Food for Thought

        What do Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Director of Health and Human Services, and John the Baptist have in common? 

        They both have distinct dietary practices that up front seem strange.

        John the Baptist ate locusts and honey. That sounds weird. Kennedy is proposing omitting food dyes and sugar content both of which are popular staples.

        Actually the diet of John the Baptist was very healthy in that the locusts he ate were not insects, but a bean produced in the Bible land by a tree. The long bean pods are in the carob family. Carob is a nutrient-rich food that contains fiber, calcium, potassium, carbohydrates and other vitamins and minerals. It’s also low in fat and caffeine-free. In reading the Scripture that is not the image that comes to mind when it notes he ate locus.

        Wild honey offers several potential health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, as well as aiding in wound healing and soothing sore throats. It’s a source of antioxidants, like polyphenols and flavonoids, which help combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

        After all, the diet of John the Baptist was very healthy for his day.

        Kennedy has recommended the exclusion of some foods and the inclusion of others leading to him being highly criticized.  It is thought his actions will protect the public from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in America.

        The commonality between the two is both were proponents of a good diet.

        Like John’s diet, Kennedy’s foods at first seemed extreme. Yet, both were proponents of a healthy diet though what Kennedy is proposing is considered by some as “pseudoscience.” He says he wants to return our health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science. 

        God tells Moses to lead the Israelites to “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). A casual reader is not likely to know that means there were large herds of milk producing sheep and goats, and domesticated bees. Again these were products the nomadic Jews would have cherished.  Incidentally, archaeologists have found beehives dating from the era. 

        In the Bible, honey symbolizes God’s love, blessings, wisdom, and abundance. It’s also a symbol of divine provision and health. 

        It is to be hoped some of the Kennedy dietary recommendations will result in similar blessings.

        Be a good steward of your body and eat right qualitatively and quantitatively.