What plates to dine with

Ayurveda states that every aspect of food has an impact on our health: freshness and quality of food, its constitution (every single type of food has its unique Vata, Pitta and Kapha percentage just like us), its combination, time at which we eat, the season, our mood, the character of the person who cooked the dish, the room and atmosphere in which we eat and so on.

A plate we use has its effect on the food as well.

Gold vessel improves sight, is wholesome and balances all three doshas (constitutional types).

Silver vessel is good for your eyes and benefits all three doshas.

Bronze vessel is dry and hot in quality, increases Vata, pacifies Kapha and cures worm infection.

Iron or Quartz vessel cures anemia, edema, and jaundice and is strengthening.

Earthen and rock ware is not considered auspicious.

Wooden vessel improves appetite and increases Kapha.

Leafy vessel generates appetite, is carminative and mitigates poisons and sins.

Glass ware is cold in nature and pure.

In India people mostly use iron plates and dish ware even in wealthy homes. It is not only because of good impact of iron on us. China and glass vessels keep the energy of all people who used them even if properly washed. Think of the mix of thoughts and moods we acquire when eat from such plates. The iron dishes however do not transmit previous energy.

When I was at a gathering of 1200 people in Kerala food was served on big banana leaves. We ate using only our hands (running water for washing hands before and after lunch was provided), so nothing artificial was involved in the process. After one shift of guests were done with eating used “plates” with food leftovers if any were rolled and thrown to compost while fresh leaves were put on the tables for the next party. It was an amazing experience.

TODAY’S TIP: If you are not ready to give away your china dishware yet, you can clean it from accumulated energy by washing it with small amount of cow milk and then save it for your own use only. The cow is a sacred being and her milk purifies both the physical and subtle body by making us prone to Sattva (righteousness). Milk should be drunk warm and at the right time, between 6pm and 6am (See A-da about dairy).