Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Proper food for human beings

Proper food for human beings

There are many perspectives and doctrines about suitable or proper foods for consumption of human beings. Some look at it from nutritional (Calories, Carbohydrate, Protein, Sugar, Fat, Fiber...) point of view. Some from mineral (Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Chloride, Magnesium...) perspective. Some are about chemical contents (Amino acids...). Some from the angle of traditional medicine (such as Cold, Cool, Neutral, Warm or Hot; or which organs the food works on; or whether the food nourishes Yin, Yang, Energy or Blood and etc.). Some are from biological needs of human body. Some from physiological structure of human bodies...

All these perspectives are mostly independent of each other. Experts usually talk about foods from their relative fields of studies. It almost always is impossible to blend all different perspectives into one and come up with perfect or ideal food for human beings. After all, every individual body is unique and has different needs.

However, wouldn't it be interesting to look at the view of bible in terms of proper food for human beings? from God's words Himself?

Let's look at Genesis 1:29. It says of:

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Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. (Ref 01)

Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. (Ref 02)

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. (Ref 03)


God said, "I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food. (Ref 04)

And God said, See, I have given you every plant producing seed, on the face of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit producing seed: they will be for your food; (Ref 05)

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb producing seed that is on the whole earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree producing seed: it shall be food for you; (Ref 06)

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food. (Ref 07)


God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. (Ref 08)

And God saith, 'Lo, I have given to you every herb sowing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree sowing seed, to you it is for food; (Ref 09)

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The keywords are:
plants (vegetables, legumes...),
seeds (and nuts...),
fruits,
herbs (leaves, flowers, roots...).

It seems quite likely that the proper food dictated by God for human beings is: vegetarian foods.

Vegetarian foods?
Yes, vegetarian foods. Very very likely.

_______________________________________

References:

Ref 01: New International Version (©1984) http://biblica.com
Ref 02: New Living Translation (©2007) http://www.newlivingtranslation.com
Ref 03: English Standard Version (©2001) http://www.crossway.org
Ref 04: GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) http://gwt.scripturetext.com/genesis/1.htm
Ref 05: Bible in Basic English http://basicenglishbible.com/genesis/1.htm
Ref 06: Darby Bible Translation http://darbybible.com/genesis/1.htm
Ref 07: Webster's Bible Translation http://websterbible.com/genesis/1.htm
Ref 08: World English Bible http://worldebible.com/genesis/1.htm
Ref 09: Young's Literal Translation http://yltbible.com/genesis/1.htm

Useful Links:


List of plants with edible leaves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plants_with_edible_leaves)
List of culinary vegetables (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_vegetables)
List of culinary fruits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits)
List of edible seeds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_edible_seeds)
List of culinary herbs and spices (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_herbs_and_spices)

2 comments:

施维雅 said...

Hi, Dr. John,

好棒的提材,謝谢您的提供,让大众都可以適用。

温馨的五月,充滿了慈悲,爱心。
就誏大众一起为环保献力!
響应持素运动救地球。
持素即是为大地献上关怀,
并减低二氧化碳的排放。
共同为拯救地球努力吧!
共同减低全球暖化现象也。

Sylvia

John J. C. Lew said...

Hi Sylvia,

Compassion and love is always around; we only have to look harder.

Vegetarianism is a good way to protect our earth environment. It definitely helps to reduce green house effect and the emission of carbon dioxide.

Let us all work together to reduce global warming!

Well said!

John Lew

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