You are what You eat

The bible features numerous verses written to act as a guideline for healthy eating habits. Though it is true the old and new testament greatly differ when describing which foods are acceptable for consumption, God’s message is clear: We are to eat fresh, unprocessed foods.

Many of the heroes of faith, the Godly men of the Bible, were shepherds and herdsmen, e.g. Abel, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s twelve sons, David, etc., and had very many livestock. It is safe to say the chosen people of God must have eaten a fair amount of dairy products and meat.

God said He would give the covenant people, Israel, the promised land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. God used milk as an illustration of the abundance and blessedness of the promised land so it makes sense that milk is to be a part of a biblical diet and dairy is acceptable to God.

What about fish? Three of Jesus’ closest disciples were fishermen by profession. Then there was the feeding of the multitude where Jesus fed bread and fish to thousands. Again, we can safely assume Jesus and his disciple ate fish making it acceptable for us to eat.

“On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh to the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth. Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.” (Acts 10:9-12)

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

“Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give to you, as I gave the green plant.” (Genesis 9:3)

On a scientific note, man possesses four canine teeth out of a total of thirty-two teeth. If man were to be a pure vegetarian, God would not have placed any canine teeth in us. Four out of thirty-two is 12.5%. Hence, it may be argued that the inclusion of 10%-15% meat products to our diet is supported by our God-given physiology.

Although the strength of hydrochloric acid in man’s stomach is much weaker than carnivorous animals, it nevertheless contains adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid to assist in the digestion of modest amounts of animal proteins. Herbivores like cows, sheep and goats do not have hydrochloric acid in their stomachs.

To be more specific, a good guideline would be to eat “living foods.” The natural, living foods listed on the bible and approved by God are fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, meats and dairy products.

The “dead foods” are those that are highly refined. They not only are expensive, but also in most instances do little to nourish. Research shows many people who consume mainly “dead foods” are tired, run down and sick because a large part of their diets are made up of dead junk foods.

Find below an outline of some of God’s approved foods to help you get started on the road to proper eating.

Barley – Ruth 2:23
Bread – Luke 22:19
Butter – Isaiah 7:22
Corn – Ruth 2:14; I Samuel 17:17
Cheese – I Samuel 17:18
Dates – Genesis 3:2
Eggs – Job 6:6
Figs – Numbers 13:23; I Samuel 25:18
Fruits (All) – Genesis 1:29
Herbs (Leafy Plants) – Genesis 1:29
Vegetables – Genesis 1:29
Honey – Deuteronomy 8:8
Meats (Beef, Fish, Lamb, Poultry, Venison) Deuteronomy 14; Leviticus 11
Milk – Isaiah 7:21-22
Nuts – Genesis 43:11
Olives and Olive Oil – Leviticus 2:4; Deuteronomy 8:8
Salt – Leviticus 2:13
Wheat (Bread, Cereal, Pasta) – Psalm 81:1