Biblical Foods & Why God Chose Them: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Nutrition

ByLily

We often think of nutrition as something new and trendy diets, macros, supplements, gurus, but God wrote the original wellness blueprint thousands of years ago.

Before science existed, before influencers existed, before the supermarkets even existed, God told His people exactly what foods nourish, strengthen, heal, and sustain the human body and modern research keeps proving that biblical foods weren’t random.

They were divinely selected by the hands of our lord. Here’s a look at the foods God highlighted in Scripture and why your body still thrives on them today.

Honey

Honey appears constantly in scripture, even used metaphorically as blessing and abundance.

Why God chose it:
  • antibacterial + anti-fungal
  • wound healing properties
  • high antioxidants
  • stable energy without crashes

Modern science today confirms every single thing. Honey wasn’t just sweet. It was and is medicine. Honey is God’s natural medicine

Barley & Whole Grains

Jesus fed the 5,000 with barley loaves, not pastries or white bread.

Why God chose them:
  • low GI
  • slow-release energy
  • high fibre
  • supports digestion
  • stabilizes blood sugar
  • Sustained strength

Barley was the ancient world’s “superfood” and even today it still outperforms most modern grains.

Fish

It’s no accident Jesus cooked fish for His disciples after the resurrection. The health reasons and benefits are very clear.

Why God chose it:
  • clean protein
  • omega-3s for the brain
  • anti-inflammatory
  • supports heart + mood
  • easy to digest

Even the early church symbol (the ichthys) was a fish. That there is food and faith intertwined. Fish was actually Jesus’ preferred meal

Olive Oil
  • Used for anointing
  • used for cooking
  • used for healing

God repeatedly emphasises olive trees as symbols of blessing and provision.

Why God chose it:
  • heart-healthy monounsaturated fats
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antioxidant-rich
  • longevity benefits (Think mediterranean diet)
  • stabilizes hormones

This is literally the healthiest oil known to mankind and God placed it front and centre for us. It’s more than just food. Olive oil is liquid gold of the bible.

Grapes & Wine

Grapes appear constantly in scripture, representing joy, blessing, and celebration.

Why God chose them:
  • resveratrol (anti-aging, heart health)
  • potassium
  • hydration
  • natural energy
  • antioxidants

Wine in the Bible wasn’t about drunkenness. It was about celebration, preservation, and health. And all those antioxidants before they were trendy.

Milk & Fermented Foods

Ancient Israel relied heavily on foods items such as milk, yoghurt and even kefir like fermented dairy.

Why God chose them:
  • probiotics for digestion
  • easily absorbable calcium
  • immune support
  • nutrient density
  • Gut health

Gut health is NEW to science and with time, we have seen incredible discoveries about the importance of gut health, even down to how it affects our moods and everything including the immune system, but ancient wisdom knew. God placed it in our hands thousands of years ago.

Bitter Herbs

What are bitter herbs you might ask? They are simple greens we find on our supermarket shelves today. These include:

  • Parsley
  • Coriander (Cilantro)
  • Dandelion greens
  • Chicory
  • Endive
  • Horseradish
  • Romaine lettuce
Why God chose them:
  • liver support
  • digestion
  • blood cleansing
  • anti-inflammatory
  • High fibre
  • Detoxifying

These were the ancient world’s detoxifiers before detox was trendy. In fact, God commanded Israel to eat them during Passover as a physical and symbolic reminder of deliverance.

Nuts

Biblical lands were full of:

  • almonds
  • pistachios
  • walnuts
Why God chose them:
  • healthy fats for hormone balance
  • sustained energy
  • minerals (magnesium, zinc, iron)
  • brain health

Nuts are one of the oldest human foods and still one of the best and the best snack ever blessed by God.

Pomegranates & Apples

These were symbols of beauty, blessing, and even temple design.

Why God chose them:
  • antioxidant powerhouse
  • supports circulation
  • reduces inflammation
  • boosts immunity
  • Heart & Blood Health

Pomegranates especially were considered a fruit for the royalty. And we have all been told for decades, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. But that’s not just a cute little rhyme. Apples are one of the most nutrient dense foods we have been blessed with.

Lamb

Lamb was central to biblical life physically and symbolically.

Why God chose it:
  • high iron
  • high zinc
  • rich in B vitamins
  • sustaining protein

And of course, Lamb pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God. Biblical nutrition always blends the physical with the spiritual.

Final Thoughts: God Nourished the Body He Designed

These foods weren’t chosen randomly nor were they symbolic only. They were created in gods perfect design for the body which is our temple that we must honour. He knew exactly which foods would nourish your temple of your soul and the best part? Most “modern” wellness trends are just rediscovering what Scripture taught thousands of years ago.

God designed your body. God designed creation so of course He knew exactly which foods would nourish the temple of your soul.

Ancient truth.

Modern science.

Same Designer.

An Undeniable Truth

Scripture About God’s Food and Nourishment

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.’”

This shows God intentionally designed food to nourish us.

Psalm 104:14–15

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”

This here directly references biblical foods such as bread, oil and wine and even references olive oil as skin care. (Dare me to try this? lol)

Exodus 12:8

“They shall eat the meat on that night, roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.”

This is the clearest biblical command for bitter herbs.

Deuteronomy 8:7–8

“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land… a land of wheat and barley, vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.”

This verse lists half the foods in this post. An absolutely important scripture.

Proverbs 24:13

“My son, eat honey, for it is good; and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.”

Here, the good word directly makes mention of honey’s goodness.

John 21:12–13

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’… Jesus took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.”

Jesus literally makes fish for breakfast right here.

Ezekiel 4:9

“Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them into a storage jar and make bread for yourself.”

MANY modern health breads are based on this exact recipe and this is how Ezekiel bread was popularised.

BEAUTIFUL CLOSING SCRIPTURES ABOUT GOD PROVIDING FOOD
Matthew 6:11

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

A timeless reminder that God provides sustenance.

Psalm 145:15–16

“The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”

This is beautiful reminder that our lord does indeed provide.

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