Physical Effects of Eating Too Much

"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in gluttony, not in drinking, not in dishonesty, not in dissolutions, not in strife and envy. Romans 13:13

What influence does overeating have on the stomach? It becomes weakened, the digestive organs are weakened, and disease, with all its burden of ills, is produced as a result. If people have been sick before, the difficulties increase, and they reduce their vitality every day. Their vital energies are summoned to an unnecessary action, to digest all the food they have placed in the stomach. Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 364.

Often this intemperance is soon felt in the form of headache, indigestion and colic. A load was placed on his stomach that he cannot handle, resulting in a sense of oppression. The head is heavy, the stomach in rebellion. But these results are not always followed by overeating. In some cases the stomach is paralyzed. No sensation of pain is felt, but the digestive organs lose their vital force. The foundation of human machinery is gradually undermined, and life becomes very unpleasant. Letter 73a, 1896.

What you need is less temporal food and more spiritual food, more of the bread of life. The simpler your regime, the better it will be for you. Letter 142, 1900.

Embarrass the Machinery

My brother, you have much to learn. You are indulging your appetite, eating more than your body can turn into good blood. it is a sin to be intemperate in the amount of food eaten, even if it is of unquestionable quality. Many feel that if they don't eat meat and the most extravagant food items, they are free to eat simple foods until they can't take it anymore. This is a mistake. Many professed health reformers are nothing short of gluttons.

 They place such a load on the digestive organs that the vitality of the organism is exhausted in the effort to get rid of it. This also has a depressing influence on the intellect; for the nerve faculties of the brain are called upon to assist the stomach in its work. Overeating, even simple foods, dulls the sensitive nerves of the brain, weakening its vitality. Overeating has a worse effect on the body than overworking; the soul's energies are more effectively depleted by intemperate eating than by intemperate work. Counsels on Diet and Foods page 103

The digestive organs must never be overloaded with quantity or quality of food for which the body suffers a surcharge. Everything that is introduced into the stomach, in addition to what the body can use and convert into good blood, embarrasses the machinery, as it cannot be transformed into meat or blood, and its presence overloads the liver, and produces a morbid condition in the body. The stomach is overloaded in its efforts to put an end to excess, and there is a feeling of weakness, which is interpreted as if it were starvation, and without allowing the digestive organs enough time to rest from its insistent effort, and with the intention of recovering. the energies, another immoderate amount is taken to the stomach, putting the exhausted machinery in motion again.

Digestion Aided by Moderate Exercise

My brother, your brain is numb. A man who consumes the amount of food you eat must be a man who works actively. Exercise is important for digestion, as well as for the healthy condition of the body and mind. You need physical exercise. Move and act as if you were made of wood, as if you have no elasticity. Active, healthy exercise is what you need. This will invigorate the mind. Neither in study nor in violent exercise should one commit immediately after a hearty meal; this would be a violation of the laws of the body. Immediately after a meal, there is a strong burden on nervous energy. The brain's strength is called active exercise in order to assist the stomach; therefore, when the mind or body is taxed heavily after a meal, the digestion process is hampered. The vitality of the organism, necessary to conduct work in one direction, is diverted and put to work in another direction. Testimonies, vol. 2, pgs. 412 and 413.

Exercise helps the dyspeptic, giving the digestive organs a healthy tone. Engaging in deep study or violent exercise immediately after a meal disturbs the digestive process, as the vitality of the organism, necessary to promote the work of digestion, is diverted to other parts. But a short walk after a meal, with your head upright and your shoulders back, in moderate exercise, is greatly beneficial. The mind is diverted from the self to the beauties of Nature. The less attention you deviate to your stomach, the better. If you are in constant fear that food will hurt you, it will certainly do it. Forget your problems; think of joyful things. Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 101. Page 102

I advise you to abstain from your diet. Be certain that as a rational Christian sentinel, you guard the doors of your stomach, allowing nothing to pass through your lips to become an enemy of your health and your life. God makes you responsible for obedience the light that He has given you on health reform. The influx of blood to the head must be overcome. There are large blood vessels in the limbs in order to distribute the vital current to all parts of the body. The fire you light in your stomach is turning your brain into an incandescent furnace. Eat much more sparingly, and eat simple foods that do not require heavy seasoning. Your animal passions must be hindered, not animated or stimulated. Congestion of blood in the brain is strengthening animal instincts and weakening spiritual faculties. ...

What you need is less temporal food and more spiritual food, more of the bread of life. The simpler your regime, the better it will be for you. Letter 142, 1900.