Last night I found myself reflecting on something that feels so simple but often gets overlooked: food. We all need it, we all consume it daily, but how many of us actually take our food seriously? Not in the calorie-counting, guilt-ridden, diet-fad way that’s so popular
but in a deeper, more reverent way. A way that honors food as medicine, as message, as energy. This is one of the reasons I’ve long been drawn to Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurveda, the ancient healing system rooted in Indian tradition, focuses on holistic well-being by balancing the body, mind, and spirit. It teaches that illness doesn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere—it manifests when there’s a disruption in this harmony. The food you eat, the way you sleep, how you process emotions, and even your spiritual practices are all connected.
One of the biggest insights Ayurveda offers is that the body is always talking. Most of us don’t listen.
Are You Paying Attention?
Think about this: when was the last time you really looked at yourself?
What color are your nail beds?
Are your gums swollen or your teeth overly sensitive?
Are the whites of your eyes cloudy or bright?
Is your belly soft and relaxed—or is it bloated, tight, or distended?
What do the soles of your feet look like?
Is your skin dry, oily, breaking out, or glowing?
These are not just superficial observations—they’re messages. Ayurveda encourages us to observe the body because its constantly revealing information about our inner balance.
Even your cravings and aversions hold wisdom. Do you crave sugar after 10 p.m.? Do you avoid bitter foods entirely? Ayurveda would ask why—and what imbalance is causing that pattern.
Food Is Not Just Fuel
In Western culture, we tend to separate symptoms from the whole. If you’re tired, you might assume it’s because of poor sleep. If you’re bloated, maybe it’s something you ate today. But Ayurveda teaches that our current state is the sum total of our inputs—food, relationships, movement, rest, emotions.
Everything is synergistic.
Bitter foods can be antifungal and antibacterial, helping cleanse the system.
Certain herbs can calm the mind or stimulate digestion.
Eating according to your body type can regulate energy and mood.
Fiber, protein, and carbohydrates all play different roles in digestion time, emotional stability, and mental clarity.
And most importantly: you are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all diet or routine.
Healing in Food and Family
As a vegetarian who grew up in a food desert, I understand both the limitations and the creativity required to eat well when options are limited. And yet, so much of what I’ve learned in Ayurveda echoes the wisdom passed down from my grandmother, and her grandmother before her, what today is called “folk medicine” or “rootwork”— where food, plants, and prayer were all part of the same medicine cabinet.
They knew that how you cook. That everything matters. That cetain meals, certain diets, and certain rituals weren’t just habits—they were a healing practices. Whether it came from rootcraft, hoodoo, or ancestral knowledge, the understanding was the same: food is energy, and it must be respected.
Changing Inputs, Changing Outcomes
In Ayurveda, healing often begins with food, movement, sleep, and breath.It is a preventive and promotive approach to health—focusing on increasing the quality of life.
Your gut biome can be healed. Your energy can be restored. Your mood can shift—if you’re willing to change what you put into your body.
We often assume that if there’s a health issue, there’s one root cause. But Ayurveda says: maybe there are many minor issues, ignored or compounded over time, and your body is finally raising its voice. That’s why opposites are used to restore balance: when the body is too hot, we cool it. When it’s too dry, we add moisture. When it’s heavy, we lighten the load.
Food affects how you move, think, sleep, love, and show up in the world. It alters your mood, shapes your energy, and reflects your relationship to your own body. What you eat, how you eat, and why you eat matters. you are not just a set of symptoms. You are a whole system. And you are always in conversation with yourself.
So Just Listen.