Rex M.D. Russell - What the Bible Says About Healthy Living

P RAISE F OR

W HAT T HE B IBLE S AYS A BOUT H EALTHY L IVING

It is with much pleasure and enthusiasm that I heartily endorse Dr. Rex Russells book What the Bible Says About Healthy Living. Dr. Russells information is both instructional and scientific, based on Gods unerring Word as well as medical data. If every household in America would have and abide by the information found in this book, we would be a stronger nation.

B RIGADIER G ENERAL D IC A BEL

N ATIONAL D IRECTOR , M ILITARY M INISTRY , C AMPUS C RUSADE F OR C HRIST

I highly recommend this book, and I know you will find it extremely interesting and very helpful.

D AVE H ANNAH , E XECUTIVE D IRECTOR

H ISTORYS H ANDFUL /C AMPUS C RUSADE F OR C HRIST I NTERNATIONAL

This book has finally convinced me that I could feel better. Rex Russells humor and down-to-earth style are as refreshing as pure spring water and as sweet as honey.

L OUIS M C B URNEY , M.D.

M ARBLE R ETREAT

The Creator designed us well and told us how we should live if we would be healthy. Now medical science is discovering that these guidelines were right all along. Gleaned from Scripture and supported by medical research, Dr. Russells Three Principles have helped me immeasurably, and they will help others as well.

DR. J OHN M ORRIS

P RESIDENT , I NSTITUTE F OR C REATION R ESEARCH

What the Bible Says About Healthy Living is a must-read for every Christian who is serious about living a healthy and vigorous life that pleases God. Finally, a biblically based book on health and nutrition by a medical doctor.

D ENNIS A ND B ARBARA R AINEY

E XECUTIVE D IRECTORS A ND C OFOUNDERS , F AMILYLIFE M INISTRIES

What the Bible Says About Healthy Living is the most outstanding biblical reference on how to live and enjoy a quality life from a personal perspective of good health, diet and lifestyle commitment. I am convinced that it is time for us as individuals and in our medical profession to really study and follow what the Lord shares about proper health and diet.

D AL S HEALY

P RESIDENT A ND C EO
F ELLOWSHIP O F C HRISTIAN A THLETES

After reading more than 100 diet and healthy-eating books, my very favorite book above them all is Rex Russells What the Bible Says About Healthy Living. Everyone who reads this book will learn how to choose the best foods to eat and how to lose weight naturally.

G ARY S MALLEY

A UTHOR , T HED NAO FR ELATIONSHIPS

If you believe that this Earth and its inhabitants were created by a Master Designer, then you will believe with me that this is one of the best of all books available on nutrition and health. I urge you to let this book influence the way you believe and behave in your daily life.

DR. M ARY R UTH S WOPE

N UTRITION E DUCATOR , S WOPE E NTERPRISES

Rex Russell is a living testimony of the results of living by the health principles of the Bible. This book will be a great aid to those who are looking for biblical answers to physical health problems. It has opened an entirely new view to me to the biblical design for personal physical health.

D ALE T HOMPSON

P ASTOR , F IRST B APTIST C HURCH O F F ORT S MITH , A RANSAS

Dr. Rex Russell combines the eternal principles of the Bible with up-to-date science to give an outstanding insight into healthy living, both physically and spiritually. He demonstrates that there was common sense behind the eating requirements of the Old Testament. He also shows how proper eating helps the body heal itself.

E LMER L. T OWNS

D EAN , L IBERTY U NIVERSITY S CHOOL O F R ELIGION

1996 Rex Russell, M.D.

Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com

Revell edition published 2014

ISBN 978-1-4412-2563-4

Previously published by Regal Books

Ebook edition originally created 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Other versions used are:

KJVKing James Version. Authorized King James Version.

NASB Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

NKJV Scripture taken from the New King James Version . Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

C ONTENTS

Jordan S. Rubin

Check Your Health IQ

F OREWORD

Each time I share the message of health and hope at a church, a conference or on a Christian television or radio program, I begin with this vision: I see a day not long from now when every major mainstream media outlet proclaims this headline: Christians are the worlds healthiest people, with less heart disease, diabetes and obesity than the rest of the world and have a vibrant level of health. When this day comes, our churches will have to double or triple in size as people from near and far will beat down our doors to learn about the God we serve. In that day, we will truly be Gods city on a hill, a light in a dark world.

More than 25 years ago, God spoke a very similar message to a young medical doctor named Rex Russell. Out of obedience to Gods call on his life, Dr. Russell wrote a landmark book called What the Bible Says About Healthy Living. Through this act of obedience, God has used Dr. Russell to deliver a message that has transformed the health and lives of thousands of people.

I met Dr. Russell about 8 years ago after picking up his book in my local Christian bookstore. Although the title of the book piqued my interest, I was expecting to find another version of the Genesis 1:29 vegetarian diet that many had written about previously, a diet that I had come to believe from my own personal experience to be incomplete and even unhealthy for many. What I found was a health book combining the best of biblical wisdom with modern-day science, a foundational health plan that was both timely and authentic, and, to date, the most complete and accurate book on biblical health that I have read.

Having recovered from an incurable illness by following a health plan with similar principles, I knew I had to meet the author. As I found myself standing in line, waiting to meet Dr. Russell, I was pleasantly surprised by his humble demeanor and great warmth. That day, after I shared my story of how God brought me from tragedy to triumph, Dr. Russell and his wife, Judy, told mea 22-year-old health-food store stock boythat God was going to use me to bring health to His people. Armed with that encouragement, I made a commitment to follow Gods call on my life to bring the Bibles health message to the Church.