Chapter 7—Overeating
A Common, but Serious Sin
210. Overtaxing the stomach is a common sin, and when too much
food is used, the entire system is burdened. Life and vitality, instead
of being increased, are decreased. This is as Satan plans to have it.
Man uses up his vital forces in unnecessary labor in taking care of an
excess of food.
By taking too much food, we not only improvidently waste the
blessings of God, provided for the necessities of nature, but do great
injury to the whole system. We defile the temple of God; it is weakened
and crippled; and nature cannot do its work wisely and well, as God
has made provision that it should. Because of the selfish indulgence
of his appetite, man has oppressed nature’s power by compelling it to
do work it should never be required to do.
Were all men acquainted with the living, human machinery, they
would not be guilty of doing this, unless, indeed, they loved self-
indulgence so well that they would continue their suicidal course and
die a premature death, or live for years a burden to themselves and to
their friends.—
Letter 17, 1895
Clogging the Human Machinery
211. It is possible to eat immoderately, even of wholesome food.
It does not follow that because one has discarded the use of hurtful
articles of diet, he can eat just as much as he pleases. Overeating, no
matter what the quality of the food, clogs the living machine, and thus
hinders it in its work.—[
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 51
]
Counsels on Health, 119, 1890
212. Intemperance in eating, even of healthful food, will have an
injurious effect upon the system, and will blunt the mental and moral
faculties.—
The Signs of the Times, September 1, 1887
[132]
213. Nearly all the members of the human family eat more than
the system requires. This excess decays and becomes a putrid mass....
If more food, even of a simple quality, is placed in the stomach than
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