Always Temperate

 “No man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” Mark 3:27. 

What is the meaning of temperance? The word temperance, when used in the context of health, has three very distinct meanings: one, moderation is the use of that which is good; two, total abstinence from that which is harmful and three, self-control. “True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful. There are few who realize, as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny. The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers. The body should be servant to the mind, and the mind to the body.” Temperance, p. 141.

Abstain from all harmful substances.

1. Absolutely avoid tobacco, alcohol, coffee, tea (except herb teas), colas and soft drinks. 

2. Avoid any hot or cold/frozen foods or drinks. The stomach has to work hard to either cool or warm the food to the proper temperature to digest. 

3. Eat no flesh food or canned “fake meat”. They contain too many carcinogens. 

4. Use no dairy products (butter, milk, cheese - even cottage or cream cheese –or whey). 

5. Read labels and buy nothing with chemicals listed as ingredients. A safe rule is, if you can’t pronounce the name, it probably isn’t safe to eat. 

6. Use no eggs or egg products. 

7. Use no vinegar or products containing it (pickles, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing, etc.) 

8. Use no spices. Spices are parts of trees or plants that grow in tropical regions. Herbs are fine. Herbs are parts of plants that grow in temperate regions. (Examples of spices: allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mustard seed, & nutmeg) There are many good herbs to take their place (basil, bay leaf, coriander, cilantro, cumin, dill, fennel, marjoram, mint, paprika, parsley, rosemary, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme). 

9. Use no irritating peppers (no black pepper, white pepper, or hot peppers (jalapeno, chili, or pepper sauce). Cayenne pepper can be used medicinally. Bell, pimento, cherry, banana and all “not-hot” peppers are permissible. 

10. Use no baking soda or baking powder even if they have had the aluminum removed. Eat bread products raised with yeast or hydrogen peroxide or unraised crackers/breads. Watch labels because many items contain baking powder or soda (crackers, cookies, cereals, even some bottled water).

11. Reduce the oil or fat consumption. Try to eliminate margarine and do not fry any foods. Canola oil is good to use on baking pans, waffle irons, or very hot items to keep foods from sticking when baking. Olive oil is good too, but cannot be heated as hot as other oils. It imparts a nice flavor. 

12. Use no white sugar, artificial sweeteners or products containing them. Replace with honey, molasses, or real maple syrup

Be moderate even in the good things. Do not overeat of even good foods. Do not eat too many varieties at one meal. Three or four items are plenty. Eat food at meal times. Drink no water with meals. Chew slowly and let the saliva in the mouth mix with the food. Don’t swallow it until it’s “creamy”. The saliva is needed to help the stomach digest the food. Even any small amount of juice or liquid at a meal should be swished around in the mouth to mix it with the saliva. Do not mix fruits and vegetables at a meal. Grains may be eaten with either fruits or vegetables.