Richard H. Mays, M.D.
The Bible Diet is a spiritual and nutritional guide to healthy living and disease prevention based on God''s Holy Word. Dr. Mays believes that although recorded in the Bible thousands of years ago, it is still relevant to us today, and if followed religiously could prevent many of the diseases we are facing today. Furthermore, Dr. Mays believes it is a spiritual act of worship to be obedient to all God''s laws and statues including those pertaining to our physical well being.
Richard H. Mays M. D. has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky with a double major in Mathematics and Chemistry. He received his medical degree from the University of Kentucky Medical School and completed a three year residency program in Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, TN.
Dr. Mays is board certified with the American Board of Family Physicians and has been in private practice since 1987.
He now resides in Knoxville, TN with his wife and three daughters. He enjoys playing basketball, hiking and is an avid gardener.
I have been a family physician for twenty years. During that time I have seen and treated nearly every common disease and illness. One observation that I have made through these years is that a person’s choice of lifestyle dramatically determines that person’s risk of developing disease. In recent years, through the study of God’s Word (the Holy Bible) and the review of scientific literature, I believe I have discovered with amazing clarity the reasons for this observation.
I believe the Bible contains dietary information that, if followed religiously, would prevent up to eighty percent of the diseases I treat in my practice. These diseases include, but are not limited to: heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus, many types of high cholesterol and triglycerides, some lung diseases, intestinal problems, cancer, arthritis, and even skin diseases.
Why am I so confident of this statement? My belief is based on a combination of my faith and my medical training and experience. I believe in a universe where there is one supreme God that has all the power, knowledge, and wisdom. Furthermore, I believe that God is immutable, which means that his wisdom never changes because it is perfect, thus I call it eternal wisdom.
I also believe this same God created us fully human. We did not evolve from a common ancestor of apes or any other species. This God then gave us a personal blueprint for life, or owner’s manual, if you will, called the Bible. In this Bible, God gave us all the information we need to live a long, healthy, fruitful life. The Bible includes commandments for spiritual growth and development as well as statutes or laws for physical growth and development.
Many of these laws or statutes are recorded in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. God gave this information to Adam, Noah, and Moses and it represented divine wisdom. Since divine wisdom never changes, the same information given to these patriarchs must still be true today. Many of these statutes are dietary and I believe with all my heart that if they are followed strictly, they could prevent many of the medical problems we face today.
From the standpoint of my medical training and experience, I intend to show you in this book where multiple studies have proven the benefits of following these dietary statutes. Furthermore, my experience has taught me the hazards and deleterious results of not following these rules as well as the marked improvement in health and sense of well-being when these rules are followed.
In addition, God’s word also contains non-dietary laws and statutes that, if followed, would eliminate many harmful habits that are deleterious to our health. You may be asking yourself, why would the Bible contain detailed information concerning diet? Why would God care what we eat or if we choose an unhealthy lifestyle? Even if He did, would the information given to man over 5,000 years ago still be relevant today?
These questions are answered in much more detail in Chapter One, but let me interject one thought now. If you believe in a Creator God, as I do, then you understand that we are His children. Just as we, who are human, want the very best for our children, how much more would God, the perfect father, want the very best for His children? This would certainly include good health and longevity as well as happiness and prosperity.
Furthermore, I hope to convince you that it is a spiritual act of worship to honor God by keeping our bodies healthy. If it is God’s will that His children have good health, it is also to be expected that a perfect God would provide a method through which we can achieve that goal. I believe He did, and that He recorded it for all generations to read and know in His inspired Word: the Holy Bible.
Although this information was given to man over a time period of 3,500 to 6,000 years ago, I believe God’s plan is just as effective now as it was then. Today, this dietary information is being proven by modern science to prevent diseases. In this book we will examine biblical evidence that God does have a plan for mankind to maintain excellent health. We will then look at what those dietary laws are and how modern science is proving that no healthier diet exists.
This concept of a Bible diet is not new; other excellent books have been written on this subject. So why write another book? The main reason is to attempt to show that following the Bible diet is more than just a good idea—it is Divine Wisdom.
We can all think of many things that are good ideas, but that does not necessarily mean we do them. We know it is a good idea not to smoke, but many do. We know it is a good idea to wear seat belts, but many do not. Knowing that a certain diet is a good idea seldom results in compliance. We need more motivation to change our lifestyle. It is much easier to convince a patient to take a medication than to change their lifestyle. But if I can convince you that God, the Creator, has revealed to us food that maintains health and prevents disease, and that it is our spiritual responsibility to follow that diet, perhaps that would provide the motivation necessary for compliance.
The other reason for writing this book is to show what modern science is proving concerning the Bible diet. Good, well-controlled
studies are now showing that the dietary guidelines given by Moses more than 3,000 years ago have nearly miraculous properties to prevent disease. Where did Moses receive this knowledge, unless it was by divine wisdom given by God?
Some of the study descriptions and technical terminology may seem a little tedious and boring to some readers. For that reason I have kept the use of technical descriptions to a minimum and have defined medical and scientific terms in the borders as they are introduced. This book is written primarily to the believer in a Creator God, but the information in it applies to everyone. Even if you do not believe in God, these dietary guidelines will work just as well for you. Our father God loves all His children and wants the best for them, even if they are rebellious. Matthew 5:45 says “... He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
I ask you to read this book prayerfully with an open mind and heart, and receive the knowledge that God wants you to know, so that Hosea’s prophecy may not come true for you: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” Hosea 4:6.
