Ellen White wrote about the health benefits of simple, uncomplicated foods and the body’s preference for a diet based on fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts- basically, a plant-based diet similar to the one God gave us at creation.  She called these the “very best kinds of food.”  In her opinion, fresh fruit plucked from the tree was far healthier than fruit that had been reformulated into a filling for a pie- though she did enjoy a good fruit pie now and then.  Nutritionists today know she was right.  While she apparently included moderate amounts of cream, milk, and sometimes even some sugar in her diet, she also warned people not to partake of milk and sugar “freely.”

She wrote that, “a great amount of milk and sugar… clog the system, irritate the digestive organs, and affect the brain.” [Testimonies volume 2, page 370].  Also, “the free [meaning unrestricted] use of milk and sugar taken together should be avoided”.  In the 1800’s when she gave this advice, people certainly thought she was overreacting as these foods were considered part of a desirable, wholesome diet.  But once again, modern science has again proven her right.

The Journal of Laboratory Investigation reported a study where enjoying a shake made of full-fat milk, sugary ice cream, and whipped cream made people’s blood vessels less able to relax (it has to do with elevated myeloperoxidase levels).  Stiffness in these vessels can trigger high blood pressure and the increased fat and cholesterol that these treats promote can even lead to heart attacks.  This could explain the fact that some people die unexpectedly within hours of eating a fatty meal

The average man should eat no more than 9 teaspoons, and the average woman no more than 6 teaspoons, of sugar a day.  There are 10 teaspoons in a can of soda, so most people easily consume too much sugar.  Too much sugar can cause atherosclerosis in blood vessels which leads to heart attacks and strokes.  Full fat dairy can do the same thing because it is rich in saturated fat, a key cause for fatty build up in the blood vessels.  A high-sugar diet damages the protective lining of the GI tract, allowing unhealthy bacteria to overgrow and trigger GI tract irritation/inflammation, while cow’s milk is the most common trigger for allergic inflammation in the gut.  And a diet high in sugar and saturated fat can double the risk for dementia as you age.

EGW understood how to be healthy, and now we are understanding, too.