Food is much more than fuel. It’s not just about calories or nutrients, nor is it simply about satisfying hunger. Food is communication. Food is relationship. Food is environment. When we eat, we are participating in a deeply intimate process that connects us to nature, to one another, and to the very energy of life.
As a holistic physician, I invite you to explore food not only as a necessity, but as a powerful force that shapes every system in your body and every corner of your mind. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into what food and eating actually mean—pulling from both science and soul, integrating Eastern wisdom and Western research, and drawing directly from the illuminating presentation given by Dr. Maria Scunziano-Singh in April of 2025.
I. The Intimacy of Food: We Are What We Absorb
We often hear the phrase “you are what you eat,” but what if we expanded that to “you are what you absorb”? Food doesn’t just enter through your mouth—it enters through your skin, your eyes, your lungs, your ears, and even vibrationally. Every moment, we are consuming the environment around us.
The act of eating is one of the most intimate things we do. Every bite brings the outside world in. Molecules from the earth, sea, and sky become part of us—circulating through our bloodstream, nourishing our organs, and altering our cells.
As Dr. Maria puts it, “All that we have in our bodies comes from the external world.” This means that choosing what we consume—both physically and energetically—is one of the most profound decisions we make every single day.
II. Yin and Yang: The Energetics of Food
In holistic medicine, we often look beyond the nutritional profile of food to consider its energetic properties. The ancient Chinese philosophy of yin and yang offers a powerful lens to understand how different foods affect the body and mind.
Yin foods are expansive, cooling, and fluid. These include leafy greens, flowers, and foods high in water content or fat. Yin is the feminine energy—soft, rounded, and often associated with relaxation and night.
Yang foods are contractive, warming, and dense. Think of animal proteins, salty foods, and hard cheeses. Yang is the masculine energy—bright, focused, and energizing.
The problem arises when we consume extreme yin or extreme yang foods in excess. Examples of extreme yin include processed foods, alcohol, and sugar. Extreme yang includes red meats, hard cheeses, and shellfish. These imbalances can throw off our internal harmony, leading to both physical and emotional disorders.
The goal isn’t to label foods as “bad” or “good,” but to recognize their effect on your unique constitution and aim for balance.
III. Your Gut Garden: The Microbiome Within
Inside your body lives an entire ecosystem—a vibrant garden of bacteria, fungi, and viruses collectively known as the microbiome. Most of these 100 trillion organisms reside in your colon, and their presence is anything but passive. They are your silent partners in health.
This microbial community influences everything from digestion and immunity to mood and metabolism. From birth—when you pass through the birth canal and receive beneficial microbes from your mother—your microbiome evolves with your life choices, especially diet.
Every bite you take either feeds the good flora or disrupts it.
Processed foods, artificial ingredients, and environmental toxins damage this garden. On the other hand, fiber-rich vegetables, fermented foods, and mindful eating help cultivate it.
Your body is their home—and they are your first line of defense.
IV. The SAD Truth: The Standard American Diet
The Standard American Diet—aptly abbreviated as SAD—is one of the most harmful cultural norms we’ve adopted. Characterized by high saturated fats, sugars, refined salts, and low plant diversity, this diet is directly linked to a host of chronic diseases:
- Colorectal and pancreatic cancer
- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Diabetes and cardiovascular disease
One particularly dangerous byproduct of a meat-heavy diet is TMAO (trimethylamine-N-oxide), which has been implicated in heart disease and colorectal cancer. High intake of red meats also increases bile production. When this bile interacts with certain gut bacteria, it can create secondary bile acids—potent carcinogens.
It’s not just the fat or protein content; it’s the entire biological chain reaction that takes place when you ingest these foods that creates long-term health consequences.
V. The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Ingredients
Over 10,000 chemicals are used in the food supply today. Many of them have never been properly tested for safety. Some—like artificial dyes, preservatives, flavor enhancers, and emulsifiers—are known to contribute to inflammation, neurological disorders, and even cancer.
Artificial sweeteners deserve a special warning:
- Saccharin: Derived from coal tar; linked to bladder cancer.
- Aspartame: Found in diet sodas; known excitotoxin affecting the brain.
- Sucralose (Splenda): Made by chlorinating sugar; alters the gut microbiome and may increase cancer risk.
- Erythritol and other sugar alcohols: Cause gastrointestinal distress and have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Even “natural” sweeteners like stevia and monk fruit are often processed with fillers or combined with other harmful substances.
If nature didn’t create it, your body probably doesn’t recognize it—and your microbiome certainly doesn’t benefit from it.
VI. The Things We Don’t Think of as Food (But We Still Absorb)
Did you know you “eat” your shampoo?
While you don’t bite into your deodorant or foundation, the skin—your largest organ—absorbs chemicals just like your digestive tract does. Many personal care products are filled with endocrine-disrupting substances like:
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde
- Oxybenzone
- Fragrances
- Heavy metals and BPA
These toxins disrupt hormones, inflame organs, and tax your liver. The effects are systemic and cumulative.
The same goes for household cleaners, air fresheners, candles, and even the materials used in packaging. Conscious consumption includes everything you place in, on, or near your body.
VII. Herbicides, Pesticides, and a Poisoned Ecosystem
Agricultural intensification has led to the widespread use of herbicides and pesticides, but these chemicals don’t just wash off our apples. They accumulate in our soil, our water, and ultimately, our bodies.
Residues on conventionally grown produce can:
- Disrupt the microbiome
- Interfere with hormones
- Damage cells
- Increase cancer risk
- Harm fertility and neurological health
Glyphosate, for example, is one of the most commonly used herbicides and is linked to significant biological harm. Choosing organic when possible isn’t just a health decision—it’s an ecological one.
VIII. Conscious Eating: Reclaiming the Sacred
Once you begin to understand what food really is, you realize that eating should never be rushed, unconscious, or thoughtless. Conscious eating means becoming aware of:
- What you’re eating (whole vs. processed)
- How you’re eating (mindfully vs. distracted)
- When you’re eating (in alignment with hunger vs. emotion)
- Where you’re eating (calm setting vs. chaotic)
- Why you’re eating (nourishment vs. habit)
Some simple guidelines for conscious eating:
- Favor organic, plant-based foods in a rainbow of colors
- Source from local farms, gardens, or even grow your own
- Cook with stainless steel, iron, or ceramic—never Teflon or aluminum
- Eat only when truly hungry; stop before you’re full
- Avoid waste and repurpose leftovers
- Give thanks before each meal
Conscious eating doesn’t mean perfect eating—it means intentional eating.
IX. A Spiritual Approach to Nourishment
As Thich Nhat Hanh said, “In this food I see clearly the presence of the entire universe supporting my existence.” That is the essence of eating with reverence.
A Buddhist mealtime grace beautifully reminds us:
“This food is the gift of the whole universe—the earth, the sky, and much hard work. May we live in a way that is worthy of this food. May we transform our unskilled states of mind, especially that of greed. May we eat only foods that nourish us and prevent illness.”
We are caretakers of our bodies—not owners. Each meal is a chance to connect with the sacred, to slow down, and to honor the life force that sustains us.
X. Final Thoughts: You Are What You Absorb
The question isn’t just “what’s on your plate?” but “how does your body respond to what you take in every day?” This includes your food, your thoughts, your environment, your emotions, and your choices.
What we eat truly becomes who we are. The proteins, fats, minerals, and enzymes circulating in your bloodstream were once leaves, fruits, animals, and sunlight. You are the earth—expressed in human form.
Let us move away from mindless consumption and toward conscious nourishment. Let us reclaim food as medicine, as relationship, and as sacred connection.
Because in the end, you are not just what you eat—you are what you honor.
References & Recommended Readings
- Center for Science in the Public Interest – Secret Ingredients Lurk in Food: Hidden Artificial Flavor, Natural Flavor, and Spices (March 2024)
- Egan, S. How to Be a Conscious Eater. Workman Publishing Company, USA, 2020.
- Pathfinder-Ewing, Jim. Conscious Food. Findhorn Press, USA, 2012.
- Rozidaini, M. et al. “Health Effects of Herbicides and Its Current Removal Strategies.” Bioengineered, Sept. 25, 2023; 14(1): 2259526.
- Scunziano-Singh, M. & Friedberg, D. The Conscious Eat. WellCome OM Publishing, USA, 2018.
- 4 Powerful Buddha Quotes – NewTraderU (July 23, 2023)
source https://wellcomeomcenter.com/what-food-and-eating-actually-means-how-we-consume-our-environment-in-more-ways-than-one/
