Everything about Ital totally explained
Ital or
I-tal is food approved of in the
Rastafari movement. The word derives from the
English word
vital, with the initial syllable replaced by
i. This is done to many words in the
Rastafari vocabulary to signify the unity of the speaker with all of nature.
Early adherents adopted the dietary laws of
Leviticus and
Deuteronomy. Though there are different interpretations of ital regarding specific foods, the general principle is that food should be natural, or pure, and from the earth. Rastas therefore avoid food which is chemically modified or contains artificial
additives (for example,
colour,
flavourings, and
preservatives). Some also avoid added
salt in foods. In strict interpretations, foods that have been produced using chemicals such as pesticides and fertiliser are not considered ital.
In common with religions such as
Judaism,
Islam, and
Ethiopian Christianity, Rasta prohibits the eating of
pork. Some Rastas also avoid eating
shellfish because, in common with pigs, they're considered to be
scavengers. Most Rastas avoid the consumption of all
red meat, many don't eat
fish or those fish over 12 inches in length, and some are strict
vegetarians.
Stricter interpretations also avoid food that has been preserved by
canning or
drying and even prohibit the use of metal cooking utensils, something that
Ayurvedic diet followers also avoid. Foodstuffs such as grass and other herbal remedies are permitted within this diet. In this case, only clay and wood cooking pots,
crockery, and cutlery are used. The few adherents of ital follow the strictest interpretation; some Rastas don't adhere to them at all.
Medicine and drug usage
Rastafarians don't allow
alcohol,
cigarettes, or
coffee. To them, these are drugs that cloud the mind. Rastas, however, do allow
cannabis because they believe it causes a strong prayerful state. Some Rastas don't believe in medicine, but many urbanized Rastas allow such practice.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ital'.
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