Health
Bible-based diet could unlock the secret to lasting wellness, experts say
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Many people turn to the Bible for guidance in times of both triumph and hardship — but some say it can also serve as a guide for physical health.
Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin, co-authors of the book “The Biblio Diet,” believe that ancient foods of the Bible can be transformed into a modern dietary plan to enhance health and even help reverse life-threatening conditions.
“I think the Bible is the greatest health book ever written,” Axe, a doctor of natural medicine in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital in an interview. “If somebody’s dealing with any health condition, whether it’s depression, anxiety, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, PCOS, infertility, hypothyroidism or low testosterone, the Bible has a solution. If you follow a diet based on the Bible, you can be made well.”
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Here are more details.
Faith and healing through biblical principles
Both Axe and Rubin have faced serious health challenges that deepened their faith and inspired their work, they said.
Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin are co-authors of the book “The Biblio Diet.” (Hannah Corwin; courtesy of Dr. Josh Axe.)
Rubin was diagnosed with Crohn’s colitis as a teenager, and later with severe cancer.
After visiting dozens of doctors with no success, he met a man who told him that if he were to follow a diet based on the Bible — proven through history and confirmed by science — he could be well.
“After another 40-day period of an upgraded diet — plus detoxification, and emotional and spiritual therapy — I overcame cancer that was referred to as terminal and did not undergo chemotherapy, radiation or additional surgeries,” Rubin told Fox News Digital.
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Dr. Axe’s own journey began while he was helping his mother overcome breast cancer.
“I put together a program for my mom that included certain foods in the Bible, like pomegranate and olive oil — and also prayer, faith, praise and worship,” he said.
“I think the Bible is the greatest health book ever written.”
Later, when a medical procedure left Axe with a spinal infection, he again turned to a Bible-based diet and prayer, combining them with regenerative treatments to heal.
“I listened to the diagnosis of my great physician, not my ordinary physician,” the doctor said. “The great physician tells you to live with hope in all things and believe in the miraculous — and I did. Now I’m 100% healed.”
What a Bible-based diet looks like
Food is mentioned repeatedly in the Bible, and both authors believe the core foods discussed can form the foundation of a healthy modern diet.
Key examples include red meat, whole-grain sourdough bread, olive oil, dairy, fruits like pomegranates and figs, and natural sweeteners, such as raw local honey.
A Bible-based diet includes foods like red meat and dairy, which some have argued should be foods to avoid. (iStock)
Red meat, the authors say, is a “superfood” that provides protein, creatine, glutamine, carnitine, zinc, iron and B6.
“If you look at the Bible’s longest-lived heroes, anytime they could afford red meat, they would consume it,” Rubin said.
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Bread, often demonized in modern diets, also plays a key role when prepared correctly.
“Properly sourced and properly prepared grains can be a part of a healthy diet,” Rubin said. “With Jesus being called the bread of life, it wouldn’t make sense if bread was bad for everyone. The way it’s processed and preserved matters.”
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Olive oil, frequently referenced in scripture, supports skin, metabolism and cardiovascular health. Dairy — particularly from sheep, goats or certain dairy cows — can also be beneficial.
“The land of milk and honey was not just a euphemism,” Rubin noted. “Dairy can be very healthy if it’s whole, raw and grass-fed.”
Raw, local honey serves as a natural sweetener and immune system booster, while unprocessed whole salt provides essential minerals. Avocados, figs and fresh fruits are other staples.
“Eat foods that God created and in a form that’s healthy for the body,” Rubin advised. “You can take red meat or an apple and make it unhealthy by how you grow, raise, process and prepare it.”
Foods to consider avoiding
The authors argued that people should avoid foods labeled “unclean” in Leviticus — such as pork, shellfish and shrimp.
“Pigs, shrimp and other scavengers don’t have the system to properly process toxins,” Rubin said.
Axe believes that living a healthy life is one important factor to living faithfully. (Courtesy of Dr. Josh Axe.)
They also warned against modern processed foods, including those with high-fructose corn syrup, food dyes and refined sugars.
Even foods considered healthy can become harmful when overly processed.
“If Moses were here today, what would the food laws look like?” they ask in “The Biblio Diet” — encouraging readers to apply biblical principles to modern nutrition.
Fasting and other biblical health practices
Beyond food, Axe and Rubin highlight spiritual disciplines that impact both body and soul — particularly fasting.
“There’s no doubt that fasting is one of the greatest healing breakthroughs someone can experience,” Dr. Axe said.
Fasting can begin simply by avoiding food for a 10-hour window overnight, allowing the body to “clean up damaged cells, cancer cells, parasites and infections.”
“Fasting is one of the greatest healing breakthroughs someone can experience.”
He added, “There’s a lot of medical literature on it being the greatest thing you can do to reverse the aging process and activate longevity.”
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For some, fasting can also bring spiritual clarity.
“I can tell you personally [that] spiritual growth [brings a] deeper connection to God [and] clearer thinking — the ability to hear God’s voice,” Dr. Axe said.
Olive oil is a key food noted in the Bible, and can be used in a variety of recipes. (iStock.)
Rubin agreed, emphasizing the importance of emotional healing as well.
“During my successful battle with cancer, I made spiritual health a priority,” he said. “I wrote out a prayer from the Bible and quoted it out loud three times a day — it was medicine to me.”
He also focused on forgiveness, calling it “essential” to his recovery.
Best to consult multiple sources
The authors stressed that “The Biblio Diet” isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
“It’s a great diet for everyone, but due to the number of health problems people have today, there is a level of customization that people can benefit from,” Dr. Axe said.
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The diet, they noted, isn’t restrictive — it can even include waffles, pizza, cookies and ice cream made with wholesome, Bible-approved ingredients.
Rubin 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 so in a healthy way. (Sarah Partain Tran.)
“Take a deep breath. Believe that God has provided for your healing. Seek a second opinion, and most of all, do what you have peace about.”
Axe and Rubin view health as a form of worship, they said — a way to honor God through the body.
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“I think God wants us to be excellent in everything we do,” Dr. Axe said.
“One of the greatest things we can do to influence others and let them see the truth of the Bible and what Jesus teaches is by being physically healthy.”
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No sex for the win? This was the advice given to this year’s NBA champions.
New York Knicks owner James Dolan addressed the now-champs as they headed into the playoffs in April 2026, acknowledging their high potential to eventually win the championship.
“I don’t know if you understand what it would mean for you to win a championship this year … It would be life-changing,” he said. “It will stick with you the rest of your lives, and if you don’t win, you’ll be thinking about it the rest of your lives.”
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As Dolan’s inspirational speech to the team went on, he explained how the next 10 weeks would require each player to make sacrifices – watching their diets, getting proper sleep and perhaps even abstaining from sex.
“You need sacrifice and you need to eliminate all the distractions around you,” he said.
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks celebrates with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy and Knicks owner James Dolan after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
“I had this idea that maybe you should give up sex for the next 10 weeks,” the owner said. “You don’t have to give up sex for the next 10 weeks – but, like the Spartans … They denied themselves, so that they can have an edge. Get the edge.”
This received a few snickers from the team, and Dolan responded, “Don’t tell [your wives and girlfriends] you’re not going to have sex and don’t tell them it was my idea. But let them know what this is going to be like … and how they’re going to have to sacrifice, too.”
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Dr. Anna Elton, licensed marriage and family therapist and clinical sexologist in Massachusetts, confirmed that this belief has been around for centuries, dating back to the ancients Spartans and early Olympic competitors.
Avoiding sex can preserve energy, increase aggression and sharpen focus, according to Elton.
The theory behind abstaining from sex for better athletic performance supports that it can preserve energy, increase aggression and sharpen focus. (iStock)
But modern research has found little evidence that consensual sexual activity negatively impacts strength, endurance, reaction time or athletic performance when it occurs at least 10 hours before competition, the doctor countered.
However, “activity very close to competition may affect recovery measures,” she added. What may be more important, according to Elton, is the psychological value of abstinence.
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“Choosing to abstain can reinforce discipline and total commitment to a larger goal,” she said. “In those cases, the advantage may come more from mindset and focus than from any physical effect.”
“Whether the sacrifice is alcohol, social activities, favorite foods or sex, the message is often the same: ‘We are all in.’”
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson celebrates with teammates after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
The science of abstinence
This discussion has historically focused on men, which Elton said is often based on “misconceptions about testosterone and energy depletion.”
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“Research has not demonstrated that normal sexual activity causes a meaningful decline in athletic performance, and concerns about testosterone depletion have not been consistently supported by the evidence,” she said.
“For women, sexual activity may have additional benefits related to stress reduction, emotional regulation and relationship satisfaction.”
Abstaining from sex for athletic performance may create a sense of discipline, minimize distractions, maintain focus on training and reinforce a team culture centered on sacrifice and commitment, experts say. (iStock)
In a separate interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Anthony Puopolo, a men’s health expert and lead medical provider for RexMD, echoed Elton’s assessment that research largely does not support abstinence as a performance enhancer.
This is despite a small amount of evidence that suggests engaging in sexual activity within two hours of competition could pose a risk to cardiovascular recovery.
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“Unfortunately, nearly all studies (99%) have been conducted in males aged 20 to 40, so there is virtually no data on female athletes, older athletes or diverse populations,” said the Puerto Rico-based expert. “We know what to tell the Knicks, but we are not sure what to recommend for the New York Liberty.”
Importance of connection
Elton said abstinence may still offer psychological benefits for some competitors. “For some athletes, it can become part of a pre-competition ritual that enhances confidence,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Some other potential benefits of sexual activity include stress reduction, improved sleep, mood enhancement, emotional connection with a partner and relief from performance-related tension.
“Strong, supportive relationships are associated with better psychological resilience, which can be valuable during high-pressure competitions,” Elton said.
“One of the most overlooked performance advantages may be having a supportive relationship waiting at home,” a doctor said. (iStock)
“Ultimately, there is no universal rule,” she went on. “What helps one athlete perform at their best may not help another.”
Elton stressed that sleep, recovery, nutrition, stress management and support from loved ones are universal performance boosters.
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“Athletes devote tremendous attention to training their bodies, while overlooking the importance of their personal relationships,” she cautioned. “A supportive partner can be one of the greatest assets during a demanding season.”
“If competition requires temporary sacrifices, make those decisions together and keep communication open.”
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Eliminating sugar from your diet may seem like the key to healthy eating, but research suggests it could have unintended effects on digestive health.
A study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, suggests that a total lack of sucrose, or table sugar, may harm gut health and disrupt the body’s natural metabolism.
To explore how the total absence of dietary sugar impacts the body, researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait City conducted a 16-week study on two groups of mice. Both groups were placed on a low-fat diet, but with one critical difference.
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One group consumed a low-fat diet that included a standard amount of sucrose, while the other group ate a low-fat diet that was completely sugar-free, according to the study’s press release.
Throughout the trial, the scientists monitored a wide variety of physiological factors, including the animals’ weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, internal inflammation and the specific composition of their gut bacteria.
A total lack of dietary sugar can cause imbalances in the gut bacteria and lead to signs of fatty liver disease, even without any weight gain, researchers said. (iStock)
The study outcome suggested that completely removing sugar caused several unexpected health problems.
“Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” Rasheed Ahmad, principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, said in the release.
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Even though the mice on the sugar-free diet did not gain any extra weight compared to the control group, their internal health indicators deteriorated.
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The animals that lacked sucrose developed an imbalance in their gut microbes and increased inflammation within the intestines and liver.
They also showed signs of poor glucose regulation, insulin resistance and cellular changes associated with fatty liver disease, according to the research.
Future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar bans and instead focus on overall gut health through balanced nutrition. (iStock)
“The findings suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health,” Ahmad concluded.
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While the risks of high-sugar diets are well-established, the researchers noted that little attention has been given to the effects of completely eliminating sugar from low-fat meals.
Scientists say these new findings highlight that dietary carbohydrates play a valuable role in supporting balance between the immune system and the gut microbiome.
Completely cutting sucrose from a low-fat diet can unexpectedly trigger gut inflammation and disrupt the metabolism, experts say. (iStock)
Because this research was conducted on mice over a relatively short 16-week period, further clinical trials are necessary to determine whether a completely sugar-free diet causes the same gut and liver inflammation in humans.
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Additionally, the study focused specifically on removing sucrose from low-fat meals, meaning the results might not apply to people eliminating sugar while following higher-fat or ketogenic eating plans, the researchers noted.
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The team believes that future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict, absolute sugar restrictions and instead place a greater emphasis on maintaining a diverse, healthy population of gut bacteria through balanced nutrition.
“In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions,” Ahmad said.
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