How To Make A Quick & Easy Power Foods Meal Plan

Want a quick & easy power foods meal plan? Here are ideas and tips you can implement to stay healthy, lose weight, and even do the Daniel Fast by using this power plate meals plan for a week.

Your whole body will be shouting, “Super satisfied!” when you feed it these super-fueled foods.

I’m not just giving you meal ideas to help plan a few healthy dishes; this is a plan that will fill a whole week.

Whether you’re starting a health journey, want some new ideas, or are tackling the Daniel Fast, these meals will help you achieve your health goals.

That’s because they’re all about quick and easy power meals to help you plan for a week!

Power Foods Meal Plan Grocery List

To get ready, use the following grocery list:

Shopping Tips

Buy quality protein first.

Add healthy carbohydrates like wild or brown rice, lentils or beans.

Buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Frozen is also a good option and can help save money.

How much food do you need to buy?

Quantities will vary depending on choices, but you can estimate four pounds of each of the following for each adult, for 1 week: protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates.

These quantities are estimates and based on if you were to buy everything necessary to prepare for one week.

Adjustments can be made depending on what you already have on hand, what foods you love to eat, and how much you’re preparing in advance.

Additional staples to keep on hand:

-  Lemons

- Limes 

- Vinegars - flavored

- Fresh herbs

- Garlic

- Butter

- Balsamic vinegar

- Organic stock: chicken or vegetable

Power Prep Meals

While there’s a lot of variety included here, this is not an exhaustive list of foods to use. Substitute or add in any other vegetables you like.

Don't get overwhelmed, like “I'm not doing all that.” I just want you to pick the vegetables most enjoyed.

Vegetables are so nutritious for the body, serving as great sources of fiber AND fostering a healthy microbiome.

Get organic whenever possible, especially when purchasing the “dirty” vegetables. 

When you shop on the Designed Healthy Living website, and the items are shipped from our office, we always include the produce shopping guide which can be folded up, put in a wallet or purse, and taken with you to the store. 

What you’ll need:

- Grains

- Protein

- Vegetables

- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

- Seasoning of choice

- 3 pots/pans

- Cooking spoons

- Knife & cutting board

- Scale

- Large glass bowl

- Single-serving containers with lids

- 1 cup measuring cup

Power Foods Meal Plan To Lose Weight

Every healthy eating and weight loss plan includes 2 major components:

1 - Protein

2 - Fiber 

In order to get the perfect balance, we want an even amount of protein (meat or legumes/beans), vegetables, and grains.

The recipe/plan given here is based off 2 lbs of each food category, however the amounts can be multiplied by whatever factor you want or need. There’s truly no limit.

Step 1 - Prep & Cooking

The perfect place to start is by getting all the ingredients out and ready.

Cook Once and Enjoy All Week

The Grain

Once everything is out, begin by rinsing your grain and putting it in a pot to boil.

2 pounds of uncooked rice or quinoa equals about 3 1/2 cups. Both of these grains tend to take twice as much water as grain to cook, but make sure to check the packaging.

2 pounds of dry lentils equals about 4 ½ cups. Lentils take 3 cups of water for every cup of the small seeds.

If you have a scale, you can also weigh the uncooked grains instead of measuring them.

Each of these grains take about 15-20 minutes to cook. 

Variety in the grains adds a better balance of  nutrition, so feel free to mix and match these uber-healthy grains for your dishes.

The Meat

Once that’s in the pot, get 2 pounds of your protein of choice going. If that’s meat, heat up a bit of oil in the pan (except for beef, which comes with its own fat), then add the meat. Cook, stirring frequently, until done.

The meat should be cooked through and either shredded or crumbled.

If you’re using legumes or beans as the protein base, there may be the need to start these the night ahead with a good soaking, then cook them at the same time as your grain.

The Vegetables

Once the proteins and grains are cooked and removed from the stove to cool, it’s time to prep the veggies. Wash them well, then chop, shred, or dice them as appropriate.

You know what vegetables are: wonderful sources of fiber, the key ingredient to healthy living, weight loss, and weight management.

We want 2 pounds of vegetables (total) prepped. Now, this is going to be a lot more volume than 2 pounds of meat!

(Remember, 2 pounds of each will make several meals, but about 4 is needed for all week.)

What does 2 pounds of vegetables look like? Hopefully, you have a scale for the kitchen. I place a large bowl on my scale, then reset it to zero so it’s not counting in my bowl’s weight.

Don’t worry about weighing the vegetables before chopping, shredding, or dicing. Anything left over after you’ve put the meals together will make great additions to other meals, especially the Power 5 Salad.

Think: veggies for an omelet for breakfast, salad ingredients ready to go, or stir-fry veggies that’ll be ready to go whenever.

Your whole menu will benefit from the time spent prepping.

Begin adding a variety of vegetables to the measuring bowl. Start with your favorites and keep adding until you reach 2 pounds. (Remember, you can also choose a total of 3 or 4 pounds, depending on how much you want prepared ahead of time. Just keep the ratios of protein, grains, and vegetables even.)

Once the vegetables are measured, saute them in a pan with a couple of tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. 

Stir the vegetables as they cook and add seasoning to taste. Two of my favorite’s are Morton’s Nature Seasoning and granulated garlic. Other ideas are salt and pepper, seasoned salt, or any herbs that will brighten and enhance the flavors of this dish.

Which Vegetables Should be Cooked?

These vegetables are best sauteed:

- Carrots

- Mushrooms

- Green beans

- Asparagus

- Onions

- Fennel

- Beets

- Cauliflower

- Broccoli

These vegetables are best raw:

- Lettuce

- Cucumbers

Power Foods Meal Plan - Putting Them All Together

Once the veggies are crisp tender, but not over-cooked, everything is ready to put together.

My taste buds are salivating just at the thought of the combination of all these power foods ready to make our power meals!

In a large bowl, add the meat first, then the veggies, and grains.

I love to add some fresh, chopped parsley, as it adds a wonderful flavor and brightness. Plus a little liver cleanse is an added bonus.

Mix everything thoroughly.

And that's it. 

So you would just let it cool. Put it in the refrigerator and then just dish it out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and you have a perfect power foods meal! It's ready to go - the ideal “fast food.” 

Another idea is to make several smaller bowls with different items combined and store them in smaller, meal-sized containers.

And it'll last you several days. If making one serving (2 lbs of each), there should be a good 2-4 meals ready to enjoy throughout the week. And you're good. 

Remember - 2 cups is one meal serving. A complete protein and high fiber with loaded antioxidants! A balanced blessing your body will love. A meal fit for a King (or queen).

The best part of these power plate meals are that they’re chock-full of all the amazing nutrients God has provided for us to experience optimal health. 

The second best thing is there are endless possibilities to mix things up by using different grains, proteins, and vegetables. Even though the main idea is the same, the meals don’t have to be.

Check out my video on how to prepare this super healthy - and quick - power foods meal!  

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Power Foods Meal Plan Recipes:

Here are some delicious recipes and blends:

- Chicken, rice, and vegetables - stir fry for a flavored blend

- Beef, quinoa, vegetables

- Chicken, sweet potatoes and vegetables

I’d love to hear what you put in your power foods meal plan. 

What are your favorite power foods? 

How did you mix things up? 

Is there a favorite spice or herb you added?

Let me know in the comments what you think and how this power plate meals plan is a blessing.

Questions About

Unleavened Bread In The Bible

Why Unleavened Bread is in the Bible

I get specific questions about healthy living and eating in our Facebook group, which I answer weekly on my podcast and YouTube channel. Today, I’ve compiled questions about unleavened bread in the Bible to bless you with this rich, meaningful food.

Unleavened Bread in Scripture

We first see a mention of unleavened bread in the book of Genesis 19, when Lot receives the two angels in Sodom. The next time it’s mentioned is at the first Passover, as the Isrealites prepare for God’s deliverance.

Unleavened bread symbolized the Israelites’ haste when they escaped from slavery in Egypt after the death of all first-borns. According to the scriptures, the Israelites fled so quickly and immediately the bread didn’t have time to rise.

This is why God commanded the Israelites to commemorate this event by celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread. By eating this kind of bread, they will always remember the victory that God has given them to enter the promised land.

God’s people celebrate The Feast of Passover, a synonym to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for seven days. The Israelites ate unleavened bread for those seven days, as the Jews still do today.

Observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread is also a great way for Christians to connect with Jesus and His Jewish heritage, as well as God’s complete story.

In addition to the Book of Exodus, unleavened bread is also mentioned in Numbers 9:11, Deuteronomy 16:3, and many other places in scripture.

Not as familiar to many people today, I often get questions about unleavened bread, how to make it correctly, what it symbolizes, and when are good times to add it to the menu.

Today I’m sharing the most common unleavened bread questions I’ve received. Hope it's a blessing!

How Is Unleavened Bread Made?

I have several videos about making unleavened bread. 

- Classic Unleavened Bread Recipe from the Bible

- 7 Healthy Unleavened Bread Recipes

- How to Make Unleavened Bread from the Bible

Check one of these out and/or keep reading for a recipe below!

Unleavened bread can be enjoyed daily, weekly, or just on special occasions.

It can be flavored, basic, or used as your pizza crust!

Here's one of my videos on how to make unleavened bread in the Bible with only 4 ingredients!

Once you know how to make unleavened bread, there are simple ways to make this even without power in your home. This can be a mainstay when times get tough or we are dealing with a storm and power loss.

You can confidently know you are feeding your family well by learning simple and flexible recipes like unleavened bread.

Is unleavened bread only flour and water? 

Flour and water alone will make it inedible. Without salt the bread tastes horrible. So we need flour, water (or other liquid), and salt. It’s that simple.

How much honey should I use?

I start with just 1 tablespoon of honey. Begin with that and experiment to see how your family likes it. 

If you desire sweet bread, adding vanilla and cinnamon are also great options. They’ll cause a sweet reaction in your mouth and less honey is needed.

Does adding baking powder to the recipe disqualify the bread as Biblically consumable during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?  

Yes, baking powder is a leavening agent. Other leavening agents to avoid are yeast, baker’s ammonia, cream of tartar, and sodium bicarbonate.

How much olive oil and salt do you add to make unleavened bread? 

Love this question.

The recipe I use is 2 cups of flour.

Be creative and try several options such as spelt, kamut, and even oat flour.

Recipe for Unleavened Bread

All that’s needed for unleavened bread is:

2 cups flour¾ cup cold water 

2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

1 teaspoon salt

Beyond that, feel free to explore with a variety of flavors and additions.

Can you please tell me what is the best flour to use to make unleavened bread?

Actually, any flour such as red wheat, hard white, spelt, or a mix of amaranth, einkorn, rye, kamut work for unleavened bread. It’s not about the type of flour, but the lack of leavening agent.

Experiment and enjoy.

Is it possible to make unleavened bread in my slow cooker? 

Good question. A hot plate is the best option if an oven isn’t available. A stove will also work.

Unleavened bread is similar to a pancake. It can be made on any flat, hot surface.

I have not used a slow cooker for unleavened bread, but if there’s heat, the bread will cook. And since we don’t need it to rise, it might work.

Would it be possible to make just one large loaf of unleavened bread from four quarts of flour that weighed around 11 lbs.?

Would a loaf like this hold together and still be edible? 

I love this question because I had never considered it before.

There is much confusion in the interpretation of whether or not the showbread was leavened or unleavened. Josephus claims it was unleavened.

Aren’t you glad when we get to heaven all the answers will be evident?!

To your answer, I don’t see that your recipe of 11 pounds of flour would be a good presentation or delicious.

Unleavened bread is able to be frozen for future use or if you’re making unleavened bread for an entire congregation, it can be made in larger batches but smaller loaves.

Spiritual Significance of Unleavened Bread

Unleavened bread has many spiritual meanings. Here are commonly asked questions about unleavened bread in the Bible and its spiritual significance:

When scripture says, “Do it in remembrance of Jesus”, does it mean we should do it at a specific date or can we do it anytime?

Unleavened bread is a beautiful addition to the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which starts with Passover and goes for 7 days. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach our family about sin and how it can be hidden in all areas of our home.

Unleavened bread can also be enjoyed on Resurrection Sunday  or, as some call it, Easter. Hot cross buns have a feel good, but are a later addition when the Jewishness of our holy days was removed.

Additionally, unleavened bread is to be enjoyed any day of the year when you desire it for foodie fun or a spiritual significance.

Isn't the unleavened bread supposed to remind us of the hardship people had to go through?

It can be a reminder of the hardship, but I see it more as remembering the deliverance God brings when we are willing to remove the sin from our life.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.John 8:36 

The stripes on the bread are a reminder of the freedom offered to us.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Anything that has interrupted the evidence of freedom in Christ in my life is a sin.

I am to live in freedom, knowing Christ has set me free.

The unleavened bread, at Passover in the spring and each morning I choose to use it during my devotion time, is a chance to review my life.

To ask if sin has crept in and then remove it through repentance and change. This keeps my heart pure and free to live in Christ open. No entanglements.

Doesn't leaven represent pride or sin being puffed up? Leveling the whole lump does that mean it goes before a fall?

Like our sin affects others, it will bring us down in the end. God uses this to create in us a broken and a contrite heart, which He views as a good sacrifice.

In the New Testament, leaven represents wickedness (The teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees), and malice and lying of Herod.

In I Corinthians 5:7-8, Paul commands,

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Accordingly, in the New Testament leaven implies wickedness and malice in contrast to sincerity and truth.

Through the work of Christ on the cross we can come to Him with sincerity of heart and truth in our spirit.

Can I eat unleavened bread on the Daniel Fast?

My answer is yes. Others will say no. 

The reason I say yes is because I believe that the Daniel Fast is about putting aside time and food for a deeper relationship with God. 

I don’t make “eat this and don’t eat that” the primary focus of the 21 days. 

For me, to spend the morning with a piece of unleavened bread and water (I forgo juice, since the sugar can cause me to want more) and Bible creates a precious time of devotion. Plus, bread and water is a fast on its own.

Others will say bread isn’t allowed. That is fine. I don’t find this a point of contention. 

Make the Daniel Fast what you want it to be, but it needs to be different from your regular routine and eating plan. The change in eating is what causes us to be reminded we are in a time of fasting. We say, “Oh yeah, I am not eating that now. I should go pray.”

Unleavened Bread Conclusions

I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey of unleavened bread as much as I have!

This simple, quick bread is great to add to a meal or share with a group. To include in an everyday menu, or plan for a special celebration.

There are endless ways to tailor it and spice it up. 

I’d love to know what you think after trying the recipe and what all ingredients you add. Let me know in the comments below!

Olive you and want you to have excellent health! God loves you too, and that’s why He gave us such wonderful gifts in food like the olive. And why today we’re talking about olives’ health benefits & biblical significance.

God created the world with unlimited resources that are both delicious and nutrient-rich, giving great benefits to gaining and maintaining health. 

I love teaching about healthful foods and sharing how science has helped us learn why certain foods help with certain aspects of health.

Yet even better than that, I love digging into Scripture to see what God says about food and His love for us that prompted His great provision.

By studying the foods of the Bible, we can learn a tremendous amount about God, ourselves, and our world.

Olives - A Food Of The Promised Land

As the time drew close for the Israelites to move to the land God promised them, the Lord, through Moses, gave His people the commandments, instructions, and details to His promises they’d need to thrive.

He reminded them they were a chosen people, His people, and prepared them for entering the promised land. He loved them, just as He loves us today.

When thinking of the promised land, we often think of the verses referring to a land flowing with milk and honey, but in the verses of instruction included in Deuteronomy, the Lord also includes more specifics about their new home.

We’re spending some time familiarizing ourselves with the 7 Foods of the Promised Land, and today is all about the amazing olive.

First, let’s look at the scripture that list these foods:

“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Deuteronomy 8:7-10

I’m excited to dive into these verses and the foods God provided in abundance in the promised land! I hope you are, too.

Health Benefits Of Olives

How amazing are olives? 

What is the olive meaning in the Bible? 

How often should we eat olives?

Today, we’re learning spiritual meanings of the olive tree and how eating olives is a simple way to improve your health!

We’ll answer these questions and more.

We’ll talk about the health benefits of olives, olive meaning in the Bible, and more! Here are 7 powerful reasons to eat olives. 

These include both spiritual and physical health benefits of olives.

Not only does the olive itself provide these benefits, but so does olive oil.

Keep reading to learn why making olives and olive oil a part of every day is a great thing.

Spiritual Benefits Of Olives

Olives have spiritual, as well as physical benefits. Here are the spiritual benefits of olives:

1. Salvation Reminder

Eating olives helps us remember the message of salvation.

The olive tree is an eternal tree, and serves as a reminder of the eternal message Jesus came to give us is the message of salvation. 

We learn this message of salvation by studying the whole of Scripture. In the New Testament specifically Jesus and then His disciples proclaim salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

Probably no verse is as well-known as the succinct John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus brought us the message of salvation and one of the biblical characteristics of the olive tree is it is eternal. It is a perfect olive tree symbolism because it can live for hundreds and sometimes even thousands of years.

We also see the olive tree referenced again in Romans 11, as Paul uses the symbolism to show how Gentile believers (wild olive branches) are grafted into the Israelite nation (God’s chosen people, or cultivated olive tree).

God takes what is lost and corrupt and makes it, makes us, righteous by His power, mercy, and grace.

2. God's Work In Us

The olive fruit helps us to recognize God at work in our lives.

Olives go through a pressing to make oil. 

The first pressing was the oil that was used for the tabernacle because it is the purest.

The Israelites used the pure, first-pressed olive oil for lighting and as an anointing oil in the tabernacle.

The second oil pressed would’ve been used for fires. And then they used the third oil press for lighting in homes.

When we offer God the first of our fruits (and the “pressings” of life), we offer the purest of what we have. So we always want to give God our first fruits. 

This context is found in 2 Corinthians, where it says, “We are pressed but not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. We are persecuted but not forsaken. Cast down, but not destroyed.” 

Olives are really not pleasing at first. In fact, they are very bitter. It takes soaking and pressing to get the finest oil that makes the best flavor.

And so just as olives are oppressed and crushed, we too can have times  that seem pressing. But through that, when we surrender it to the Lord, He brings out the best in us.

Physical Benefits Of Olives

Aside from spiritual benefits, there are also many physical health benefits of olives. Definitely more reasons to eat olives daily!

1. Antihistamine Properties

So many people today take antihistamines for allergies, but did you know that this antihistamine effect can be achieved through pure olives and pure olive oil? 

It is a good solution for those looking to take a natural antihistamine.

2. Lowers The Risk Of Inflammation

Inflammation tells us we’ve got a problem and that’s okay, but when we have consistent inflammation, then we have trouble in our body. 

Olives and EVOO have an anti-inflammatory effect and that will help us to feel better than cheaper, less healthy oils and foods.

3. Lowers C-Reactive Protein

Another one of the many health benefits of olives is that it helps to lower your C-reactive protein.

C-Reactive protein is a blood measurement. Every time blood work is done, a CRP value should be evaluated. 

As with many measures of bloodwork, I highly recommend keeping track of the results. 

4. Inhibits the inflammation process

There’s a pathway in your body called the arachidonic acid pathway. This is an inflammation process, so it actually inhibits the inflammation process. So not only does it help to alleviate inflammation, it helps to inhibit the process of inflammation.

We cover this in depth in the Treasures of Healthy Living DVD/CD series, but you can also find out more in this brief video.

5. Anticancer properties

When olives and olive oil are processed correctly, they maintain an antioxidant component called glutathione, a peptide (short chain of amino acids) which is a master antioxidant that’s the gatekeeper and works at ridding the body of free radicals.

I also explain more about this in my Treasures of Healthy Living DVD series. I encourage you to check that out! 

In this series and in other teachings, I share all about free radical damage and how to combat it effectively. You see, free radical damage is what makes us look older and what makes us feel older.

So if we can inhibit free radicals with glutathione, the master antioxidant which we get from olives and olive oil, then we get the health benefits that give us a wow factor.

Watch this video where I discuss the health benefits of olives - both physical and spiritual! 

Are Olives Good For You?

I hope you can answer this question now with a resounding, “Yes!”

And plan on adding olives and olive oil in your everyday diet, if they aren’t a part of it already. 

However, it all comes down to this: Just as we are spiritual, we are physical and just as we are physical, we are spiritual. 

Jesus used stories of food to teach us physical aspects of who we are so that he can then teach us the spiritual elements of who we are.

Olives are just one of the many foods we find in Scripture and only one of the 7 Foods of the Promised Land. Be sure to check out the post about Figs in the Bible and be looking for the upcoming posts on the last five:

• Wheat
• Barley
• Grapes
• Pomegranates
• Dates

Flaxseed has grown in popularity, and with it, people seeking to use flaxseed appropriately. This, naturally, elicits questions about flaxseed.

I’ve covered the topic of flaxseed several times, including this short video on health benefits of flaxseed and simple recipes that use flaxseed and this video reviewing the top 11 benefits of adding flaxseed to the menu.

It truly is one of my favorite foods in the treasure chest of healthy living.

Questions About Flaxseed

So, without further ado, here are several questions I’ve received from Facebook followers in our private group Biblical Nutrition Academy. I hope they bless you and help today be an amen day!

1. Is Flaxseed Good For Diabetics?

Flaxseed with fiber and essential oils help balance blood sugar. It’s definitely included in a healthy diet plan for those with diabetes (type 1 or 2) and even prediabetes. 

All healthy lifestyles include lots of fiber, which flaxseed is a good resource for. 

Most Americans eat around 15 grams of fiber a day, but my desire is for people to reach at the least 35 grams of fiber daily. Ideally, fiber intake should be closer to 50 grams a day, yet this can be a challenge for many people.

Fiber isn’t just important, it’s essential for health. (And a key ingredient to how I lost 60 pounds!) This is especially true for diabetics. 

Fiber is the first step to gaining your health back. A high fiber diet helps with satiety, reduces blood sugar cravings and stabilizes blood sugar.

But the best fiber doesn’t come in a package or supplement. As with all the nutrients our bodies need, the best source is the most natural source - real food.

Flaxseed is a wonderful, natural source of fiber and is easily added to oatmeal, smoothies, and many other of your favorite meals.

As we eat God designed fiber rich foods – we create a happy and healthy microbiome which leads to less depression and anxiety.

2. How Should I Use Flaxseed?

Is it safe to add ½ t of cod liver oil, 2 T ground flaxseed and 1 T of sesame seed to a smoothie?

Yes, this would be fine. However, take note and see how your digestive system handles this. For some people who are sensitive to that much oil they may not feel well. For others this is no problem.

If you do have issues, then divide this out and have your sesame seeds and flax seeds at one time of the day and the cod liver oil at another.

3. Is It Okay To Grind Flaxseeds?

Can we grind flaxseed and store in the fridge for some days or weeks?

Good question. I love flaxseed questions because it means people are seeking to eat healthy and this is a simple add-on to accomplish just that.

Flax seeds should be bought as seeds, not already milled. Both brown and light tan are healthy options.

When you’re ready to add the seeds to your meal - two great options are smoothies and salads - then freshly milling is best.

If there is extra, store in a tightly sealed jar and place in the freezer to preserve the oils. It is best to use this within a day or so and not save very long. 

The idea of freshly milled is for you to get all the essential oils. The longer it is stored the less oils and it is just a fiber.

Which is great, but the oils are special too.

7 Best Bitter Herbs In The Bible For Health & Weight Loss!

There is one food group that will fast forward your healing, better than a supplement or workout routine! As with everything I do, I search out God’s Word for the keys to healing and health. And it’s no surprise there’s a wealth of information about powerful herbs in the Bible.

We think of herbs as little additions to a dish or meal that abounds with flavor, but they are so much more.

They can help:

- Jumpstart your digestive healing which leads to healing in all areas of your body. Would you like better digestion? Less back talk from your body?

- Attain better mental clarity

- Reduce anxiety

- Increase circulation, which means less clogged systems

For centuries, in fact millenia, herbs have provided people with flavors, fragrances, and medicinal benefits. People used herbs to promote health and healing long before scientific advancements allowed us to study them and “prove” their benefits.

If you’re curious to know what herbs are a great treasure for your health, plus mentioned in Scripture, you’re in the right place.

Today is definitely another fun foodie day!

Bitter Herbs For Healing In The Bible

Today I am going to share 7 bitter herbs and why you need to add these to your routine and daily cooking.

When working with my clients for the last 18 years, we always start with the digestive system, the underlying problem for almost every complaint.

Over the last decade or so, we’ve learned a bushel of information about the importance of gut health. How it’s not just where your food goes for processing, but how it’s intricately linked to every body system, and especially our mental health.

Research has discovered that while our brains play important roles in the production and use of hormones important for physical health such as serotonin and dopamine, our gut does even more so.

This is why when we heal the gut we seed issues including depression, colitis, inflammation, heart disease, and so much more start to heal.

There is one type of herb that can fast forward that healing: bitter herbs.

The Israelites were commanded to eat the Passover lamb "with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs." (Exodus 12:8) 

These "bitter herbs'' consisted of such plants as chicory, bitter cresses, hawkweeds, sow-thistles, and wild lettuces, which grow abundantly in the peninsula of Sinai, in Palestine, and in Egypt. The purpose of this observance was to recall to the minds of the Israelites their deliverance from the bitter bondage of the Egyptians.

(Learn more about Passover and why Christians should celebrate it here.)

Bonus: Bible Word

Gall is a word seen a handful of times in scripture that means bitter, not related to herbs, but emotional, physical, and spiritual suffering.

Matthew 27:34 says that as Jesus was being crucified, the Roman soldiers offered “wine to drink, mixed with gall.”

Mark 15:23 specifies that the bitterness in the wine was due to the presence of myrrh. Wine mixed with bitter herbs or myrrh created a potion that dulled the sense of pain. The mixture of sour wine and gall was often given to the suffering to ease their pain in death.

Unlike gall, bitter herbs aren’t the hard, painful things of life, but actually bring health, healing, and wonderful flavors to life.

Common bitter herbs include: horseradish, parsley, coriander, mugwort, chamomile, mint, horehound, endive, plus more.

Even romaine lettuce, which can be sweet, is considered bitter because of its aftertaste and its ability to become quite bitter the longer it is grown.

7 Bitter Herbs Of The Bible

Bitter herbs are plants with the bitter principle that represent a group of chemicals with an exceedingly bitter taste.

These herbs – beyond their biblical significance in the Passover – offer tremendous healing properties that we can benefit from on a daily basis.

To gain this benefit you first have to taste the bitter flavor – this starts a chain reaction in your body starting with the digestive juices and enzymes. 

Taste buds have a reflex action that stimulates the secretion of digestive juices and also stimulates the activity of the liver, which improves detoxification and elimination.

Bitter herbs also have antibiotic and antifungal properties. And also anti-tumor actions. They, like all the wonderful foods God has given us, are meant for more than just pleasing our taste buds.

So, what are the 7 bitter herbs mentioned in the Bible and are also powerful for health and healing?

1. Chamomile

Chamomile blossoms contain essential oils composed, in part, of Azulene, a blue hydrocarbon. Azulene is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Chamomile also contains resins, wax, fatty acids, bitter agents, chlorophyll, and phosphoric acid salts. 

This unique combination of ingredients has the potential to trigger surprising healing effects, particularly when consumed via tea. Although Chamomile is most often thought of as an excellent anti-inflammatory, it can also aid in healthy digestion.

Gather the flowers in the late spring and late summer when they are not wet with dew or rain. Then dry at a low temp.

2. Peppermint

Peppermint contains a number of different bitter agents with anti-inflammatory, germ-killing, bile-drifting, cramp-relieving, and pain-relieving properties. 

The herb is mainly consumed as mint tea and is also known to assist with digestive issues such as bloating, diarrhea, gall bladder ailments, stomach aches, and nausea. 

It's also used for insomnia, headaches, and the common cold. 

Peppermint teas and tincture are a great way to consume organic bitters for digestion.

Peppermint has a relaxing effect on muscles and anti-flatulent properties. It also stimulates bile in the gall bladder and digestive juices. It is very helpful with treating Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Making fresh tea with steeped leaves from your garden is true soul food.

3. Balm

Balm is a word we may associate with phrases like, “that’s a balm to me.” However, although it’s a little less known in our culture, it’s a plant in the mint family that truly adds pleasantness to life.

Also known as lemon balm, this herb helps relieve spasms of the digestive tract, especially if they’re associated with anxiety or depression, since it helps relieve tension and stress reactions.

Additionally, balm is also a tonic effect on the heart and the blood circulation, and can be used in feverish conditions such as the flu.

4. Hyssop

This bitter herb is mentioned in Scripture, yet the variety grown during Jesus’ day is not the same variety we grow here in the US today.

That does not take away from its medicinal properties, though.

It’s good for spams such as cough caused by bronchitis and colds. 

Hyssop also helps with anxiety, hysteria, and even some forms of mild epilepsy.

The flowers are generally collected in the fall and dried for later use. 

It’s another treasure you can add to your own home garden. This plant grows like mint, which means it will pop up everywhere and there’s no special skill necessary to grow it.

5. Horseradish

Horseradish isn’t just for your roast beef sandwich.

This spice (“herb” and “spice” are often interchangeable terms) will kick up a dish in flavor and will also kick up the circulatory system.

It’s good for helping treat urinary tract and respiratory tract infections. 

Are you sneezing like crazy this spring? Horseradish can also help with asthma, bronchial mucus, hay fever, and allergies.

It’s also really good at stimulating digestive juices, which is good for the body in many ways.

Want a creative way to add horseradish (and beets, which also are a great treasure to add to your health bank account) to your menu? Try out this recipe:

Beet and Horseradish Salad

1 cup Yogurt

1 Tablespoon fresh Horseradish, grated

3 Beets, raw and freshly grated

4 Tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine yogurt, horseradish then add grated beets and top with mint. Enjoy!

6. Endive

This herb is a leafy green in the chicory family and is only slightly bitter, making it a great ingredient for a delicious salad. 

This bitter herb does as the others do and stimulates the liver and digestion – to feel our best we must digest! Endive is also good for the skin and mucous membranes – that is your first line of defense.

Add endive to all your salads. Try experimenting with this fresh lettuce at least 3 times this week and see how you like it.

A fun way to add this unique leafy green is to make it into a hummus boat!

Always remember all these herbs can be added to a smoothie. Although I would never do that with horseradish!

7. Parsley

Last, but definitely not least, we have parsley. 

Parsley is the 2nd most used bitter herb (behind horseradish) in the celebration of our Lord's Feast, the first celebration of the spring: Passover.

At a seder meal, parsley represents life, which God gives us. It’s also dipped in salt water to represent the tears of the Israelites because of the suffering they endured as slaves in Egypt.

Parsley can be steeped into the perfect morning pick me up tea, the mid afternoon cleanse tea. Desire a non-caffeine energy boost? Try homemade parsley tea, which I share in this  video:

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It is also the best first bite of any meal, as it will help release digestive juices and start the process of enzymes. Enzymes are keys to unlocking the life properties in these foods.

So, not only does it help your body, it helps your body help your body!

Add These Healing Herbs Of The Bible To Your Diet Today!

I hope these herbs are exciting your taste buds and filling your treasure box today. These herbs are found in the Bible, but are just the beginning of God’s wonderful riches of health found in the foods He’s given.

God loves you with an everlasting love and desires that you live an abundant life here on earth. To help us do so, He included a vast amount and variety of food resources that are good for our bodies.

Unlike most of what man has come up with in a lab, these foods promote health and healing from the inside out and aid our bodies in living well.

If these herbs are unfamiliar to you, try them out one at a time. There are seven, so assign each herb to a day of the week, add them to your grocery list (either buying fresh, dried, or purchasing seeds or a plant to grow yourself), and try them out.

I’d love to know about your experience. Which herb is your favorite? What creative ways have you found to add them to the menu?