{"id":761,"date":"2019-12-14T18:13:51","date_gmt":"2019-12-14T18:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donovancarper.com\/?p=761"},"modified":"2020-11-07T04:18:27","modified_gmt":"2020-11-07T13:18:27","slug":"plant-based-diets-what-do-the-scriptures-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.donovancarper.com\/index.php\/2019\/12\/14\/plant-based-diets-what-do-the-scriptures-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Health Tips in the Bible? Plant-based Diets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
This Post Explores two Health Promoting Passages in the Scriptures: An Ancient Account of a Vegan Diet, and an Ancient Recipe that has Become World Renowned <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this article, I discuss an interesting passage in the book of Daniel that describes a vegan diet. I also discuss the passage that has led to the creation of the ever-popular \u201cEzekiel Bread!\u201d The section of this article concerning Daniel is an excerpt from my comprehensive article on plant-based diets\u2013an article concerning claims, benefits, risks and supplementation considerations of plant based diets.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book of Daniel: an interesting segment in chapter 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An interesting passage in the book of Daniel chapter 1 references a situation in which Daniel, a captive from Israel during the Babylonian exile, is granted an opportunity to eat from the Babylonian king\u2019s table: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king\u2019s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of\u00a0that time<\/em>\u00a0they might serve before the king\u201d (Daniel 1:<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a05-6; The New King James Version).\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel refuses this offering, much to the fear of the eunuch in charge of his well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who\u00a0are<\/em>\u00a0your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.\u201d (Daniel 1:10; NKJV)<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Daniel Refused the Luxuries of the King\u2019s own Table, Opting Instead to eat an Exclusively Plant-based (Vegan) Diet<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Instead, Daniel states the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo Daniel said to\u00a0the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,\u00a012<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>\u201cPlease test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink<\/strong>.\u00a013<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king\u2019s delicacies; and as you see fit,\u00a0so<\/em>\u00a0deal with your servants.\u201d\u00a014<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.\u201d (Daniel 1: 11-14; NKJV). <\/a>daniel\u2019s keeper agreed to allow a test of the plant-based diet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After eating the above described plant-based diet over a brief period, the youth are described as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king\u2019s delicacies.<\/strong>\u00a016<\/strong><\/a>Thus\u00a0the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>(Daniel 1:15-16; NKJV). <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scriptures note that Daniel and his peers looked healthy and strong eating essentially a vegan diet. This appearance is not a fluke or a fantastical statement. Dr. Greger (2011) shares research demonstrating plant-based diets improve the tone and appearance of the skin<\/a>. The other youth were subsequently put on the same diet. They were then kept in the care of the eunuchs\u00a0for three years<\/strong>. From the above description, it is apparent that they and the youth continued on the plant-based diet during that time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The King\u2019s Servant was so Impressed with the Appearance and Health of Daniel and His Friends that all the Captives were Placed on a Plant-based Diet!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Daniel and plant-based diets: in summary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of places in the scriptures where eating meat is clearly part of the diet of ancient Jews and Christians. However, the above is an interesting reference in the ancient text to a vegan diet and the strong health (and healthy appearance) associated with this kind of diet. Also interesting are the fears of the eunuch, which sounds pretty similar to people who are plant-based diet skeptics today!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ezekiel: the origin of the now famous bread<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The book of Ezekiel contains an interesting recipe. Ezekiel was a prophet in Israel who foretold of imminent destruction in Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. He received instructions from God to do some unusual tasks as a sign to his fellow Israelites. Throughout the book, the Isrealites are slow to believe Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians, though the prophecies proved to be fulfilled during the prophet\u2019s lifetime (Biblestudytools, 2019<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The famous passage describing the bread ingredients is found in chapter 4:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAlso take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself.\u00a0During<\/em>\u00a0the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it.\u00a010\u00a0<\/sup>And your food which you eat\u00a0shall be<\/em>\u00a0by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it.\u201d (Ezekiel 4: 9-10, NKJV)<\/a>\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An Ancient Bread Recipe in the Book of Ezekiel has Become World Famous for its Health Properties<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The ingredients included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n