Nutritarian Nation

  Prevention: Torah Perspectives on Preserving Health by Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen and Richard H. Schwartz, Ph. D. Since maintaining a healthy and sound body is among the ways of G-d -- for one cannot understand or have any knowledge of the Creator if he is ill -- therefore he must avoid that which harms the body and accustom himself to that which is helpful and helps the body become stronger. Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Deot 4:1 Health care issues are clearly among the most critical facing the United States today. National health care costs have been soaring; they have increased from 6% of the United States gross national product in 1970 to over 14% in 1994, and are projected to reach 20% in 10 to 12 years. Millions of Americans lack adequate health insurance. In spite of billions of dollars spent on medical research, much still remains unknown about many degenerative diseases. President Clinton and Congress have been wrestling with various approaches to providing medical care t