Ellen White's Counsels: 7 Foods To Eat, 7 Substances To Avoid

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The Adventist Health Message: 7 Things to Eat, 7 Things to Avoid

The Adventist Health Message, first shaped in the mid-1800s, has become one of the most enduring legacies of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Rooted in Christian stewardship, it promotes whole-person wellness—body, mind, and spirit—through lifestyle choices that reflect divine design.

Historical Roots: Pioneers of Wholistic Health

Two key figures in the development of this message were Ellen G. White, a co-founder of the Adventist Church, and Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, physician and health reformer. Ellen White wrote extensively on health, linking physical well-being with spiritual clarity. Her visions and writings (notably in Counsels on Diet and Foods, Ministry of Healing, and Testimonies for the Church) emphasized temperance, pure foods, fresh air, exercise, rest, and trust in divine power.

Dr. Kellogg, influenced by White's counsel, led the Battle Creek Sanitarium and developed plant-based foods, including cornflakes. Together, they helped shape what became a comprehensive blueprint for preventive healthcare.

7 Foods Ellen White Promoted for a Healthful Diet

These foods reflect her emphasis on simplicity, plant-based nutrition, and vitality:

  1. Whole Grains – Including wheat, oats, and corn (CD 92.1; MH 300.1).

  2. Fruits – Fresh, seasonal fruits and berries were seen as God’s natural desserts (MH 299.2).

  3. Vegetables – Especially leafy greens and root vegetables (CD 310.3).

  4. Nuts – Used as an alternative protein and healthy fat source (CD 364.1).

  5. Legumes – Beans, lentils, and peanuts were staple meat replacements (CD 389.3).

  6. Water – Pure, clean water as the ideal beverage (MH 237.1).

  7. Olives & Olive Oil – Seen as a source of beneficial fat in moderation (CD 349.3).

7 Groups of Foods or Substances to Avoid

Ellen White’s warnings reflected both spiritual convictions and early observations of health outcomes:

  1. Stimulants – Coffee, tea, and chocolate due to caffeine and overstimulation (CD 425.1; MH 326.2).

  2. Alcoholic Beverages – Associated with moral and physical degradation (MH 330.1).

  3. Tobacco & Narcotics – Condemned as addictive and destructive (MH 327.3).

  4. Highly Seasoned or Fermented Foods – Vinegar, spicy pickles, and certain condiments were seen as irritants (CD 345.2).

  5. Flesh Meats – Especially pork, and later red meats in general (CD 392.3).

  6. Greasy, Fried, and Rich Foods – Thought to burden digestion and mental clarity (CD 354.2).

  7. Processed Sugar and Sweets – Advised against in large quantities for its disease-promoting effects (CD 327.1).

Understanding the Science: Then and Now

Why were these recommendations made in the 19th century?
At the time, little was known about germs or micronutrients. Ellen White’s health visions predated scientific discovery but often aligned with future findings. Cleanliness, moderation, fresh air, and plant-based eating would eventually be validated by science.

Then vs. Now: Modern Perspectives

  • Coffee: Once rejected for its stimulant effect, it's now considered by many to be protective against type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and liver disease, when consumed in moderation.

  • Fermented Foods: Formerly avoided due to spoilage risk and acidity, today they’re praised for probiotic benefits that support gut health.

  • Chocolate: Dark chocolate, especially 70% cacao and up, is now seen as rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. However, it still contains caffeine and should be used sparingly.

  • Sugar: Adventists and health professionals today agree that excessive sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes, and inflammation.

  • Drugs: While Ellen White warned against drug dependence (particularly harsh patent medicines of her day), Adventist hospitals and other healing bodies now provides evidence-based medical care, combining faith with science. Though there is no formal difference in prescriptions from other medical practitioners, Adventist institutions often emphasize prevention, lifestyle change, and spiritual support as part of care.

Health Message in Practice Today

Today, the Adventist Church runs numerous hospitals and medical universities, including Loma Linda University Health, which promotes plant-based eating, exercise, and whole-person care. Studies on Adventists in Loma Linda, California—one of the world's “Blue Zones”—demonstrate high life expectancy and low rates of chronic disease, validating many of these 19th-century counsels.

 The Real

The Adventist Health Message, while born in the 1800s, continues to evolve. Its core principles—abstinence from harmful substances, natural foods, exercise, and trust in God—remain relevant. While some members reinterpret older restrictions (e.g., coffee or dark chocolate), the emphasis on informed, compassionate living still unites the movement. It’s a health message for both body and soul.

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Veggie School.blogspot.com aims to highlight the dietary visions of Ellen White in the best possible light. You might also enjoy the following articles:

 Ellen White's Health Food Revolution

7 Foods That Support Better Sleep, and 7 That Don't

One of My Favorite Plant-Based Mentors: Dr. Hans Diehl

The above article was written with the editorial assistance of AI (ChatGPT). The article is necessarily concise, but if you have anything you would like to share or comment on, please comment below , no matter how many "characters" (words) you might want to use in the process. Your thoughts and experiences have value here. Thank you!

If you have ever wanted to experience a delicious vegetarian (or vegan) meal in a welcoming, no pressure environment, I suggest you give your local Adventist Church, school, or hospital a call and ask for information about community vegetarian cooking classes and/or church potlucks.


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