— Health from a biblical perspective —

Dear Health-minded Reader,

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of one’s diet is the matter of it being live or dead.  Experts (the rest of us too) have tended to tabulate everything in our diets except, “life”. The simple truth is that live bodies require live food.  If our diet is largely dead (which is almost universally true) then we’ll suffer malnutrition with all its attendant sickness and diseases.  It’s as inescapable as the law of cause and effect.

Eating live food isn’t something new or New Age.  It’s the way God originally intended for mankind to consume it (Gen 1:29).  It can also be attractive, nutritious and delicious, not to mention — endlessly interesting.  We pray this article will prompt you to review your own diet with the thought of upgrading it to be more health supportive.  You’ve everything to gain — life!

Food: Live or Dead?

Life requires live food

A common concern about not eating meat or other animal-based foods is the perception that some vegetarians are as sickly as those who do — an accurate and legitimate concern.  Dr. George Malkmus, a health expert, author and speaker — agrees.  He’s noted this to be true even within Seventh Day Adventist ranks, who promote vegetarianism as a lifestyle.  Moreover, he’s pinpointed two reasons why: too much protein (albeit plant-based) and dead food.  The protein issue is covered in our book, Robust Health, a Bible-based Primer, so let’s address the “live/dead” issue.

This subject is of foundational importance yet overlooked by most who teach about diet and health.  The effects of live and dead foods on our bodies are both fundamental and without exaggeration — enormous.  The comparison with a car’s engine begs: if its designer calls for high-test gasoline and we use El-cheapo, could we expect it to run properly?  Many are still not certain, so consider fueling that same car with diesel oil.  Will it work at all?  Of course not!  Nor would someone (knowingly) eat dirt.  Let’s go back to the high/low-test gas example because it more closely parallels this dietary issue.  When it comes to “high” or “low-test” foods, most people have an awareness but are similarly uncertain.  They’ve come to realize that a diet high in animal fat, leads to health problems (as do nicotine, caffeine, sugar, salt,  alcohol, white flour products, etc).  They also know that “junk” foods are not healthful and thus, some try to stay away from them — even if they can’t exactly define what “junk” is.  But many of these same folks (some nutritionally very astute) have never even heard of of the live/dead food factor.

“Live” simply means plant-based food just as it comes from nature; raw, whole and unprocessed.  It never had a face on it and hasn’t been dried, fried, canned, cooked, frozen, fricasseed, mashed, microwaved, steamed or sauteed.  Most of these processes quickly convert live food to dead; drying and freezing to a lesser extent, but they too diminish its life.  So, processing is the biggest culprit.

What is it about processing that kills food?  Typically heat, as evident in 7 of the 10 listed above.  But foodacide can be committed by chemical and mechanical means; even irradiation.  In fact, by pretty much the same things that kill humans because of the commonality of live enzymes resident in both plant and human life.  Constructed of living protein, enzymes sometimes are referred to (almost mystically) in terms such as, the “life force” or “life energy”.  Like all life, at a temperature of 108ºF, they begin to perish.  That’s why a 105ºF fever is so much of a concern; it’s life-threatening.

Enzymes are the keys that unlock the body’s acceptability locks.  They can distinguish a substance to be nutritionally useful or a health liability.  They also have the God-like ability of making that which was dead, alive.  It’s the reason live food is so nutritionally potent while dead is equally unhealthy.  The attachment of enzymes to inorganic (dead) substances is what gives them life; calcium for instance.  Calcium mineral rock gets dissolved by ground water, is drawn up into a green plant leaf where sunshine and photosynthesis work their magic by attaching plant enzymes to the calcium molecules.  When that plant is then eaten raw, the body recognizes and accepts this “organic” calcium and sends it off to do all the good things calcium is supposed to do — namely neutralize acids, contribute to the nervous system, strengthen teeth, bones, etc.

Enzymes die if that plant is cooked. Calcium and the other live minerals revert back to the INorganic or “dead” state.  Heat above 122ºF renders them unusable and instead of abetting health, can work against it.  A simplistic way to see this is to cut the top off most any fresh vegetable (like a carrot) and plant it.  In most cases, a new plant will grow.  However, if you cook it first, the enzymes  will die and the plant will no longer grow; it’s dead.  Dead foods diminish health because the body must draw from its own nutrient reserves to replace the dead or missing components.  It’s the root problem with all processed, incomplete, fractured and partial foods; they draw down the body’s reserves instead of adding to them.  The body eventually suffers the same fate as a checking account from which more money is drawn out than deposited — so it no longer works as intended.

The Cat Experiments

This still not widely understood need for live food has been well established.  Notable experiments were conducted on 900 cats by Dr. Francis M. Pottenger in the mid-1930s and continued with 4 cat generations.  The purpose of the project was to measure the affects of raw vss cooked foods (live vss dead) on their health.  The gist of the 10-year experiment¹ is simply this: cats fed on raw food lived normal, healthy lives for the entire 4 generations with no birthing problems.  But, the 1st generation of those on a cooked food diet developed diseases and illnesses near the end of life.  The 2nd generation of “cooked-food” cats developed diseases and illnesses in mid-life while 3rd generation cats got sick early in life — with many dying within 6-months of their birth.  There was no 4th generation! Third generation parents had become sterile or could not carry kittens to term.  Cats eating a cooked food diet developed all the diseases common to human kind.  They had cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart and thyroid disease, birthing problems, osteoporosis, dental and liver disorders, allergies and etc.

A Sterile Generation

Healthy bodies naturally reproduce themselves, but did you know that more than 25% of today’s young adults are sterile or cannot carry a baby to term?  It’s the reason for the sharp increase in spontaneous abortions and fertility clinics.  How many generations are we removed from not being able to reproduce at all?  Do you see the writing on the wall?  Nutritional experts lay this worrisome condition at the feet of a bad diet.

“New” Diseases

We’re now told there’s a whole new crop of childhood diseases ranging from arthritis and diabetes to cancer (which now happens to be the major killer of our youth).  In fact, these diseases are NOT new at all.  They’re the same “old-age” diseases that had been around forever.  It’s just that societal health has become so poor, these maladies manifest themselves earlier and earlier in life, just like the cats.  Sick mothers and fathers give birth to sickly babies, if they can reproduce at all.

“Health” is really not mysterious!  The 100-trillion living cells that make up a living body need living food to keep it alive and healthy. Regardless of how organic, natural or home-grown a food is, once it’s processed, it becomes lifeless.  Its nutritional value is largely destroyed and in fact, can become harmful to the body; for example, spinach with its oxalates.  Yet, a stunning reality is that a person can markedly improve their health and vitality, simply by eating raw food.

We should also STOP putting in non-foods and foods which are not health supportive; drink only pure water, get some sunshine, adequate exercise, rest and maintain a positive attitude.  But if we’ll just go back to eating whole, live food the way it was intended to be eaten — it will pay big dividends in itself.  It truly is a wonderful testimony to the power of life our Creator imbued in both raw food and our marvelous bodies.

Get in the habit of reaching for a juicy piece of fruit for a snack.  Add more salads with a greater variety of vegetables, especially the dark green leafy kinds.  If you REALLY want to jump-start your system, begin “juicing” plus drink live, nutrient-dense green drinks daily.  You’ll be amazed with what your body can do!

1. 1946 — American Journal of Orthodontics & Oral Surgery

— From our readers —

After only a few weeks my cholesterol is down to 112; triglycerides at 88 and my HDL’s & LDL’s are good.  My thyroid is almost back to normal and now — no stomach acid or joint pains! PTL!  It won’t be long before my doctor realizes I don’t need any more meds. — Branson, MO

I had a great and inspiring time with you in Sarasota.  We went out and bought a juicer and now juice every breakfast and about half of lunches.  We are gradually changing our diets.  Your book, “Robust health, a Bible-based Primer” is great; please send a copy to ...  — Arlington, TX

Loved your new  book, “Robust Health, a Bible-based Primer”.  What an eye opener!  Now, putting it into practice is the hard part. — Albuquerque, NM

Reading your new book, “Robust Health, a Bible-based Primer”, was like getting hit right between the eyes with a hammer.  I must learn more! — Sarasota, FL

Received the books; thank you!  Enjoying them very much; getting lots of room for thoughts of change. — Visalia, CA

Thanks for all the health information; both books and the newsletter.  I tried eating more raw, fresh fruits and veggies for just a few weeks — knowing it’s the right way to eat.  The big surprise came when I was changing into my workout pants.  I’ve had a good sized mole on my left hip since childhood and it’s now much smaller and lighter.  Oh Boy!!  I expect more and better results as my immune system finally has some “real bullets” to shoot at the enemy — disease.  I don’t need as much sleep now either.  Of course I’m no taller or prettier, but I can accept that.   I’ve been telling everyone at the Rec-center to change their diet if they want to see improvement. — Virginia Beach, VA

Disclaimer: The Hallelujah Health NEWS newsletter emphasizes nutrition-related health issues, to educate, encourage and provide lifestyle information.  There is no intent to diagnose, treat, prescribe for, cure or prevent disease.  The author or publisher assumes no responsibility for the use or effects of said information.  Hallelujah Health NEWS is a free public educational service, solely to promote a healthier lifestyle.

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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