In line with Ayurveda, philosophy food is not just nourishment for the body, but the body is also the product of food. Therefore, diet is recognized as the finest sustainer of life. Inappropriate food is said to be the cause of many incurable diseases, while appropriate food can prevent many illnesses. In fact, food is considered the best of medicines and in order to maintain balance, one must eat the correct food and quantity.
This rich and complex science goes deep beyond its basics and it takes many factors into account, as for instance:
Including a balance of flavors from bitter to stringent
Chewing your foods consciously
Combining and cooking foods to unchain their most inner nutritious properties
Choosing the ideal food for your current state of body and mind
Choosing the right food for your specific constitution
Eating appropriate foods and vegetables that correspond to the ongoing season
Adding healing spices such as turmeric to your foods
Correctly integrating water between meals to set up digestive Agni or fire, amongst many others.
If you prepare your food by taking all Ayurvedic variables into account, you successfully reach Amrita or ambrosial; with its Sanskrit translation meaning “heavenly elixir”. Another insight proclaimed by this Indian science is that meals are supposed to leave you feeling nourished and light rather than full.
Today, we have lost the true understanding of food and its role or purpose within our lives. Food has become a hindrance that you have to go through in between errands and “important things to do”. Thus, giving rise to gigantic “food” (harmful edible materials) corporations such as Mcdonalds, KFC, Burger King, Subway with the perturbing list of food-terrorists continuing; and even worst of all, a rise in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
Why do many of us still deny seeing a clear connection?
We now stand with the great task at hand of relearning to create a functional relationship with food. Perhaps our starting line will not be Ayurveda, but it may be organic vegetables and fruits rather than the laboratory-designed GMO ones frequently found in conventional supermarkets. On a similar note, you might also reclaim your kitchen space and start cooking again oppositely to visiting take away chains or buying prepared meals at the shop.
What is obvious is that our present situation regarding food reflects a disconnection that we’ve been living as collective human beings for many years. There is a disconnection from our own selves, including our bodies, minds and souls; and a disconnection from our surroundings including people, other sentient beings, and the physical natural environment.
Once we take a step forward to reconnect with food, our bodies, our inner selves and with our spirit, the reality around us will transform, while mirroring and reflecting this.
