Food Consciousness – Mindful Eating

Food is the most important part of life. Our health, fitness, and aging all are linked to the various types, quantities, and timing of our food that we consume. In fact, the factors for the reversal of aging in the latest studies are pointing to our Gut! The secret to a long and healthy life is hidden here. Food invokes deep emotions, satiety, satisfaction, happiness, and fulfilment. The appearance, flavor, taste, feel, and aftertaste are various parameters that influence our choice of food. Though with more awareness, today we are also including nutritious value as an important factor. Happiness in rice eaters after having a wholesome meal of rice at dinner, or sleeplessness when they don’t have rice! Kids going berserk because the mother has not cooked their favorite food, or the spouse showing emotions when food is not cooked properly are real-life examples to understand Food Emotions. Food influenced our past, predominantly our pre-historic times. From the days of hunters and gatherers with no choices of food, the nomadic life and migration ended with farming and domestication of animals. Our earlier history was revolving around the availability of food. Great civilizations could happen along the life-giving river banks only when the focus went beyond food. Great famines charted our story in the past. Today, ‘Food for all’ has been a global objective. If we realize, our world population has increased by 8 times, from 1 billion in 1800 to 8 billion now! Yet, we don’t have a major food crisis today, thanks to the food revolution in agricultural sciences and allied technologies which has ensured food security. The availability of food today in a country with free trade is not a serious concern. This food revolution has however changed our food dynamics over recent decades. These changes are now being directly linked to health effects and lifestyle disorders such as Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes, Strokes, and Heart ailments. Awareness of our food is a necessity. Food consciousness is mindful eating where a person consciously makes the decisions and choices about what, when, and how much to eat to maintain and promote their health and wellness. This includes awareness of food safety, food wastage, and food-borne illnesses. The food industry is a business. The primary aim of this business is monetary profitability and not health. The most important parameter that influences Food Dynamics is ensuring the large-scale availability of food.  This is a boon as the food crisis has been largely avoided. But, the quality of food has undoubtedly been affected. Awareness of food dynamics from source to the table is important to create food consciousness.

• Food Dynamics at Source: Genetic modification, hybridization, use of fertilizers & chemicals in agriculture; the use of antibiotics, hormones, and force-feeding in poultry and animal husbandry have resulted in increased yields.
• Food Dynamics at Production and Processing: Adulteration in food raises the question of food’s purity and safety. Food processing invariably involves adding preservatives and chemicals, which primarily enhance the shelf life, look, and taste of food. These chemicals seldom have any health benefits, rather they are harmful. The ‘refined Sugars, refined salt, refined oils, and polished rice are linked to obesity, diabetes, and hypertension’.
• Food Dynamics at Transport and Storage: Refrigeration and cold chain, use of plastics & packaging, handling of food, and food hygiene are a few parameters that influence the quality of food.
• Food Dynamics at Preparation: Food substitution and the use of artificial colors and flavors are issues when the food industry is not regulated.

Food is the source of our nutrition and energy. It can also contribute to illnesses. The majority of food-related illnesses such as food allergies and lifestyle disorders are often ignored.  Food contamination is a major health hazard. We often relate to food borne illnesses with infections associated with tummy upset, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Distant structures such as the brain and spinal cord can get infected with the consumption of contaminated food. For example, eggs of tapeworms enter the gut when infested raw vegetables or contaminated water is consumed. Food security is predominantly the responsibility of the government, but the food we consume is our choice. Understanding food safety, food dynamics, food emotions, and food standards are part of food consciousness. Eat responsibly; Bon appétit.