THE HISTORY OF THE DANIEL DIET
A diet to sharpen your mind and improve your physical condition - right from the Bible!
Consider the Biblical Daniel Diet.
The Bible gives us an historical account of a well known Babylonian prisoner by the name of Daniel.
Daniel, a Hebrew of royal descent, was just a child when his country was conquered by the army of Babylon. Young Daniel's life changed dramatically that fateful day. Because Daniel was of royal descent, he was selected to be part of a special political project. He was marched off to Babylon, made into a eunuch and put into the school of Babylon.
Daniel's name means, God is judge. Daniel's God was the same God as we refer to today as the Judeo-Christian God, the Great I AM, Yahweh, Jehovah or Elohim. The new name he was assigned was, Belshazzar, meaning Bel protects.
The reason for the new name was obvious. His captors believed Daniel's God had judged him but the god, Bel, would be that which sustained him. It was an underhanded statement which gives us clues as to the political agenda Babylon was trying to accomplish.
That agenda was to unsettle Daniel's belief in the God of the Israelites and elevate the gods of Babylon in the minds of the prisoners. If this goal could be accomplished, Daniel and his fellow Israelites would be effective instruments in the hand of Babylon to conquer and subdue all nations.
Click HERE to watch a verse by verse presentation about Daniel. This presentation shows many scientific facts surrounding the Daniel diet.
Being that Daniel was a political prisoner, one could reason that he should settle in and count his blessings. For the most part, it appears that is what he did.
But, there was one issue over which Daniel risked his life. It wasn’t the insulting new name he was given that attempted to negate his allegiance to his God. It wasn’t the education he was to receive for 3 years which would fit him to better serve the goals of the Babylonian ruler. It wasn’t even the fact that he was made a eunuch.
The issue that Daniel chose to risk his life over was none other than the issue of his diet!
Daniel was given the best diet available, indeed, food from the king's own table. Daniel refused it.
This was not a hunger strike. It was a well thought out decision based on the type of food being served.
The King's diet was rich in wine and meat. Daniel, a likable fellow, went to the man who was in charge of the prisoners and requested pulse and water. He was flatly refused. He persisted, going to another supervisor, and received permission to trial his request for 10 days.
Daniel had 3 friends who joined him in this experiment. Here is the Biblical account of the Daniel Diet:
Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
1:3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring [certain] of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;
1:4 Children in whom [was] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [had] ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
1:6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
1:7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
1:9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
1:11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
1:12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
1:13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
1:14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
1:15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
1:16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
Even more remarkable were the results of eating this diet 3 years later.
Daniel 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
1:18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
1:20 And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.
Not that a 3 year result wasn't enough, we can take it even further and see that Daniel outlived the King and was alert and coherent enough to advise the King's grandson, Belshazzar, roughly 70 years after the reign of Nebuchadnezzar began. Now that is a telling piece of information! See Daniel Chapter 5.
It seems like such a silly thing for Daniel to have requested a different diet, especially considering his circumstances. How many of us would happily have enjoyed the delicacies of the King! But, we see that the 4 children who ate the diet of pulse and water were given knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom by God.
Daniel risked his life for a diet that later provided him a cutting edge above all of the counselors in the kingdom. We can see that diet is not a silly thing. Our intellectual ability and health are dependent on our choice of diet.
Why not give Daniel's diet a chance to help you? Klondike Mountain Health Retreat offers 10 Day Daniel Diet Retreats. Let Daniel's diet improve your life!
What is pulse? Click here to read what exactly Daniel meant when he requested pulse.
Click HERE to watch a verse by verse presentation about Daniel. This presentation shows many scientific facts surrounding the Daniel diet.