Eden Health

     We have learned in the first part of this article that one of the principles established in the Garden of Eden was eating a diet composed of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables (added after the fall). Another principle that needs to be practiced in order to stay healthy is exercise (see first part).

     Let us back track a little. Even before the Lord created Adam and Eve, and established principles for man’s health and happiness, He created the things man needed in order to be happy and healthy.

     When God created the earth, the first thing He created was light (Gen.1:3). We know that without light, there would be no life. In order for the trees and other plants to produce fruit, light is needed. Then the Lord created the firmament on the second day ( Gen. 1: 6,7).  This firmament divided the waters such that some of the waters were above and the rest of the waters were below. In the firmament is found one thing that is needed for life: air. On the third day the Lord made the land appear by gathering the waters that were below in one place. Then He made the trees, and other plants and the grass of the fields. This was to be the source of food for man and animals (Gen. 1: 8-12).

     When God created the trees and the plants, He said: “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth:” (Gen.1:11).  If we read this statment carefully, the Lord has stated that the seed is in the fruit and that all plants will bear fruit after their kind. That is the reason why we never see apple trees bearing mango fruits or vice versa. The apple tree always produces apple fruits and the mango tree always produces mango fruits for that is what the Lord said and their seeds are inside the fruit. 

     On the fourth day the Lord created the sun, moon and stars. “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:  And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.” (Gen. 1: 14-16) And on the fifth and sixth day, God created the living creatures. Man was created on the sixth day after everything else were created. Man is said to be crowning act of creation. It is because man was created in the image of God.

     Isn’t God a wonderful God. He is kind and thoughtful. He created the light, the air, food-bearing plants, and the water which man needed in order to live. But He did not stop there.He created the sun, moon and stars to guide man in terms of times and seasons. He even divided the day into day and night so man would have time to rest and sleep at night and  be able to do some activity or work when there is greater light during the day.

     “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….And God said,’Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:’….So God created man in His image, in the image of God, created he him, male and female created He them”  Gen. 1:1,26,27 (KJV).  After Adam and Eve were created, God gave them the Garden of Eden for their home. And in the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve principles that they should follow for their health and happiness.

     At the very start God instructed them about their diet: “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.” Gen. 1:29 (KJV)

     He also specified the food for the animals and the birds and all creeping things that were alive at that time.  He gave them every green herb for their food (Gen 1:30).  So we could see here that at the very beginning both man and animals were vegetarians. Flesh was not a part of the original diet for both man and animals. If you would read Genesis 1:29 carefully, you would find out that herbs or vegetables were not part of the original diet as well.  It was after the fall of Adam and Eve that the herbs of the field or vegetables were added to the diet of man (see Gen. 3:18).

     Another principle that was given to Adam and Eve after the fall is found in Genesis 3: 17-19. Adam was to till the ground so he could grow plants for their food. He has to exercise more effort in order to eat and it is said that it was for his own good. So right after the fall, the Lord was telling Adam that exercise is needed in order to stay strong and healthy.

     A good diet made up of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables was one of the first principles established in Eden. Exercise was also established after the fall.  A healthy diet and exercise are just two of the principles established by the Lord at the very beginning. The other principles would be discussed next time.