The Spiritual Side of Food

Food in the Western world is very dependent upon laboratory definitions and based on the analysis and breakdown of its basic constituents. We view it as possessing certain quantities of nutrients (this much protein, that much iron, this much vitamin A, etc) and calories. To the public at large, food is simply a means to refuel our body or to ensure optimal function through nutrition. These are essential concepts, however, if we drill down further, we can explore the “spiritual side” of food – the energetic depths of a living, organic matter that has it’s own personality and life force.  Just as everything in the Universe is made up of energy and it’s own unique energetic quality, the same is true for food. 

Steve Gagne once said beautifully, “Food is more than simply fuel. It imparts a living wisdom that is beyond the science and mechanics of calories, grams, and nutrient values. Ancient peoples, through their relationships with the plants and animals providing their food, understood that their food conveyed the unique energetic qualities of its source, such as swiftness from wild deer and groundedness from root vegetables. With the rise of agribusiness and industrial food production, people have become disconnected from the sources of their food and are no longer able to register the subtle rhythms, harmony, and energies that food can convey. This separation has thrown the basic human-food relationship out of balance–to the detriment of human consciousness and wellbeing.” 

 All foods have a distinct energy and characteristic properties that upon consumption and absorption, we then emulate. The energy of food can also either nourish our bodies and make us healthy and balanced, or create imbalances that result in sickness. This is food energetics and it has been the foundation of modalities of ancient people and practiced within Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda for centuries. 

In the Eastern world, food is assessed according to the nature and quality of it’s Qi, or energy. This  understanding is derived from the observation of human behavior once a food is taken into the body. Each food has it’s own behavioral impact on our bodies, for example some foods activate our metabolism, some foods slow us down; some foods generate warmth in the body, some generate coolness; some foods are moistening, some drying; some nourish our kidneys, others our liver or heart. Let’s take a look at the role of leafy greens which is to breathe. They do the opposite of our lungs. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, whereas our lungs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. They’re the perfect compliment to our respiratory system. If you look at the appearance and structure of leafy greens, there are veins running throughout the leaf, similar to the lungs. All those veins support molecules of chlorophyll and vitamins which support oxygenating the blood of our respiratory system.

Each food has it’s own temperament as well and these temperaments can directly impact our very own personalities. Homemade Chicken soup for instance has always been used as a healing remedy. Why Chicken soup and not beef stew? The energy of a Cow is slow, and heavy. Turning that into a stew creates the energy of strength, endurance, and stamina.  Whereas a Chicken that’s pasture raised is full of vitality. It runs around outside and is much more animated than the Cow.  When a human consumes Chicken soup they’re consuming that higher energy frequency. Another example is Oatmeal. Oatmeal is the grain that is highest in healthy fats. When it’s cooked it becomes glue-like and has a warm, damp effect on the body. Someone with dry skin and who’s constantly cold would do well with oatmeal. However, someone with excess yeast (dampness in the body) would have reactions to cooked oatmeal.

Likewise, in the summer months when your body and life activate more heat, consuming foods that are more cooling such as fruits and lighter greens will cool your body and temperament down. At the same time, heartier vegetables, such as deeply rooted carrots and squashes, grow more abundantly in the wintertime, and are going to add warmth to your body and establish a sense of grounding and slowing down the pace of your life to match the hibernation period of winter.

 This is a wonderful chart you can reference to help guide your food choices around the energetic quality and personality you want to experience: 

Image Source: Institute for Integrative Nutrition

In almost every culture, food has long played a dual physical and spiritual role, and with that, many rules have been handed down. However, with our ever quickening fast paced lives, more and more people are becoming disconnected from this truth. By simply eating less processed foods and more foods from the Earth, you can start healing this spiritual connection we were created to experience. 

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