Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW015092S
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00:10 ♪[Theme music]♪
00:20 >>John Bradshaw: This is It Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw. 00:23 Thanks for joining me today. 00:24 We're all familiar with dieting, some of us very familiar. 00:29 And dieting is today a multi-billion-dollar industry. 00:33 And there are diets everywhere. 00:35 The South Beach diet, and the Atkins diet, 00:38 and the paleo diet. 00:40 And many people try these diets with success, 00:42 and many don't. 00:44 You're not surprised, or wouldn't be surprised, 00:46 if you walked by a bookstore today and saw a brand new diet 00:51 book right there being advertised in the window of your 00:54 favorite bookstore. 00:55 You wouldn't be surprised. 00:57 But what if I was to tell you today that there is an original 01:00 diet given us by God, found in the holy Bible? 01:06 And I might suggest to you today that it is the most effective, 01:10 healthy diet ever conceived. 01:13 Well, I'm being joined today by Dr. John Westerdahl, 01:15 a nutritionist with the Bragg Health Institute 01:18 in Santa Barbara, California. 01:19 Dr. Westerdahl, thanks for joining me today. 01:21 >>Dr. John Westerdahl: Oh, great to be with you today, John. 01:23 >>John: Now, you're of the opinion that this book, 01:24 the Bible, contains the original diet. 01:28 Tell me something about that. 01:29 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, it does. 01:30 I look at the Bible as the greatest book on preventive 01:32 medicine ever written. 01:34 And there's a lot of things in here about diet and nutrition, 01:37 and mentioning all different types of foods. 01:39 >>John: Why should a Christian believer 01:41 be worried about his or her health, 01:43 other than you might avoid a heart attack, 01:46 not that that's a bad thing, or live another year or two? 01:49 Why is it important to a believer? 01:50 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, you know, the Bible tells us 01:52 that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 01:55 and that we should take care of it and honor it, 01:57 and put things in it that promote good health 02:00 as opposed to things that may destroy this temple, 02:03 this living temple. 02:04 It's a magnificent creation of God, 02:06 and we need, need to treat it that way. 02:09 >>John: Tell me about some of these health principles 02:11 you find in the Bible. 02:12 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 02:13 >>John: Because the Bible is good for us, 02:14 body, mind and spirit, containing principles that, 02:17 that minister to all of those things. 02:20 Now, we can go back, 02:21 I guess, all the way to the Old Testament... 02:24 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 02:25 >>John: ...and find health principles given us by God. 02:28 What are some of those? 02:30 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, some of those principles, 02:31 of course, in spending time with God in prayer and meditation, 02:35 that's a health principle. 02:36 >>John: It's good for your health, huh? 02:37 >>Dr. Westerdahl: It's good for your health. 02:37 It helps to control stress. 02:39 It gives us peace of mind. 02:41 And that's really important. 02:42 That's like nutrition for your brain, 02:44 and for your mind, and for your spirit. 02:46 Also, the Bible, 02:47 if you go back to the old times in the Bible, 02:50 the Old Testament and so forth, 02:52 there are principles that God tells us of ways we should eat. 02:55 From the very beginning, 02:57 in the Garden of Eden diet in Genesis 1:29. 03:00 >>John: There was a, a certain diet in the Garden of Eden. 03:03 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, there was. 03:04 >>John: The Garden of Eatin'. 03:05 What were they eatin' in Eden? 03:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, they were eating 03:08 an all plant-based diet. 03:10 There's no killing in the Garden of Eden. 03:12 It was all plant foods. 03:15 It was a vegetarian diet. 03:17 >>John: So what'd they eat? 03:19 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So they ate fruits and nuts. 03:21 Later on, uh, they ate vegetables. 03:23 God provided those foods to us, 03:25 because He knew that those were the best for our health. 03:28 He supplied all the nutrients that our body needs for good 03:32 health and for wellness. 03:33 And that's what science today is showing, 03:36 that eating more plant foods, fruits and vegetables 03:39 and whole grains, nuts, legumes, beans, seeds, 03:42 these things actually have things in them 03:44 that help prevent disease. 03:47 Not only give us good nutrition, but also prevent disease. 03:50 And in some cases can reverse disease, 03:52 if we follow this type of diet. 03:54 >>John: There's that famous old quotation, 03:57 “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." 04:00 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, that was Hippocrates, 04:02 the father of modern medicine, 04:04 and he, uh, pointed that out. 04:06 And that's very good counsel. 04:08 Because if we follow that rule and that guidance 04:12 that we would live longer, healthier lives. 04:14 And something to think about, 04:15 when you look at all the cultures of the world. 04:18 Before there was medicine, there was food. 04:22 Food was the medicine. 04:23 It was not only food to give you good nutrition, 04:26 but it also was your medicine. 04:29 >>John: The whole concept of food being medicine, 04:31 the best medicine being food, is interesting, isn't it? 04:34 What were some of these health laws God introduced 04:36 back in Old Testament times? 04:38 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, one of the biggest ones that I note 04:40 is that, uh, to not eat animal fat 04:44 or eat the blood of animals. 04:46 And when you think about that, those are the disease components 04:50 of those foods. 04:52 >>John: God said eons ago, don't eat fat or blood. 04:55 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 04:56 >>John: And someone's going to say, 04:57 well, that was Moses, 05:00 and we don't do all that Mosaic stuff now. 05:02 But let me come to Acts, chapter 15 and verse 20, 05:07 and this is at the Jerusalem Council, 05:10 where the New Testament church, the early church, 05:12 was wrestling with certain ideas. 05:14 What principles must we enforce upon gentile believers? 05:19 Acts 15, verse 20: 05:21 “But that we write unto them 05:23 that they abstain from pollutions of idols, 05:26 and from fornication, and from things strangled, 05:31 and from blood.” 05:33 The New Testament book of Acts, very plainly, don't eat blood. 05:38 And again, why? 05:40 Why, why is that principle good? 05:41 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, blood carries the impurities 05:43 of the body. 05:44 So any illness of that cow or whatever the animal may be, 05:49 we're eating that. 05:50 You know, there's been concerns about mad cow disease 05:53 in recent years. 05:54 But what happens when we eat all this blood? 05:56 And when you eat meat, that's what gives it its color, 06:00 you know. 06:01 You have blood; that juicy hamburger has a lot of blood 06:04 in it that you're eating. 06:05 >>John: Um-hmm. 06:06 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So the concept of not eating blood, 06:08 not eating the animal fat, is very good advice, I think, 06:12 from the Bible. 06:13 >>John: But didn't Jesus eat meat? 06:15 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, he did. 06:16 >>John: The way Jesus ate meat then, 06:18 did it differ substantively from the way people eat meat today? 06:21 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, he followed the principles 06:23 taught of not eating the animal fat and the animal blood. 06:26 He did eat fish, 06:28 which is different than some of those other animals. 06:31 >>John: Now, somebody suggested to me that in Bible times 06:33 the way they drained the blood out of all of the meat... 06:34 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 06:35 >>John: ...it wouldn't have tasted markedly 06:37 different from the sole of one's shoe. 06:39 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 06:41 >>John: Unless, of course, it had been seasoned otherwise. 06:42 >>Dr. Westerdahl: They would, uh, actually cut it up, 06:45 wash out all that blood, take all that fat out, 06:48 and it would be just the, 06:49 the description is it tastes like blah. 06:52 >>John: Yeah. 06:53 >>Dr. Westerdahl: There's no flavor, 06:53 but they would season it. 06:54 >>John: Yeah. 06:55 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So, but they would remove all the blood 06:56 and all the fat. 06:58 >>John: You see those pictures of the piece of steak that has 07:00 been cut with a knife, and it's beautifully pink on the inside. 07:04 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's all the blood. 07:05 >>John: Jesus wasn't eating that, was he? 07:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: No, he wasn't. 07:08 >>John: And there's no way around that. 07:08 He, certainly he ate meat. 07:10 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 07:11 Well, Jesus ate the Mediterranean diet. 07:12 Now, the traditional Mediterranean diet, 07:14 not the Mediterranean diet of today, 07:16 which incorporates a lot of Western foods. 07:19 But, uh, that was largely a plant-based diet. 07:22 Lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 07:25 beans and legumes, with small amounts of fish and so forth. 07:28 >>John: And another thing too: he ate that diet without 07:31 owning an automobile or riding the bus. 07:34 >>Dr. Westerdahl: A lot of exercise. 07:36 >>John: A lot of exercise. 07:37 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 07:38 >>John: Yeah. 07:38 So if we, perhaps, incorporated 07:40 that type of exercise regime into our diet today, 07:44 that alone would make a big difference. 07:46 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 07:47 It's all part of having a balanced lifestyle. 07:49 And including, nutrition is key, 07:51 but exercise is very important too. 07:53 >>John: The original diet. 07:55 It's just plain good for you. 07:57 And it comes to you right here, from the Bible. 08:00 How good for us is it? 08:02 And in what ways can we learn to incorporate 08:04 not only the principles of this diet, 08:06 but the blessings of this diet into our lives? 08:08 I'll be back with more 08:10 from Dr. John Westerdahl in just a moment. 08:14 >>John: The same killer diseases which have taken the lives of 08:17 millions and millions of people every year 08:19 are taking the lives of Christian believers, 08:22 even though God has told us plainly and clearly 08:24 how we can avoid those diseases. 08:27 Now, you want to avoid them, 08:28 so make sure you get today's free offer, 08:30 “Healthcare God's Way,” 08:32 which I co- wrote with Dr. John Westerdahl. 08:35 Get “Healthcare God's Way.” 08:37 Call 1-800-253-3000, 08:40 write to the address on your screen, 08:42 make sure you visit itiswritten.com. 08:45 >>John: This is It Is Written. 08:46 I'm John Bradshaw. 08:48 Thank you for joining me today. 08:49 I'm joined by nutritionist Dr. John Westerdahl 08:52 from the Bragg Health Institute in Santa Barbara, California. 08:55 We're talking today about the original diet. 08:58 Not the South Beach diet; that came a little bit later on. 09:01 Not the paleo diet; that was added kind of recently. 09:05 But the original diet. 09:07 The Bible diet. 09:09 Now, Dr. Westerdahl, very interesting Bible verse 09:12 I wanted to share with you... 09:14 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 09:14 >>John: ...you right now. 09:15 Exodus 15, verse 26. 09:18 God said this: 09:19 “If you will diligently harken 09:21 to the voice of the Lord thy God, 09:22 and do that which is right in His sight, 09:25 and give ear to His statutes and keep His commandments, 09:29 I will put none of these diseases upon you 09:32 that I have put upon the Egyptians. 09:34 For I am the Lord that healeth thee.” 09:36 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 09:37 >>John: So follow my plan, 09:38 you will not get the Egyptian diseases. 09:41 What did those Egyptians suffer from? 09:43 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Those Egyptians had heart disease, 09:46 they had cancer, they had arthritis, 09:48 they had diabetes. 09:50 When we look at the diseases of ancient Egypt, 09:53 because they didn't follow God's diet or His diet plan, 09:58 we look at diseases that are very similar 10:00 to what we have in the United States today. 10:02 The same diseases they had in ancient Egypt 10:05 are the same diseases we have today. 10:07 You know, it's getting back to, 10:08 going back to God's principles of healthful living. 10:11 And if we follow those, we would not have those diseases. 10:14 >>John: Now, there are some cancers 10:15 that are going to get you anyway. 10:17 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 10:18 >>John: It might be because of environmental factors. 10:19 It might be hereditary. 10:20 It might have genes that are predisposed. 10:22 So we can't be too strident and say, 10:24 everybody who eats like me will never get sick. 10:26 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. Yeah. 10:27 >>John: Can we? 10:28 >>Dr. Westerdahl: What you would do, 10:29 you would reduce your risk of those diseases. 10:32 >>John: Enormously, right? 10:33 >>Dr. Westerdahl: And enormously. 10:34 >>John: Yeah. 10:34 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Seventy percent 10:35 of all hospital admissions are, 10:38 the patients that are in the hospital today 10:39 are there because of their diet and lifestyle. 10:43 So if we followed more healthful living principles, 10:46 uh, a lot of those people won't be there. 10:49 By following this original diet that God has given us, 10:53 we can substantially reduce those risks of those diseases. 10:57 >>John: The point is, by simply making some small changes, 11:01 by incorporating God's principles into our lives, 11:03 there are many people who are flat out going to avoid 11:07 doctor's visits, emergency room visits. 11:09 And they're going to arrive 20 years later to their funeral. 11:12 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's correct. 11:13 And what's interesting to see is, 11:15 when you take people who are following the typical American 11:18 diet, we call it the standard American diet, 11:21 SAD, S-A-D, 11:23 when you take people away from that and get them on 11:25 a plant-based diet, 11:26 they can actually reverse some of these diseases, 11:29 such as diabetes. 11:30 And there have been studies by one of my friends 11:33 and colleagues, Dr. Dean Ornish, for instance, 11:36 who did a study where he put people on an all plant-based 11:39 diet, a vegetarian diet, low fat, 11:43 and showed that you can actually reverse heart disease. 11:46 Actually, the plaque buildup on the walls of the arteries 11:49 can actually be reversed to some degree. 11:51 Actually, 82 percent of the patients he put on this diet, 11:55 uh, had reversal of heart disease. 11:57 >>John: And this is important we reiterate, 11:59 because the Bible says our bodies 12:01 are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 12:03 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 12:04 >>John: You've got people who say, 12:04 well, you gotta die of something, 12:06 as they eat another T-bone steak. 12:08 And my response is, 12:09 yeah, but you don't have to die of everything. 12:11 Now, I spoke to a doctor friend of mine, 12:14 and he told me about some of the frustrations 12:16 that he has working with people. 12:18 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 12:19 >>John: He said this in a very nice way. 12:20 He said he had a patient there coming to see him, 12:22 and he said to the patient, 12:23 “You know, if you just drank more water, you'd be okay. 12:28 If you just drank more water.” That's a simple change. 12:30 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, it is. 12:32 >>John: And the patient responded by saying, 12:33 so I'm sharing this with you to challenge, 12:35 to challenge people watching right now. 12:37 The patient responded by saying, 12:38 “Doctor, are you going to write me a prescription, 12:41 or am I going to have to go to another doctor 12:43 who will write me a prescription?” 12:45 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 12:46 >>John: So unfortunately, in many case, 12:48 some cases, the remedy is there and it's available, 12:51 but there's a little unwillingness on the part of 12:54 some of us to make even slight changes. 12:57 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Right. 12:58 I've known people, young men, in fact, 13:00 I remember one young man that told me he's taking blood 13:03 pressure medications, he was just like in his thirties, 13:05 blood pressure medication and high cholesterol medication. 13:08 And I told him, um, “Well, what if I work with you and I can 13:13 help you get off those medications by 13:16 following a healthy diet?” And he said, 13:19 “Well, I don't know if I want to make those big drastic 13:21 changes in my lifestyle to do that. 13:23 I'd rather eat the way I want to.” 13:25 And that's where we are today. 13:26 We have to get into what we call lifestyle medicine. 13:30 That's the medicine of the 21st century, 13:32 where doctors are treating their patients with lifestyle, 13:36 instead of all these medications and medical procedures. 13:39 >>John: I want to ask you about the article that I have here. 13:41 It's from the Wall Street Journal. 13:42 I'm not going to drill down too deep into the article. 13:45 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 13:46 >>John: Headline: “The Questionable Link 13:49 between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease.” 13:51 And I saw this just the other day 13:54 from another perspective in a British newspaper, front page. 13:57 Why we can now eat, bup, bup, bup, 13:59 unhealthy food. 14:01 Why is it that increasingly there's pushback against this, 14:05 and people are reading in reputable newspapers and 14:07 reputable websites, it's okay to eat this bad stuff? 14:14 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, this is one of the frustrations 14:16 most Americans have today, 14:17 ‘cause they read one day you should eat this way, 14:19 and the next day you should go another way. 14:21 And sometimes it happens, in this case, 14:24 for instance, a study has come out where they're saying, 14:26 well, it looks like saturated fat and cholesterol is 14:29 not all that bad for you. 14:31 That is totally contradictory to the, 14:34 the decades of research which, uh, 14:36 substantiates that eating a diet high in saturated fat and 14:40 cholesterol will increase your risk of heart disease. 14:44 You know, people like to hear good news about bad habits. 14:47 When these studies come out, 14:48 they promote them in the news media, 14:51 you'll see on the time, top of Time magazine and so forth. 14:54 But there are a lot of very reputable scientists that are 14:57 questioning the results of this study and the way it was done. 15:00 I think the thing is, we need to look at, 15:04 as opposed to just one study, look at the hundreds, 15:07 thousands of studies that have been done over the years, 15:10 decades, actually, that are saying the opposite. 15:13 >>John: And there might be a couple of other things 15:15 that we could factor in here. 15:16 One, common sense. 15:17 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 15:18 >>John: Feed a guy junk food, feed his brother healthy food. 15:22 After a couple of years, they're going to look different. 15:24 After a few decades, 15:26 they're going to look very, very different. 15:27 We all know. 15:28 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Right. 15:29 >>John: Eat better. Exercise more. 15:30 Lose weight. 15:31 Do better. 15:32 There's the common sense aspect. 15:34 And then, there's the Bible aspect. 15:36 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 15:37 >>John: What did God say in the beginning? 15:39 And, in fact, 15:40 I think what I'll do is I'll read this Bible verse. 15:41 We eluded to it a moment ago. 15:44 In Genesis, chapter 1 and verse 29: 15:47 “And God said, 15:48 Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, 15:52 which is upon the face of all the earth, 15:54 and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding 15:57 seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Or for food. 16:00 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 16:01 >>John: That's how God described it. 16:02 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's the original diet of man. 16:03 >>John: Okay, yeah. 16:04 Now, Dr. Westerdahl, there are eight biblical principles, 16:09 eight biblical laws that kind of sum up 16:13 God's optimal original dietary plan. 16:17 In just a moment, those eight natural laws 16:20 and the example of Daniel, 16:23 who incorporated those laws into his life 16:25 and saw enormous spiritual benefits as a result. 16:29 We'll be back in just a moment. 16:33 >>Announcer: “Every Word” is a one-minute, Bible-based 16:35 daily devotional presented by Pastor John Bradshaw, 16:38 and designed especially for busy people like you. 16:41 Look for Every Word on selected networks, 16:44 or watch it online every day on our website, 16:46 itiswritten.com. 16:50 ♪[Theme music]♪ 16:54 A provincial government in the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu 16:57 is about to ban junk food. 16:59 The reason is, massive amounts of Vanuatuans 17:01 are suffering from lifestyle diseases including diabetes. 17:05 While the United States has a diabetes rate of 9.3% 17:08 which is a disaster. 17:10 Vanuatu has a rate of 24%, 17:12 closely linked one study says 17:14 “with consumption of animal proteins 17:16 and simple carbohydrates.” 17:18 They are sick of being sick, 17:20 and so they're getting rid of a major cause. 17:22 So, are there things in your diet that are harming you 17:25 that you ought to just get rid of? 17:28 And number two, 17:29 are there things in your life that are harming you spiritually 17:31 things you could just let go? 17:33 Jesus said in Matthew 18:8, 17:36 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, 17:37 cut it off and cast it from you.” 17:39 It's better to stumble into heaven that to run into hell. 17:44 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 17:45 Let's live today by every Word! 17:48 ♪[Music]♪ 17:50 >>John: Thanks for joining me today on It Is Written. 17:53 My special guest today is a nutritionist, 17:55 Dr. John Westerdahl. 17:57 Dr. Westerdahl, a moment ago I mentioned that there are eight 18:01 natural health laws. 18:03 Real simple points... 18:06 >>Dr. Westerdahl: They are. 18:06 >>John: ...people can remember easy 18:08 and incorporate into their lives. 18:09 I'd like you to walk me through what those are. 18:11 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 18:11 They are nutrition. 18:13 They are exercise, water, sunshine, 18:16 temperance, being moderate in all things and abstaining from 18:19 harmful items, air, rest, and trust in divine power. 18:25 >>John: Okay, let's walk through these... 18:26 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 18:27 >>John: ...set them up a little bit. 18:27 >>John: Nutrition. 18:28 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Nutrition we talked about quite a bit today. 18:29 >>John: So be careful about what you eat. 18:31 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Be careful about what you eat. 18:32 You know, you are what you eat, and medical research is showing 18:34 that you've got to eat healthy foods. 18:36 And, and we talked about the original diet 18:38 that God has given us. 18:39 >>John: Okay. 18:41 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Exercise, we don't get enough exercise. 18:42 We're sitting around all the time. 18:43 You know, we're sloths in many ways, 18:45 just sitting in front of, watching TV. 18:48 >>John: Something I read that bothered me somewhat. 18:50 The longer people sit down... 18:52 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 18:53 >>John: ...the more prone they are to die early. 18:56 And clearly, it's not just sitting or standing, 18:58 I wouldn't think, but if you're sitting down 19:00 you're not exercising. 19:01 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 19:02 And at the workplace, get up and get some walking. 19:04 But getting out, getting what we cardiovascular, 19:06 respiratory type of exercise. 19:08 Getting fresh air. 19:09 Get that heart beating. 19:11 It's very important. 19:12 It's one of the, um, things for longevity. 19:14 >>John: Water? 19:15 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Water. 19:17 Now, that's water on the inside, getting fresh water, 19:20 pure water, drinking it, because, 19:22 you know, 70 percent of our bodies are water. 19:24 We need water. 19:25 >>John: So soda doesn't count for water? 19:27 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Soda does not count for water. 19:29 You've got to drink that pure water. 19:30 >>John: Coffee? 19:31 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Coffee, there's water in it, 19:32 but there's diuretics in it too, in the form of caffeine, 19:35 so you're losing a lot of that water. 19:37 >>John: Okay. 19:37 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So getting pure water. 19:38 >>John: Pure water. 19:39 >>Dr. Westerdahl: And then water on the outside is important too, 19:41 because what that does, 19:42 it helps with our hygiene, cleanliness. 19:45 There's what we call hydrotherapy, 19:46 people getting into Jacuzzis and getting water treatments that 19:50 are healing, and they are natural remedies as well. 19:52 >>John: Now, the T, the first T in these eight, 19:56 the fourth point was... 19:58 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Temperance. 19:59 >>John: Okay, so. 20:00 >>Dr. Westerdahl: And that's an old term that's used, 20:01 uh, Christians of old time knew that all the time. 20:04 The temperance movement, you know. 20:05 >>John: Temperance. 20:06 Moderation in all things. 20:07 Does that mean moderation in M&Ms 20:10 and moderation in pork chops, 20:12 or does that mean moderation in the good stuff? 20:15 >>Dr. Westerdahl: In the good stuff. 20:16 Temperance means staying away from the bad things. 20:20 And even the good things, you need to be balanced 20:23 and be temperate, and not overdo. 20:25 >>John: You know what we did? 20:26 We missed one. We missed... 20:27 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Oh, sunshine. 20:28 >>John: We missed S for sunshine. 20:29 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 20:30 >>John: Now, somebody like me, I mean, look, 20:31 I'm the whitest guy that ever lived, 20:32 and I can get, I can get sunburned in the dark. 20:34 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 20:35 >>John: Sunshine. What's the deal there? 20:36 >>Dr. Westerdahl: There's temperance with that too. 20:36 Sunshine is really good for you. 20:38 In fact, there's a certain type of cholesterol under your skin 20:40 that, when the sun shines on it, it converts it into vitamin D. 20:44 It's important to help in making certain hormones in the body. 20:47 And you need some sun every day. 20:49 It's very important. 20:50 However, don't overdo it, because too much can lead to 20:54 skin cancer and, uh, premature aging of the skin. 20:57 >>John: Okay. The A is for air. 20:59 We all know we need air. 21:00 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 21:01 And yes, getting out and getting some fresh air. 21:03 Some people are more fortunate to live in non-polluted cities 21:07 where they can get really good fresh air. 21:09 But, uh, getting out, getting fresh air, 21:11 is really important because we need that oxygen. 21:14 And air is the, uh, invisible staff of life. 21:18 >>John: Umm. 21:19 R for rest. 21:20 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Rest. 21:21 >>John: How much, how much sleep should a person be getting? 21:23 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, you know, there's debate on that. 21:25 You know, I think most experts would say try to get at least 21:27 eight hours of sleep a day, if possible. 21:30 So that's important. 21:31 We need to take some time to get some rest. 21:33 And it's not just sleeping. 21:35 It's taking some time during the week 21:37 to get away from the stresses of daily life. 21:40 And another biblical principle is having a Sabbath day. 21:44 In fact, taking one day in seven is a restful thing spiritually, 21:48 it's important for our spiritual nutrition, 21:51 but it also helps us in having physical, 21:53 mental and spiritual rest at one time. 21:55 >>John: The final T in this thing... 21:57 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 21:58 >>John: ...T for trust in God. 22:00 How does trust in God benefit a person, 22:03 body, mind and spirit, regarding, 22:06 in terms of their health? 22:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, you know, 22:08 it's interesting you brought that up, 22:09 because there's some scientific evidence now to show 22:11 that people who go to church regularly, 22:13 that have a faith, 22:15 that practice and live a faith, 22:17 have lower risk of heart disease. 22:19 They're able to have lower rates of blood pressure, 22:21 better marital satisfaction, generally being able to control 22:25 and handle the stresses of daily living as well. 22:29 >>John: Now, let's look at a biblical example of somebody 22:31 who put these good biblical health principles 22:33 into practice and was blessed spiritually as a result. 22:37 The Israelites had just suffered a, 22:40 a crushing blow. 22:42 Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon had come up to Jerusalem 22:44 and destroyed the place, 22:46 sacked the temple, 22:47 and taken many of the people prisoners, 22:50 marching them across the desert to Babylon. 22:52 It was terrible. 22:53 Daniel was now a slave in Babylon. 22:57 And the Bible says, 22:58 “The king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, 23:01 [the king's food], 23:03 and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, 23:06 that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” 23:09 So the king said, "Dinner's on me." 23:13 Daniel said, "no way." 23:15 Verse 8: “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not 23:19 defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, 23:23 nor with the wine which he drank: 23:25 therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs 23:27 that he might not defile himself.” 23:29 And as we come down a little further, 23:32 uh, in verse 12, Daniel requested, 23:36 “Prove your servants, I beseech thee, ten days; 23:39 and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.” 23:42 Firstly, what's pulse? 23:43 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Some people refer to it as, 23:45 like lentils might be a pulse. 23:47 >>John: All right. 23:48 So it's certainly, uh, plant-based, 23:50 and it's healthy stuff. 23:51 How well did Daniel do as a result of this dietary plan? 23:55 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, they were healthier and stronger 23:57 than the king's men. 23:59 >>John: In fact, if I were to look at this, 24:01 I would find where the Bible says that when the king checked 24:05 them out, he found them to be ten times wiser. 24:10 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 24:11 >>John: Isn't that remarkable? 24:12 >>Dr. Westerdahl: It is. 24:12 >>John: Ten times wiser. 24:14 Now, I don't know if there was an IQ test 24:15 and they had ten times the IQ points or not, but still, 24:18 the biblical terminology makes it dramatic. 24:21 Daniel and his friends prospered. 24:23 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 24:24 >>John: If they were just healthier, 24:26 that would be one thing. 24:28 >>John: But I believe it's no coincidence that the very next 24:31 chapter, Daniel, chapter two, finds a spiritual crisis. 24:35 King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that he can't remember. 24:39 None of the wise men can tell him what the dream was 24:41 or what it means. 24:43 But Daniel and his friends pray to God. 24:46 God gives Daniel the interpretation of the dream. 24:50 I think it's fair to say that if Daniel had not been preserving 24:53 himself physically, God would not have been able to bless him 24:56 so well spiritually. 24:58 Would you agree? 24:59 >>Dr. Westerdahl: I agree. 25:00 >>John: Dr. Westerdahl, 25:00 God's healthcare plan is pretty simple. 25:03 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, it is. 25:04 >>John: No trips to the bookstore necessary 25:05 unless you don't have one of these Bibles. 25:07 It's pretty succinctly explained, 25:10 and the science demonstrates 25:12 that it's effective and it works. 25:14 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, it does. 25:15 >>John: What's your advice, in a nutshell, 25:17 to somebody thinking, I need to make some changes? 25:21 >>Dr. Westerdahl: I would say go back to this book. 25:22 Look at the original diet of man that was given to us by God, 25:26 and it'll make some great changes in your life. 25:31 >>John: The same killer diseases which have taken the lives of 25:33 millions and millions of people every year 25:36 are taking the lives of Christian believers, 25:38 even though God has told us plainly and clearly 25:40 how we can avoid those diseases. 25:43 Now, you want to avoid them, 25:44 so make sure you get today's free offer, 25:46 “Healthcare God's Way,” 25:48 which I co-wrote with Dr. John Westerdahl. 25:51 Get “Healthcare God's Way.” 25:53 Call 1-800-253-3000, 25:56 write to the address on your screen, 25:58 make sure you visit itiswritten.com. 26:01 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 26:04 is a faith-based ministry, 26:06 and it's your support that makes it possible 26:08 for us to share God's good news with the entire world. 26:12 Your tax-deductible gift 26:14 can be sent to the address on your screen, 26:16 or through our website, itiswritten.com. 26:20 Thank you for your continued prayerful support. 26:23 Our toll-free number is 800-253-3000. 26:26 800-253-3000. 26:28 Our web address is itiswritten.com. 26:32 >>John: Today we've looked at the original diet, 26:35 given to us by God and promised by God 26:39 to be a blessing in our lives. 26:41 Dr. John Westerdahl, thank you so much for joining me today. 26:44 >>Dr. Westerdahl: It's great to be with you today, John. 26:46 >>John: It's been a pleasure to have you here. 26:47 You've blessed immensely. 26:48 Let's pray together... 26:49 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Sure. 26:50 >>John: ...and ask God's blessing on all of us, 26:52 particularly those of us who've decided that we're going to make 26:55 some changes in our lives. 26:56 Our Father in Heaven, we thank you today for Jesus, 27:00 the Great Physician. 27:01 We thank you for the Bible, 27:04 the best book on health ever written, 27:06 and for that original diet that, 27:08 when followed has been demonstrated again and again 27:11 not only to make us healthier, 27:13 but happier and contribute to us being holier, more like Jesus. 27:19 Fill us with your Spirit, and guide us in your way. 27:22 I pray that we can live that more abundant life 27:25 promised us by God. 27:26 We thank you today for being with us, 27:28 and we pray, gratefully, 27:30 in Jesus' name. 27:31 Amen. 27:33 >>John: Thank you for joining me today. 27:34 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 27:36 Until then, remember: 27:38 "It is written: 27:40 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:42 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 27:47 ♪[Theme music]♪ |
Revised 2020-04-02