Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White taught that meat eating is not the ideal diet for God's people, especially where alternatives like fruits, grains, and nuts are available, because "flesh food has a tendency to animalize the nature" (TSDF 80.8). She emphasized that meat is increasingly diseased and contributes to various serious illnesses, making it an unsafe choice for those seeking optimal health. In her counsel, she explained that the physical risks of consuming animal products are significant. She noted that . Because animals are often diseased, partaking of their flesh . This creates a "feverish condition" in the body, leaving the system in a state where it is "not in a condition to resist" prevailing epidemics or contagious diseases (SpM 47.2). Beyond physical health, she was deeply concerned with the spiritual and mental impact of a flesh diet. She warned that "meat eating means animalism just to that degree in which we indulge in it" (4MR 383). This diet tends to and "lessens the susceptibility of the soul to realize the force of truth" (4MR 384.1). By stimulating the animal nature, meat eating can rob individuals of the "love and sympathy which they should feel for every one" (TSDF 80.8). For practical application, Ellen White encouraged a transition toward a more wholesome diet. While she did not "mark out any precise line to be followed," she stated that in countries where "fruits, grains, and nuts" are in abundance, meat is . She urged individuals to have the "moral courage to deny your appetite" and to choose . In conclusion, moving away from meat eating is presented as a vital step for those wishing to preserve their health, clear their minds for spiritual truth, and avoid the diseases increasingly prevalent in animal products. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What specific alternatives to meat did Ellen White recommend for a healthy diet? • How does Ellen White describe the connection between diet and our spiritual susceptibility? • What did she say about the future safety of using other animal products like milk?

Ellen White cautioned that the future safety of using milk is closely tied to the increasing prevalence of disease in the animal kingdom, stating that "the animal creation is diseased" and "the time has not come to say that the use of milk and eggs should be wholly discarded" (CD 356.4, CD 356). She emphasized that while milk was still a necessary staple for many, its safety would depend on the health of the animals and the care taken in its handling. In her writings, she explained that the primary danger stems from the fact that "animals from which milk is obtained are not always healthy" (CD 330). She warned that a cow might appear healthy in the morning but be deeply diseased, meaning "her milk was diseased, but you did not know it" (TSDF 121). Because of this, she believed that and noted that milk from "uncertain sources" or that which is "carelessly handled, constitute a serious menace to health" (MH 302.1). Despite these warnings, Ellen White was careful not to take an "extreme position" or advocate for the total "disuse of milk, butter, and sugar" before the proper time (CD 497.1, CD 467.4). She recognized that many poor families relied on bread and milk because they "cannot afford to purchase the nut foods" (CD 356). In her own life, she even provided cows to destitute families so their children could have milk (12MR 95.2). She maintained that "a moderate amount of milk from a healthy cow" was not objectionable, provided the animals were well-cared for and kept in "healthful condition" with "good pasture" (CD 357.6, 14MR 327). For practical application, she urged a cautious and wise approach to dietary changes. She specifically warned against the combination of "large quantities of milk and sugar eaten together," noting that this mixture is "injurious" and "imparts impurities to the system" (CD 330). Her counsel suggests that as disease in animals increases, we must be increasingly vigilant about the sources of our food while ensuring that any dietary restrictions are handled with "great care" so as not to discourage those who are not yet ready for such changes (TSDF 121). In summary, while Ellen White recognized the growing risks associated with animal products due to disease, she advocated for a balanced approach that prioritizes animal health and food purity while meeting people's practical needs. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the specific dangers of mixing milk and sugar? • How did she suggest we help those who cannot afford expensive health foods? • What were her views on the use of eggs as a substitute for meat? --- 📚 **22 passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=milk%22+%22dairy)