Can You Eat Processed Food on the Ital Diet? Answering a Common Question

Rooted in Rastafarian beliefs, the Ital diet is founded on the principle of 'livity'—the spiritual enhancement of life force through pure, natural ingredients. For this reason, the question 'Can you eat processed food on the Ital diet?' is met with a definitive refusal, as it directly contradicts these core tenets.

Quick Summary

The Ital diet strictly forbids processed and artificial foods due to Rastafarian beliefs centered on natural, 'livity' enhancing ingredients. It avoids chemical additives, excess salt, and refined sugars, instead favoring fresh, organic, plant-based foods prepared simply without modern industrial influence.

Key Points

• Core Principle: The Ital diet strictly prohibits processed foods, emphasizing natural, pure ingredients to enhance life force, or 'livity'.

• Babylonian Foods: Processed items are considered 'Babylonian,' associated with industrialization, and are thought to disrupt the body's natural energy.

• Strict Exclusions: The diet avoids chemical additives, refined sugar, excess salt, and preservatives found in most processed foods.

• Natural Preparation: True Ital practice involves minimal processing and often utilizes natural cooking methods, such as wooden or clay cookware.

• Vegan does not Equal Ital: While many Ital diets are vegan, not all vegan processed foods (e.g., some meat or cheese substitutes) are permissible due to additives and high salt content.

• Body as a Temple: Adherents follow Ital principles based on the spiritual belief that the body is a temple and must be kept clean and pure through natural consumption.

• Emphasis on Freshness: Fresh, organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grains form the foundation of the Ital diet.

The Ital Diet and the Rejection of Processed Foods

The Ital diet, a central component of the Rastafarian way of life, is more than just a set of dietary rules; it is a spiritual practice designed to enhance the body’s natural 'livity,' or life force. Adherents believe that to keep the body pure, they must consume food as close to its natural, raw state as possible. This fundamental principle is the very reason processed food is strictly forbidden.

Processed foods are viewed as 'Babylonian' in nature, symbolizing the colonial, capitalist, and industrial systems that Rastafarians reject. Consuming these manufactured goods is seen as disrupting the natural, divine energy that the Creator, Jah, placed within all creation. This philosophy extends beyond mere health concerns; it is a profound spiritual choice to disconnect from systems perceived as corrupt and unnatural.

Why Processed Food is Non-Ital

There are several specific reasons why processed foods are deemed unacceptable within the Ital framework:

• Chemical Additives: Artificial flavors, preservatives, and coloring agents are unnatural chemicals that are seen as contaminating the body. The diet prioritizes ingredients that grow naturally from the earth without synthetic interference.
• Excess Salt: The Ital diet avoids excess salt, particularly iodized salt, which is viewed as an artificial additive. Salt is believed to kill the natural flavor of food and impede a spiritual connection to eating. Many practitioners prefer to season with natural herbs and spices.
• Refined Sugars: Refined and white sugars are forbidden, as they are heavily processed and offer little nutritional value. Natural sweeteners like fruit, molasses, or cane sugar are sometimes used in moderation.
• Low Vibration: Processed foods are seen as having 'low vibration' compared to the high-vibration, nourishing quality of fresh, organic plant foods. Consuming low-vibration food is believed to decrease spiritual levity and negatively affect one's consciousness.

Ital-Approved vs. Processed Foods: A Comparison

To illustrate the stark difference, here is a comparison table outlining typical Ital choices versus their processed counterparts:

Feature	Ital-Approved Examples	Processed/Forbidden Examples
Carbohydrates	Whole grains, brown rice, freshly baked whole-wheat bread, quinoa	White rice, white bread, most packaged cereals
Protein	Beans, lentils, peas, tofu (unprocessed), nuts, seeds	Canned beans, highly-processed vegan meat substitutes, canned soups
Sweeteners	Fresh fruits, unsulphured molasses, pure cane sugar	Refined white sugar, corn syrup, candy, most baked goods
Fats	Coconut oil, avocado, olive oil (often avoided if heavily processed)	Margarine, vegetable shortening, processed salad dressings
Beverages	Fresh fruit juices, water, herbal teas, coconut milk	Soda, sweetened fruit juices, alcohol
Snacks	Raw fruits, nuts, seeds	Potato chips, cookies, crackers, snack cakes

Beyond the Ingredients: The Significance of Preparation

The principles of the Ital diet extend to how food is prepared and cooked. Some Rastafarians take their commitment to natural living even further by avoiding certain modern conveniences. This includes eschewing metal or plastic cookware and utensils in favor of clay pots, wooden spoons, and traditional methods. This practice is rooted in the belief that these materials can introduce unnatural elements into the food, thereby corrupting its purity.

Additionally, fresh, raw foods, especially fruits and vegetables, are highly valued. Eating them raw is considered the best way to gain their full nutritional benefits without losing any 'livity' through heat. For cooking, blending is a popular technique used to prepare dishes without high temperatures.

For those seeking to understand the deep spiritual and ethical roots of this diet, research from institutions that study Rastafarian culture can be valuable. A paper published by the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center at UCSB provides further context on why these principles are so vital: https://ihc.ucsb.edu/the-ital-diet/.

Conclusion: A Commitment to Purity

The answer to whether you can eat processed food on the Ital diet is clear: it is not compatible. The Ital diet is a lifestyle rooted in Rastafarian spirituality, emphasizing purity, naturalness, and a connection to the earth's 'livity'. Processed foods, with their artificial additives, refined ingredients, and industrial origins, stand in direct opposition to this holistic view. For an adherent of the Ital diet, rejecting processed food is a spiritual act, a conscious decision to nourish the body as a sacred temple and remain aligned with the natural world. Instead of reaching for a packaged item, the Ital practitioner reaches for fresh, whole foods, understanding that true vitality comes from the earth, untouched by 'Babylonian' processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are processed foods bad according to the Ital diet?

Processed foods are viewed as 'low vibration,' artificial, and containing unnatural additives that disrupt the body's natural life force, or 'livity'.

Does 'vegan' mean 'Ital'?

No, not necessarily. While the Ital diet is typically vegan, many processed vegan products contain ingredients (additives, high salt) that violate Ital principles. The focus is on natural, not just animal-free, foods.

Is salt allowed in the Ital diet?

Excessive and artificially enhanced salts, like iodized salt, are avoided. Some followers may use pure sea salt or kosher salt in moderation, but many opt for natural seasonings from herbs and spices.

What about canned goods?

Canned goods are generally not Ital-approved because they are a form of processed food, often containing added preservatives, excess salt, and other non-Ital ingredients.

Can I eat processed bread on the Ital diet?

No. Refined or mass-produced bread is avoided. Ital principles prefer whole grains, often prepared from scratch or in their most natural state.

What are some Ital-approved snacks?

The concept is to avoid processed items entirely. Instead of packaged snacks, Ital-approved options include fresh fruits, raw nuts, and seeds.

Are restaurant meals considered processed?

Many restaurant meals, especially mass-produced or fast food, would be considered non-Ital due to unknown additives, cooking methods, and non-organic ingredients.