; and her powers give out long before Heaven designed they
should. Tea is poisonous to the system. Christians should let it alone....
The second effect of tea drinking is headache, wakefulness, palpitation
of the heart, indigestion, trembling of the nerves, and many other
[108]
evils.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:64, 65
.
490. The influence of coffee is in a degree the same as tea, but
the effect upon the system is still worse. Its influence is exciting,
and just in the degree that it elevates above par, it will exhaust and
bring prostration below par. Tea and coffee drinkers carry the marks
upon their faces. The skin becomes sallow, and assumes a lifeless
appearance. The glow of health is not seen upon the countenance.
Tea and coffee do not nourish the system. The relief obtained
from them is sudden, before the stomach has had time to digest them.
This shows that what the users of these stimulants call strength is
only received by exciting the nerves of the stomach, which convey the
irritation to the brain, and this in turn is aroused to impart increased
action to the heart, and short-lived energy to the entire system. All this
is false strength, that we are the worse for having. They do not give a
particle of natural strength.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:65
.
491. The stimulating diet and drink of this day are not conducive
to the best state of health. Tea, coffee, and tobacco are all stimulating,
and contain poisons. They are not only unnecessary, but harmful, and
should be discarded if we would add to knowledge temperance.—
The
Review and Herald, February 21, 1888
.