Discover 3 Laws to Drastically Improve Your Quality of Life

In the introduction to the Laws of Character Traits, Maimonides explains that any action performed by a person to maintain their health is a mitzvah, because it will allow them to live long and serve Hashem with greater strength. This is his statement in section 1: "Since having a healthy and whole body is a way to serve Hashem, as one cannot understand or have knowledge if they are ill— a person must distance themselves from things that destroy the body and adopt habits that bring health and healing."

Maimonides offers an acronym for the Hebrew word 'health': Banish Resentment, Yalanced Eating, and Increase Physical Activity. In other words, to maintain health, one must adhere to the following three principles: a positive mindset, balanced eating, and physical activity.

1. Banish Resentment

Modern scientific evidence shows that positive emotions lead to longer life and better health. To achieve these results, one must cultivate positive emotions and overcome negative feelings. A person who successfully minimizes stress and anxiety over the years and has a positive attitude towards life reduces the risk of developing diseases in general and heart problems in particular.

"One who wishes to maintain health must understand mental movements and be cautious of them," is written in the 'Kitzur Shulchan Aruch' in chapter 32. "These include joy, worry, anger, and fear, which are actions of the soul."

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The author of the 'Kitzur Shulchan Aruch' explains how someone who wants to maintain their health should behave: "And a wise person should be content with their lot all days of their vanity and not worry about worlds that aren't theirs, nor seek advantages. They should maintain a moderate joyfulness, for it is a cause to strengthen natural heat, aid digestion, repel superfluities, strengthen the light of the eyes, and all senses, and also enhance intellectual strength."

The author also clarifies: "Worry is the opposite of joy, and it is also harmful as it cools the body... Anger ignites the body's heat to the point of causing fevers. Fear causes coldness in the body."

The 'Kitzur Shulchan Aruch' concludes: "Above all, one must ensure not to eat when angry, fearful, or worried, but only when moderately joyful."

2. Balanced Eating

"Most illnesses come either from eating bad foods or from filling oneself and eating excessively," writes Maimonides. He explains King Solomon's words in Proverbs: "He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles" thus: "He guards his mouth by not eating harmful food or overeating, and his tongue by speaking only of what is necessary." Maimonides concludes and writes that "eating a small amount of harmful foods does not harm as much as eating a lot of good foods."

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In a will to his son, Maimonides writes: "Eat so that you may live, and avoid excess. Do not believe that eating and drinking abundantly will increase the body and mind, like a bag filled with what is placed in it, for the opposite is true; eating little means the stomach can accept it and the natural heat can digest it. But if one overeats, their intellect becomes humiliated, their pocket empties, and it causes most diseases."

It is also written in the will: "Do not eat on the roads, and do not eat like mice, but eat at set times in your homes."

3. Increase Physical Activity

New research proves that exercise can prolong and enhance our quality of life. It has been found that physical activity, even moderate, delays the biological aging process, reduces morbidity, and improves the overall functioning level of the practitioner.

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On this matter, Maimonides writes that physical activity is critical for proper digestion. "Another general rule stated about bodily health: 'So long as a person exercises and tires themselves regularly and is not overly full, and their bowels are loose - no illness befalls them, and their strength increases, even if they eat unhealthy foods.'" Maimonides adds: "Anyone sitting on their couch and not exercising, or who delays relieving themselves, or whose bowel movements are hard - even if they eat good foods and take medical precautions, their life will be painful and their strength will wane."

It is also written in the 'Kitzur Shulchan Aruch' that "A great principle in medical practices is to toil with walking or work until the body warms up before eating, and only then eat."

How is maintaining bodily health a part of serving Hashem? Rabbi Zamir Cohen explains Judaism’s perspective on maintaining health:

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