Who Don't Eat Garlic and Onion? Cultural, Spiritual, and Health-Related Reasons

While millions of people worldwide use garlic and onion daily for their flavor, ancient traditions and modern health concerns mean that a significant number of people don't eat garlic and onion for deeply personal or cultural reasons. This practice is rooted in diverse beliefs, spanning religious doctrines to personal wellness.

Quick Summary

This article explores the diverse reasons individuals and communities abstain from consuming garlic and onion, detailing religious non-violence, Ayurvedic principles, spiritual discipline, and common health-related dietary restrictions like allergies and intolerances.

Key Points

• Jainism: Followers strictly avoid all root vegetables, including garlic and onion, as their uprooting kills the plant and many microorganisms, violating the core principle of non-violence (ahimsa).

• Hinduism and Ayurveda: Certain sects classify garlic (rajasic) and onion (tamasic) as foods that promote passion and ignorance, interfering with meditation and spiritual clarity.

• Vaishnavism and ISKCON: Devotees abstain from these alliums because their pungent qualities make them unsuitable as offerings to the deity Krishna.

• Buddhism: Some sects avoid alliums, believing they can disrupt meditation, stir passions, and negatively impact spiritual focus.

• Health and Allergies: Many individuals avoid them due to allium allergies, FODMAP intolerance, or general digestive sensitivities that cause bloating, gas, or acid reflux.

• Spiritual Discipline: Yogis and those practicing Brahmacharya avoid these stimulating foods to help control their senses and impulses, fostering a calm mind.

• Taste and Odor: Simple dislike of the strong flavor or concern about body odor, especially bad breath, can be a personal reason for avoidance.

Religious and Cultural Abstinence

For many, the decision to not eat garlic and onion is not a matter of taste but a strict adherence to religious or cultural doctrine. These traditions often classify food based on its effect on the body and mind, believing that certain ingredients can hinder spiritual progress.

Jainism: Ahimsa and Non-Violence

Jainism is founded on the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence toward all living beings. This core belief extends to their dietary practices, leading Jains to avoid all root vegetables, including garlic and onion. Their reasoning is that uprooting these vegetables kills the plant entirely and harms the many microorganisms that live in the soil around the bulb. Jain cuisine is known for its creativity in producing flavorful dishes without these common ingredients. This practice is a profound expression of their commitment to minimizing harm in every aspect of life.

Hinduism and Ayurveda: The Three Gunas

In Hinduism, particularly among certain Brahmin and Vaishnava communities, foods are categorized by their gunas—qualities that affect one's consciousness. The three gunas are sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance).

• Rajasic foods (like garlic) are said to stimulate passion and desire, leading to agitation and restlessness.
• Tamasic foods (like onion) promote ignorance and lethargy.

For spiritual seekers who aim for a calm and balanced mind, avoiding these foods is essential for deep meditation and inner peace. According to Hindu legend, garlic and onions grew from drops of a demon's blood, further solidifying their unsuitability for those on a spiritual path.

Vaishnavism and Bhakti Yoga

Followers of Vaishnavism, including members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also abstain from garlic and onion. This is because food prepared for devotees must first be offered to Krishna. As rajasic and tamasic ingredients, garlic and onion are considered unfit for offering to the deity. Devotees cook with a pure, loving consciousness, and these stimulating foods are believed to be detrimental to that devotion. Asafoetida (hing) is often used as a popular substitute to add a savory flavor.

Specific Buddhist Sects and Spiritual Practice

Some Mahayana Buddhist traditions, particularly among monks and serious practitioners, avoid the allium family of plants (including garlic, onion, leeks, and chives). These pungent vegetables are thought to disturb meditation and increase desires. In ancient Taoist writings cited by some Buddhist texts, these foods are even said to harm specific internal organs and lead to aggression and anxiety when eaten raw. Similarly, practitioners of Brahmacharya, a state of celibacy and spiritual austerity, often avoid these foods to help control their senses and physical stimulation.

Health-Related Reasons to Avoid Alliums

Beyond religious and spiritual beliefs, many people avoid garlic and onion for specific health reasons, often related to allergies or digestive sensitivities.

Allium Allergies and Sensitivities

For some individuals, eating garlic or onion can trigger a severe allergic reaction. Allium allergy is a genuine medical condition, and for people with this sensitivity, exposure can cause various symptoms, from hives and swelling to anaphylaxis in severe cases. For these individuals, avoidance is not a choice but a necessity for their health.

FODMAP Intolerance

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other digestive disorders often require dietary changes to manage symptoms. The low-FODMAP diet is a common treatment approach, and it requires eliminating or limiting foods high in certain carbohydrates, including fructans. Onions and garlic are high in fructans and are therefore among the first foods to be removed from the diet of someone following this plan.

Digestive Issues

Even without a formal allergy or IBS diagnosis, some people experience digestive discomfort from eating garlic and onions. The sulfur compounds in these vegetables can cause gas, bloating, and heartburn in sensitive individuals. In the Ayurvedic tradition, these foods can aggravate the Pitta dosha, the body's fire element, leading to issues like acid reflux and inflammation.

Comparison of Reasons for Abstinence

Aspect	Religious/Spiritual Reasons	Health-Related Reasons
Core Philosophy	Non-violence (ahimsa), cultivating spiritual purity (sattva), and minimizing negative influence (rajasic/tamasic).	Managing allergies, digestive sensitivities, and controlling symptoms of specific medical conditions.
Primary Motivation	Personal spiritual advancement, adherence to doctrine, and ethical living.	Physical well-being, avoiding discomfort or illness, and disease management.
Inclusivity of Alliums	Often encompasses the entire allium family (onions, garlic, leeks, etc.) and sometimes other root vegetables.	Can be specific to just garlic, just onions, or related to the fructan content found in alliums.
Societal View	May be seen as a sign of piety, purity, or a specific cultural identity within certain communities.	Widely accepted as a dietary restriction necessary for a person's physical health.
Underlying Principle	Belief in food's energetic and mental effects; adherence to sacred texts or ancient wisdom.	Understanding of physiology, chemical intolerance, and allergic reactions.

Cooking Without Garlic and Onion

For those who abstain from these alliums, whether for religious or health-related reasons, a variety of alternatives can add depth and complexity to dishes:

• Asafoetida (hing): A staple in Jain and some Hindu cuisines, it offers a pungent, savory, and sulfurous flavor similar to onion and garlic. It is typically used in small quantities, often fried in oil at the start of cooking.
• Ginger: This versatile spice provides a warm, spicy flavor that can add complexity and depth to meals.
• Fennel: Used in some traditional Indian cuisines as a flavor base, fennel can provide a subtle, aromatic quality.
• Chives and Shallots (where permitted): While also part of the allium family, some with milder sensitivities can tolerate them. However, those with strict allergies or spiritual prohibitions will avoid them.
• Garlic and Onion-infused Oils: For those with FODMAP intolerance, oils infused with the flavor of garlic and onion (but with the solid parts strained out) are often tolerated.

Conclusion

The reasons people abstain from eating garlic and onion are as varied as the cultures and individuals themselves. For Jains and specific Hindu and Buddhist groups, the choice is deeply spiritual, guided by principles of non-violence, purity, and mindfulness. For others, the decision is a medical necessity, driven by allergies, digestive sensitivities, or intolerances like FODMAPs. Regardless of the motivation, the practice is a testament to the powerful connection between diet, belief, and well-being. By understanding these diverse perspectives, we gain a greater appreciation for the complexity of human dietary choices.

For additional information on health conditions like FODMAP intolerance, refer to authoritative sources such as the National Institutes of Health PMC2364754.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't Jains eat garlic and onion?

Jains abstain from garlic and onion, along with other root vegetables, based on the principle of ahimsa, or non-violence. Uprooting these vegetables is believed to harm the plant itself and the countless microorganisms that live in the soil.

Why do some Hindus avoid garlic and onion?

Certain Hindu traditions, particularly those focused on spiritual practice like Vaishnavism and some Brahmin customs, avoid garlic and onion. According to Ayurveda, these foods are classified as rajasic (passion) and tamasic (ignorance), which are believed to disturb the mind and hinder spiritual progress.

What is the Ayurvedic view on garlic and onion?

Ayurveda classifies garlic and onion as rajasic and tamasic foods that stimulate passion, aggression, and lethargy. While they have recognized medicinal properties, they are generally avoided for regular consumption by those pursuing a spiritual path because of their stimulating effects on the central nervous system.

Are there health reasons to avoid garlic and onion?

Yes, many people have health-related reasons to avoid them. These include allium allergies, FODMAP intolerance which is common in people with IBS, and general digestive sensitivities that cause discomfort, gas, or bloating.

Why do some Buddhists not eat garlic or onion?

Some Mahayana Buddhist sects avoid alliums like garlic and onion because their pungent nature is believed to stir up desires and hinder the process of meditation and spiritual advancement. Taoist writings also describe them as harmful to internal organs.

What do Vaishnavas say about eating garlic and onion?

Followers of Vaishnavism, including ISKCON devotees, do not eat garlic and onion because they are considered rajasic and tamasic and cannot be offered to Krishna. The practice is an aspect of their devotional service and spiritual discipline.

What are some good substitutes for garlic and onion?

Common substitutes for garlic and onion include asafoetida (hing), ginger, fennel seeds, or certain mild chives, depending on the dietary restrictions. For those with FODMAP intolerance, garlic or onion-infused oils where the solids have been removed can be used.