What does the bible say about health?

Answer 1

The most detailed account of a dietary nature is God's list of "clean and unclean animals;" or those animals that are "fit for human consumption." Meat that's not detrimental to one's health; as we are so much more knowledgeable about things like cholesterol, today.

These were inspired by God to be written down and listed for our physical health and well-being in The Bible in Leviticus 11. But it was information spoken to Adam and Eve in the beginning and passed on by the earliest generations of man. God commanded Noah regarding this distinction in the animals he was to transport across the flood:

"Take along SEVEN PAIRS of each animal that I have approved for eating and for sacrifice, and take ONE PAIR of each of the others." (Gen.7:2 NLT New Living Translation)

[same verse; KJV]: "Of every CLEAN BEAST thou shalt take to thee BY SEVENS, the male and his female: and of the beasts that are NOT CLEAN BY TWO, the male and his female."

Noah didn't ask what God meant by "clean beasts" and those that are "not clean." He knew which ones they were!

Generally speaking... "vegetables" are a safe bet for any diet. The animals that God lists as "clean" are all "herbivores" and not "carrion eaters" [those animals that eat dead, rotting or other questionable types of flesh].

The saying goes: "You are what you eat." Whatever we eat is assimilated by our bodies and BECOMES US! If we subsist on an unhealthy diet... our health wanes. A healthy dietary intake results in improved health.

And the "clean" vegetable-eating animals of which God approves for His creation to consume, means that in our consumption of these "vegetarian" animals... we are assimilating those vegetables that they ate. Perhaps it's over-simplified, but you get the idea.

The only detailed biblical account regarding "vegetables" is found in Daniel, chapter 1; where Daniel and his three protégés; Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah [Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego] were being groomed in the Babylonian ways for official palace duties.

"...Teach these young men the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily ration of the best food and wine from his own kitchens..." (Dan.1:4-5 NLT).

No details are provided as to the nature of the king's diet... but it's evident that there were discrepancies between this Gentile diet and that of which God approves... that with which Daniel was accustomed and from which he never wavered. From the text, it may be assumed that "unclean animals" and questionable preparation were involved:

"...Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead. Now God had given the chief official great respect for Daniel. But he was alarmed by Daniel's suggestion... If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded for neglecting my duties..." (Dan.1:8-10 NLT).

"Daniel talked it over with the attendant... 'Test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,' Daniel said. 'At the end of ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king's rich food. Then you can decide whether or not to let us continue eating our diet.'" (verses 11-13)

"At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished that the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of rich foods and wines." (verses 15-16)

God is concerned with the physical health of His creation, and has given man a general outline of what's good and healthy to eat... and in the case of animal flesh, what's not. God's list of "clean animals" is not a matter of "religious ceremony" as some suppose. It's a matter of "physical health."

Answer 2

1 Timothy 4:8 - For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.[NKJV]

Answer 3

Matthew Chapter 9 verse 12: But when Jesus heard that(a short time later), He said unto hem (His Disciples), They who be whole need not a physician, but they who are sick (He came for sinners, which includes all).

Answer 4

Healthy living is addressed in the book of Leviticus (Old Testament), especially chapter 11, There is guidance given within other books as well such as that given in the book of Daniel concerning pulse Vs the kings meet.

Answer 5

The bible says that our body is the temple of god, so we should not misuse it.