Expert: Dr Eddy Cheong - 10/30/2007

Question
Dear Dr. Eddy Cheong,

                          I have a few questions to ask you.Our bodies, designed by God, are not to be abused in this way and how we eat today.And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." (Genesis 1:29)


And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." (Luke 12:29,30)Through out the world, and especially in America, people are obese. Obese beyond what they should be. We see people eating all the time. In stores, in malls, in their cars, everywhere. Stores like Wal-Mart and Target have sections just for McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and the like. Obviously, for the consumer to stop by while shopping and "grab a quick bite to eat" in one of these places is hard to resist. Not only is the time and place wrong, but also the type of food is totally wrong for us to consume. There are, in my opinion, six types of weight problem. I have a problem I am obese but do to my medication Zoloft that made me obese, it has made me gain 70 lbs in one year. I am 230 and five feet in three inches. I am just wondering why can't we goo back to eating God's way many dont do that? I have a hard time because these fast foods are all around I feel terrible and sad that no body is eating healthy anymore. I weep in my soul. We do have a problem in today's society!

#1 – Malnutrition this is extreme weight loss almost to bones due to food deprivation, war, poverty, etc.

#2 – Anorexia this is extreme weight loss due to self-infliction, which is a mental disorder, which reveals itself in weight loss and starvation.

#3 – Normal this is the perfect weight—the perfect specimen. This is the absolutely right weight for ones size and height. Some consider "normal" to thin this is only because they are used to seeing everyone overweight.

#4 – Overweight this is where a person is not extremely fat but some 10-20 pounds over weight.100-200

#5 – Obese this is where one is very obese like 230-over pounds over weight.I am in this catagory

#6 – Extremely Obese in this case, which is rare, one is several hundreds pounds over weight—someone weighing 500-700 or more.

My mom and I want to look good for our selves and a wedding we have to go to in two years I am stuck I also have a Thyroid problem that is also the cause of me being overweight and on top of that I was born with asthma and now I might have to go on a breathing machine because it is getting worse. What to do? Obviously normal is where we want to be.  Is this possible? At this point some may be saying, "Does God care about my weight, I thought He cared about my spiritual state?"He does care very much about that, but we can not be very effective being extremely overweight or sickly.  Some may say, "Yes, but the Bible says "...bodily exercise profits little." That's true, but it says "profits little" it did not say "does not profit at all." My mom and I are not trying to be the so called "couch potatoes"! My mother is five feet and eight inches and she is 185 pounds so she is suppose to be 150 and I am suppose to be 130 how much weight is that from what we are now?

From the beginning, according to Scripture, we need four things to be happy and healthy.

God

Water

Food

Sunlight

God (Genesis 1:1) is the creator and source of all happiness and wisdom. The savior of all His children—the one life is worth living for.

Water (Genesis 1:2) is essential, not just any water, but pure water. Obviously, drinking polluted water is dangerous. Just as food must be "alive" so to water must be pure. Water is a great cleanser for the body. God knows what He's doing, and what our bodies need.

Food (Genesis 1:11) is also essential to life as well. Not "junk food" but food that God designed and is alive. Fattening non-Biblical foods are poison for our bodies. We should eat healthy Biblical foods. Here's a great list of almost every Bible food.  I have this book called the Makers Deit!by Jordan S. Rubin. On pages 201-206 he gives an excellent listing of foods to eat and not eat.

Sunlight (Genesis 1:3) is needed to grow food. It's also known that those living in areas without much sunlight can be depressed and moody. I'm not talking about going out to get a tan or sunburned, but to spend some time outdoors in the sunlight use common sense.Exercise is another activity we must be engaged in. This helps burn fat and keeps us healthy. It's not uncommon for overweight or very obese people to sometimes try and encourage others that are not overweight to eat, and sometimes to eat all the wrong kinds of foods. Overweight or obese people sometimes think thin people are not healthy or sick in some way. Many people that eat right are sometimes still overweight. These folks can have chemical imbalances that can throw them off. Our prayers goes out for a healing for them.We, especially in America, eat a lot of wrong foods. For example: sodas, fried foods like fish chicken and meat, pizza, ice cream, candy and sugar, shakes, hot dogs, cake, cookies, and fast foods and fatty oil and grease yuk :-P. Why would you eat something-called "fast food"? These "fast foods" and junk food was not known in Biblical times. And did you ever hear in the bible I like to take out or not only even a drive through?

We must have good healthy "living" Biblical food not dead food. How do you expect people that lived 150-890 years they ate what God told them to eat. You wouldn't drink gasoline or eat toxic waste would you? But why do we eat the equivalent of it in food and drink like burgers and KFC or sodas even sugary drinks? Our bodies, designed by God, are not to be abused in this way. #1 – To be Biblically healthy we need God—we need salvation and a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

#2 –Along with that we must eat the right kinds of food and drink.

#3 –And along with those things we also need to exercise. To many people that's a dreaded word. However, it's impossible to drop unnecessary weight and maintain a healthy weight without diet and exercise.

In Biblical times being obese or even overweight was very rare. Yes, there's a few places that speak about this but it's rare. Up until foods rich in fat, the advent of sugar, and fast foods people were not like they are today. The reason? They ate good healthy food, and they worked hard. Again, that translates to diet and exercise! I am just sayin am I right? I also am very self conscience of how much of it I eat. Like eggs I would only have two, sometimes I have egg whites instead. And fruit with it then some Juice or some tea. Teas are vital to ones health too. In the bible God said that Teas are good for colds or flus and for other things.You cannot go without exercising and expect to lose weight if you put junk in your body. I know for a fact. One, laziness--the wrong kinds of foods (being due to the availability and affordability of such junk food), and lack of exercise.

Two, societal pressures such as stress and depression causes one to be unhappy. Which leads to eating which leads to the wrong kinds of food and lack of exercise.

Three, chemicals--chemicals in air, food, water, etc. Before the industrial revolution the amount of chemicals were very low. Today, there's a pill for everything; even a pill for weight loss. Don't be fooled chemicals kill!

What I am saying is we need a balance. Ok, so we have discovered the problem, the source, and the answers. But how do we work it out in our lives? #1 God –Bible reading, prayer, and worship.

#2 Water – Pure clean water like distilled.

#3 Food – Good healthy "living" Biblical foods.

#4 Exercise – Good strong sweat producing exercise.

God – Holy Bible, King James Version, read it cover to cover.Water – Get bottled water, or the cleanest water you can find. Get a water purifier. Try distilled water.

Exercise – Get out and do something play get active. Whatever exercise you like to do. Walk, bike, jog, swim, etc.Amen?Hallelujah...............

This is what I am talkin about Dr. Eddy Cheong see it is essential and vital we get Gods way. And also how can I become more blessed by GOD in doing these things how can I get to the Ideal weight and stay there?  

Answer
Jacqueline, your question is rather long. But a short reply would go as follows:
1. First of all the Bible is a book of spiritual truths and guidelines and not a dietary discourse.
2. Genesis 1:29 was given to Adam (and Eve) before the fall. In the time of Noah God (in His sovereignty) changed the rules..
Gen 9:3
3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
NIV

3. Then in the Law of Moses certain dietary rules were enunciated e.g. pork cannot be eaten. Blood and fat also cannot be eaten (Deut 12:16), Lev 7:22
4. In the New Testament, only blood and the meat of strangled animals are forbidden..
Acts 15:19-20
20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
NIV
God has given us science for our physical needs and there is ample guidance in medical and health based books as to how to keep fit.Since our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit we should keep it free from harmful drugs and unnecessary medications.
Exercise (two to three times a week of at least 30 minutes each) is also of paramount importance. I hope I have answered your question.