I was interested to read Joan Niblett’s letter "Diet Question" in January’s Bahá’í Journal. Having been a student of nutrition and health for many years, I’ve also been intrigued by various statements by both Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá concerning the relationship between diet and disease. However, it will probably be a while yet before we can rely solely on food to guarantee us the radiant health that God intended.

Our bodies are miraculous walking "chemical factories", created literally, as He tells us from the "dust" of the earth and life-giving water. It is the constant replenishment of pure water and nutrients, synthesised from natural whole foods, which should give us energy and maintain our immune and repair systems at peak efficiency. Unfortunately in our ignorance we have polluted both the earth and our oceans and exhausted the world’s farmlands to such an extent that the minerals, vitamins and other micronutrients in our foods are inadequate to counteract the high levels of stress and toxicity produced by our modern lifestyles.

Joan Niblett and other Bahá’ís might like to know about the latest, most powerful nutritional supplements. For information contact me, Tel: 01454 413917.

Janet Dedman

I would strongly advise anyone wanting to improve their diet by avoiding the consumption of flesh to buy a simple vegetarian recipe book containing basic dietary information from any good bookshop. The millions of people around the world for whom vegetarianism is normality, take their vitamin B12 in the form of dairy products, yeast and whole grains, and many vegans live very healthy lives without touching food from animal sources. On the other hand there are people who feel that they must have meat. "So if thy constitution is rather weak and thou findest meat useful, thou mayest eat it." (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Health and Healing, p463). Personally I’ll stick to Marmite rather than meat for my B12.

I hope Joan Niblett and others will persevere with a balanced vegetarian diet and perhaps one day quite soon we shall be able to progress to a diet of fruit and grains. In the meantime, perhaps we could be offered at least a vegetarian choice at Bahá’í functions where food is offered.

Paul Foss

I would like to thank everyone who has sent us their messages of sympathy on the occasion of my mother’s passing.

Roohieh Mazidian, (Motlag Mariamabadi)

Qudrat Mazidian

As an organiser of the pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land in November, I would like to thank all the youth on this tour for their co-operation, consideration, sympathy and caring for their fellow pilgrims. We were as a family during this trip, as Bahá’u’lláh expected us to be.

Thank you again.

Jaleh Alaee

A ninth Bahá’í is needed for the Spiritual Assembly of Merton (SW London). this is a lovely area and we’re an active bunch. Please come and save our Assembly, which has been going for twenty years. If you would like any information about the area please ring Renoo Zaiwalla, Tel: 0181 944 1303.

Renoo Zaiwalla

Can you spare a few minutes to write to any of these Bahá’í friends? They would love to start a friendship with someone in the United Kingdom -

Andrea Gietzen, Meisenweg 4, 30855 Langenhagen OT Godshorn Germany

Komakech Maxi, Jomox Maxi and William Jefferson, 19 Arifield Road, Bere Junction c/o PO Box 411, Gulu, - Uganda, East Africa

Amelia, (aged 13) 191 Rochester Road, Gravesend, Kent DA12 4TN