What is the ''Eden Diet'' and Why is it So Important?

Written by Michael Corthell

We have scant information concerning the original diet of mankind and animals in the Garden of Eden. If one were to accept a naturalistic theory for the origin of animals, then one must believe that humankind and their animal ancestors have always been carnivorous. Yet God clearly stated, in Genesis 1:29–30, that both humankind and animals were to eat vegetation (herbs) only. This was definitely part of the creation being very good, and was God’s plan for His creation.

Genesis 1:29–30, reads:

‘Then God said, Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth, and every tree yielding seed: it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth that has life, I have given every green plant for food: and it was so.’

As one currently examines nature and compares this with the biblical record it appears that a change in creation has indeed occurred. The change of diet within the animal kingdom is but one such example. One can see carnivorous behavior today, but God says that this was not the original diet of humankind. Since there was a change, two questions surface: first, ''When did this change take place?'' and second, ''What kind of change might have occurred?''

God allowed Adam and Eve to eat plants and herbs, a privilege he granted also to the animals (Gen. 1:29-30). And humans and animals enjoyed a peaceful and friendly relationship in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:19-20).

It was only after the Flood(see below) that permission was granted to eat animal flesh, and only then under the condition that the blood was drained out of the meat (Gen. 9:3-4). We may take this as indication that meat-eating was not ideal, although God certainly blessed the eating of meat in other times and places (Lev. 6:24-29 Acts 10:9-16).

The Bible records that the finished creation did possess a sufficient amount of resources. God allowed the animals to eat from anywhere on the surface of the earth, so could man. He told the animals to eat from any ‘plant’; man could eat from any ‘plant’ or ‘fruit’ that had seeds, the one exception being the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (also: The Tree of Life)

The greatest change
After the flood God said to Noah and his sons in Genesis 9, ''Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything...''

In conclusion
This also suggests that God introduced carnivores into His creation only after man fell into sin.
One thing is certain; God intended His animal creation to be vegetarian. He communicated this fact clearly in Genesis 1:30. When humankind became carnivorous, its life span dropped (gradually) by 90%, falling from the design maximum of 1000 solar years to a maximum today of 120 years. What happens when a human being today switches to the original diet(vegan)? The body and mind begin to rapidly heal themselves.

Go vegan by all means.