In the world of holistic medicine there are many ideas about food as energy - not only in the sense of food energy as fuel, but also as non-material, subtle qualities derived from the genetics, locale, weather, and other influences. Such ideas are not merely new age fantasy, but have existed for as long as we know in various traditions around the world.
If we consider that taking in food is taking in energy, food energetics can guide nutritional theory. Many vegetarians, for instance, choose (at least in part) to abstain from meat because of the subtle energy that is taken in from the slaughterhouse - the belief being that the energy of the animal's suffering, hardships, and death are contained within the meat and absorbed by the consumer.
Certainly, we cannot argue that food is important, including proper selection and balancing of ingredients. As George Ohsawa wrote, one who doubts the importance of food has only to fast for a few days to see the power of hunger and the importance of food. It should not be too much of a stretch, knowing that food is so important and that selection of certain foods and avoidance of certain toxins nourishes life and prevents decay of one's life-force, to draw a simple equation deciding that selection of foods is important for health and the avoidance of disease. The numerous theories put forth by governments, farmers, food product manufacturers, and others involved in the business of food that are published in magazines and the like only seem to further confuse the public about proper diet. Considering that our very lives are the product of careful understanding of food gathering, hunting, preparation, and balance discovered by our ancestors, it is really quite tragic that our modern man has lost a simple, practical understanding of diet. In our lofty creation of modern nutrition we seem to have lost footing in the very simply reality that food nourishes life. "We are what we eat."
Because of the purity of the energy of nature, wild foods are energetically clean and potent. Although their strength and toxicity make many wild plants injurious to health, judicious selection of wild foods that are cooked properly are perhaps the healthiest foods available.
If we look to the health fads there seems to be infinite "superfoods" and nutritional theories. However, many of these theories ignore basic principles of food energetics and are therefore inadequate. I once wrote an article "The Chi of the Forest" about the vital energy of wild foods and received significant feedback, convincing me that many people are indeed dissatisfied with the modern food system and want a more intimate understanding of their foods, where they come from, and in what ways they affect the body. In fact, much of the work I do offering programs on wild edibles and various health topics is related directly to the hunger people have to learn about more wholesome foods. Many raw foodists and locavores believe that by consuming fresh foods they receive more life-force from their food.
Further, there is more to consider than the health of the physical body. Our thoughts, feelings, and spiritual realization (being building-blocks of our lives) are also created in part by the foods we eat. Even our ability to think clearly and come to a deeper understanding of God is related to our food. This is simple pragmatism, as has been practiced by countless generations who have lived close to the earth.
If we consider that taking in food is taking in energy, food energetics can guide nutritional theory. Many vegetarians, for instance, choose (at least in part) to abstain from meat because of the subtle energy that is taken in from the slaughterhouse - the belief being that the energy of the animal's suffering, hardships, and death are contained within the meat and absorbed by the consumer.
Certainly, we cannot argue that food is important, including proper selection and balancing of ingredients. As George Ohsawa wrote, one who doubts the importance of food has only to fast for a few days to see the power of hunger and the importance of food. It should not be too much of a stretch, knowing that food is so important and that selection of certain foods and avoidance of certain toxins nourishes life and prevents decay of one's life-force, to draw a simple equation deciding that selection of foods is important for health and the avoidance of disease. The numerous theories put forth by governments, farmers, food product manufacturers, and others involved in the business of food that are published in magazines and the like only seem to further confuse the public about proper diet. Considering that our very lives are the product of careful understanding of food gathering, hunting, preparation, and balance discovered by our ancestors, it is really quite tragic that our modern man has lost a simple, practical understanding of diet. In our lofty creation of modern nutrition we seem to have lost footing in the very simply reality that food nourishes life. "We are what we eat."
Because of the purity of the energy of nature, wild foods are energetically clean and potent. Although their strength and toxicity make many wild plants injurious to health, judicious selection of wild foods that are cooked properly are perhaps the healthiest foods available.
If we look to the health fads there seems to be infinite "superfoods" and nutritional theories. However, many of these theories ignore basic principles of food energetics and are therefore inadequate. I once wrote an article "The Chi of the Forest" about the vital energy of wild foods and received significant feedback, convincing me that many people are indeed dissatisfied with the modern food system and want a more intimate understanding of their foods, where they come from, and in what ways they affect the body. In fact, much of the work I do offering programs on wild edibles and various health topics is related directly to the hunger people have to learn about more wholesome foods. Many raw foodists and locavores believe that by consuming fresh foods they receive more life-force from their food.
Further, there is more to consider than the health of the physical body. Our thoughts, feelings, and spiritual realization (being building-blocks of our lives) are also created in part by the foods we eat. Even our ability to think clearly and come to a deeper understanding of God is related to our food. This is simple pragmatism, as has been practiced by countless generations who have lived close to the earth.
