The Old Testament refers to Israel as the Land of Milk and Honey. This metaphor suggests comfort, sweetness, and peace. But Israel has never known peace. Today, Israel and the Middle East are on the verge of a war that could ignite World War III. The conflict in the Middle East is so complex that it defies description or solution. Political scientists, sociologists, economists, linguists, historians, and theologians are stumped. Meanwhile, the world watches and waits.
Perhaps the conflict in the Middle East needs a new perspective. Let's return to the biblical metaphor of milk and honey. We've heard this phrase so many times that we accept it as gospel. We all know what milk is, but what is honey? Honey is nectar from flowers that bees collect, digest, regurgitate, and concentrate. So honey is food made by and for bees.
Since nectar is sugar water, honey is concentrated sugar. This is why honey is so sweet and addictive. It's amazing how many people are addicted to honey and consider it a health food. When you challenge these people about honey, they become angry and defensive - a sure sign of addiction. Like all addictive substances, honey creates insatiable cravings that undermine our physical and emotional health.
This website describes two opposite diets: the LOVE Diet, based on nutrition, and the HATE Diet, based on addiction. The LOVE Diet is Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian-Energy, without sweets, alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine. The HATE Diet is Honey-Alcohol-Tobacco-Espresso, with sweets, caffeine, and meat. The metaphor of milk and honey corresponds to these two diets: the LOVE Diet includes milk (lacto); the HATE Diet includes honey.
The LOVE and HATE Diets are true to their names. People on the LOVE Diet tend to be calm, stable, and peaceful. People on the HATE Diet tend to be angry, erratic, and violent. Diet and behavior are inseparable.
People in the Middle East use a lot of honey, sugar, tobacco, tea, and coffee. Perhaps some of the anger and violence in the Middle East is dietary in origin. Why not give the Peace Table a new menu? Peace and health are inseparable.
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Food is live medicine. Medicine is dead food.