At least 30 super foods for healing that scientists are researching for health benefits in moderate amounts also were known to be Biblical and traditional foods that were eaten by ancient peoples in the areas of the Fertile Crescent, Nile Valley, and Eastern Mediterranean. These foods are mentioned in the Bible, with some clues to the recipes.
The super foods for healing mentioned in the Bible also happen to be the same foods listed as super foods on many healthcare practitioner’s list for healing because of the micronutrients and polyphenols in the food, the good bacteria cultures, the potassium and antioxidants, and the anti-microbial ability of those foods, as researched by scientists. Foods mentioned in the Bible also are the same foods that in moderation have the ability to heal.
Those top of the list super foods for healing mentioned in the Bible (Old and/or New Testament) that have been studied by researchers for their healing qualities are the following mentioned in the Bible: apricots, garlic, onions, pomegranates, honey, spices, garbanzo beans, lentils (and similar legumes), barley, various beans growing in the Mediterranean area, olives, olive oil, emmer wheat (an ancient form of wheat that is not like the more refined wheat of today that causes blood sugar spikes), almonds, walnuts, figs, grapes, pistachio nuts, raisins, leeks, millet, black cumin seed oils (Egypt), beans, fish, goat and sheep’s milk yogurt and milk from these animals, wine, and vinegar.
Also see the articles, The 7 Super Foods of the Bible and Genesis Diet Plan – Original Biblical Diet Foods. You can add to that olive leaf tea brewed to heal, but only in small amounts.
Too high a dose of any plant extract is not healthy and could be harmful. The tea has anti-microbial properties as do olive oil, olives and unheated honey. Other super foods for healing noted in both Bible Testaments include almonds, walnuts, and pistachio nuts. These Biblical foods also are being studied in Sacramento and Davis by U.C. Davis researchers for their healing effects.
See the PDF file article, The benefits of consuming almonds – UC Davis Nutrition Department and Postmenopausal women needed for new walnut health benefits. Many foods mentioned in the Bible have been studied for their affects of preventing plaque buildup or blood clots. For example, specific herbs and spices rich in salicylates that help prevent blood clots from clogging the arteries include include curry, cayenne, paprika, thyme, turmeric, ginger, licorice and peppermint. Fruits high in salicylates include strawberries, oranges, grapes, raisins, prunes, blueberries and cranberries.
Other food items high in salicylates include wine, vinegar, honey and cider. Of these foods, Biblical foods with salicyclates also include the vinegar, honey, raisins, and cider, although the cider may have been made from pomegranates in the ancient Middle East. Vinegar most frequently came from grapes/wine in ancient times in the Biblical areas of the world.
Walnuts as a super food for healing mentioned in the Bible
As for walnuts (in moderation) mentioned in the Bible, see, the article, Plants of the Bible – ODU Plant Site. The nut trees mentioned in Song of Songs 6:11 are the trees known as the Persian, (Juglans regia) walnuts that now are widely grown in many parts of the world. This species is widely grown in the Middle East where the seeds of the fruits (“nuts”) are eaten.
A delicacy in parts of Syria is candied green walnut where the entire fruit including the part that will become bony, is eaten. Check out the article, Bible Foods – Complete List Of Foods In The Bible. The health benefits of walnuts include the ability to lower the bad type of cholesterol, but only if you eat a handful and not a can full. See, The New Low-Cholesterol Diet: Walnuts – WebMD.
Super foods for healing that are also mentioned in the Bible
Here is a list of the foods mentioned in the Bible with where they’re mentioned. What’s unique is that most of these foods have been studied by Sacramento and Davis scientists at U.C. Davis for the food’s polyphenols and micronutrients as well as the ability to heal. Ancient people used olive leaf tea, for example as a healing, soothing drink. And although the ancients didn’t know about microbes, the olive leaf tea (olive leaf extract and olive oil) does have an anti-microbial effect. Check out the article, The Bible And Food.
Not mentioned in the Bible were turmeric, native to India, but spices were mentioned in the Bible. The original Bible bread had been kneaded from crushed lentils, beans, and other legumes, mixed with grains that grew in the Middle East.
Pomegranates as a super healing food mentioned in the Bible
See Life Extension Magazine, July 2007, “Reversing Atherosclerosis Naturally,” by Dale Kiefer. The article notes, “In the past seven years alone, the amount of published research on pomegranate has increased seven-fold over all preceding years in the medical and scientific literature.”
The primary source for Life Extension Magazine’s article’s conclusion is the medical journal study by Lansky EP, Newman RA. Punica granatum (pomegranate) and its potential for prevention and treatment of inflammation and cancer. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007 Jan 19;109(2):177-206.
For example, researchers at the University of California, Davis recently had studies on the health benefits of foods such as the articles, Check out the latest Cost Study from UC Davis on growing pomegranates in the Sacramento region. Also see the Bible Diet site and the website, KeyWordBiblePrecepts.Org(KJV)Biblical References to Food. Here’s also a list of foods mentioned in the Bible which is on the site, “Foods of the Bible.” The article where the foods are posted is, “Bible Foods with Scripture References,” by Mary Fairchild, written for the About.com Guide.
Also see the site, Spiritual Diets. Ironically, all these foods are being studied as super foods for healing and health by numerous researchers. U.C. Davis locally has studies on plant foods micronutrients and polyphenols and their health benefits, for example from vegetables and fruits that also are mentioned in the Bible, both Old and/or New Testaments. Were the ancient loaves and fishes perhaps made of ground legumes and ground beans, mixed with barley pounded into meal, and perhaps served with steamed fish, likely served with pomegranates, wine vinegar, and olives?
Fruits and Nuts
- Apples (the translation should have referred to pomegranates, as there weren’t apples growing in that area of the Middle East, but pomegranates were growing there abundantly. (Song of Solomon 2:5)
- Almonds (Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8)
- Dates (2 Samuel 6:19; 1 Chronicles 16:3)
- Figs (Nehemiah 13:15; Jeremiah 24:1-3)
- Grapes (Leviticus 19:10; Deuteronomy 23:24)
- Melons (Numbers 11:5; Isaiah 1:8)
- Olives (Isaiah 17:6; Micah 6:15)
- Pistachio Nuts (Genesis 43:11)
- Pomegranates (Numbers 20:5; Deuteronomy 8:8)
- Raisins (Numbers 6:3; 2 Samuel 6:19)
- Sycamore Fruit (Psalm 78:47; Amos 7:14)
Vegetables and Legumes
- Beans (2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
- Cucumbers (Numbers 11:5)
- Gourds (2 Kings 4:39)
- Leeks (Numbers 11:5)
- Lentils (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 17:28; Ezekiel 4:9)
- Onions (Numbers 11:5)
Grains
- Barley (Deuteronomy 8:8; Ezekiel 4:9)
- Bread (Genesis 25:34; 2 Samuel 6:19; 16:1; Mark 8:14)
- Corn (Matthew 12:1; KJV – refers to “grain” such as wheat or barley)
- Flour (2 Samuel 17:28; 1 Kings 17:12)
- Millet (Ezekiel 4:9)
- Spelt (Ezekiel 4:9)
- Unleavened Bread (Genesis 19:3; Exodus 12:20)
- Wheat (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)
Fish
- Matthew 15:36
- John 21:11-13
Fowl
- Partridge (1 Samuel 26:20; Jeremiah 17:11)
- Pigeon (Genesis 15:9; Leviticus 12:8)
- Quail (Psalm 105:40)
- Dove (Leviticus 12:8)
- Eggs (Job 6:6; Luke 11:12)
Domestic Livestock
- Calf (Proverbs 15:17; Luke 15:23)
- Goat (Genesis 27:9)
- Lamb (2 Samuel 12:4)
- Oxen (1 Kings 19:21)
- Sheep (Deuteronomy 14:4)
- Venison (Genesis 27:7)
Dairy
- Butter (Proverbs 30:33)
- Cheese (2 Samuel 17:29; Job 10:10)
- Curds (Isaiah 7:15)
- Milk (Exodus 33:3; Job 10:10; Judges 5:25)
Condiments, olive oil, vinegar, and wine
- Grape Juice (Numbers 6:3)
- Honey (Exodus 33:3; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 14:8-9)
- Locust (Mark 1:6)
- Olive Oil (Ezra 6:9; Deuteronomy 8:8)
- Vinegar (Ruth 2:14; John 19:29)
- Wine (Ezra 6:9; John 2:1-10)
Recipe for making Bible bread from legumes and beans.
How do you make Bible bread? See the Bible website that compares translations of Ezekiel 4.9 regarding the recipe for baking bread under siege. Also see the Bible bread recipes site, Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Bread Recipes.
Basically you grind up barley, wheat, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer wheat. This mix is full of gluten. So if you’re on a gluten-free diet, don’t bake this type of bread. If you can digest all this gluten from wheat and barley, then you might ferment the grains until they sprout and then grind them up, mix with water and salt or spices and herbs, roll out the dough, and bake into a flatbread. Or you could buy Organic Ezekiel Bread Making Kits from Wheat grass kits.com.
Bible bread often refers to Ezekiel 4.9. which says, depending upon the translation, “Take unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou liest upon thy side: three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.
This ‘modern’ recipe for Bible Bread referred to how to eat during a siege that lasted 390 days. But in ancient times, people didn’t buy packages of yeast. The natural yeast came from spores in the air or they ate unleaveaned flat bread. Amish sourdough starter “Friendship Bread” uses a natural starter to make the bread rise rather than store-bought yeast. Also, see the recipe, Amish Friendship Bread – the story and recipe.
You might try this recipe for two loaves of low-salt bread: A similar version is at the organic gardening and homesteading site. Please go to the various recipe sites for Ezekiel 4.9 bread or Bible bread to see the recipes.
The ancients baked flat, round breads like you find in the Middle East and South Asia today, not breads in loaf pans like you see in modern times in Europe and the USA. The question remains–bake the bread in round, flat shapes after you roll out the dough round as a pie crust?
Or put the bread in regular bread loaf pans like you see in usual USA bakeries? You can grind your grain, lentils, and beans in a hand mill grinder or in an electric dry grain and beans grinder.
Check out all the online recipes for various types of Ezekiel 4.9 style breads. Here, below are some of the interpretations of the Bible passage referring to how to bake this particular type of bread, a bread using course meal to be eaten when under siege for 390 days. For further information about various translations of the Ezekiel 4.9 bread ‘recipe’ and explanation, Please see the Ezekiel 4.9 website.
God Holistically Healing 