Lifestyle Diseases

INTRODUCTION

Probably the reader of this syllabus expects to find a description of the most common chronic diseases, their symptoms and how to make a correct diagnosis without sophisticated equipment, and finally, how to cure them using natural remedies and at low cost. If that is the case, I must disappoint you. You will find other books on the market in that line. During the decades, in which I have worked as a surgeon and later as health promoter in several countries in Europe and Latin America, I came to the conclusion that rich and poor alike could improve their quality of life through a healthier lifestyle.

The purpose of this textbook is not to teach how to diagnose and to treat specific diseases but to understand the great underlying principles that govern the processes of health and disease in the frame of science and revelation. God created us wonderfully and we join the psalmist in his words: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)

The present course in “chronic diseases” has three main objectives:

1. 1. To show that health reform is an integral part of God’s plan of redemption.
   2. To show that the health principles mentioned by Ellen G. White in the book Ministry of Healing, p. 127, and represented by the NEWSTART® ¹⁾ The NEWSTART acronym was created by a group of physicians and teachers of the Weimar Institute in California (www.newstart.org) and stands for the 8 natural remedies mentioned in “Ministry of Healing” on page 127: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God.  program, are biblically and scientifically sound.
   3. To show that body, mind and soul function as a unity and affect each other.

The principles expressed in this textbook are based on the biblical world view, accepting God as the Creator; on the inspired counsels given to Ellen G. White; and on the known scientific laws. In true science there is no contradiction with the Bible and you will see that all three mentioned sources of knowledge harmonize and support each other.

“The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now?” (Christian Education, p. 57; Steps to Christ, p. 88)

The division into chapters is only for didactical purposes. Each chapter serves as a complement for the others. The different areas, such as the immune system, stress management, nutrition, physical exercise, spirituality, chronic diseases, are all linked to each other. In fact, there is only one purpose in God’s plan of salvation – the complete restoration of the original state of physical, mental, spiritual and social health – that was lost because of sin. This concept is in full accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO), which states that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Jochen Hawlitschek, MD, MPH