Refuting Dr. Josh Axe’s “The Biblical Diet”

On December 25th, 2022, the popular and well-recognized Dr. Josh Axe published an article describing what he claims is “The Biblical Diet,” along with isolating 10 specific foods or food groups that should be emphasized if choosing to adhere to this diet.

Before I get into the meat & potatoes of this diet, I do want to preface by saying that I have read and recommended some of Axe’s materials and website for years. I have gleaned some great information and insights from not only himself but also his guest writers; as I even have his detailed guide to essential oils. So, this is not an “attack” per se, but rather a necessary scriptural response to what Axe calls “The Biblical Diet” – why what he says is simply not true, and what the Bible very clearly prescribes for eating.

Here are the basic the parameters Axe’s Biblical Diet (his links included):

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Acceptable Biblical Foods

• Trees whose edible yield is bearing seeds or is seed — To put it simply, this kind of food is mostly fruits. All fruits are acceptable in the Biblical diet, just as long as they come from seeds. Fruits from fruit trees are okay to eat, as well as anything that grows on a vine, a shrub or anything with a woody bark tissue.
• Plants whose edible yield is bearing seeds or is seeds — This classification refers to anything that may grow on plants that are not necessarily trees. Examples of seed-bearing plants include squash, tomatoes, corn and beans.
• Field plants — Field plants or “plants of the field” are the next thing on the list, which can consist of herbs, roots and green, leafy vegetables.
• Clean meat — Now this one’s a little detailed because the definition of clean meat is pretty complex. According to Leviticus, clean meat is defined as the meat of every animal that has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud.  Examples of clean meat include the ox (cattle), buffalo, sheep, goat, deer, gazelle, antelope and mountain sheep, just to name a few. Examples of unclean meat include pig, camel, hare and rock badger. The Bible also instructs us not to eat the blood of animals or to eat any meat that has been sacrificed to idols.

As for seafood, everything with fins and scales are allowed, but whatever doesn’t have fins such as shellfish is prohibited. For birds, everything is allowed except eagles, vultures, kites, ravens, ostriches, seagulls and owls. It is also noted that all winged insects are considered unclean.

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Dr. Axe then goes on to list 10 “Top Biblical Foods” you should eat if trying to adhere to this diet, with scripture for each:

1. Olives and Olive oil (Deuteronomy 6:10-11)
2. Pomegranate (Deuteronomy 8:7-8)
3. Fermented Grapes (Wine) (Song of Solomon 1:2)
4. Flax (Proverbs 31:10, 13)
5. Sprouted Grain Bread (Ezekiel 4:9)
6. Goat milk (Proverbs 27:26-27)
7. Lamb (Exodus 12:11)
8. Bitter Herbs (i.e. Coriander & Parsley) (Exodus 12:8)
9. Vegetables (Daniel 1:12)
10. Raw Honey (Proverbs 25:16)

Close friend of Axe and co-founder of their business Ancient Nutrition, Jordan Rubin (who was cited as an authority for Axe’s post), believes that this diet is beneficial for many reasons, one of which includes healthy weight loss.

Rubin says ‘the Bible Diet is heavily influenced based on the teachings from the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy and the only food considered acceptable or clean is the only kind that should be eaten.’ Furthermore five key tenets should be adhered to as well:

• Water, sunshine and exercise. These three are absolutely key to good health. You should always remember to drink lots of water, get lots of exercise and go outside. I recommend one quart water daily for every 50 pounds of weight. Also, it’s important to drink high quality water.
• Eat safe, clean meat. This means abstaining from certain kinds of meat and seafood such as pork, lobster, clams and mussels, shrimp and catfish.
• Eat foods that are in season. The Bible states that everything has a season. This should also be our attitude when it comes to picking out the things we eat. Lean towards eating fruits, vegetables and herbs that are in season, as they’re fresher and better for your health.
• Eating raw. Eating uncooked raw food is very much encouraged. Some vegetables may need to be cooked, but a majority of them can be enjoyed raw.
• Unprocessed real whole foods. What you eat should ideally be consumed in the way that it was found in nature. This means that we should stay away from preservatives, processed foods, or those produced with lots of contact with hormones, fertilizers and pesticides.

In short, Axe concludes his article by writing:

Who would have thought that you could get nutritional advice in the Bible, huh? At the end of the day, if it were good enough for people back then to eat, I think it’s probably good for us today.

So much of what the Bible lays out so clearly for how we should eat also makes a lot of sense when you look at scientific research. A Biblical diet is filled with healing foods that promote a well-rounded diet and so many awesome health benefits.

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

Let’s break this down a bit.

Before I refute the diet as a whole in a moment, I do want point out that Axe is using a variety of new versions and translations other than the King James, that clearly alters the meaning of the verses used.

For example, when describing the sprouted bread, he cites the NIV rendering of Ezekiel 4:9, which says: “Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side.” The King James says: “Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.”

The new version rendering, not only is it clearly different, a contradiction is created: why would God say to put those ingredients in a “storage jar” but then direct Ezekiel to bake it? Hence, this why the new versions are garbage.

Furthermore, putting new versions aside for just a moment – neither the KJB or any others specify that the ingredients must be sprouted. I am not against sprouting, but the text never says this. This is, to me, clearly just giving partiality to the Food For Life brand that sales products with these different grains and seeds but are sprouted, and slapping Ezekiel 4:9 on the packaging. I occasionally will eat some of their products myself, but eating grains and seeds sprouted are most certainly not necessary, neither does the verse indicate that they needed to be sprouted.

As for Axe’s broad recommendations on vegetables and citing Daniel 1:12 for this – again is being taken out of context. The reason why Daniel and his friends did not eat the royal meats were because, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself (Daniel 1:8).” While under Babylonian captivity the meats would have been offered up to pagan gods, so Daniel refused to eat it – which is a bit of an advanced revelation as to what Paul would later instruct in 1 Corinthians 8 & 10, where under normal circumstances eating meat offered to idols is fine, but when you are a guest at someone’s else feast and they offer the meat to idols and false gods, you are not to eat of it.

Hireling Rick Warren was integral in pushing this Daniel Diet plan rhetoric many years ago, and Hollywood actor Chris Pratt resurrected it several years ago as well.

But let’s get down it: while there are certainly some great principles here that you may like and try to implement, the general claims made by Dr. Axe are simply inaccurate and not true; and a very cursory reading of the scriptures makes it clear that what Axe and Rubin are pushing are dead wrong.

[1] Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For EVERY creature of God is GOOD, and NOTHING to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: [5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. [6] If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1 Timothy 4:1-6

I find it interesting that Axe chose to describe his diet to “abstain” from certain meats; which is precisely what the King James Bible prophesized would happen, which is labeled as a doctrine of devils. Moreover, verse 4 is plain as the nose on my face.

We are no longer bound to the Old Testament dietary laws given to the Hebraic people. The transition can be first seen in Acts 10 when Peter was sent to reveal the truth and answer Cornelius’ prayer, who was a Gentile:

[9] On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: [10] And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, [11] And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: [12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. [14] But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. [15] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. [16] This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Acts 10:9-16

Peter then recited this story in Acts 11, and then when the apostles met together in Acts 15 to decide what they should tell the Gentile believers, they concluded this:

[10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: [20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. [23] And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: [24] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: [28] For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; [29] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Acts 15:10, 19-20, 23-24, 28-29

The apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, explained what the Christian is to do in Romans 14, which completely obliterates Axe’s position:

[1] Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. [2] For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. [3] Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. [4] Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. [5] One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. [6] He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. [14] I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. [21] It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Romans 14:1-6, 14-15, 21

I suggest reading the whole chapter to get the full context and meaning, but the text flies in the face of what Axe is teaching. If you want to eat pork, seafood and shellfish, different kinds of birds, bugs, etc.; you are certainly permitted to do so; and you are commanded not to judge others for their diet specific diet. Look up all the different cultural diets and cuisines that different kindreds have maintained down through the years, and they are all very unique. Who’s to say whose is better or worse? Obviously this does not mean you should gorge yourself and eat things that are clearly toxic, engineered, and heavily processed; but the Bible does not specify a specific diet we are to follow today. What God commanded for the Jews CANNOT be applied to the Gentiles. Period.

The only things I would warn of is veganism, per 1 Timothy 4:1-6. Vegetarianism and preferences to starches and veggies are different than radical veganism that totally abstains from meat; on top of the things prescribed in Acts 15; and to be weary of the fad diets proliferated nowadays that go to radical extremes.

[16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17

For more on the issue concerning meats and diet check out my studies examining charity and how it applies to liberty for a Christian.

The Real Issue With Christian Liberty, Is Not Liberty: It’s Charity

In short, if you want to follow Axe’s diet knock yourself out; but it is NOT “the” biblically prescribed diet he would have you to believe.

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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