The Secret of Health

Maintaining health from a Jewish perspective is not just beneficial for a good and pleasant quality of life, but it is also a halachic obligation, much like observing other Torah commandments. How is this done? The Rambam laid out clear guidelines that can help us today in preserving our health. The genius of the Rambam's thoughts lies in its simplicity: Instead of waiting until we are sick to then visit a doctor for medicine or deal with difficult situations, we learn the rules that maintain our health in advance to prevent illness.

What are these guidelines? The Rambam mentions rules in his writings regarding our bodies: proper nutrition, physical activity, adequate sleep, etc. Equally important, the Rambam points out the influence of our mental state on our physical health. In this section, we will address various aspects that define a person's health. A tangible example of this can be seen in the following story. An elderly Jewish man, aged 79, visited my clinic, healthy and robust. He adhered to all dietary guidelines, engaged in sports, and was joyful. As part of his body's maintenance, he came for a diagnosis to understand his sensitivities and learn even better how to care for himself.

He underwent an eye diagnosis (iridology), and I noticed he had sensitive kidneys, which could potentially develop stones, *chas ve'shalom*. The man took this to heart, received suitable guidance, and thankfully continued in good health. This continued until the unfortunate day when he was hiking with a group in the Benjamin Mountains and suddenly fell from a height of 4 meters. *B"H*, thanks to his healthy and strong body, he remained intact without fractures, but his lungs were damaged from the fall from a great height. He was in intensive care and later underwent long rehabilitation, and since he was not at home, he could not maintain his healthy diet and, of course, ceased his regular sports. Six months after the injury, he started having severe back pains, was rushed to the ER, where it was discovered he had kidney stones... and the matter required hospital treatment.

This case shows how crucial and fundamental preventive medicine is in maintaining our health, even when it’s not always convenient to give up foods we enjoy. In this section, we will *b'ezrat Hashem* try to study the topic and acquire practical tools for implementing a healthy lifestyle.