The 8 Laws of Health
In nature we find eight laws that govern the health of our bodies. From creation, these laws were provided by God to give our bodies the ability to heal, and to also develop our mind. As with any law designed by God, if you are faithful to obey it, you will be blessed with health and healing of the body, mind, and spirit. The eight laws are very simple, but the benefits are infinite:
“Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies” (Ministry of Healing, page 127). To remember the eight laws, the acronym NEW START was created: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God.
Health does not come from proper nutrition or exercise alone; complete health will be found when all eight principles are adopted. You may find it hard to put into practice all eight laws at once, but we can take one step at a time. Each person will begin in a different place and that’s okay. The important thing is to take steps forward with a goal in mind. You will find that some of these principles can be quickly added to your daily life without much effort, whereas others will require more discipline, education, and time to implement. Start where you can and don’t give up. With perseverance and God’s help, you will see how your body begins to heal and you will be motivated to keep going.
Principles for Healthy Living
1. Nutrition
- Eat plant-based, incorporating many fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts, and grains.
- Avoid wheat. I highly recommend you look into the history of the current wheat we eat. Many people are becoming sensitive to this modern grain and it is causing inflammation.
- Avoid processed foods and cook at home.
- Take time to masticate your food well to improve digestion.
- Eat your meals at the same time every day with no snacking in between.
- Consider intermitting fasting and a 24 hour fast every week.
- For further study, consider: Genesis 1:29, Genesis 3:18, Daniel 1, and the ideal diet God outlined for Israel.
2. Exercise
- Move your body daily in the way you most enjoy: Garden, walk, bike, go on hikes, tennis, soccer, run, etc.
- Aim for at least 30 minutes a day, and ideally 1 hour.
- Try to be as active as you can throughout the day. Get a standing work desk, make repeated walks to get water, take 10-minute walking breaks, stretch your body, etc.
3. Water
- Drink plenty of water in between meals. Aim for at least 8 cups a day.
- Avoid juices, sugary drinks, and caffeine, including black/green tea. Try non-caffeinated herbal teas instead.
- Use water for healing. Hydrotherapy has powerful healing effects on the body. To learn more on hydrotherapy, I recommend you check out Traditional Hydrotherapy.
4. Sunlight
- Get at least 15 minutes of sunlight exposure a day (without sunscreen). Slowly increase the time you spend in the sun to prevent sunburn—30 to 45 minutes is ideal.
- When the weather permits, expose your arms, chest, and legs to receive as much sunlight as possible.
- Get sunlight exposure in your eyes early in the morning. This will help with melatonin production at night and allow you to go to bed early and have better sleep.
- When you are sick or have a chronic condition, try sunbathing. You may want to expose your back completely and get sunlight on your back, stomach, and chest. Lay in your backyard or balcony, 15 minutes on your back and 15 minutes on your stomach, to get the benefits the sun provides for fighting the disease.
- In the summer, be mindful to not burn your skin. Avoid sun exposure from noon to 3 pm.
- If you expose your body regularly to the sun, you will be less likely to burn. Everybody is different. Know your body and increase the time slowly.
5. Temperance
- “True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything that is hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful” (White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 562). In other words, abstain from all that is bad and use wisely that which is good.
- Don’t consume drugs, alcohol, smoking, or caffeine.
- Avoid anything that is harmful to your body such as unhealthy food, eating in excess, eating too late, foods that trigger sensitivities, etc.
- Use healthy foods and natural remedies with wisdom.
- Take care of your mind. Consider what you are feeding your mind through social media, movies, TV shows, video games. Fill your mind with things that will connect you to rather than separate you from God.
- “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10: 31).
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).
6. Air
- Get fresh air daily – ventilate your home, get an air purifier if needed, and spend time in forests weekly, where fresh oxygen is plentiful.
- Take deep breaths and avoid tight clothes that impair the healthy flow of oxygen.
- The forest is a great place to get fresh air and boost your immune system. Japanese doctors prescribe “forest bathing”. More on that idea here: Time Magazine and Forest Holidays
7. Rest
- Sleep 7 to 8 hours a day. The best sleep is obtained before midnight, therefore do your best to get as many hours of sleep as you can before then. If you struggle with going to bed early, try to go to bed 15 minutes earlier than you usually would. Every few days, make bedtime another 15 minutes earlier. Over time, your body will adjust.
- Rest when your body asks for it. Sometimes we need to recognize when our mind and body need some time to recharge. Learn to identify those cues and make the time to rest.
- Rest from your daily activities on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). God made a special day of the week to rest our mind and body. Let’s take advantage of this blessing and make the time to fellowship with God and others in His creation.
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2: 2-3).
8. Trust in God
- “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8).
- Read scripture daily and memorize promises. There is healing in the Word of God. Every time you feel overwhelmed, repeat God’s promises and you will be filled with peace.
- Pray and fast.
- Sing worship songs.
- Trust God with every burden in your heart. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).
3 replies on “8 Laws of Health – Principles for Healthy Living”
Amen, God’s way is best!
Well done. Bible references and promises are from our Great Physician, God Himself
Amen to this, I’m happy about these principle and I’d like to apply them in my life….thanks for reminding.