At the core of Rastafarianism is the concept of livity — the belief that an energy or life force conferred by Jah (God) exists within every living thing and flows through everyone. Livity is living in harmony with nature and practicing love and compassion for all.
What does ital mean?
Rastafarians maximize their connection to nature through adherence to an ital diet. Ital comes from the word “vital” and it’s built around eating foods considered to be essential to life. It is prioritizing fresh, whole, unprocessed foods that are grown locally and organically. An ital diet is free from meat, chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavorings.
What are some common ital foods?
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Legumes
- Nuts and seeds
- Herbs and spices
- Unrefined Oils — (for example, virgin coconut oil)
- Natural sweeteners such as cane sugar or molasses.
Is Ital Food the same as a Vegan Diet ?
Ital and vegan diets have many similarities, but there are a few key distinctions.
An ital diet can consist of fish: While many Rastafarians abstain from all animal flesh, some consider fish to be acceptable within the ital restrictions. However, some believe the fish needs to be under 12 inches long, as it is believed that larger fish are impure as they are likely to eat other fish.
No artificial or processed foods and sweeteners: Rastafarians who adhere to an ital diet always keep it simple when it comes to food and sweeteners. An ital diet typically prefers natural foods from the earth, such as yam, banana, nuts, seeds and vegetables. A vegan diet on the other hand, may include processed meat alternatives such as vegan burgers.
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How are ital foods prepared?
Most ital dishes are either raw or cooked using simple methods such as steaming, roasting, and boiling. Rastafarians believe these methods preserve the nutrients in the food that would be otherwise lost.
What are the health benefits to ital food?
As a primarily plant-based cuisine that minimizes the use of fat and artificial compounds, eating ital is immensely healthy. An ital lifestyle can help improve your overall health including your heart health, digestion, and improve weight loss. Studies show that a vegetarian diet can boost day to day energy levels and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer.
Why don’t some Rastafarians eat salt on an ital diet?
While some Rastafarians on an ital diet use salt sparingly and are particular about the kind of salt they use, other Rastafarians on a strict, traditional ital diet consider salt to be impure and harmful. Similar to how salt can pull the water out of food through osmosis, some Rastafarians believe salt dehydrates the body and causes spiritual imbalance. Some consider salt to be associated with ‘Babylon’ – a term used to refer to the Western world or oppressive authority.
