Meaning and purpose of Food

by | Oct 31, 2020 | Ayurveda and Diet, Yoga

You are what you eat. The selection of the type of food defines not only the condition of your body but also your mind and intelligence. One should be very careful to select the right kind of diet. The wrong diet can make or break your health. Choosing the proper diet is one of the biggest dilemmas today. 80% of food today is from fertilizers and pesticides, and on top of it frozen, stored, and transported. Food is also a living entity, and every dead plant has its lifespan. After a certain amount of time, a particular food item loses its vitality, and we do not get total energy.

A food item also has three types of energy 1. Physical 2. Subtle 3. Spiritual. Of course, the physical content is the food item’s makeup, for example, if it’s a protein, vitamin, etc. The subtle content is the content that affects our subtle body. For example, foods like sprouts and salads energize the mind and make it sharp, whereas liquors, etc., make the mind dull. The spiritual content of food is linked very much to the religious part. Usually, in the modern world, religion is kept out of the kitchen; however, a true religion needs to kitchen centric. In ancient Indian tradition, food cooked is first offered to the Lord and then eaten as his remnants. This is also called Karma free diet.

The ancient Vedic literature, however, classifies the types of energies into three Saatvic (Mode of goodness), Rajasic (Mode of Passion), Tamasic (mode of ignorance).

Purpose of food:

Meaning and purpose of food

The purpose of food is to increase life duration, purify the mind, and aid bodily strength. This is its only purpose.

Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness, increase life duration, purify one’s existence, and give strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.

Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry, and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery, and disease.

Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed, and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.

You are what you eat. Therefore food in the mode of goodness serves the purpose