Based on the writings of Ellen White, here is some guidance on health and diet: ### The Foundation of a Healthful Diet Ellen White identifies the original diet given by God as the ideal for human health. * **The Creator's Choice:** "Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator. These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a manner as possible, are the most healthful and nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of endurance, and a vigor of intellect that are not afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet" (MH 296.1). ### Key Principles for a Healthy Diet * **Simplicity is Key:** "Fruits, grains, and vegetables, prepared in a simple way, free from spice and grease of all kinds, make, with milk and cream, the most healthful diet" (HL 78.6). * **Connection to Overall Health:** Diet is shown to have a profound impact on all aspects of life. "The diet affects both physical and moral health" (HL 76.3). * **Avoiding Extremes:** It is important to avoid unhealthy habits, but also to ensure the body is properly nourished. She warns against misrepresenting health reform by adopting an insufficient diet: "A diet lacking in the proper elements of nutrition brings reproach upon the cause of health reform. We are mortal and must supply ourselves with food that will give proper nourishment to the body" (9T 161.3). * **Control of Appetite:** Overeating and eating between meals are discouraged. "Many students are deplorably ignorant of the fact that diet exerts a powerful influence upon the health. Some have never made a determined effort to control the appetite, or to observe proper rules in regard to diet. They eat too much, even at their meals, and some eat between meals whenever the temptation is presented" (CTBH 83.1). ### Practical Considerations * **Individual Needs:** Diet should be adapted to personal circumstances. "Our diet should be suited to the season, to the climate in which we live, and to the occupation we follow... Often food that can be used with benefit by those engaged in hard physical labor is unsuitable for persons of sedentary pursuits or intense mental application" (MH 296.2). * **Context and Compassion:** When sharing health principles, it's important to be considerate of others' situations. She advised against imposing the strictest rules on those who may not have other options: "The gospel must be preached to the poor, but the time has not yet come to prescribe the strictest diet. I cannot say to them: 'You must not eat eggs, or milk, or cream. You must use no butter in the preparation of food'" (9T 163.1). In summary, the guidance emphasizes a simple, plant-based diet as the ideal, while also stressing the importance of proper nutrition, self-control, and adapting dietary principles to individual needs and circumstances.