You Are What You Eat

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By John Dickerson

Emeritus Professor of Human Nutrition
University of Surrey

Yes, in many different ways this summarises what I've been concerned with in my work for the past 50 years. You see, I'm a nutritional scientist and my work in research and teaching has focused on the effects of food on the human body. But I get ahead of myself! I was born and grew up in a Christian home where there was always a prayerful dependence on God, regular meetings with other Christians and where, quite regularly, others came to join us for hymn singing round the piano on Sunday evenings. I was 14 and a Christian myself, when the war started and we felt very much cast upon God for His care and provision for us. After leaving school I went to work in a hospital laboratory. I enjoyed visiting the patients on the wards to collect blood samples and have memories even now of many, including some who didn't get visitors. Seemingly, they had no friends. My Friend, the Lord Jesus, was always with me. I often wondered if they knew Him.

In 1948, I came to Guildford to study at the Technical College. I stayed for 2 years and then moved to London to complete my degree. But what would I do for work? With the optimism of youth, I applied for a research post in Cambridge and worked there for 13 years with two of the founders of nutritional science. One of them, a lady, was a Christian; both were very kind to me and my family. It was then that I began to think seriously about the wonderful way in which our bodies derive the nutrients that we need from food. I became fascinated with the ways in which our bodies grow and work. Truly we are 'fearfully and wonderfully made' (Psalm 139 verse 14, The Bible). Growth and development became special subjects for me and I later became particularly interested in the ways in which food affects the brain. We know that exercise makes muscles grow. Stimulation, and what we call 'nurture', does the same for children's brains.

There is a harmony about growth and development and interference with this harmony influences the development of disease later in life. The harmony of growth depends on nature, nurture and nutrition. The harmony of our lives - body, mind and spirit, depends on our relationship with God. This can only be achieved by knowing that our sins have been forgiven through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us.    

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