ABSTRACT
Food includes the taking into the bodily system through all the sense organs of all kinds of solids, liquids, gases, air and smoke. Food taken through the organ of the mouth is of four kinds. These are liquids which are drunk; semi-solids which are dissolved by licking or sucking; solids pulverized by the teeth and eaten; soft substances swallowed without mastication. Ayurveda, the Hindu science of medicine, prescribes the exclusion of all articles of food that are decomposed, fermented, unclean, foul smelling, kept over-night and twice cooked. The articles of food that are forbidden are those that are procured through injuring or killing or through theft, breach of faith and hypocrisy. Human food supplies five needs and falls into the following classes: Energy, Strength, and Body rebuilding and Lubrication Supply of chemicals to the glandular system.
