We are advised to eat/drink closest to the earth in Ayurveda nutrition, yoga and other health sciences. This means:
1. Eat things that are in season
2. Eat things that are least processed
3. Eat things that are grown in our area
1. We are to eat, drink and ingest things that are in season because nature knows what will benefit us throughout the year. For instance, when we are in winter and oranges are in season it’s usually a good things since it’s the season when the flu or common cold are visiting us. The vitamin C in citrus like oranges is known to help keep the cold and flu at bay and it strengthens the immune system. This is a simple example to drive the concept of eating foods in the season it was created.
There are an abundance of choices of food products that are available in each season. The idea is to eat foods when they are in season and of course that makes the fruits and vegetables easy to find. We should also keep our cooking methods simple and not overcook the foods so we get the most nutrients out of the foods and get the most benefit from the foods we eat.
2. We want to eat least processed foods. The least processed foods usually mean that they are more pure, clean and fresh. We are organic beings and by feeding ourselves with least processed foods we will maintain our bodies at its optimal. This we can start and maintain at any point in our lives. The body is very intelligent. We want to ingest foods and have the body utilize the foods. We also want the body to excrete the foods it will not use as soon as possible.
Well, to accomplish this as optimally as possible we need to eat foods that are least processed. Least processed foods aid the body in digestion by allowing the body to recognize what we eat as food. When we eat processed foods the body has to determine what we ate and if it qualifies as food.
The body is able to recognize unprocessed food, digest the unprocessed food, and store some of the unprocessed food for later. The body is then able to excrete the unused food soon after. When we eat least processed food then we are sure we are giving the body simple foods so it will recognize, use and store simple foods.
When we give the body processed food the body has to try to recognize what it is. This process takes a longer time as the body sends the processed food through the digestive system. The body might recognize the food or it might store it with the hope of recognizing it later. It will also use what it can to fuel our activities. When we don’t furnish the body with the proper nutrients we become sluggish, tired, weak and can ultimately lead to sicknesses or even sever illnesses. Now, with foods that are processed the body becomes confused as to what is food and what is waste. Since the body is lacking nutrients it will try to store the unrecognized food.
3. Eat things from our area means we should consume foods that are grown in our local area. This point goes together with the first point of eating things in season, this is a good point to make because our bodies adapt to the environment in which we live. The farms produce different fruits and crops at different times of the year. We want to consume what is produced locally because it’s first and foremost cheaper, but most importantly these locally grown foods are what our body needs at that time.
In nature there is always a balance. What we need we are given. To reiterate let us use the same example of the oranges in winter for simplicity. When it’s winter we are given oranges from nature. Similarly, we eat foods of the season because they contain the nutrients for our bodies at present. We all have cravings and have exotic tastes and we should listen to the body but we have to remember to come closer to home for the most of our consumption. Another good reason to eat closest to home is that it boosts our economy. We help the local farmers who in turn give our bodies the food that we benefit the most from. In nature there is always a balance.
