Hallelujah Diet

Medical errors may account for 225,000 deaths annually in the United States, according to Dr. Barbara Starfield of Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. That makes it the third leading cause of death in the country. George Malkmus, creator of the Hallelujah Diet, a Biblically-based nutritional program, maintains that mainstream modalities such as drugs, radiation and surgery are error-prone and expensive. According to the diet's philosophy, nourishing your body in the way God designed can bring about wellness and eliminate disease.

History

When Reverend George Malkmus discovered he had colon cancer in 1976, he became a vegan rather than accept conventional medical treatment. According to the Hallelujah Acres website, one year later, his baseball-sized tumor disappeared, and Malkmus began proselytizing and writing about his new lifestyle. In 1992, Malkmus and his wife started holding seminars at their 50-acre farm Hallelujah Acres. After two books, a monthly newsletter and television and radio appearances, the Hallelujah Acres Health Ministry was born. As of November 2010, the ministry works out of two facilities -- one located in Shelby, North Carolina and the other in Toronto, Canada.

Biblical Foundation

Malkmus contends that God gave Adam and Eve the ideal method of nourishing the human body when He proclaimed in Genesis 1:29, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." By following God's original nutritional plan, Malkmus claims that the human body can stay healthy and toxin- and disease-free.

Basic Principles

The Hallelujah Diet focuses on eating a diet rich in raw, organic, uncooked and unprocessed foods and juices. Your consumption of these "living foods" should account for 85 percent of your daily intake. Because heat alters protein and destroys more than 80 percent of nutrients, only 15 percent of your diet should include cooked foods. Malkmus claims, "The difference between raw and cooked food is the difference between life and death."

Foods

The bulk of your diet should include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, grains, green beans, lentils, peas, sprouted garbanzo beans, fresh herbs and raw soups. You can drink freshly extracted fruit and vegetable juices, distilled water and milk derived from oats, rice or coconut. Cooking with extra virgin olive, grape seed or flaxseed oils is permitted.

Foods to avoid include animal-based dairy products, canned fruits and veggies, cereals, white rice, all meats, roasted and salted nuts, margarine, refined salt, pepper, canned soups and all sweets. Additionally, refrain from drinking alcohol, tea, coffee, animal-based milk, commercial juices and soft drinks.

Exercise

As with most nutritional programs, exercise plays an important part in the Hallelujah Diet. You should incorporate cardiovascular exercise, such as walking or swimming, to strengthen your heart and expand your lungs. Stretching exercises can improve joint function and may help release toxins. Lastly, Malkmus suggests strength training with light dumbbells to increase muscle mass and help prevent osteoporosis.