The Healing Properties of Bread According to the Talmud

In Tractate Baba Metzia (page 107 side 2) it discusses the verse "V'haser Hashem mimcha kol choli" Translation: "And Hashem (G-d) will remove from you all disease".

Here the Gemara talks about illnesses. There are 83 diseases the root of which is a disease called Mara, a disease which starts in the digestive system and spreads to the rest of the body. The Gemara goes on to say "Pat Shacharit B'melach, v'kiton shel mayim, mevatlim". These 83 ailments are cured by eating Pat Shacharit, which is (proper) bread with salt in the morning and a jug of water.

The Gemara continues to talk about the healing properties of bread: "13 attributes were said about Pat Shacharit (Morning Bread) : it heals you from chama (diseases of heat), from tzina (diseases of cold), protects you from zikim, from mezikim, machkimat petti (makes you smart), zoche b'din, helps you to study Torah, helps you to teach Torah, people will listen to your teachings, you won't forget your learning, you wont get fat, its good for libido, kills worms/ parasites in the intestines, and some people say it removes jealousy and increases love (Rashi explains: when your body feels good then you won't be as angry or irritable, therefore, it increases love).

In this tractate we see that bread was actually considered to be a healing food. All of the bread at the time of the Gemara was STONE GROUND BREAD. In fact, it was a custom in those times for a father to give his daughter a stone grinder (Rechaim) as dowry. A high quality stone grinder was of tremendous importance.

At Joseph's Organic Bakery our bread is made as it was in the times of the Talmud- Stone Ground. Our bread is made with Stone Ground Flour that we stone grind fresh daily for optimum vitamin and enzyme content. Sugar Free (sweetened with Maple Syrup). We also have Stone Ground Challah for Shabbat!