A new dieting trend is gaining traction, promoting the idea that reverting to ancient eating habits as outlined in the Bible can address issues ranging from skin problems to relationship challenges.
Known as ‘biblical eating,’ this approach has been popularized on social media by Christian influencers who emphasize meals made from whole, natural ingredients cited in biblical texts.
This ancient diet includes staples such as raw milk, sardines, sourdough bread, fish, and vegetables, while advocating for the reduction of heavily processed foods and junk items.
Unlike many modern diets that focus on calorie counting or eliminating specific food groups, proponents of biblical eating report significant lifestyle improvements, claiming benefits such as enhanced hair health and alleviated depression.
Kayla Bundy, a 27-year-old Christian influencer from Michigan, shared her personal transformation. She noted that prior to adopting biblical eating, she felt out of balance both physically and mentally, affecting her self-image and friendships.
On April 28, Bundy took to Instagram to reflect on her journey, stating, “I’ve been eating according to the Bible for 8 years now, and what is on my plate every single day is what the kings and queens used to eat.”
‘Not processed, packaged, toxic food, that’s been covered in pesticides, seed oils, and sugars. But actual Whole Foods, with the most incredible flavors and natural sweetness that God created.’
Her TikTok video from May 2, where the influencer revealed that the diet ‘cured’ her skin and hair problems, has been view more than 1.1 million times.
Biblical eating has gained in popularity alongside the MAHA movement, with supporters choosing to only eat foods mentioned in the Bible
Christian content creator Kayla Bundy (Pictured) said she has followed biblical eating for eight years and it has improved her skin and relationships
Despite being open about not having any formal training as a dietitian or nutritionist, Bundy has offered up her experience as a biblical eater to those seeking the secrets of her dieting success, reportedly selling a $28 digital guide to biblical superfoods as well as $700 monthly coaching sessions.
She added that those following this eating plan would ‘experience food freedom, ultimate health, clear skin, and a closer relationship with God.’
Bundy, who has over 500,000 followers on TikTok, has shared an entire assortment of different foods that allegedly fit into the biblical era, including grass-fed steak, chicken, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, sweet potatoes and Greek yogurt.
Bundy is not the only person who has gained a massive following by promoting the foods mentioned in the Bible.
Annalies Xaviera, a stay-at-home mom in Georgia, told the New York Times she saw her online following jump from a few thousand to over 300,000 on Facebook when she began posting biblical eating tips.
In a recent post on May 14, Xaviera referenced Psalm 136:25 from the Bible’s New International Version, which states ‘He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever.’
‘And what are we called to do with anything He has provided for us? We are called to be good stewards,’ Xaviera said.
‘That looks like intentionally choosing foods that are going to nourish and sustain you. Choosing less of the junky, sugary, artificial foods, and more of the real stuff.’
Bundy’s meal plates include foods such as chicken, vegetables and no processed junk food
Other biblical eating foods include fish, grass-fed steak, eggs and raw milk
While the modern version of biblical eating has exploded in popularity alongside the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) movement, the core principles of biblical eating have been around for decades.
In 2004, author and natural health expert Jordan Rubin published The Maker’s Diet, which promoted a biblically inspired health plan. Over two million copies of the book were printed.
That diet was broken down into three, two-week stages. The first one cut out all commercial dairy products, chlorinated tap water, most fats and oils and all carbs.
During the following weeks, dieters could then add in red meat, carbs and saturated fats.
While the biblically inspired plan was popular with readers, it drew mixed reviews from dietitians, including Dr Ruth Kava, who said that humans in ancient times did not have the knowledge of vitamins and supplements to improve their health.
Christian influencers claim the biblically-inspired diet improves both physical and mental well-being (Stock Image)
Kava told WebMD: ‘We have come a long way in terms of our knowledge, and I don’t think that should be ignored.’
‘One of the things [Rubin] said is that our ancestors enjoyed exceptional health, but I don’t know how he knows that from the Bible,’ the dietitian added.
However, in 2008, Dr Rita Hancock’s book, The Eden Diet, offered a Christian weight-loss program based on foods from the biblical story of the Garden of Eden.
Hancock focused on the practice of listening to your own hunger cues, also known as intuitive eating, portion control and biblical principles rather than sticking to strict food lists and eating strategies.
