Savour or scoff? Improve your well-being by eating with awareness.
Are you a scoffer or do you savour?
How you approach food can impact on your entire wellbeing; not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. Ayurveda, a 6000 year old medical system originating from India, and forming the basis for many contemporary western treatments today, focuses on increasing “agni”, the digestive fire, and reducing “ama”, undigested, toxic waste, as the very epicentre of a person’s wellbeing.
When I eat, I notice what I eat influences how I eat. Last Friday night I had a chippy take away and noticed the enormity of the portion size, chucked on to the plate and the way I scoffed it down quickly without real engagement, in front of the TV. What I perceived as “treat” left me feeling physically full afterwards, but emotionally empty and mentally dull.
I contrast this with my trip to Japan just over a year ago. The meals I enjoyed in the Buddhist temple I stayed in at Mount Koya-san were created as miniature works of art, served to me in an act of worship, and received by me in an act of gratitude and marvel. I took my time savouring and engaging with these meals, offered in beautiful small dishes containing fresh, delicate ingredients in perfect balance. Afterwards, I felt nourished physically, spiritually and emotionally.
Ayurveda speaks of “prana” or life force. Food contains this life force and how it is grown, harvested and prepared influences it’s pranic value. Cooking food in a microwave can diminish the prana within and remove any nutritional value. Whereas a loving prepared, slow cooked meal radiates life force. We would all agree home cooking and fast food may fill us up physically but has very different impact on our emotional and mental energy levels.
The portion size we consume also impact on our vitality. The misconception in the west is we need to eat large portion sizes to keep us full for longer. Ayurveda proposes our stomachs can manage a portion size of food equal to our cupped hands. Anything else cannot be digested by the body and dampens agni - our digestive fire and increases ama –our level of toxins in the body.
Next time you eat, perhaps take a moment digest the following question:
How am I approaching this meal in this moment?
As a as a tool to fill a hole?
To meet an emotional need?
As a source of nourishment?
As an opportunity to practice gratitude?
As an exercise in creativity?
As a gift of love?
As a source of inspiration?
Bon appetit!
