Influence of Diet by Jos. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1866

Influence of Diet.

By Jos. Clarke

It may seem like meddling to say to a man, that his dietetic principles and habits affect his character here and his destiny hereafter: to tell him that his habits are gluttonous: that he is a sybarite, and luxurious: to say to him, Sir, your wantonness proceeds from wrong habits as to eating and drinking: to say to him, Sir, your prayers are baffled by your appetite, and your resolutions in favor of reform are all vetoed by your late suppers: your highly seasoned food stimulates you to impurity: your tea and coffee have a like effect; and as a consequence, your moral susceptibilities are seared, your intellect is stupefied, your brain is disturbed and weakened, your judgment is perverted, and your hand is tremulous.

In a late number of the Review, Bro. E. Goodwin speaks of the importance of heeding the late testimony respecting our diet; he speaks as though this had much to do with gaining the victory. To all of this we say, Amen.

For about two years self and family have tried the two meal per day system, during which time we have not used meats of any kind; neither have we used tea or coffee, nor any highly seasoned food, and but a very small quantity of fish; we have used grains, fruits, and vegetables. The results of the system are, evenness of temper, clearness of mind, steadiness of nerve, increased mental power, and a better subjection of the physical to the moral power. I feel as if I were entering upon a new life, with new strength of hope and faith. Indeed, without the experience, I could hardly have believed it possible that the quality of our food, and the intervals between our meals, had so great an influence for good or evil.

I first saw the practical working of the two meal per day system, upon a community, nearly two years ago; and having read Dr. Jackson's argument in its favor, I determined to test it upon my farm; and I find that I can do more work, with less fatigue, and do it better, upon this system, than with three meals per day as formerly.

It is now nearly two years since we began to practice upon this system, in all kinds of weather, at all work, in the long days of harvest and haying, and the short days of winter: whether at the plough or the hoe, the axe or the spade. I find I am not as hungry for my meals as formerly, when eating three meals a day and lunches besides; neither do I crave more at the meal, if as much; neither do I feel half as much inconvenience from faintness when hungry, as formerly.

At first I was so much pleased with the good effects of this system, that I feared it was enthusiasm in part, and that a re-action would follow; but sober reality, from two years' experience, has satisfied us that it is still better for us than our most enthusiastic dreams had pictured to our minds. Others in this vicinity have the same views of the matter, and will, I hope, bear testimony to the same.

The theory of intervals of nourishment and rest for the digestive organs, is ably treated upon in Dr. Jackson's health tracts; and more briefly and distinctly still in a work published at the Review office, entitled "How to Live." You cannot afford to do without it; send for it immediately, and don't be offended with me for saying, that tea and coffee, and hog's lard and tobacco, should never be the diet of a Christian.

Jos. CLARKE.