There is more to food than just nutrients and calories. It has energy, movement

cHipanzi, when they fight, often settle their relationship with each other with a kiss. Pigs, when sleeping, like to curl up close together, nose to nose. To greet other pigs they know, they rub noses with them, the way we humans would wash hands. In the 1990s, an interesting study was conducted by animal scientist Stanley Curtis. He trained pigs to play video games using a joystick. Impressively, these pigs not only mastered the game but also progressed from one difficulty level to the next.

The sheep, on the other hand, exhibits an amazing memory. They can recognize and remember human faces for years. They are also known to form strong maternal bonds with their lambs. Sheep, especially when they are young, are very playful and can be seen playing, jumping and running around the field like children in the playground.

Fish, although very distant from us, have an interesting social life. They communicate with each other with sounds, body movements and chemical signals that we can’t even see. And believe it or not, some fish choose a mate and stick with it for life. Together, they protect their home and help each other when danger approaches.

You may be wondering why we are looking at the animal world in the book at the Center for Health and Happiness. This is because there is a prevailing perception that animals may not have the same depth of emotions as we do. Some may even say that they are ‘dumb’ or ‘senseless’ creatures that do not feel things. But is this really the case? Could it be that they are also sentient beings? With the capacity to feel and understand?

I know this is a polarizing topic and opinions can vary widely, but my heart says they are not the ignorant creatures that society leads us to believe. Sure, they might not be as smart as us, but it’s clear They experience many of the same emotions, bonds and The emotions we do.

How does death feel?

Just as animals feel joy and happiness, they also experience pain and fear. When we did research on this topic, we got to know the life of these animals. In the next few paragraphs, we would like to share some details. While it may be impossible to face their full reality, we will share just enough to inform you.

Everything we mention has been extensively written and covered in various videos online.

In a factory farm, animals are confined in small cages or enclosures, where they are barely able to move. They have to defecate in the same place where they sleep and spend their days. Here, they are pumped with synthetic growth hormones, stimulating them to grow unnaturally large. why? You can ask. The bigger they are, the higher the meat yield and consequently the higher their market value.

When they are big enough, they are loaded onto trucks and taken to slaughterhouses. When the truck reaches the slaughterhouse, the animals also get off the truck. why? Because they know what’s next. They know they are heading towards their inevitable After death, workers often use electric sticks to force them out of the truck.

Some animals, such as pigs and cows, watch their mates die in front of them, increasing their anxiety as their time approaches. Soon, when it is their turn, they are transferred Hang them up and down on a moving belt (while they’re still awake). From there, they are seen close to a bolt gun or a knife, which cuts them to pieces. The mere thought of this scene can be deeply distressing for many of us. But, in such a situation, what do emotions do? Do you think the animal is passing? Fear, panic, intense anger, pain, depression, and fatigue. isn’t it?

Once their meat leaves the slaughterhouse, it is cut into pieces, sent to the supermarket and sold to us as food.

Is there more to food than nutrients?

Is diet all about calories, protein and nutrients? Or is there more to it? Well, food is not something passive. Each food has a specific energy, a specific vibration.

Now, when we eat the meat of tortured animals, not only are we eating the animals, but we are also unknowingly eating their stress, fear, fatigue and the anger that they were going through before they were killed. As we continue to consume this negative energy Time, it manifests within us in the form of stress, agitation, violence and disease.

This does not mean that eating meat will make you unhappy or angry, because there are many factors that contribute to our mental health. However, it’s worth noting that your food has energy beyond its physical properties and nutrients. If the food comes from the painful area And suffering, it may affect you in ways that are not immediately apparent.

There is an old proverb in Indian culture: ‘Jisa en, visa maan.’ It translates to “as is your food, so is your mind”, suggesting that the nature of our food affects our thoughts and emotions.

As you read all this, you may feel a storm of emotions. This is probably because we all grew up with certain habits, customs and beliefs around our food. And when it is challenged, it can disrupt the foundation of our identity. In some of us, it can evoke many emotions, sometimes even inciting defensiveness or aggression, raising more questions with each new explanation.

It is completely natural to feel such emotions when faced with such exposure. We are all on our own individual journeys, and it is okay to take your time, process this information, and decide what is right for you. Remember, you don’t have to change what you’re not ready for.

This excerpt from “The Sattvic Revolution: 7 Life-Changing Habits to Find Better Health and Happiness” by Saba and Harsh Vardhan Saraf is published with permission from Penguin Random House India.