Want to lose weight? Here’s a surprising way to slim down: Follow the Bible.
Called the Daniel Fast, some protestants in Hawaii are using passages written about the Biblical prophet Daniel to help them get closer to their faith–and lose a few pounds.
“The Daniel Fast is named after the prophet Daniel in the Bible, who chose to have only vegetables and water for ten days (as recorded in Daniel chapter 1) to set himself apart for God and from the ways of the Egyptians,” says Dan Chun, a pastor for the First Presbyterian Church in Honolulu. “He did a second fast (Daniel chapter 10) where he abstained from meat, choice foods, and wine for three full weeks to wait on the Lord to give him understanding for a message he had received from Him.”
It’s these passages, according to Chun, which form the basis of the Daniel Fast–a diet which supports faith as well as weight loss goals. And it’s even spurned a new diet book and diet plan, founded by Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren and famed television doctor Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Some versions of the plan include fasting on raw vegetables and fruits for up to 21 days.
Warren’s book and diet plan, slated for an early December release, even boasts that people can expect to lose up to 50 percent more weight by following the Daniel Diet.
“I definitely think it makes people more aware of what they’re eating and what they’re putting in their body,” says Jessica Bennett, who serves as a dietician at Vanderbilt Medical Center. “Most congregations tend to bond over food and people tend to go to lunch or dinner right after church. They’re focusing too much on food.”
Though many say it is a misconception that people of certain denominations are more likely to be fat, it’s a fact, according to a few studies conducted in the past decade. In a 2003 study, researchers found that Protestant men were more likely to have a higher body mass index (BMI) than those of other faiths, and in 2006, researchers also found that Baptist women were also more likely to boast a higher BMI.
Bennett also agrees that this diet could be good for those of certain faiths who are more prone to obesity, and adding a spiritual aspect to it could motivate them to stick with their diet.
“I think also people use foods to deal with emotions and things in their life,” says Bennett. “If they’re looking to God instead they may feel a closer relationship.”
Regardless of whether you choose Pastor Chun’s Daniel Fast or Warren’s more commercialized Daniel Diet, both pastors agree: Following this diet could help you attain spiritual and physical health.
“Having done the Fast myself, I must admit that it is not easy,” says Chun. “However, it is doable with a prayerful heart, a willingness to plan, and encouragement from others who are also on the Fast.”
Readers: Would you try this diet?
Sources:
The Daniel Fast – FirstPrezDanielFast.com
A Diet Inspired by the Bible – ABCNews.go.com
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