Messenger of the Lord

Animal Products Increase Death Risk

Heavy consumers of animal products (meat, milk, eggs, cheese) had a 3.6 times greater risk of death from prostate cancer compared to low consumers. ⁴⁸ The study also reported that those who eat meat more than three times a week increase their risk of fatal or near-fatal bladder cancer. ⁴⁹ Eating meat five or more times a week may triple the risk of coronary heart disease for a 40-year-old male. ⁵⁰ MOL 323.12

The American Cancer Society’s 1996 report emphasized that “diets high in foods from plant sources [vegetables, fruits, whole gains, beans] have been associated with a decreased risk, whereas diets high in fat and red meat have been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.” Further, “intake of animal fat, red meats, and dairy products has been found to be associated with an increase in the risk of prostate cancer.” ⁵¹ MOL 323.13

Dietary patterns in fifteen countries were compared with lymphoma death rates. A positive correlation existed between beef and all animal protein (fish being an exception). Vegetable protein foods were negatively correlated. ⁵² MOL 323.14

Seventh-day Adventists in the United States consume as much fat as the general population. ⁵³ Yet, Adventists have only half as many cancers, even cancers not related to tobacco and alcohol. The explanation apparently lies in the difference in the kind of fat consumed. The National Research Council stated that cancer is most closely related to total fat and saturated fat. ⁵⁴ MOL 323.15

Meat and cancer germs: When Ellen White wrote that “tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases” are caused by “tuberculosis and cancerous germs,” the medical world scoffed, and continued to do so for many decades. But not today. ⁵⁵ In 1974, milk from leukemic cows was fed to six chimpanzees. Two died with leukemia at nine months of age, demonstrating that cancer viruses can be transmitted, even between different species. ⁵⁶ The chicken leukosis virus can be found in five to ten percent of all eggs. ⁵⁷ MOL 323.16

Meat and diabetes: In the Adventist Health Study, those who consumed meat six or more days a week had a 3.8 times greater risk than vegetarians of dying of diabetes. ⁵⁸ MOL 323.17

Meat and endurance: A three-day, high-carbohydrate diet (such as the original diet, Genesis 1-3) produced almost three times the endurance (167 minutes) as the three-day, high-protein, fat diet (57 minutes) in a study of Swedish athletes. ⁵⁹ MOL 323.18

Meat and essential fatty acids: God’s original diet (Genesis 1-3) contained no animal fat but had sufficient essential poly-unsaturated fatty acids from plant sources. Adequate linoleic acid, found in grains, reduces hypertension (high blood pressure) ⁶⁰ and platelet stickiness, and the aggregation of red blood cells ⁶¹ lowers blood cholesterol ⁶² and reduces the risk of heart attacks ⁶³ and ventricular fibrillation. ⁶⁴ MOL 324.1

Meat and longevity: Non-meat-eaters have an increased life expectancy beyond eighty years although there does not appear to be an increase in maximal life-span. ⁶⁵ MOL 324.2

Salt. Although Ellen White stated that salt was “essential for the blood,” ⁶⁶ she also advised against using “an undue amount of salt.” ⁶⁷ Further, “a free use of” salt (as well as sugar and milk) “is positively injurious.” ⁶⁸ MOL 324.3

Tea and coffee. For Ellen White, using tea and coffee as a beverage “is a sin, an injurious indulgence.” ⁶⁹ After the immediate stimulating effect “a feeling of depression” sets in. ⁷⁰ With continual use, the abuser of the nervous system will experience “headaches, wakefulness, palpitation of the heart, indigestion, trembling, and many other evils, for they [tea, coffee, and “many other popular drinks”] wear away the life forces.” ⁷¹ Both tea and coffee are “poisonous,” and “Christians should let it [them] alone,” ⁷² a position validated in current research. ⁷³ MOL 324.4

Caffeine, a major culprit in tea and coffee, is easily available in many popular drinks (cola drinks) and over-the-counter medications. Physiological effects of caffeine are apparent in adults at doses of only 100-200 mg.—the equivalent of one to three cups of coffee. But for a child (age 1-5) one can of caffeinated soda is equal to four cups of coffee! MOL 324.5

The Adventist Health Study found that the use of even one cup of coffee daily was associated with a 33 percent increase in the risk of fatal heart disease in men. Adventists who use two or more cups of coffee daily are reported to have a greater risk of fatal colon and bladder cancer. ⁷⁴ MOL 324.6

The caffeine syndrome is recognized by aggressiveness, hyperactivity, and sometimes psychotic behavior. Caffeine and the excess ingestion of xanthine alkaloids (found in coffee, tea, cocoa, and some popular beverages) affect people differently, usually observed in the abnormal stimulation of the nervous system and the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. ⁷⁵ MOL 324.7