Lesson 2 Part 1: Clean Versus Unclean Foods

Dr. Rex Russell M.D. in his book, What the Bible Says About Healthy Living, provides some fascinating facts about the differences between clean and unclean meats.

Generally, we don’t have controversy regarding the plant foods. Meat is where we have digressed from the original guidelines.

We learn in Leviticus what land and water creatures are permitted to eat.

Lev 11:3 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

Lev 11:9 Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales.

What are the benefits of eating clean meats? Meats contain proteins, iron, zinc and vitamins B6 and B12. Clean animal flesh contains omega 3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are essential for life and offer strong protection from vascular diseases.

Clean animals generally eat grasses and grains that were also designed for food. The design of these animals’ digestive tracts is especially significant. A cow’s stomach contains four rumination pouches in which various kinds of bacteria help to digest grasses and grains. These bacteria compete for nutrients, crowding out harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites. They also destroy many toxins before they reach the flesh of the cow. The digestive system presents the flesh with purified nutrients. This process also allows deposits of healthy 3-omega fatty acids into a grazing animal’s flesh. These fatty acids are protection against the harmful effects of triglycerides or cholesterol.

Unclean meats were designed by God to be the cleaners of the creation. While not all unclean animals are scavengers, there is ample evidence that even the non scavengers are the source of viruses and parasites when consumed.

Let’s look at pork, a common part of the Standard American Diet. The digestive system of the pig is completely different from the cow. Pigs’ stomachs are very acidic. Pigs are gluttonous, never knowing when to stop eating. Their stomach acids become diluted because of the volume of food, allowing all kinds of vermin to pass through this protective barrier. Parasites, bacteria, viruses and toxins can pass into the pig’s flesh because of overeating.

We have a clear idea of the Egyptian diseases from radiographs and autopsies performed on mummies. The most common affliction of the Egyptians appears to be vascular diseases that resulted in severely calcified arteries. Other common maladies included arthritis, tooth decay, infections, cancer, emphysema, tuberculosis, parasites, pneumonia and obesity. Historically, Pharaohs and other royalty were the only ones whose diets included large quantities of meat and other delicacies.

The same is true for unclean water life: creatures without fins and scales.

Shellfish – shrimp, crabs, lobster are considered are common food for us here on the gulf coast! Shellfish can be placed in a body of water that is contaminated with cholera bacteria, and they will purify the water. Shrimp, oysters, crab, scallops and mussels are particularly efficient at this. They filter large volumes of water every day. Catfish is another popular food but they are bottom feeders! Now, you may think there is a different for farm raised creatures. The author includes a story about a peach farmer that sprayed his crop with insecticide. A rain followed and washed the insecticide into the pond. The catfish did their job, cleaning the water but most of them died. None of the fish that had fins and scales died.

Another common argument for eating unclean meat is that we have better cooking methods now. Sophisticated ovens and cooking devices have been found in the most ancient archeological ruins, including most of the Israelites’ ruins. In fact, there are God given instructions for cooking meat – look at the instructions for preparing the Passover lamb.