The
Word
of Wisdom and Dietary Meat
by Dr. Mark Edmond Rampton
It is possible that the health code practiced by members of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the best known trademark of
Mormonism. The "Word of Wisdom", given as a revelation
to Joseph Smith in March,1833, is a collection of preventative guidelines,
which, if followed, carry the promise from God of improved health.
These promises include disease prevention, as well as physical and mental
strengthening. This is God's wording of the promise:
18. And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking
in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel
and marrow to their bones;
19. And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden
treasures;
20. And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel
shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them."
What Does The
Word of Wisdom Say about Dietary Meat?
Mormons are known for their dietary practices which set them apart from
the societies in which they live. The health code is quite broad,
but is best known outside the church for the proscription of certain
substances like coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol. The focus of
this discussion will be the two verses dealing with dietary meat, verses
12 and 13 of Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants:
12. Yea, flesh also
of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for
the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13. And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in
times of winter, or of cold, or famine
There
are three ideas expressed in these verses.
1. Meats are ordained for the dietary use of man.
2. We should remember to give thanks if we consume meats, realizing the
source and sacrifice.
3. It is preferable that we use meats in times of scarcity or cold seasons.
The first two of these are self-explanatory and in accordance with common
sense. The third concept is less clear. If the advice to use
meat only in times of scarcity were applied to many saints today, we might
assume that the Lord prefers a vegetarian diet. However, verse 12
tells us that the Lord ordained meat for the use of man. A more likely
interpretation is that the "winter", "cold", and "famine"
spoken of by the Lord, are meant to express overall precaution about the
use of meats, and that this caution is less of an issue in winter when the
temperatures drop low. Could it be that eating meats during warm weather
in the rural and frontier setting of the early church was a significant
risk, and that the Lord was trying to protect His little band of disciples
from some danger?
In recent years, scientists have discovered a dangerous and infectious microorganism
called Escherichia Coli 0157:H7. This germ is a cousin to the much
less dangerous E.Coli organism that all humans have by the millions in their
lower bowel. E.Coli 0157:H7 is frequently found in the gut of many
animals, specifically beef and pigs. If the organism in ingested by
humans, it may proliferate and lead to a disease called Hemolytic Uremic
Syndrome, resulting in kidney disease, generalized internal bleeding and
possibly death. There are an estimated 70,000 to
100,000 cases each year in the U.S., and about 60 deaths.
The results of a large study on E.Coli 0157:H7, funded by the USDA's Food
Safety and Inspection Service, was published in April 2000 in the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences. The research was conducted at
several large meat-packing plants in the Midwest, and was designed to identify
the presence of this disease-causing E. Coli organism on the animal carcasses
using new, more accurate methods for detection. During the warm summer months,
approximately half the carcasses were positive for the presence of the organism.
The occurrence of this E. Coli dropped to 1% during the winter months, even
though 83% of these same cattle were known to have been previously exposed
to this germ.
It is interesting that the revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith
in 1833, gave this specific advice to the Saints to consider consuming meats
only in winter. None of these frontier men and women had refrigeration,
running water, or the means to adequately protect themselves from ingesting
E. Coli 0157:H7, and possibly developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
Could it be that the Lord was doing for them, what had been done in ancient
Israel when He forbade the children of the covenant from eating pork?
It is reassuring to all of us who buy meat in the market today, that there
were no positive cultures from the carcasses after they had gone through
the plant's usual cleaning process, which generally involves steam, hot
water, and organic acid rinses. However, we must stay vigilant in
our efforts to always cook meat well, and to adequately clean all surfaces
and utensils used in meat preparation.
Because we don't know the Lord's intent when He specified a preference for
His children to use meat sparingly and in winter, we must stay open further
knowledge and revelation on this matter.
What Does Nutritional Science Say about Dietary Meat?
Many in our society wonder what science has shown us regarding the health
effects of dietary meat. Is a vegetarian diet better for long-term
health? Does a high meat diet lead to an increased risk of diseases?
What about the diets that cut out carbohydrates and replace them with meats.
With 64% of Americans overweight or obese, there is great interest in the
debate
about what kind of foods are responsible for weight gain - carbohydrates
or fats? If carbohydrates, is a diet with less carbohydrates and more
proteins (meats) a good idea?
And the stakes in this argument are even higher, because diets which nearly
eliminate carbohydrates usually encourage high fat intake, and certain kinds
of fat are linked to higher risks for cancer; whereas, certain types of
carbohydrates, especially fruits and vegetables, are believed
responsible for lowering that risk. Originally, scientists recommended
reducing overall fat intake for both heart health and lowering body weight. New
research now shows that certain fats, if used in limited amounts, have clear
health benefits. These fats are found in fish and in a variety of
plants. Unsaturated fats (remember, fats which are more "hydrogenated"
are more saturated) like olive and canola oil are considered to be "heart
healthy". Similarly, fats with omega-3 fatty acids in their structure
(fish, flaxseed, walnuts, canola, soybeans, etc.) may protect against cancer,
heart disease, and a variety of other conditions. The fats that have
been linked to increased rates of cancer and heart disease are saturated
fats, which are generally from animal sources such as meats and dairy products.
Vegetable oils can be similarly harmful if they are
processed to become hydrogenated by adding trans-fatty acids (hydrogenated
vegetable oils are used in many foods such as crackers to give a crisp character).
Carbohydrates can be lumped into three groups - simple (sugars), medium(starches),
and complex. Sugars and excess starches in the diet cause a greater
than normal amount of insulin release. Insulin is the hormone of calorie
storage, and thus leads to weight gain. Complex carbohydrates often
contain a high amount of fiber, and are digested more slowly, resulting
in a lower insulin production. Fiber is a leading inhibitor of colon
cancer. Many fiber-rich foods are also rich in cancer-fighting vitamins
and phytochemicals.
In my opinion, the bottom line in this protein debate is this: look at your
plate and visualize that ¾ of it is filled with fruits, beans, and lower
starch vegetables/grains, the remainder filled with lean animal protein,
or vegetable protein. Here is my advice for those who are interested
in losing weight. The long-term key is reducing portion size and increasing
exercise. Initially, create a diet that sharply reduces simple carbohydrates
and lessens starches, while increasing complex carbohydrates and non-animal
proteins (example: nuts like almonds and soy nuts, RyKrisp crackers, hummus,
etc.). As you establish a new pattern of weight reduction and increased
exercise, the diet can be relaxed to allow a better variety of fruits and
vegetables.
In a Nutshell
Let me summarize.
The Word of Wisdom is filled with pearls of protection and prevention.
This revelation was given to protect the early saints in an era before basic
sanitation was available, and when refrigeration was only available during
the cold winter months. Therefore, they were advised to eat meats in winter.
This is basic microbiological advice from the Lord. The revelation
has also been given as basic nutritional advice, suggesting that our diets
ought to use meat with thanksgiving, and not to excess. There is strong
scientific evidence today of the benefit of a diet which is balanced, but
emphasizes whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.
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