Weight Loss Diet According to Hildegard of Bingen: Nutritional Principles and Fasting Concept

Hildegard von Bingen – abbess, mystic, and one of the most important healers of the Middle Ages – left behind an astonishingly comprehensive knowledge about nutrition, plants, and the human body. Her insights, written down in the 12th century, are experiencing a remarkable renaissance today: more and more people seeking holistic ways to achieve a healthy body weight are rediscovering the principles of Hildegard medicine. What was once taught within monastery walls sounds surprisingly modern in many ways – and it’s worth taking a closer look at what truly defines this traditional nutritional doctrine.

What Hildegard von Bingen taught about nutrition and weight

Hildegard von Bingen did not develop a simple diet program but a holistic view of the human being, considering body, mind, and soul as an inseparable unity. In her main works Physica and Causae et Curae, she described in detail which foods were beneficial to humans and which were considered heavy or harmful. Central to this was the concept of Viriditas – the “green power” – as an expression of vitality and liveliness, which should be maintained and strengthened through proper nutrition.

Hildegard did not see overweight as merely a question of calorie intake. In her teachings, the so-called juices – based on ancient humoral pathology – played a central role. An imbalance of these juices, especially an excess of phlegm (the thick, mucous bodily fluid), was considered partly responsible for heaviness, sluggishness, and the accumulation of excess body substance. Nutrition should therefore be designed to restore this balance and promote the body’s natural lightness.

Hildegard placed special emphasis on the quality of food. She carefully distinguished between foods she classified as “good,” “moderate,” or “bad” for humans – a categorization that, while not equivalent to modern nutritional science, reveals surprisingly coherent principles: whole grain cereals, certain herbs, fresh vegetables, and high-quality meat were preferred, while bloating, hard-to-digest, or heavily processed foods should be avoided. Hildegard von Bingen products

Hildegard’s nutritional teaching is not based on counting calories but on the idea of inner balance: the right choice of foods and the conscious rhythm of meals were considered key to a balanced body weight.

The most important nutritional principles of the Hildegard kitchen

Perhaps the best-known element of Hildegard nutrition is the spelt kitchen. Spelt – praised by Hildegard as the best of all grains – was at the center of her recommendations. In Physica she wrote: “Spelt is the best grain, warm and fatty, strong and milder than all other grains.” This appreciation of spelt as a staple food still forms the foundation of the diet named after her. Spelt in the form of bread, porridge, soup, or baked goods is a fixed component of every classic Hildegard weight cure.

Another central principle is the conscious handling of indulgences and animal products. Hildegard recommended certain types of meat – especially poultry and lamb – as well tolerated, while she viewed pork rather critically. Fish, particularly certain freshwater fish, was also considered valuable. Sweets should be enjoyed in moderation; instead of refined sugar, the medieval abbess recommended natural sweetness from fruits or honey. This awareness of ingredient quality is a cornerstone that fits surprisingly well with today’s thinking about wholesome nutrition.

Herbs and spices played an outstanding role in Hildegard’s kitchen – not only as flavor carriers but as an essential part of a healthy diet. Galangal (Galgant), bertram, fennel, wild thyme, and cloves were among her favorite spices, traditionally used in monastery medicine for centuries. These herbs not only gave dishes aroma but were considered a valuable contribution to a balanced nutritional routine. BitterKraft Original

The five pillars of Hildegard nutrition at a glance:

1. Spelt as a staple food – preferably in as natural and wholesome a form as possible
2. Fresh vegetables and herbs – seasonal, regional, rich in natural vital substances
3. Moderate use of meat and fish – quality over quantity
4. Bitter herbs and spices – as a fixed part of every meal
5. Rhythm and moderation – regular meals, no overeating

The importance of rhythm and moderation cannot be overstated in the context of Hildegard’s teachings. She was convinced that not only what one eats but also when and how much one eats is crucial for physical well-being. She recommended eating calmly and with gratitude, avoiding overly large meals, and giving the body enough time to recover between meals. This concept strikingly resembles modern approaches such as intermittent fasting.

The Hildegard fasting concept: cleansing with tradition

Fasting had deep spiritual and physical significance in medieval monastic life. Hildegard von Bingen integrated fasting as an essential element of her healing concepts and saw it as a way to free the body from accumulated toxins and restore inner balance. Her fasting concept is noticeably gentler and more plant-based than many modern fasting forms – it is not about radical food deprivation but about targeted simplification and mindfulness in dealing with food. Fasting products

The classic Hildegard fast traditionally lasts between three and forty days, with one- to two-week cures considered suitable for beginners. During this time, indulgences such as alcohol, coffee, meat, and heavily processed foods are avoided. The diet is based on light, easily digestible foods: spelt soups, steamed vegetables, herbal teas, and certain fruits are emphasized. This reduction to the essentials is meant to give the body space to regenerate and recharge energy.

A special feature of Hildegard fasting is the inclusion of bitter substances. In monastery medicine, bitter herbs have been traditionally used for centuries to accompany the fasting period and support well-being during this special phase. Hildegard herself described several medicinal plants with a bitter character, used in teas, tinctures, or as fresh herbs. Today, it is known that bitter substances from plant sources have a long history in European herbal tradition and are highly valued in many traditional systems. BitterKraft Original

“Fasting should not become a torment but a reflection. Whoever fasts with moderation and mindfulness benefits both body and soul.” – Paraphrased from the writings of Hildegard von Bingen, 12th century

The spiritual dimension of fasting should not be forgotten even in a modern interpretation. Hildegard understood fasting as a holistic practice: silence, prayer, observing nature, and conscious deceleration were just as much a part of it as the choice of foods. This connection of body and mind is an aspect that seems especially valuable in hectic times and gives the fasting concept a depth that goes beyond mere nutritional issues.

Hildegard’s bitter herbs: treasures of monastery medicine for the weight cure

No other element of Hildegard medicine is as characteristic and at the same time as newly rediscovered as the use of bitter herbs. In her Physica, Hildegard von Bingen described a variety of plants with bitter properties that played an important role in medieval monastery medicine. These herbs were used not only in the kitchen but also as teas, tinctures, and special preparations – and remain an essential part of the diet and fasting cures named after her. Hildegard von Bingen products

Particularly noteworthy is the so-called galangal (Alpinia officinarum), which Hildegard held in extraordinary esteem. She called it the “spice of life” and recommended it in various preparations. Wormwood, dandelion, yarrow, and gentian are also found in her preserved herbal teachings – all plants known in European herbal tradition for centuries for their special properties and still firmly established in naturopathy today. BitterKraft Original

In the context of a weight cure according to Hildegard, bitter herbs are often used as herbal teas before meals. This traditional practice has been maintained in monastery medicine over generations and is experiencing a renaissance today among people seeking natural methods to support their well-being. The combination of fasting, spelt kitchen, and targeted use of bitter herbs forms the heart of the Hildegard weight cure.

These bitter herbs are traditionally valued in Hildegard medicine:

• Galangal (Alpinia officinarum): Called the “spice of life” in Hildegard medicine – traditionally used for centuries as a spice and in herbal preparations.
• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): Historically one of the most important bitter herbs in European monastery medicine; traditionally used in herbal teas and tinctures.
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Known in folk medicine for centuries; leaves and root traditionally used as part of herbal cures.
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Historically widely used in monastery medicine; one of Europe’s oldest medicinal herbs, known for its characteristic bitter taste.
• Gentian (Gentiana lutea): Considered one of the most intense bitter herbs in alpine herbal tradition and valued for centuries in various traditional systems.
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): Explicitly recommended by Hildegard; seeds, herb, and root traditionally used in herbal cuisine and as tea.

Bitter herbs are an indispensable part of the Hildegard weight cure: they have been traditionally used in monastery medicine for centuries and still accompany many people today on their path to greater well-being and inner balance.

How to successfully start the Hildegard weight cure in everyday life

A Hildegard weight cure does not have to begin with a radical break from previous life. Especially for beginners, it is advisable to proceed step by step and initially integrate individual principles into everyday life. A good start is changing breakfast: a warm spelt porridge with fresh fruits and a hint of cinnamon or ginger is not only nutritious but perfectly corresponds to the Hildegard principle of gentle, warming morning food. Add a cup of herbal tea – and the first step is done.

Those who want to pursue the cure more intensively can include a classic Hildegard fasting day once a week. On this day, nutrition is consciously simplified: spelt soup at midday, vegetable broth in the evening, and herbal teas based on Hildegard’s traditional recipes in between. This rhythmic alternation between normal eating days and simplified fasting days corresponds to the basic principle of moderation that Hildegard held dear. Many people report that after just a few weeks, a changed body feeling and a new relationship to food emerge. Fasting products

Practical tips for starting the Hildegard weight cure:

• Week 1: Introduce spelt as the main grain – bread, porridge, pasta made from spelt flour
• Week 2: Establish bitter herb tea before meals as a daily ritual
• Week 3: Include one fasting day per week – spelt soup, vegetable broth, herbal tea
• Ongoing: Reduce indulgences, eat meals calmly, plan time in nature

Equally important as nutrition is, according to Hildegard, embedding the cure in a meaningful life rhythm. Adequate sleep, daily movement in nature, and conscious rest breaks were inseparably part of healthy living for her. Anyone undertaking a weight cure according to Hildegard von Bingen would do well to consider these areas as well – and use the time of the cure as an opportunity for deceleration and reflection. Sleep and relaxation products

For those who want to dive deeper into the world of Hildegard medicine, specialized naturopathy offerings provide valuable support: from traditional herbal preparations based on handed-down recipes to spelt products and high-quality bitter compound supplements, there are now many ways to integrate the wisdom of the medieval abbess into modern everyday life. The most important ingredient remains the same as 900 years ago: the willingness to live consciously and listen to one’s own body. Hildegard von Bingen products

The weight cure according to Hildegard von Bingen is more than a diet – it is an invitation to a mindful, rhythmic lifestyle that understands nutrition, nature, and inner reflection as an inseparable unity.