What role does faith play in healing?
Fox News Chief Medical Analyst Dr. Mark Siegel shares insights from his book “Miracles Among Us,” scheduled for publication Nov. 18 on “The Big Weekend Show.”
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Many people turn to the Bible for guidance in times of triumph and hardship, but some say it can also serve as a guide to physical health.
Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin, co-authors of The Bible Diet, believe that ancient foods mentioned in the Bible can be transformed into a modern eating plan to promote health and even help reverse life-threatening conditions.
“I think the Bible is the greatest health book ever written,” Axe, a naturopathic doctor in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “If someone has any health condition, whether it’s depression, anxiety, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, PCOS, infertility, hypothyroidism or low testosterone, the Bible has the answer. If you follow a Bible-based diet, you can be healed.”
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Faith and healing through biblical principles
They said that both Ax and Robin faced serious health challenges that deepened their faith and inspired their work.
Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin are co-authors of “The Biblio Diet.” (Hannah Corwin, courtesy of Dr. Josh Axe)
Robin was diagnosed with Crohn’s colitis as a teenager and later developed aggressive cancer.
After visiting dozens of doctors to no avail, he met a man who told him that if he followed a diet based on the Bible – which history has proven and science has confirmed – he could be healthy.
“After another 40 days of an improved diet — plus detoxification and emotional and spiritual healing — I beat the cancer that was referred to as chronic and did not undergo chemotherapy, radiation, or additional surgeries,” Rubin told Fox News Digital.
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Dr. Ax’s journey began when he was helping his mother overcome breast cancer.
“I created a program for my mother that included some foods in the Bible, like pomegranates and olive oil — as well as prayer, faith, praise and worship,” he said.
“I believe the Bible is the greatest health book ever written.”
Later, when a medical procedure left Ax with a spinal infection, he again turned to a Bible-based diet and prayer, combining them with regenerative therapies to heal.
“I listened to the diagnosis of my great doctor, not my ordinary doctor,” the doctor said. “The great doctor tells you to live with hope in everything and believe in miracles – and I did. And now I’m 100% cured.”
What a Bible-Based Diet Looks Like
Food is mentioned repeatedly in the Bible, and both authors believe that the basic foods discussed can form the basis of a modern, healthy diet.
Prime examples include red meat, whole-grain sourdough bread, olive oil, dairy products, fruits such as pomegranates and figs, and natural sweeteners, such as raw local honey.
A Bible-based diet includes foods such as red meat and dairy products, which some say are foods to avoid. (Istock)
Researchers say red meat is a “superfood” that provides protein, creatine, glutamine, carnitine, zinc, iron and vitamin B6.
“If you look at the longest-living Biblical heroes, any time they could afford red meat, they would consume it,” Rubin said.
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Bread, often seen as the devil in modern diets, plays a major role when prepared correctly.
“Properly sourced and properly prepared grains can be part of a healthy diet,” Rubin said. “Since Jesus was called the bread of life, it would not make sense for bread to be bad for everyone. How it is processed and preserved is important.”
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Olive oil, frequently referenced in the Bible, supports skin, metabolism, and cardiovascular health. Dairy products — especially from sheep, goats or some dairy cows — can also be beneficial.
“The land of milk and honey was not just a euphemism,” Robin noted. “Dairy products can be very healthy if they are whole, raw, and grass-fed.”
“Eat foods that God created in a healthy way for the body.”
Raw local honey acts as a natural sweetener and immune booster, while whole, unprocessed salt provides essential minerals. Avocados, figs, and fresh fruit are other staples.
“Eat foods that God created in a way that is healthy for the body,” Robin advises. “You can take red meat or an apple and make it unhealthy by the way it is grown, raised, processed and prepared.”
Foods to consider avoiding
The authors argued that people should avoid foods marked “unclean” in Leviticus — such as pork, shellfish, and shrimp.
“Pigs, shrimp and other scavengers don’t have a system to properly process toxins,” Rubin said.
Ax believes that living a healthy life is one of the important factors for living honestly. (Courtesy of Dr. Josh Axe)
They also warn against modern processed foods, including those containing high fructose corn syrup, food dyes and refined sugars.
Even foods that are considered healthy can become harmful when overly processed.
“If Moses were here today, what would the food laws be like?” they ask in “The Biblio Diet”—encouraging readers to apply biblical principles to modern nutrition.
Fasting and other biblical health practices
Besides food, Ax and Robin highlight spiritual disciplines that affect the body and soul – especially fasting.
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“There is no doubt that fasting is one of the greatest therapeutic breakthroughs anyone can experience,” Dr. Ax said.
Fasting can begin by simply avoiding food for 10 hours overnight, allowing the body to “clean out damaged cells, cancer cells, parasites and infections.”
“Fasting is one of the greatest therapeutic breakthroughs a human being can experience.”
“There’s a lot of medical literature that says this is the greatest thing you can do to reverse the aging process and activate longevity,” he added.
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For some, fasting can also bring spiritual clarity.
“I can tell you personally [that] Spiritual growth [brings a] A deeper connection with God [and] “Clearer thinking – the ability to hear God’s voice,” Dr. Ax said.
Olive oil is the main food mentioned in the Bible, and it can be used in a variety of recipes. (Istock)
Robin agreed, stressing the importance of emotional healing as well.
“During my successful battle with cancer, I made spiritual health a priority,” he said. “I wrote a prayer from the Bible and quoted it out loud three times a day – it was medicine for me.”
He also focused on forgiveness, calling it “essential” to his recovery.
It is best to consult multiple sources
The authors stressed that the “Biblio Diet” is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
“It’s a great diet for everyone, but given the number of health issues people have today, there’s a level of customization that people can benefit from,” Dr. Ax said.
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They noted that the diet is not restrictive and can include pies, pizza, cookies and ice cream made with healthy, biblically approved ingredients.
Robin advises anyone facing health challenges to stay calm, seek peace, and consult multiple sources.
Jordan Rubin still eats delicious foods while following a Bible-based diet, but he does it in a healthy way. (Sarah Partin Tran)
“Take a deep breath. Believe that God has provided healing for you. Seek a second opinion, and most important of all, do what you feel peace about.”
Ax and Rubin view health as a form of worship, a way to honor God through the body, they said.
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“I believe God wants us to be excellent at everything we do,” Dr. Ax said.
“One of the greatest things we can do to influence others and allow them to see the truth of the Bible and what Jesus teaches is to be physically healthy.”