World Health Organisation affirmed adventists' diet

Pastor Kungsong Wanbe *

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared red meat and processed meat to be cancer hazard, confirming the statements made by Seventh-Day Adventist church cofounder Mrs. Ellen G. White more than 120 (One hundred and twenty) years ago.

A top doctor of the Adventist church said the announcement is the global health community's most definitive response yet about the relation between meat and cancer, served as a wake-up call for church members to examine their own diets.

"We have had this information for more than 120 (one hundred and twenty) years", said Dr. Peter N. Landless, Director of the Adventist Health Ministries Department, "but sadly many have chosen not to follow the advice."

The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer said in the statement that it decided to classify processed meat as carcinogenic or cancer causing to humans and red meat as probably carcinogenic. The decision was based on a review related studies by a team of 22 (twenty two) experts in ten countries.

Meat consumption is linked mainly to cancers of colon and rectum. The experts concluded that each 50 (fifty) gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 (eighteen) percent, the agency statement said.

While the news made headlines worldwide, the development is not surprising to Adventists who have noted what Mrs. Ellen G. White wrote extensively about the benefits of a plant based diet in the second half of the nineteenth century. Flesh was never a good food/diet.

At present time meat eating is highly objectionable because diseases in animals are so rapidly increasing as said by Mrs. White in her book "Guild Guidance". Those who use flesh food little know what they are eating. People are continuously eating flesh that is filled with tuberculosis and cancerous germs.

Tuberculosis, cancer and other fatal diseases are thus communicated. Mrs. White also said in the book mentioned above that meat would become more contaminated as the earth neared its last days and that people would stop eating meat. Dr. Landless said that 19 (nineteen) million of Adventist members followed vegetarian diet.

The World Health Organisation confirms in its announcement that ongoing internationally recognised Adventist research into a plant based diet by Loma Linda Medical University, California, USA. An analysis from Adventist Health Study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine in March, 2015 indicated that a vegetarian diet might reduce a person's risk of colorectal cancer by 22 (twenty two) percent, which previous work from the Adventist Health Study linked meat consumption to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.

The lead researcher for Adventist Health Study Dr. Michael Orlich said the new evaluation of World Health Organisation was important and should be considered by all those making diet choices and dietary recommendations.

Dr. Gary Fraser lead investigator for Adventist Health Study challenged Adventist to not only avoid meat but to also remember to eat fruits and vegetables. It is equally important to substitute foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes. He said meats not only cause problems directly, but also because they usually displace other food that actively decreases risk.

Lastly but not the least, that meat and fish consumption causes health hazard is clearly mentioned in Meitei proverb as, "Pat chaba migi punsi telli, amasung nga chamallabadi ngathi phai". The meaning of which is as follows, "Eating lake (fish eating) shortens the life, and too much eating of fish causes passing fish stool/dysentery.