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Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW001298A
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01:30 ♪[Theme music]♪
01:40 ♪[Theme music]♪ 01:50 >>John Bradshaw: This is It Is Written. I'm John Bradshaw. 01:53 Thanks for joining me today. 01:54 We're all familiar with dieting, some of us very familiar. 01:59 And dieting is today a multi-billion-dollar industry. 02:03 And there are diets everywhere. 02:05 The South Beach diet, and the Atkins diet, 02:08 and the paleo diet. 02:10 And many people try these diets with success, 02:12 and many don't. 02:15 You're not surprised, or wouldn't be surprised, 02:17 if you walked by a bookstore today and saw a brand new diet 02:21 book right there being advertised in the window of your 02:24 favorite bookstore. 02:25 You wouldn't be surprised. 02:27 But what if I was to tell you today that there is an original 02:30 diet given us by God, found in the holy Bible? 02:36 And I might suggest to you today that it is the most effective, 02:40 healthy diet ever conceived. 02:43 Well, I'm being joined today by Dr. John Westerdahl, 02:45 a nutritionist with the Bragg Health Institute 02:48 in Santa Barbara, California. 02:49 Dr. Westerdahl, thanks for joining me today. 02:51 >>Dr. John Westerdahl: Oh, great to be with you today, John. 02:53 >>John: Now, you're of the opinion that this book, 02:54 the Bible, contains the original diet. 02:58 Tell me something about that. 02:59 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, it does. 03:00 I look at the Bible as the greatest book on preventive 03:02 medicine ever written. 03:04 And there's a lot of things in here about diet and nutrition, 03:07 and mentioning all different types of foods. 03:09 >>John: Why should a Christian believer 03:11 be worried about his or her health, 03:13 other than you might avoid a heart attack, 03:16 not that that's a bad thing, or live another year or two? 03:19 Why is it important to a believer? 03:21 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, you know, the Bible tells us 03:23 that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, 03:25 and that we should take care of it and honor it, 03:28 and put things in it that promote good health 03:30 as opposed to things that may destroy this temple, 03:33 this living temple. 03:34 It's a magnificent creation of God, 03:37 and we need, need to treat it that way. 03:39 >>John: Tell me about some of these health principles 03:41 you find in the Bible. 03:42 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 03:43 >>John: Because the Bible is good for us, 03:44 body, mind and spirit, containing principles that, 03:47 that minister to all of those things. 03:50 Now, we can go back, 03:52 I guess, all the way to the Old Testament... 03:54 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 03:55 >>John: ...and find health principles given us by God. 03:58 What are some of those? 04:00 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, some of those principles, 04:01 of course, in spending time with God in prayer and meditation, 04:05 that's a health principle. 04:06 >>John: It's good for your health, huh? 04:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: It's good for your health. 04:08 It helps to control stress. 04:09 It gives us peace of mind. 04:11 And that's really important. 04:12 That's like nutrition for your brain, 04:15 and for your mind, and for your spirit. 04:17 Also, the Bible, 04:18 if you go back to the old times in the Bible, 04:21 the Old Testament and so forth, 04:22 there are principles that God tells us of ways we should eat. 04:26 From the very beginning, 04:27 in the Garden of Eden diet in Genesis 1:29. 04:30 >>John: There was a, a certain diet in the Garden of Eden. 04:33 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, there was. 04:34 >>John: The Garden of Eatin'. 04:35 What were they eatin' in Eden? 04:37 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, they were eating 04:38 an all plant-based diet. 04:40 There's no killing in the Garden of Eden. 04:42 It was all plant foods. 04:45 It was a vegetarian diet. 04:47 >>John: So what'd they eat? 04:49 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So they ate fruits and nuts. 04:51 Later on, uh, they ate vegetables. 04:54 God provided those foods to us, 04:55 because He knew that those were the best for our health. 04:58 He supplied all the nutrients that our body needs for good 05:02 health and for wellness. 05:04 And that's what science today is showing, 05:06 that eating more plant foods, fruits and vegetables 05:09 and whole grains, nuts, legumes, beans, seeds, 05:12 these things actually have things in them 05:15 that help prevent disease. 05:17 Not only give us good nutrition, but also prevent disease. 05:20 And in some cases can reverse disease, 05:23 if we follow this type of diet. 05:24 >>John: There's that famous old quotation, 05:27 “Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." 05:30 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, that was Hippocrates, 05:32 the father of modern medicine, 05:35 and he, uh, pointed that out. 05:37 And that's very good counsel. 05:39 Because if we follow that rule and that guidance 05:43 that we would live longer, healthier lives. 05:45 And something to think about, 05:46 when you look at all the cultures of the world. 05:48 Before there was medicine, there was food. 05:52 Food was the medicine. 05:53 It was not only food to give you good nutrition, 05:57 but it also was your medicine. 05:59 >>John: The whole concept of food being medicine, 06:02 the best medicine being food, is interesting, isn't it? 06:04 What were some of these health laws God introduced 06:07 back in Old Testament times? 06:08 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, one of the biggest ones that I note 06:11 is that, uh, to not eat animal fat 06:15 or eat the blood of animals. 06:17 And when you think about that, those are the disease components 06:21 of those foods. 06:22 >>John: God said eons ago, don't eat fat or blood. 06:26 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 06:27 >>John: And someone's going to say, 06:28 well, that was Moses, 06:30 and we don't do all that Mosaic stuff now. 06:33 But let me come to Acts, chapter 15 and verse 20, 06:37 and this is at the Jerusalem Council, 06:40 where the New Testament church, the early church, 06:42 was wrestling with certain ideas. 06:45 What principles must we enforce upon gentile believers? 06:50 Acts 15, verse 20: 06:51 “But that we write unto them 06:53 that they abstain from pollutions of idols, 06:56 and from fornication, and from things strangled, 07:01 and from blood.” 07:03 The New Testament book of Acts, very plainly, don't eat blood. 07:09 And again, why? 07:11 Why, why is that principle good? 07:12 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, blood carries the impurities 07:13 of the body. 07:15 So any illness of that cow or whatever the animal may be, 07:19 we're eating that. 07:21 You know, there's been concerns about mad cow disease 07:23 in recent years. 07:24 But what happens when we eat all this blood? 07:27 And when you eat meat, that's what gives it its color, 07:30 you know. 07:32 You have blood; that juicy hamburger has a lot of blood 07:34 in it that you're eating. 07:35 >>John: Um-hmm. 07:36 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So the concept of not eating blood, 07:39 not eating the animal fat, is very good advice, I think, 07:43 from the Bible. 07:44 >>John: But didn't Jesus eat meat? 07:45 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, he did. 07:46 >>John: The way Jesus ate meat then, 07:48 did it differ substantively from the way people eat meat today? 07:52 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, he followed the principles 07:53 taught of not eating the animal fat and the animal blood. 07:56 He did eat fish, 07:58 which is different than some of those other animals. 08:01 >>John: Now, somebody suggested to me that in Bible times 08:03 the way they drained the blood out of all of the meat... 08:05 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 08:06 >>John: ...it wouldn't have tasted markedly 08:08 different from the sole of one's shoe. 08:10 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 08:11 >>John: Unless, of course, it had been seasoned otherwise. 08:13 >>Dr. Westerdahl: They would, uh, actually cut it up, 08:15 wash out all that blood, take all that fat out, 08:18 and it would be just the, 08:20 the description is it tastes like blah. 08:22 >>John: Yeah. 08:23 >>Dr. Westerdahl: There's no flavor, 08:24 but they would season it. 08:25 >>John: Yeah. 08:26 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So, but they would remove all the blood 08:27 and all the fat. 08:28 >>John: You see those pictures of the piece of steak that has 08:30 been cut with a knife, and it's beautifully pink on the inside. 08:35 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's all the blood. 08:36 >>John: Jesus wasn't eating that, was he? 08:37 >>Dr. Westerdahl: No, he wasn't. 08:38 >>John: And there's no way around that. 08:39 He, certainly he ate meat. 08:40 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 08:41 Well, Jesus ate the Mediterranean diet. 08:43 Now, the traditional Mediterranean diet, 08:45 not the Mediterranean diet of today, 08:47 which incorporates a lot of Western foods. 08:49 But, uh, that was largely a plant-based diet. 08:52 Lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 08:55 beans and legumes, with small amounts of fish and so forth. 08:58 >>John: And another thing too: he ate that diet without 09:02 owning an automobile or riding the bus. 09:05 >>Dr. Westerdahl: A lot of exercise. 09:07 >>John: A lot of exercise. 09:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 09:08 >>John: Yeah. 09:09 So if we, perhaps, incorporated 09:11 that type of exercise regime into our diet today, 09:14 that alone would make a big difference. 09:16 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 09:17 It's all part of having a balanced lifestyle. 09:19 And including, nutrition is key, 09:22 but exercise is very important too. 09:24 >>John: The original diet. 09:25 It's just plain good for you. 09:28 And it comes to you right here, from the Bible. 09:30 How good for us is it? 09:33 And in what ways can we learn to incorporate 09:35 not only the principles of this diet, 09:37 but the blessings of this diet into our lives? 09:39 I'll be back with more 09:40 from Dr. John Westerdahl in just a moment. 09:45 >>John: The same killer diseases which have taken the lives of 09:48 millions and millions of people every year 09:50 are taking the lives of Christian believers, 09:52 even though God has told us plainly and clearly 09:55 how we can avoid those diseases. 09:57 Now, you want to avoid them, 09:59 so make sure you get today's free offer, 10:01 “Healthcare God's Way,” 10:03 which I co- wrote with Dr. John Westerdahl. 10:05 Get “Healthcare God's Way.” 10:07 Call 1-800-253-3000, 10:10 write to the address on your screen, 10:12 make sure you visit itiswritten.com. 10:16 >>John: This is It Is Written. 10:17 I'm John Bradshaw. 10:18 Thank you for joining me today. 10:19 I'm joined by nutritionist Dr. John Westerdahl 10:22 from the Bragg Health Institute in Santa Barbara, California. 10:26 We're talking today about the original diet. 10:29 Not the South Beach diet; that came a little bit later on. 10:32 Not the paleo diet; that was added kind of recently. 10:35 But the original diet. 10:37 The Bible diet. 10:39 Now, Dr. Westerdahl, very interesting Bible verse 10:42 I wanted to share with you... 10:44 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 10:45 >>John: ...you right now. 10:46 Exodus 15, verse 26. 10:48 God said this: 10:50 “If you will diligently harken 10:51 to the voice of the Lord thy God, 10:53 and do that which is right in His sight, 10:55 and give ear to His statutes and keep His commandments, 10:59 I will put none of these diseases upon you 11:03 that I have put upon the Egyptians. 11:05 For I am the Lord that healeth thee.” 11:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 11:07 >>John: So follow my plan, 11:09 you will not get the Egyptian diseases. 11:12 What did those Egyptians suffer from? 11:14 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Those Egyptians had heart disease, 11:16 they had cancer, they had arthritis, 11:18 they had diabetes. 11:20 When we look at the diseases of ancient Egypt, 11:24 because they didn't follow God's diet or His diet plan, 11:28 we look at diseases that are very similar 11:31 to what we have in the United States today. 11:33 The same diseases they had in ancient Egypt 11:35 are the same diseases we have today. 11:38 You know, it's getting back to, 11:39 going back to God's principles of healthful living. 11:42 And if we follow those, we would not have those diseases. 11:45 >>John: Now, there are some cancers 11:46 that are going to get you anyway. 11:47 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 11:48 >>John: It might be because of environmental factors. 11:50 It might be hereditary. 11:51 It might have genes that are predisposed. 11:53 So we can't be too strident and say, 11:54 everybody who eats like me will never get sick. 11:57 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. Yeah. 11:58 >>John: Can we? 11:59 >>Dr. Westerdahl: What you would do, 12:00 you would reduce your risk of those diseases. 12:02 >>John: Enormously, right? 12:03 >>Dr. Westerdahl: And enormously. 12:04 >>John: Yeah. 12:05 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Seventy percent 12:06 of all hospital admissions are, 12:08 the patients that are in the hospital today 12:10 are there because of their diet and lifestyle. 12:14 So if we followed more healthful living principles, 12:17 uh, a lot of those people won't be there. 12:20 By following this original diet that God has given us, 12:24 we can substantially reduce those risks of those diseases. 12:28 >>John: The point is, by simply making some small changes, 12:32 by incorporating God's principles into our lives, 12:34 there are many people who are flat out going to avoid 12:37 doctor's visits, emergency room visits. 12:40 And they're going to arrive 20 years later to their funeral. 12:43 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's correct. 12:44 And what's interesting to see is, 12:45 when you take people who are following the typical American 12:49 diet, we call it the standard American diet, 12:51 SAD, S-A-D, 12:53 when you take people away from that and get them on 12:56 a plant-based diet, 12:57 they can actually reverse some of these diseases, 13:00 such as diabetes. 13:01 And there have been studies by one of my friends 13:04 and colleagues, Dr. Dean Ornish, for instance, 13:06 who did a study where he put people on an all plant-based 13:10 diet, a vegetarian diet, low fat, 13:13 and showed that you can actually reverse heart disease. 13:17 Actually, the plaque buildup on the walls of the arteries 13:20 can actually be reversed to some degree. 13:22 Actually, 82 percent of the patients he put on this diet, 13:25 uh, had reversal of heart disease. 13:28 >>John: And this is important we reiterate, 13:30 because the Bible says our bodies 13:32 are the temple of the Holy Spirit. 13:33 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 13:34 >>John: You've got people who say, 13:35 well, you gotta die of something, 13:37 as they eat another T-bone steak. 13:39 And my response is, 13:40 yeah, but you don't have to die of everything. 13:42 Now, I spoke to a doctor friend of mine, 13:45 and he told me about some of the frustrations 13:47 that he has working with people. 13:49 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 13:50 >>John: He said this in a very nice way. 13:51 He said he had a patient there coming to see him, 13:53 and he said to the patient, 13:54 “You know, if you just drank more water, you'd be okay. 13:59 If you just drank more water.” That's a simple change. 14:01 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, it is. 14:03 >>John: And the patient responded by saying, 14:04 so I'm sharing this with you to challenge, 14:06 to challenge people watching right now. 14:08 The patient responded by saying, 14:09 “Doctor, are you going to write me a prescription, 14:12 or am I going to have to go to another doctor 14:14 who will write me a prescription?” 14:16 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 14:17 >>John: So unfortunately, in many case, 14:19 some cases, the remedy is there and it's available, 14:22 but there's a little unwillingness on the part of 14:25 some of us to make even slight changes. 14:27 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Right. 14:28 I've known people, young men, in fact, 14:31 I remember one young man that told me he's taking blood 14:33 pressure medications, he was just like in his thirties, 14:36 blood pressure medication and high cholesterol medication. 14:39 And I told him, um, “Well, what if I work with you and I can 14:44 help you get off those medications by 14:47 following a healthy diet?” And he said, 14:50 “Well, I don't know if I want to make those big drastic 14:52 changes in my lifestyle to do that. 14:53 I'd rather eat the way I want to.” 14:55 And that's where we are today. 14:57 We have to get into what we call lifestyle medicine. 15:01 That's the medicine of the 21st century, 15:03 where doctors are treating their patients with lifestyle, 15:07 instead of all these medications and medical procedures. 15:10 >>John: I want to ask you about the article that I have here. 15:12 It's from the Wall Street Journal. 15:13 I'm not going to drill down too deep into the article. 15:16 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 15:17 >>John: Headline: “The Questionable Link 15:20 between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease.” 15:22 And I saw this just the other day 15:25 from another perspective in a British newspaper, front page. 15:28 Why we can now eat, bup, bup, bup, 15:30 unhealthy food. 15:32 Why is it that increasingly there's pushback against this, 15:35 and people are reading in reputable newspapers and 15:38 reputable websites, it's okay to eat this bad stuff? 15:45 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, this is one of the frustrations 15:46 most Americans have today, 15:48 ‘cause they read one day you should eat this way, 15:50 and the next day you should go another way. 15:52 And sometimes it happens, in this case, 15:54 for instance, a study has come out where they're saying, 15:57 well, it looks like saturated fat and cholesterol is 16:00 not all that bad for you. 16:02 That is totally contradictory to the, 16:05 the decades of research which, uh, 16:07 substantiates that eating a diet high in saturated fat and 16:11 cholesterol will increase your risk of heart disease. 16:15 You know, people like to hear good news about bad habits. 16:18 When these studies come out, 16:20 they promote them in the news media, 16:22 you'll see on the time, top of Time magazine and so forth. 16:25 But there are a lot of very reputable scientists that are 16:28 questioning the results of this study and the way it was done. 16:31 I think the thing is, we need to look at, 16:35 as opposed to just one study, look at the hundreds, 16:38 thousands of studies that have been done over the years, 16:41 decades, actually, that are saying the opposite. 16:44 >>John: And there might be a couple of other things 16:46 that we could factor in here. 16:47 One, common sense. 16:48 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 16:49 >>John: Feed a guy junk food, feed his brother healthy food. 16:53 After a couple of years, they're going to look different. 16:55 After a few decades, 16:57 they're going to look very, very different. 16:58 We all know. 16:59 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Right. 17:00 >>John: Eat better. Exercise more. 17:01 Lose weight. 17:02 Do better. 17:03 There's the common sense aspect. 17:05 And then, there's the Bible aspect. 17:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 17:08 >>John: What did God say in the beginning? 17:10 And, in fact, 17:11 I think what I'll do is I'll read this Bible verse. 17:13 We eluded to it a moment ago. 17:15 In Genesis, chapter 1 and verse 29: 17:18 “And God said, 17:20 Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, 17:23 which is upon the face of all the earth, 17:25 and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding 17:28 seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Or for food. 17:31 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 17:32 >>John: That's how God described it. 17:33 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's the original diet of man. 17:34 >>John: Okay, yeah. 17:35 Now, Dr. Westerdahl, there are eight biblical principles, 17:41 eight biblical laws that kind of sum up 17:44 God's optimal original dietary plan. 17:48 In just a moment, those eight natural laws 17:51 and the example of Daniel, 17:54 who incorporated those laws into his life 17:56 and saw enormous spiritual benefits as a result. 18:00 We'll be back in just a moment. 18:04 >>Announcer: “Every Word” is a one-minute, Bible-based 18:06 daily devotional presented by Pastor John Bradshaw, 18:09 and designed especially for busy people like you. 18:12 Look for Every Word on selected networks, 18:15 or watch it online every day on our website, 18:17 itiswritten.com. 18:21 ♪[Theme music]♪ 18:25 A provincial government in the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu 18:28 is about to ban junk food. 18:30 The reason is, massive amounts of Vanuatuans 18:32 are suffering from lifestyle diseases including diabetes. 18:36 While the United States has a diabetes rate of 9.3% 18:39 which is a disaster. 18:41 Vanuatu has a rate of 24%, 18:43 closely linked one study says 18:45 “with consumption of animal proteins 18:47 and simple carbohydrates.” 18:49 They are sick of being sick, 18:51 and so they're getting rid of a major cause. 18:53 So, are there things in your diet that are harming you 18:56 that you ought to just get rid of? 18:59 And number two, 19:00 are there things in your life that are harming you spiritually 19:02 things you could just let go? 19:04 Jesus said in Matthew 18:8, 19:07 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, 19:09 cut it off and cast it from you.” 19:10 It's better to stumble into heaven that to run into hell. 19:15 I'm John Bradshaw for It Is Written. 19:17 Let's live today by every Word! 19:19 ♪[Music]♪ 19:21 >>John: Thanks for joining me today on It Is Written. 19:24 My special guest today is a nutritionist, 19:27 Dr. John Westerdahl. 19:29 Dr. Westerdahl, a moment ago I mentioned that there are eight 19:32 natural health laws. 19:34 Real simple points... 19:37 >>Dr. Westerdahl: They are. 19:38 >>John: ...people can remember easy 19:39 and incorporate into their lives. 19:40 I'd like you to walk me through what those are. 19:42 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 19:42 They are nutrition. 19:44 They are exercise, water, sunshine, 19:47 temperance, being moderate in all things and abstaining from 19:50 harmful items, air, rest, and trust in divine power. 19:56 >>John: Okay, let's walk through these... 19:57 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Okay. 19:58 >>John: ...set them up a little bit. 19:58 >>John: Nutrition. 19:59 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Nutrition we talked about quite a bit today. 20:01 >>John: So be careful about what you eat. 20:02 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Be careful about what you eat. 20:03 You know, you are what you eat, and medical research is showing 20:06 that you've got to eat healthy foods. 20:07 And, and we talked about the original diet 20:10 that God has given us. 20:11 >>John: Okay. 20:12 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Exercise, we don't get enough exercise. 20:13 We're sitting around all the time. 20:14 You know, we're sloths in many ways, 20:16 just sitting in front of, watching TV. 20:19 >>John: Something I read that bothered me somewhat. 20:21 The longer people sit down... 20:23 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 20:24 >>John: ...the more prone they are to die early. 20:27 And clearly, it's not just sitting or standing, 20:29 I wouldn't think, but if you're sitting down 20:31 you're not exercising. 20:32 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 20:33 And at the workplace, get up and get some walking. 20:35 But getting out, getting what we cardiovascular, 20:37 respiratory type of exercise. 20:39 Getting fresh air. 20:40 Get that heart beating. 20:42 It's very important. 20:43 It's one of the, um, things for longevity. 20:46 >>John: Water? 20:47 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Water. 20:48 Now, that's water on the inside, getting fresh water, 20:51 pure water, drinking it, because, 20:53 you know, 70 percent of our bodies are water. 20:55 We need water. 20:56 >>John: So soda doesn't count for water? 20:58 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Soda does not count for water. 21:00 You've got to drink that pure water. 21:01 >>John: Coffee? 21:02 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Coffee, there's water in it, 21:04 but there's diuretics in it too, in the form of caffeine, 21:06 so you're losing a lot of that water. 21:08 >>John: Okay. 21:09 >>Dr. Westerdahl: So getting pure water. 21:09 >>John: Pure water. 21:11 >>Dr. Westerdahl: And then water on the outside is important too, 21:12 because what that does, 21:13 it helps with our hygiene, cleanliness. 21:16 There's what we call hydrotherapy, 21:17 people getting into Jacuzzis and getting water treatments that 21:21 are healing, and they are natural remedies as well. 21:24 >>John: Now, the T, the first T in these eight, 21:27 the fourth point was... 21:29 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Temperance. 21:30 >>John: Okay, so. 21:31 >>Dr. Westerdahl: And that's an old term that's used, 21:32 uh, Christians of old time knew that all the time. 21:35 The temperance movement, you know. 21:37 >>John: Temperance. 21:38 Moderation in all things. 21:39 Does that mean moderation in M&Ms 21:41 and moderation in pork chops, 21:43 or does that mean moderation in the good stuff? 21:46 >>Dr. Westerdahl: In the good stuff. 21:47 Temperance means staying away from the bad things. 21:51 And even the good things, you need to be balanced 21:54 and be temperate, and not overdo. 21:56 >>John: You know what we did? 21:57 We missed one. We missed... 21:58 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Oh, sunshine. 21:59 >>John: We missed S for sunshine. 22:00 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yeah. 22:01 >>John: Now, somebody like me, I mean, look, 22:02 I'm the whitest guy that ever lived, 22:03 and I can get, I can get sunburned in the dark. 22:05 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 22:06 >>John: Sunshine. What's the deal there? 22:07 >>Dr. Westerdahl: There's temperance with that too. 22:08 Sunshine is really good for you. 22:10 In fact, there's a certain type of cholesterol under your skin 22:12 that, when the sun shines on it, it converts it into vitamin D. 22:15 It's important to help in making certain hormones in the body. 22:18 And you need some sun every day. 22:20 It's very important. 22:22 However, don't overdo it, because too much can lead to 22:25 skin cancer and, uh, premature aging of the skin. 22:29 >>John: Okay. The A is for air. 22:30 We all know we need air. 22:31 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 22:32 And yes, getting out and getting some fresh air. 22:34 Some people are more fortunate to live in non-polluted cities 22:38 where they can get really good fresh air. 22:40 But, uh, getting out, getting fresh air, 22:42 is really important because we need that oxygen. 22:45 And air is the, uh, invisible staff of life. 22:49 >>John: Umm. 22:50 R for rest. 22:51 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Rest. 22:53 >>John: How much, how much sleep should a person be getting? 22:54 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, you know, there's debate on that. 22:56 You know, I think most experts would say try to get at least 22:59 eight hours of sleep a day, if possible. 23:01 So that's important. 23:02 We need to take some time to get some rest. 23:05 And it's not just sleeping. 23:06 It's taking some time during the week 23:08 to get away from the stresses of daily life. 23:11 And another biblical principle is having a Sabbath day. 23:15 In fact, taking one day in seven is a restful thing spiritually, 23:19 it's important for our spiritual nutrition, 23:22 but it also helps us in having physical, 23:24 mental and spiritual rest at one time. 23:27 >>John: The final T in this thing... 23:28 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 23:29 >>John: ...T for trust in God. 23:31 How does trust in God benefit a person, 23:34 body, mind and spirit, regarding, 23:37 in terms of their health? 23:39 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, you know, 23:39 it's interesting you brought that up, 23:41 because there's some scientific evidence now to show 23:42 that people who go to church regularly, 23:44 that have a faith, 23:46 that practice and live a faith, 23:48 have lower risk of heart disease. 23:50 They're able to have lower rates of blood pressure, 23:53 better marital satisfaction, generally being able to control 23:57 and handle the stresses of daily living as well. 24:00 >>John: Now, let's look at a biblical example of somebody 24:03 who put these good biblical health principles 24:05 into practice and was blessed spiritually as a result. 24:09 The Israelites had just suffered a, 24:12 a crushing blow. 24:13 Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon had come up to Jerusalem 24:16 and destroyed the place, 24:17 sacked the temple, 24:19 and taken many of the people prisoners, 24:21 marching them across the desert to Babylon. 24:23 It was terrible. 24:24 Daniel was now a slave in Babylon. 24:28 And the Bible says, 24:30 “The king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, 24:33 [the king's food], 24:34 and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, 24:38 that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.” 24:41 So the king said, "Dinner's on me." 24:44 Daniel said, "no way." 24:47 Verse 8: “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not 24:51 defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, 24:54 nor with the wine which he drank: 24:56 therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs 24:58 that he might not defile himself.” 25:01 And as we come down a little further, 25:04 uh, in verse 12, Daniel requested, 25:07 “Prove your servants, I beseech thee, ten days; 25:10 and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.” 25:13 Firstly, what's pulse? 25:15 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Some people refer to it as, 25:16 like lentils might be a pulse. 25:18 >>John: All right. 25:19 So it's certainly, uh, plant-based, 25:21 and it's healthy stuff. 25:23 How well did Daniel do as a result of this dietary plan? 25:26 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Well, they were healthier and stronger 25:28 than the king's men. 25:30 >>John: In fact, if I were to look at this, 25:32 I would find where the Bible says that when the king checked 25:36 them out, he found them to be ten times wiser. 25:42 >>Dr. Westerdahl: That's right. 25:43 >>John: Isn't that remarkable? 25:43 >>Dr. Westerdahl: It is. 25:44 >>John: Ten times wiser. 25:45 Now, I don't know if there was an IQ test 25:47 and they had ten times the IQ points or not, but still, 25:49 the biblical terminology makes it dramatic. 25:53 Daniel and his friends prospered. 25:54 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes. 25:55 >>John: If they were just healthier, 25:57 that would be one thing. 26:00 >>John: But I believe it's no coincidence that the very next 26:02 chapter, Daniel, chapter two, finds a spiritual crisis. 26:07 King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that he can't remember. 26:10 None of the wise men can tell him what the dream was 26:13 or what it means. 26:14 But Daniel and his friends pray to God. 26:18 God gives Daniel the interpretation of the dream. 26:22 I think it's fair to say that if Daniel had not been preserving 26:25 himself physically, God would not have been able to bless him 26:28 so well spiritually. 26:30 Would you agree? 26:30 >>Dr. Westerdahl: I agree. 26:31 >>John: Dr. Westerdahl, 26:32 God's healthcare plan is pretty simple. 26:34 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, it is. 26:35 >>John: No trips to the bookstore necessary 26:37 unless you don't have one of these Bibles. 26:39 It's pretty succinctly explained, 26:42 and the science demonstrates 26:43 that it's effective and it works. 26:46 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Yes, it does. 26:47 >>John: What's your advice, in a nutshell, 26:48 to somebody thinking, I need to make some changes? 26:52 >>Dr. Westerdahl: I would say go back to this book. 26:54 Look at the original diet of man that was given to us by God, 26:58 and it'll make some great changes in your life. 27:02 >>John: The same killer diseases which have taken the lives of 27:05 millions and millions of people every year 27:08 are taking the lives of Christian believers, 27:10 even though God has told us plainly and clearly 27:12 how we can avoid those diseases. 27:15 Now, you want to avoid them, 27:16 so make sure you get today's free offer, 27:18 “Healthcare God's Way,” 27:20 which I co-wrote with Dr. John Westerdahl. 27:23 Get “Healthcare God's Way.” 27:24 Call 1-800-253-3000, 27:27 write to the address on your screen, 27:30 make sure you visit itiswritten.com. 27:33 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 27:36 is a faith-based ministry, 27:38 and it's your support that makes it possible 27:40 for us to share God's good news with the entire world. 27:44 Your tax-deductible gift 27:45 can be sent to the address on your screen, 27:48 or through our website, itiswritten.com. 27:52 Thank you for your continued prayerful support. 27:54 Our toll-free number is 800-253-3000. 27:57 800-253-3000. 28:00 Our web address is itiswritten.com. 28:04 >>John: Today we've looked at the original diet, 28:07 given to us by God and promised by God 28:11 to be a blessing in our lives. 28:13 Dr. John Westerdahl, thank you so much for joining me today. 28:16 >>Dr. Westerdahl: It's great to be with you today, John. 28:18 >>John: It's been a pleasure to have you here. 28:19 You've blessed immensely. 28:20 Let's pray together... 28:21 >>Dr. Westerdahl: Sure. 28:22 >>John: ...and ask God's blessing on all of us, 28:24 particularly those of us who've decided that we're going to make 28:27 some changes in our lives. 28:28 Our Father in Heaven, we thank you today for Jesus, 28:32 the Great Physician. 28:33 We thank you for the Bible, 28:35 the best book on health ever written, 28:38 and for that original diet that, 28:39 when followed has been demonstrated again and again 28:43 not only to make us healthier, 28:45 but happier and contribute to us being holier, more like Jesus. 28:51 Fill us with your Spirit, and guide us in your way. 28:53 I pray that we can live that more abundant life 28:56 promised us by God. 28:58 We thank you today for being with us, 29:00 and we pray, gratefully, 29:02 in Jesus' name. 29:03 Amen. 29:05 >>John: Thank you for joining me today. 29:06 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 29:08 Until then, remember: 29:10 "It is written: 29:11 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 29:14 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 29:19 ♪[Theme music]♪ |
Revised 2018-01-12