Maimonides on Health and the Human Body: Why a Balanced Lifestyle Prevents Illness

Maimonides wrote (Hilchot De’ot 4:20): “Anyone who conducts himself according to these ways that we have taught — I guarantee that he will not come to illness all his life, until he grows very old and dies, and he will not need a doctor, and his body will remain whole and sound all his days…”

How could Maimonides make such a definitive claim? After all, there are bacteria, viruses, parasites, and malignant cells…

What Really Causes Illness?

We are the ones who cause our illnesses — not the bacteria and viruses.

If we do not follow the “manufacturer’s instructions” that the Creator gave us for preserving the body, we should not be surprised when it does not function properly.

The air around us is full of all kinds of bacteria — tiny, invisible particles. When they enter a healthy body (through the mouth, nose, etc.), they remain dormant.

But when they enter a body whose tissues are saturated with sugar and toxins, they multiply and cause disease.

Even the so-called “flesh-eating bacteria” are everywhere, and if they encounter a body full of toxins — especially sugar, they may be capable of killing a person within 24 hours.

Few people know that when scientists want to grow bacteria in a laboratory, they add sugar, and remove oxygen.

Why a Healthy Body Resists Disease

A person who overcomes his impulses, eats only healthy food in proper amounts, and follows the other conditions Maimonides described — will, with God’s help, enjoy strong health throughout his life.

This is because a healthy body does not encourage bacterial growth, and therefore has the strength to resist viruses and other harmful agents.

If we ensure that our bodies do not become a breeding ground for bacteria, then Maimonides can indeed “guarantee” that we will not fall ill — with God’s help.

The Generational Impact of Poor Nutrition

We are already several generations into the era of white flour and refined sugar, and we have inherited polluted tissues.

We should not say: “My grandfather smoked a pack a day and lived to 96,” or “My grandmother loved sweets and lived to 98.”

They inherited excellent genetics from their parents.

Most of us, however, have inherited two or three generations of poor nutrition, and we cannot afford to eat whatever we want.

A World Searching for Health “Solutions”

Humanity has already reached the unavoidable conclusion: change is necessary.

Media is full of diet programs, medications, painkillers, miracle supplements from the Far East or the USA, “capsules that conquered Europe,” and more. New health methods appear constantly.

Long lines form outside the clinics of promising doctors around the world, and even those who do not visit them often feel unwell, weak, tired, and irritable.

The “Miracle Instrument” We Already Possess

Usually, when someone proposes a new method, people immediately grow suspicious: “How are you trying to take my money this time?”

But here you may be surprised: We possess a remarkable instrument capable of addressing every possible problem in the world.

It was given to you for free — for your entire lifetime. It is always with you, and always available. All you must do is provide it with the right fuel.

That instrument is your body.

The Kingston Clinic Approach

The “Kingston Clinic,” method parallels in many ways the teachings of Maimonides. It maintains that your body is far more sophisticated than you imagine.

It detects dysfunction faster than the most skilled doctor. It does not need X-rays, CT scans, or MRI to diagnose problems — and once the diagnosis is complete, it immediately knows how to respond.

When the body identifies multiple issues, it prioritizes them — with the Divine wisdom placed within it — and treats them according to urgency.

Proper Maintenance of the Human “Machine”

For this extraordinary system to function at full capacity, proper maintenance is essential:

• quality food

• in the right amounts

• at the right times

• healthy, non-damaging physical activity

• sufficient sleep at proper hours

These form the primary effort a person must make to care for his body properly.