Endurance
You can give short lectures in the parlor at stated times, which will be select but plain, upon the human body and how to treat this wonderful house the Lord has given us, which will aid you in your work as physicians as nothing else can. The people . . . need to be enlightened on almost every point of how to treat their own bodies. . . .
Every day the people, be they few or many, need to be enlightened how to take care of themselves. To subject one's self to a severity of labor which is constantly straining the physical power of endurance, the constitution cannot endure, it is a violation of physical law which sooner or later will bring its pain of penalty according to the transgression. Talk to them in regard to the necessity of resting after eating.
The ignorance is lamentable upon the matter of the digestive process. Rapid eating should be condemned. The food is to be masticated and thoroughly mixed with the saliva in order to do the good that nature designed it should.
Physical as well as mental workers should take a much longer time to eat than they generally allow; then one hour spent after eating, upon matters which are of little more consequence than to interest or amuse, before they subject themselves to hard labor again. . . .
7MR 224-225
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In order to secure healthy digestion, food should be eaten slowly. Those who wish to avoid dyspepsia, and those who realize their obligation to keep all their powers in a condition which will enable them to render the best service to God, will do well to remember this. If your time to eat is limited, do not bolt your food, but eat less, and masticate slowly. The benefit derived from food does not depend so much on the quantity eaten, as on its thorough digestion; nor the gratification of taste so much on the amount of food swallowed, as on the length of time it remains in the mouth. Those who are excited, anxious, or in a hurry, would do well not to eat until they have found rest or relief; for the vital powers, already severely taxed, cannot supply the necessary digestive fluids. When traveling, some are almost constantly nibbling, if there is anything within their reach. This is a most pernicious practice. If travelers would eat regularly of the simplest and most nutritious kinds of food, they would not experience so great weariness, nor suffer so much from sickness. CTBH 51
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If the third meal be eaten at all, it should be light, and several hours before going to bed.
The stomach, when we lie down to rest, should have its work all done, that it may enjoy rest, as well as other portions of the body. The work of digestion should not be carried on through any period of the sleeping hours.
If you feel that you must eat at night, take a drink of cold water, and in the morning you will feel much better for not having eaten.
The stomach may be educated to desire food eight times a day, and feel faint if it is not supplied. But this is no argument in favor of so frequent eating.
Errors in Diet.
Condition of the Mind at Meals.
At meal-time cast off care and taxing thought. Do not be hurried, but eat slowly and with cheerfulness, your heart filled with gratitude to God for all his blessings.
If you are in constant fear that your food will hurt you, it most assuredly will.
Some health reformers are constantly worrying for fear their food, however simple and healthful, will hurt them. To these let me say, Do not think that your food is going to hurt you; but when you have eaten according to your best judgment, and have asked the Lord to bless the food, believe that he has heard your prayer, and be at rest.
Eating between Meals.
You should never let a morsel pass your lips between your regular meals. Eat what you ought, but eat it at one meal, and then wait until the next.
Three meals a day and nothing between meals -- not even an apple -- should be the utmost limit of indulgence. Those who go further violate nature's laws and will suffer the penalty.
HL 84-86