Maker's Diet

The Bible diet (also known as the Maker's diet) is a diet based on the idea that certain foods are either forbidden ("unclean") or acceptable ("clean") to God. Which heading a food source falls under depends on certain factors such as how the food was raised, cooked or cleaned; how a particular animal lived, such as if it was a so-called "creeping" animal or not; and its physical form, such as whether a certain fish had fins and scales or not. The rules for determining clean and unclean foods are derived from certain passages from the Bible in the books of Genesis, Proverbs, Luke, Paul, Exodus, Peter, Leviticus, Judges, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Corinthians, Habakkuk, and Daniel.

The main promoter of the Bible diet is Jordan S. Rubin, who claims that the diet was responsible for his recovery from Crohn's disease at the age of 19. As of 2008, there are no peer-reviewed scientific journal articles that evaluate this diet. In 2004 the United States Food and Drug Administration ordered Rubin's company, Garden of Life, Inc., to stop making unsubstantiated claims about eight of its products and supplements.

Permitted foods

The foods incorporated in this diet are organic vegetables, fruits and cocks. The diet also encourages the removal of unclean and unacceptable foods from the individual's diet. This natural, organic approach to eating suggests that one should only eat things created by God in the way they were intended. That means no processed foods or those produced with contact to hormones, pesticides or fertilizers. Rubin takes two of his main dietary laws from Leviticus. Leviticus (11:9-10) states that one should eat “whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters” but not to eat "all that have not fins and scales in the seas." Rubin says that this means that fish with scales are intended to be eaten, such as salmon and trout, but smooth fish such as catfish and eels should not be eaten. It also means that crustaceans with hard shells such as lobsters, crabs, and clams are not to be eaten. The other main dietary law taken from The Bible is also taken from Leviticus (11:3 and 11:7-8). Here The Bible says that man should eat “whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud”. Man should not eat “the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.” This means that most animals can be eaten, such as cows, goats, and sheep because all these animals chew their cud. The dietary laws that Rubin derives from these passages are generally the same as the Kosher laws followed by Jewish people. In addition to the dietary laws taken directly from The Bible, Rubin believes in eating a variety of whole foods that have not been processed, or that have not been greatly processed. This generally means choosing foods like brown rice, which has not been processed much, over white rice, which is significantly processed. Rubin also believes that organic foods and meat from animals that were raised eating grass instead of wild grain is more in line with the foods man was intended to eat. Snacks are not mandated in this diet, but it is advised to feel free to snack on the foods listed as acceptable.

The types of foods that can be eaten include:

• Grains - barley, corn, millet, oats, rice, rye, wheat
• Seeds - sunflower, sesame, flax, pumpkin
• Legumes - soybeans, lentils, peas, peanuts, other beans
• Succulent foods containing seed - bell peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, melons, okra, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes
• Fruits - citrus fruits such as lemons and limes, palm fruits, sweet fruits
• Nuts - almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, pecans, walnuts
• Herbs (vegetables): beet greens, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard, globe artichoke, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, potatoes, turnips

The types of animals that can be eaten include:

• Livestock - cow, deer, lamb, caribou, buffalo, elk, goat, moose
• Fish - bass, bluefish, crappie, perch, pike, salmon, sunfish, trout
• Birds - chicken, turkey, pheasant, grouse, quail
• Insects - locusts, crickets, grasshoppers

Prohibited Foods

Phase One of the Bible diet restricts foods high in carbohydrates such as grains, pastas, breads, sugar, potatoes, corn, beans, and legumes. Although the people on the diet consumed foods containing carbohydrates, they were of high quality and less processed.

Phase One restricts meats such as pork, bacon, ostrich, ham, sausages, emu and imitation meat. Fish and sea foods such as fried fish, breaded fish, eel, shark, crab, clams, oyster, mussels, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and craw fish are prohibited. Poultry such as fried chicken and breaded chicken is restricted. Phase one inhibits luncheon meats such as turkey, ham, roast beef, and corned beef. Imitation eggs are restricted. Dairy products such as soy milk, almond milk, and rice milk are not allowed. Fats and oils such as lard, shortening, sunflower oil, cotton seed oil, margarine, soy oil, canola oil, corn oil, and any partially hydrogenated oil may not be consumed. Phase one restricts vegetables such as corn, white potato and sweet potato. Beans and legumes such as soy beans, black beans, kidney beans, white beans, and lima beans are forbidden. Nuts and seeds such as honey-roasted nuts, peanuts, cashews, nuts, or seeds dry or roasted in oil are inhibited. condiments, spices, and seasonings such as all spices that contain added sugar, commercial ketchup with sugar and barbecue sauce with sugar may not be consumed. All fruits except berries, grapefruit, limes, and lemons must be avoided. Beverages such as alcohol, fruit juices, sodas, chlorinated tap water, and pre-ground commercial coffee are not allowed. All grains and starchy foods including bread, pasta cereal, rice, oatmeal, pastries, and baked goods must be avoided. Sweeteners such as sugar, heated homey and all artificial sweeteners are forbidden. Milk or whey protein powder from cow's milk, soy protein powder and rice protein powder are restricted.

Phases of the Diet

The diet is divided into three phases over a 40 day period and broken into three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced. According to Rubin, the dieter should choose a beginning phase based on their overall starting health and their desired improvements. The chief purpose of the diet is to achieve optimal health by means of nutrition and spirituality.

Prayer, Purpose and “Partial-fast" Days

The diet begins and ends each day with prayers of thanksgiving, healing, and petition. The individual should perform exercises of "Life Purpose" for two to five minutes before the day gets too stressful. The exercise should be used as a time of alignment and reflection with realignment cycles taking place every ninety minutes. Rubin recommends that one day per week in each phase, a partial fast day is taken to allow the body to cleanse and rebuild. On these partial fast days, breakfast and lunch should not be consumed, although, if supplements are being taken, they should still be consumed. Fluid consumption is crucial during these days especially raw vegetables juices and pure water. To achieve the utmost spiritual benefits from the partial fast days, it is suggested to pray each time hunger is experienced.

Daily Regimens

The daily regimens help the dieter keep track of their diet while concurrently providing guidelines to achieve optimum results. It consists of morning and evening prayers, regular consumption of breakfast, lunch and dinner, morning and evening exercise, good hygiene practices and the consumption of cleansing drinks. The hygiene factor involves eliminating germs and aromatherapy practices in the morning and evening. The cleansing drink is a mixture of two tablespoons of a whole-food fiber blend and 1-2 tablespoons of a green superfood blend in 8 to 12 ounces of purified water or diluted vegetable juice, shaken vigorously and drunken immediately. The regimen also insists that the dieter be in bed before 10:30 p.m. every night.

Phase One

The diet begins with Phase One, which encompasses the first two weeks of the diet (days 1-14). Phase One is designed to stabilize insulin and blood sugar while reducing inflammation and infection, enhancing digestion and helping to balance the hormones in the body. This phase restricts disaccharide-rich carbohydrate foods such as grains, pastas, breads, sugar, potatoes, corn, beans, and legumes. The object of this, according to Rubin, is to achieve a detoxifying effect while simultaneously improving the overall health and helping to manage the individual’s weight in a healthy manner. This phase should greatly reduce the risk of incurring disease by effectively helping the body reduce insulin sensitivity and balancing the omega-3/omega-6 ratio. Since Phase One is designed to correct harmful imbalances, it must temporally limit healthy, high sugar foods such as fruits, whole grains, and honey while allowing for the liberal consumption of protein foods, vegetables, and healthy oils. Phase one is considered to most difficult phase of the diet due to the commitment factors. Water intake should be increased and rest should be taken when necessary.

Phase Two

Phase Two consists of weeks three to four (days 15-28). According to Rubin, digestion should have improved along with energy level. Weight loss will continue during this phase, but at a slower pace than Phase One.

Phase Three

The final phase of the diet beings in the fifth week and continues for the duration that the individual maintains the diet (days 29-40 and beyond). It is considered to be the maintenance phase of the diet and is specifically designed to allow and encourage healthful eating of foods from each of the permitted groups. In this phase, healthy grains and foods higher in sugars and starches, such as potatoes, are reintroduced. Weight should stabilize in this phase and only key areas of the health scheme, such as overall body health, continue to improve. If one deviates from the diet, it is advised to go back to Phase One or Two for a week or two to get back into the flow of the diet.

Claimed benefits

Rubin claims that his recommendations will enable dieters to concentrate better, and will enhance their moods. He also says that his diet can reduce arthritis pain and inflammation, and can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. He also says that it can reverse the "accelerated aging" caused by the way people eat and live today.

Popularity

The bible diet is designed to improve individual health and spiritual awareness. It is unique because it makes positive changes in people’s health, which contributes to global health. Before, the bible diet was used to exist in the primitive society followed by the law of God. Besides, there was a group of people carefully restrict food from their diet, consumed foods rich in nutrient, and prevent from illness and disease in lifestyle throughout the history. The group was the nation of Israel .Since they are the people chosen by God promised in Exodus 15:26 and Isaiah 43:10 in the bible, the Israelites of antiquity followed God’s law in their culture, thoughts, behaviors and food that can be proved in the bible or their society today. Moreover, they have a diet which the nutrition is based on the principle from God’s idea and that makes them healthier than all of their neighbors. There is abundant historic evidence that reveals that the average Israelite, up to the end of the nineteenth century, was much longer than average Gentile. Because up to those years, the overwhelming majority of Jews . They believed that the wisdom of the bible extends far beyond the spiritual and moral guidelines . The bible diet obviously prevails in the society of Israel and the community of Jew. The popularity of bible diet has certainly spread out and existed more common in the worldwide today, especially in Christian community. They have more chances to understand and practice based on the bible verses. Besides, bible based diets are gaining enormous popularity with more percentage of Christians in the United States . Also, there are certain kinds of organizations promote the health benefits from bible diet or Christian Vegetarian diet. For instance, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, as a strong Christian community, promotes vegetarian diet consistently with pastors and disciples . Also, Christian Vegetarian Association is another Christian community that has mission on promoting Vegetarian diet to benefit health in America . Since effect and helpful influence of bible diet promoted from Christian community, now is in everywhere in the world. People who have experienced the bible diet lost weight and benefited from it. People can learn from primitive ancestors’ wisdom and the organic nutrition from the bible in order to overcome or avoid the modern diseases of civilization.

Scientific acceptance and criticism

Jordan Rubin has been criticized because his education in nutrition is a degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the Peoples University of the Americas, which is not accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education nor licensed by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition from the Academy of Natural Therapies, which is not accredited by the American Dietetic Association or other mainstream nutrition organizations.

As of 2008, there are no peer-reviewed scientific journal articles that evaluate the claims made by Rubin. In line with the general knowledge that exercise is beneficial for health, The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets praised the Bible diet for this aspect. It found, however, that the emphasis on organic foods is not directly supported by scientific evidence.

Another area of concern have been the supplements that are required or recommended for the Bible's diet program. These supplements are made by Rubin's company Garden of Life, Inc. In a letter dated May 11, 2004 the United States Food and Drug Administration ordered the company to stop making unsubstantiated claims about eight of its products and supplements. The claims were made in brochures, on labels, and in Rubin’s book Patient Heal Thyself.

External links

• “An Explanation of the Phases and Levels of the Maker’s Diet.” The makers diet.19 Oct.2008. http://www.themakersdiet.info/makers-diet-instructions.php
• Ministries. 09 Sept. 2008. http://www.biblelife.org/biblediet.htm
• Jordan's Story at jordanrubin.com
• Jordan Rubin and Garden of Life Ordered to Stop Making Unsubstantiated Advertising Claims at Quackwatch