Yes. The Bible rates health near the top of the list in importance. A person’s mind, spiritual nature, and body are all interrelated and interdependent. What affects one affects the others. If the body is misused, the mind and the spiritual nature cannot become what God planned they should be, and you won’t be able to live an abundant life (John 10:10).

God gave health principles because He knows what is best for the human body. Automobile manufacturers place an operations manual in each new car because they know what is best for their creation. God, who made our bodies, also has an operations manual — the Bible. Ignoring it often results in disease, twisted thinking, and burned-out lives, just as abusing a car can result in serious trouble. Following God’s principles results in saving health (Psalm 67:2) and more abundant life (John 10:10). With our cooperation, God can use these great health laws to significantly reduce and eliminate disease (Psalm 103:2,3).

Yes. A Christian will even eat and drink differently — all to the glory of God, choosing only what is good. If God says a thing is not fit to eat, He must have a good reason. He is not a harsh dictator, but a loving Father. All His counsel is for our good always. The Bible promises, No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). So if God withholds a thing from us, it is because it is not good for us.

The diet God gave people in the beginning was fruit, grains, and nuts. Vegetables were added a little later (Genesis 3:18).

In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, God points out these food groups as unclean. A. All animals that do not both chew the cud and have a split hoof (Deuteronomy 14:6). B. All fish and water creatures that do not have both fins and scales (Deuteronomy 14:9). C. All birds of prey, carrion eaters, and fish eaters (Leviticus 11:13–19). D. Most creeping things, or invertebrates (Leviticus 11:21–44). According to these rules, the following are unclean and not to be eaten: cats, dogs, horses, camels, eagles, vultures, hogs, squirrels, rabbits, catfish, eels, lobsters, clams, crabs, shrimp, oysters, frogs, and others.

This may be shocking, but it is true and must be told. The Bible says that anyone who eats swine’s flesh and other unclean, abominable things will be destroyed at the coming of the Lord. When God says to leave something alone and not eat it, we should by all means obey Him. After all, the eating of forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve brought sin and death to this world. Can anyone say it doesn’t matter? God says people will be destroyed because they chose that in which He does not delight (Isaiah 66:4).

No on all points. Noah lived long before any Jews existed, but he knew of clean and unclean animals, for he took the clean ones into the ark by sevens and the unclean by twos. Revelation 18:2 refers to some birds as unclean just before the second coming of Christ. The death of Christ did not change these health laws, since the Bible says all who break them will be destroyed when Jesus returns (Isaiah 66:15–17). The Jew’s digestive system in no way differs from the Gentile’s. These health laws are for all people for all time.

Yes. The Bible strongly warns against the use of alcoholic beverages.

Yes. The Bible gives six reasons why harmful substances such as tobacco are displeasing to God. A. They injure health and defile the body — the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16,17). B. Nicotine enslaves; we become servants of whatever we yield ourselves to (Romans 6:16), yet we are to serve the Lord only (Matthew 4:10). C. The habit is unclean; the Lord calls us to be separate and not touch what is unclean (2 Corinthians 6:17). D. It wastes money on what is not bread (Isaiah 55:2); we are God’s stewards, and faithfulness is required (1 Corinthians 4:2). E. It weakens our ability to discern the Holy Spirit’s promptings; we are to abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11). F. It shortens life, breaking the command against killing (Exodus 20:13) — slow, but still murder.

Here are 11 Bible health principles. A. Eat at regular times, and do not use animal fat or blood (Ecclesiastes 10:17; Leviticus 3:17). B. Don’t overeat (Proverbs 23:2; Luke 21:34). C. Don’t harbor envy or grudges (Proverbs 14:30; Matthew 5:23,24). D. Maintain a cheerful, happy disposition (Proverbs 17:22; Proverbs 23:7). E. Put full trust in the Lord (Proverbs 19:23; Proverbs 4:20,22). F. Balance work and exercise with sleep and rest (Exodus 20:9,10; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Genesis 3:19; Psalm 127:2). G. Keep your body clean (Isaiah 52:11). H. Be temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25; Philippians 4:5). I. Avoid anything harmful to the body (1 Corinthians 3:16,17) — including tea, coffee, and drinks with caffeine. J. Make mealtime a happy time (Ecclesiastes 3:13). K. Help those in need (Isaiah 58:6–8).

Those who ignore God’s health principles will more likely reap broken bodies and burned-out lives, just as one who abuses his automobile will have serious trouble. And those who continue to break God’s laws of health will ultimately be destroyed (1 Corinthians 3:16,17). God’s health laws are not arbitrary — they are natural, established laws of the universe, like the law of gravity. The Bible says, A curse without cause shall not come (Proverbs 26:2). Trouble comes when we ignore the laws of health. God, in mercy, tells us what they are so we may avoid the resulting tragedies.

God makes it plain that children and grandchildren (to the fourth generation) pay for the folly of parents who ignore God’s health principles. Children and grandchildren inherit weakened, sickly bodies when their fathers and mothers defy God’s rules for their lives. Wouldn’t you avoid anything else that might harm your precious children and grandchildren?

Nothing defiling or unclean will be permitted in God’s kingdom. All filthy habits defile a person. Use of improper food defiles a person (Daniel 1:8). It is sobering but true. Choosing their own ways and those things in which God does not delight will end up costing people their eternal salvation (Isaiah 66:3,4,15–17).

Sincere Christians will bring their lives into harmony with God’s health principles immediately because they love Him. They know His rules only add to their happiness and protect them from the devil’s diseases (Acts 10:38). God’s counsel and rules are always for our good, just as good parents’ rules are best for their children. And once we know better, God holds us accountable. To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17).

You can take all of these habits to Christ and lay them at His feet. He will joyfully give you a new heart and the power needed to break any sinful habit and become a son or daughter of God (Ezekiel 11:18,19). How thrilling to know that with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27)! Jesus said, The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out (John 6:37). He is ready to break the shackles that bind us, and He will — but only if we permit it. The devil argues that freedom is found in disobedience, but this is false (John 8:44).

The citizens of God’s new kingdom will gladly follow His health principles, and there will be no sickness or disease. They will be blessed with eternal vigor and youth and will live with God in supreme joy and happiness throughout eternity.