Diet – Stay one step closer to the Sun

In the first blog, we have covered diet in a bigger picture, on how too much information on diet adds confusion, the merits of consuming native food, attitude and perception on food. This is the second of the series of blogs on diet. In my twenty five years of experience in corporate world, I spent most of the time in Lab researching & designing products. After I moved to health industry, I have continued doing Lab work but this time my body & mind have become the subjects for my research. This has given me a lot of ideas and insight in understanding the human psychology, physiology & human engineering in general. In the last six years, I have realized many fine details of the human system and life in a broader spectrum. This blog explains yet another such  realization and a very significant aspect of diet, the kind of food that we consume.

We live in the solar system and solar energy is the primary source of energy for all the life forms on Earth. We are not only a part of the solar system but in fact, we are just the representation of the sun. When the mirror is broken, one can see the complete reflection of the sun in each and every broken piece of the mirror. Also, this is similar to the sun’s reflection in the dew drops on the leaves. In each and every dew drop, one can witness the reflection of the sun. In the same way, each and every one of us inhibits the characteristics of sun and reflects the sun just as the broken pieces of the mirror or the dew drops. In fact our true purpose of life is to realize this inherent power, characteristics of the sun within us. This signifies the practice of Sun Salutation.

In fact, each and every living being on this planet is just another form of the sun. Solar energy is one source of energy but it takes many different forms. The light energy from the sun is converted into chemical energy, it generates fuel required for the plants and release of oxygen from the plants to the atmosphere by a process called photosynthesis. Photosynthesis maintains atmospheric oxygen level and supplies the energy necessary for all life on Earth.

So, in a way, one can say that the light from the sun takes the form of plants. The chicken and other animals feed on plants. So, the plants take the form of the animals. We human beings feed on livestock, plants and hence animals take the form of human being. So, in this food chain, there is just one single source of solar energy which takes many different forms as plants, animals & human being.

The grains, plants, leaves, peas, stems, chicken, lamb & other form of meats are all available naturally. All these natural foods are just true representation of sun. We get true representation of the sun and we are in tune and in fine sync with the solar energy provided we consume the natural food which has that kind of true representation.

But, in today’s scenario, where there is an abundance of food, vast majority of the food available in the stores are processed. In fact, 75% of the products that are available in the stores are all processed. Processed food is not the true representation if it loses its energy i.e the life (prana) within it. Say for example, processed peas. If we put this pea in the garden and if it sprouts then there is a life in it. Even though, the peas are processed but they are still the true representation of sun because of prana. If the process is extended to a level where the peas lose the life, say for example frozen peas then the identity of true representation is lost in this food. As a next step to this process, to add flavor or to get clear colour to the food, some of the processed foods are refined. This is another dimension to the food that makes it unhealthy. Examples are refined oil, white sugar, Maida, etc

More is the process involved in food making, more is its distance from its natural energy. Obviously, we can’t take all the food in its natural form. We need to process and cook certain foods like meat so that they become viable for the human digestive system. It is alright to have processed food as long as it has life in it.

Refined food is nothing but processed food which is extended to a degree where it adds certain aesthetic to the food while it kills the energy level in the food. Avoid such refined food and in case of processed food, keep the number of processes involved minimum so that the food stays closer to its original self without losing its authenticity.

Certainly, I am not here to advocate you to take leaves and vegetables like animals all day. But, try to consume food which is in its original and natural form at least one meal in a day. By doing so, we stay closer to the sun and are in alignment with the nature.

So when you take a meal next time, before putting the food into your mouth, please see where that food falls in the chain. Remember when the food is closer to the sun, more natural our body becomes. More the food is refined, more unnatural the body becomes. Unnatural body is the breeding place for many different diseases.

So, go one step closer to the sun and become natural. Practice today and climb the health ladder.