Start Your Day Right: The Benefits of a Morning Meal
According to our sages, having a morning meal can prevent gallbladder issues, unwanted body odor, and weakness. This is because it ends the nighttime fast.
- רות ליאת פלץ
- פורסם ט"ו שבט התשפ"ג
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Eating a morning meal is a commendable practice mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 157). The sages recommend consuming a "morning bread," defined as "bread with salt and a small jug of water." Maimonides adds that the bread should be made from whole grains. However, it's important in our era to avoid wheat, even if it's whole, due to genetic modifications in the past century aimed at increasing yield. This has made wheat tougher and more gluten-rich, which can be harmful to many people. It's advisable to consume non-GMO grains like rye or spelt. And for those who don't enjoy bread in the morning, there's good news: even whole-grain pastries with some sweetness fulfill the concept of a morning meal.
Our sages suggest eating a morning meal 4 to 6 hours after dawn. Beyond that, it loses its benefits. For a dedicated student engaged in learning, they can eat until 6 proportional hours (53 minutes) from waking up, granted nothing has been tasted beforehand. However, if one has already consumed something in the morning, this timing is not crucial.
It's said that the bread kills "intestinal worms."
It "enlightens the simple" – providing wisdom to those easily led astray.
"It settles the mind, ensuring success in disputes" – enabling one to prevail in arguments.
According to the holy ARI, consuming clean wheat bread (whole grain) in the morning, dipped in olive oil, enhances memory.
Per our sages, a morning meal can prevent gallbladder diseases, body odor, and weakness since it breaks the body's nighttime fast. The Gemara (Bava Metzia Siman 107) notes: "Eighty-three ailments are linked to the gallbladder, all of which are alleviated by morning bread with salt and water."
In conclusion: "...man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:3) - one's vitality depends solely on the spiritual power bestowed by Hashem in food!
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