Healing Foods from the Bible

Scriptures and what they say about your Diet

Since God is a healer, everything He made has some healing virtue in it, and therefore God’s healing can come to you in many ways. Nutritious food, clean water, fresh air, and sunshine all promote health. Many sicknesses can be overcome simply by taking in these healthy nutrients God has provided for us. The human body is designed by God to heal itself when we give it what it needs. But even if you are missing some needed nutrition, God’s Word can still bring you healing. The Word that created the human body can bring it healing. Listed here are Healing Foods from the Bible and by no means all the "healthy" foods mentioned in the Bible. They should, however, provide you with some guidance in your food choices.

Aloe Vera (in Genesis)

John 19:39

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.

Aloe Vera is known to have medicinal properties, often referred to as "a pharmacy in a plant"; traditionally, it is used externally to relieve skin discomforts and damage, and internally as a laxative. Aloe is also used orally to treat a number of conditions such as diabetes, asthma, epilepsy and osteoarthritis. Soothes skin, eases pain, reduces inflammation & helps speed up the healing recovery process. May support gastrointestinal health & immune function.

Apples

Song of Solomon 2:5

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Apples are considered to be the "all around health food." Like most other fruits, apples contain Vitamin C and a host of other antioxidant compounds, and the fiber in the fruit helps keep the bowel healthy. It's a good idea to eat apples with their skin as almost half the Vitamin C content is underneath the skin.

Can reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease & high cholesterol. Could protect the brain from diseases such as Alzheimer's & Parkinsonism. Can help kidney & joint function, gall bladder, weight loss & healthy teeth.

They are high in flavonoids, fiber and Vitamin C. Some of the apple's healing powers include:

They lower both bad cholesterol and high blood pressure
The juices in apples are highly effective virus fighters
They help stabilize blood sugar, an important factor in controlling diabetes
They suppress the appetite without robbing the body of necessary nutrients
Depending on the need, they prevent constipation or help treat diarrhea
Organically grown apples are best

Barley

Deuteronomy 8:7-9

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land--a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; 8) a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9) a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

Barley's high fiber content can help keep us regular, relieve constipation and ward off a wide variety of digestive problems. It also may help block cancer. Barley is full of beta glucans, a type of fiber that can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing the levels of artery-clogging LDL.

Beans

Ezekiel 4:9

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side."

2 Samuel 17:28-29

Brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, 29) honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

As reported in the book of Samuel, beans were among the highly nutritious foods sent to feed King David's hungry army and restore their strength for the hard times ahead. Beans have a lot of soluble fiber, which helps lower LDL and reduce blood pressure. The fiber also helps keep blood sugar levels stable, stave off hunger, and even reduce the insulin requirements of people suffering from diabetes.

Beans are a great source of protein as well as being packed full of vitamin C, iron and dietary fiber. Beans help lower blood pressure and reduce the "bad" cholesterol that today's research has shown to be the cause of so much devastating heart trouble --- a rarity centuries ago. Beans contain chemicals that inhibit the growth of cancer. They help prevent constipation, can stop hemorrhoids and other bowel-related problems from developing, and help cure them if they do.

Bread

Ezekiel 4:9

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Cinnamon

Proverbs 7:17

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Cinnamon has had a reputation as a cure for colds, coughs, hoarseness, sore throats, toothaches, bad breath, and has been used to treat digestive problems such as diarrhea. Cinnamon has also been reported to have remarkable pharmacological effects in the treatment of Type II Diabetes. May help control blood sugar levels, joint health & menstrual regularity

Coriander (Cilantro)

Exodus 16:31

And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

When the children of Israel wandered in the desert and received manna from the sky, they described it as looking like coriander seed. Since then coriander has been called "the healer from heaven." Coriander is recommended for indigestion, flatulence (excessive gas) and diarrhea. Externally, it's used to ease muscle and joint pain. Recently, scientists began looking at coriander as an anti-inflammatory treatment for arthritis. Other research has demonstrated that it reduces blood sugar levels, an indication that it may prove to be a useful sugar management tool for diabetics.

Cucumber

Numbers 11:5

"We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick."

Although cucumbers are less nutritious than most fruit, the fresh cucumber is still a very good source of vitamins and minerals, and also provides some dietary fiber. Can be used for skin problems (cools & cleanses) Helps to control/heal heartburn, gout, eczema & arthritis.

Dairy

Isaiah 7:15, 22

He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 22) And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

Proverbs 27:27

You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.

Figs

1 Samuel 30:11-12

They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat-- 12) part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.

The fig has been cultivated for thousands of years and offers a powerhouse of nutrition. Figs have the highest overall mineral content of all common fruits; a 1/4-cup (40g) serving provides 244mg of potassium (7% Daily Value), 53mg of calcium (6% DV) and 1.2 mg of iron (6% DV). May support cardiovascular health including lipids Can be used as a mild laxative & sustain gastrointestinal function.

Fish

Leviticus 11:9-12

"Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. 10) But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales--whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water--you are to detest. 11) And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses. 12) Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.

Deuteronomy 14:9

Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales.

Luke 24:42-43

They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43) and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Fish is low in cholesterol and contains healthy polyunsaturated fats. Fish is a rich source of protein, potassium, vitamins and minerals with only a moderate amount of sodium.

Eating fish:

Thins the blood
Protects arteries from damage
Inhibits blood clots (anti-thrombotic)
Reduces blood triglycerides
Lowers LDL blood cholesterol
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces risk of heart attack and stroke
Eases symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
Reduces risk of lupus
Relieves migraine headaches
Fights inflammation
Helps regulate the immune system
Inhibits cancer in animals and possibly humans
Soothes bronchial asthma
Combats early kidney disease

The key to the healing powers of fish lies in the omega-3 fatty acids. These are particularly concentrated in cold-water fish such as anchovies, bluefish, herring, lake trout, mackerel, sable fish, whitefish, flue fin tuna, salmon and sardines.

Fruit

Ezekiel 47:12

Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing."

Deuteronomy 8:7

Song of Solomon 2:5

Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Garlic

Numbers 11:5

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

One of the world's oldest healing foods. By the time of Moses, garlic was already being used as an anticoagulant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent, as well as a relief for flatulence, a diuretic, a sedative, a poultice and as a cure for internal parasites. Research suggests that garlic may help protect against heart disease and stroke by lowering blood pressure. It contains allylic sulfides, which may neutralize carcinogens. In fact, garlic has been linked to lower rates of stomach cancer, too. It is heart-friendly, with scores of studies showing its astonishing ability to fight hypertension, prevent blood clots and lower cholesterol.

Can be used to treat intestinal worms. Can combat bacteria, support normal blood pressure, cholesterol, cardio vascular system & the liver.

Grains/ Lentil

Ezekiel 4:9

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Lentils posses very similar nutritional and health benefi ts of common beans. With 25% protein, it is the vegetable with the highest level of protein other than soybeans - a very important part of the diet.
Effective in lowering cholesterol & managing blood sugar disorders. May support bowel regularity & the liver function.

Grapes

Numbers 13:23

When they reached the Valley of Eshcol,[1] they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs.

Genesis 9:20

Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.

1 Timothy 5:23

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

1 Kings 21:2

Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."

Grapes were the first thing Noah planted after the flood. Grapes were eaten fresh, dried and eaten as raisins just as we do today, and pressed into cakes. However, most of the crop of the vineyards was made into juice, wine and vinegar. A cup of raw grapes contains only 58 calories, 0.3 grams of fat, zero cholesterol and vitamins A, B and C. Grapes also contain important minerals such as boron, calcium, potassium and zinc.

Grapes may be helpful in preventing osteoporosis, fighting tooth decay, heading off cancer and fighting off viruses. Other health-giving fruits include figs, melons, and pomegranates.

Studies now focus on the significant health benefits linked with fresh grapes and grape compounds, and their ability to slow the build up of deposits in arteries as well as fight common, age-related diseases.
Some are calling the resveratrol found in this sweet tasting fruit "the miracle of our time."

It helps fights different types of cancer, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease & other ailments, support immune function, weight loss, prostate, cardiovascular, respiratory, uterine & gastrointestinal health, strengthens blood vessels, improves blood circulation & lowers cholesterol levels.

Resveratrol is a phytochemical found mainly in the skins of red grapes (and therefore red wine!) and is also contained in the skins of peanuts. It is being researched for its antioxidant and anti-ageing abilities, as well as its potential cancer fighting properties.

Making wine from grapes is one of the most ancient arts and the beverage of choice in the Bible. According to Genesis, one of the first things Noah did after the flood was plant a vineyard so he could make wine. Researchers are now rediscovering what the physicians of the Bible knew centuries ago. In moderation, wine has a profound impact on our health and healing. Just a single glass of wine a day may be enough to raise the good cholesterol by 7% and help the body put up a barrier to a variety of cancers.

Wine appears to help stop heart disease and cancer. A study at the University of Ottawa in Canada concluded that there is a clear link between wine consumption and lower rates of heart disease. Countries where more than 90% of alcohol is consumed in the form of wine have the lowest rate of heart disease deaths.

A British study of 100 men and women discovered that a single glass of wine or sherry everyday increased the HDL or good cholesterol. When the group abstained from drinking wine, the HDL level decreased.

Red wine also seems to increase the body's defenses against cancer. White wine may carry some of the same therapeutic benefits, but research so far seems to indicate that red wine is the most effective cancer blocker. Note: be sure to drink only in moderation. Ephesians 5:18.

Herbs

Numbers 11:7 -9

The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. 8) The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. 9) When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

Psalm 51:7

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

John 19:29-30

A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. 30) When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Honey

1 Samuel 14:27

But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.

2 Samuel 17:29

Honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Genesis 43:11

Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.

Meat

Genesis 9:3

Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.

Leviticus 72:227

The LORD said to Moses, 23) "Say to the Israelites: `Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. 24) The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. 25) Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which an offering by fire may be[1] made to the LORD must be cut off from his people. 26) And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. 27) If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.'

Leviticus 317

"`This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.'"

Melon

Numbers 11:5

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Isaiah 1:8

The Daughter of Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a field of melons, like a city under siege.
Milk.

Exodus 3:8

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Isaiah 7:22

And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

2 Samuel 17:29

Honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."

Mulberry Fruit

1 Chronicles 14:15

"And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mullberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle; for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines."

The mulberry fruit is classified as a blood tonic. Traditionally, mulberry fruit has been utilized as a medicinal agent to nourish blood and kidneys, treat weakness, fatigue, anemia and premature gray hair. Can be used for kidney function, sexual health, urinary health & blood pressure, fatigue, dizziness, anemia & constipation.
Nuts

Genesis 43:11

Botanists today believe that Solomon's "garden of nuts" referred to in Scripture (6:11) was a rich grove of walnut trees. At the time, walnuts were prized for the oil they produced, which was regarded as only slightly inferior to olive oil. The fact that walnuts were a delicious treat and highly nutritious was an added bonus. Nuts contain the right mixtures of natural ingredients whose benefits include cancer prevention, a lower risk of heart disease and help for diabetics. The oil found in walnuts is considered helpful because it is one of the "good guy" polyunsaturated fats and tends to lower blood cholesterol levels. Note: it's best to avoid roasted nuts since they have been found to carry carcinogens, which could lead to cancer growth, so buy your nuts raw.

Olives

James 5:14

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

2 Kings 18:32

Until I come and take you to a land like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death! "Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, `The LORD will deliver us.'

The olive was one of the most valuable and versatile trees of biblical times. It is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible. Probably the most famous reference to olive oil and its healing powers is in the parable of the good Samaritan, in which the Samaritan cares for a beaten and robbed traveler, treating his wounds with oil and wine. Olive oil, mixed with wine, was even used to soften and soothe bruises and wounds. Known benefits of olive oil include:

Lowers blood cholesterol.
Reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
Retards cancer growth.
Reduces the wear and tear of aging on the tissues and organs of the body and brain.
Reduces gastric acidity.
Protects against ulcers and aids the passage of food through the intestines, helping to prevent constipation.
Reduces the risk of gallstones.
Aids normal bone growth.

Onions

Numbers 11:5

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Onions are noted as a cure-all. And the folk healers hold it in high regard as far back as 6000 years or more. At least 3000 years before the birth of Christ, onions were treasured both as food and for their therapeutic value --- particularly in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems. Some facts about onions:

Taken internally as a tonic to soothe intestinal gas pains.
Taken internally to alleviate the symptoms of hypertension, high blood sugar and elevated cholesterol.
Some people attribute their long life to a diet that includes high concentrations of onions and yogurt.
The juice of an onion and a syrup made from honey has been used to treat coughs, colds, and asthma attacks.
A tonic of onions soaked in gin has been prescribed for kidney stones and to eliminate excessive fluids.
Modern herbalists recommend onion syrup as an expectorant (it helps eliminate mucus from the respiratory tract).
Onions can raise the good and lower the bad cholesterol.
Onions can slow blood clotting, regulate blood sugar, break up bronchial congestion and possibly prevent cancer.
Onions possess a strong antibiotic that kills a variety of bacteria.
Have been used externally as an antiseptic and a pain reliever.

Pomegranates

Deuteronomy 8:8

A land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;

Song of Solomon 8:2

I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

Pomegranates are one of the earliest cultivated fruits, dating back to 3000BC. They have now become the new "superfood". One pomegranate delivers 40% of an adult's daily vitamin C requirement.
Boosts DNA health, protects against cancer, heart disease, & other age-related diseases. May support healthy skin, prostate & immune function.

Spices

Matthew 23:23

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Luke 11:42

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

Vegetables

Daniel 1:12-17

"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13) Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 ) So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15) At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16) So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 17) To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

Numbers 11:5

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Ezekiel 4:9

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Genesis 1:11

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so.

Genesis 1:29

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

Wheat

Jeremiah 41:8

But ten of them said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat and barley, oil and honey, hidden in a field." So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others.

Ezekiel 4:9

"Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.

Biblical people ate their grain boiled and parched, soaked and roasted, and even ate it green from the stalk. It was pounded, dried or crushed to be baked into casseroles, porridges, soups, parched grain salads and desserts. Ezekiel's bread was intended to be a survival food during the dark days of the Babylonian conquest because it contained wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt. Wheat bran is high in insoluble fiber. The fiber protects us against constipation. It helps prevent intestinal infections, hemorrhoids and varicose veins. It also improves bowel function and guards us against colon cancer.

Yogurt (curds)

2 Samuel 17:28-29

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Healing Foods from the Bible

Scriptures and what they say about your Diet

Aloe Vera (in Genesis)

Apples

Barley

Beans

Bread

Cinnamon

Coriander (Cilantro)

Cucumber

Dairy

Figs

Fish

Fruit

Garlic

Grains/ Lentil

Grapes

Herbs

Honey

Meat

Melon

Mulberry Fruit

Olives

Onions

Pomegranates

Spices

Vegetables

Wheat

Yogurt (curds)