Q&A on Nutrition

Hello and blessings. Here is a quote from Rambam, Laws of Opinions, Chapter 3, Law 2: A person should direct his heart and all his deeds toward knowing the Blessed Hashem alone. Let his sitting, rising, and talking all be oriented toward this. How so? When engaging in business or work for a wage, one's heart should not be set on accumulating wealth alone, but rather on obtaining the necessities that the body requires—such as food, drink, home, and spouse. Similarly, when one eats or drinks, it should not be for pleasure alone, until he eats and drinks only what is sweet to the taste, and not merely for enjoyment, but he should think to eat and drink just to keep his body and limbs healthy and strong.

Therefore, he should not eat everything his palate desires like a dog or a donkey but eat things beneficial to the body, whether bitter or sweet. He should avoid harmful foods, even if they are sweet. For example, if a person’s body is overheated, he should avoid meat, honey, and wine, as Solomon said allegorically, "Eat honey, etc.," and drink bitter herbs despite the bitterness, solely for healing until he is healthy and whole. Since a person cannot live without eating and drinking (...), he should focus on maintaining a strong body so that his soul may pursue the knowledge of Hashem, for it is impossible to gain wisdom and understand the sciences when one is hungry, ill, or has a painful limb. And let him hope to have a son who might become wise and great in Israel, by living this way he serves Hashem all his life, even when conducting business (...) because his mind is set on finding his needs to maintain a whole body to serve Hashem."

Rambam, Laws of Opinions, Chapter 4 Law 1: Since maintaining a healthy and whole body is part of the ways of Hashem, as it’s impossible to understand or know anything about the Creator when one is ill, therefore a person should stay away from things that destroy the body and adopt those that strengthen and heal it: A person should not eat unless he is hungry and not drink unless he is thirsty, and should never delay his body's need to relieve itself even for a moment, but stand whenever he needs to urinate or defecate immediately."

 

Hello and blessings. If the supplement doesn't have a good taste, it is permitted.

Hello. A diet that does not lead to weakness and illness is permitted.Is it appropriate to maintain a diet on Shabbat, considering the importance of enjoying Shabbat?

Hello and blessings. If there is no health concern, it is proper to avoid maintaining a diet on Shabbat. 

Greetings. If it depends on us, why don’t they live forever? Is it all about maintaining the quality of life? Surely, there is a set span for the life of a person, and like any action a person performs, it can positively impact and earn them merit. A person who takes care of his body values the gift given to him, therefore he is deserving to live the maximum allotted to him. A person who does not take care actually belittles the gift given, therefore, is not worthy to fulfill his potential lifespan, and every illness provokes judgments and trials. This way his deeds are scrutinized more closely, and whether he merits healing, etc.