Five Foods From the Torah You Should Be Eating Daily
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By Josh Axe December 5, 2017
You know that the Bible is filled ancient wisdom regarding everything from family relationships to business leadership, but you may not have known that God’s Word also tells us exactly how we should eat if are looking to live a long, healthy life. In fact, God promised access to these healing foods as proof of the fulfillment of His promises the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 8:7-8 states, “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.”
These foods (and others) are the foods that men and women like Moses and Esther relied upon for health and vitality — and the good news is that all of those foods are still available in today’s modern time. Here are five that you may want to start consuming on a daily basis to reap their powerful health benefits:
Pomegranates
Pomegranates are a rich source of key nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C and folate, and research has shown that pomegranates can help to reduce arthritis and joint inflammation. Additionally, pomegranate seed oil contains punicic acid, an omega-5 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that appears to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation. The ruby red seeds and juice of a pomegranate burst with delicious flavor so it’s easy to love and consume this Biblical fruit recommendation.
Olives and Olive Oil
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There’s a reason that high-quality olive oil is regularly recommended as part of a healthy, balanced diet: Olive oil is made from the fruit of the olive tree, and research has shown that olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, contains antioxidants, inflammatory compounds, and numerous heart-healthy macronutrients.
Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, including oleic acid, which is known to be extremely heart-healthy and capable of fighting free radical damage in the body. Diets rich in extra virgin olive oil, including the well-known Mediterranean diet, are linked with “a lower incidence of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer.”
Regularly consuming olives and olive oil may also help boost brain, skin and joint health while warding off some serious chronic diseases.
Raw Honey
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Often called “liquid gold,” honey is a sweetener made by bees that is well-known for its array of truly impressive health benefits. Raw unprocessed honey (which, of course, is what they would have been eating in Biblical times) is loaded with enzymes and potent antioxidants.
Raw honey also contains bee pollen, which explains its ability to help with natural allergy relief. By consuming a tablespoon of raw, local honey each day you can help your immune system to build a tolerance to the local pollen that is causing your unpleasant allergy symptoms. It may sound too easy to be true, but scientific research demonstrates that consuming honey containing the pollen that you are allergic to can actually make an allergic reaction to that pollen less likely!
Coriander
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Bitter herbs were a regular part of the standard Biblical diet, and they were also required eating during Passover. Coriander, which is the seed of the cilantro plant, is one of these bitter herbs with incredible health properties. Scientific research has revealed coriander’s ability to calm digestive troubles, reduce blood pressure and even fight food poisoning (specifically Salmonella).
It you haven’t tried coriander, it has a flavor that tastes like a mix of lemon, caraway and sage, and can be used in a variety of different dishes, either whole or ground.
Figs
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Consumed either raw or dried, figs pack a powerful punch of nutrients including potassium, manganese, vitamin K, vitamin B6, magnesium, and more. This Biblical fruit certainly fits the description of small but mighty — figs have been used traditionally to treat over 40 different ailments including anemia, diabetes, liver diseases, paralysis, and ulcers. So what makes the fig so powerful? Research has demonstrated the ability of fig extracts to kill certain types of bacteria and fungi, making it a healthy and delicious Bible-approved snack or dessert.
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