Nowadays, it has become a common practice even in Indian households for people to eat their food with cutlery, either spoons or knives and forks, depending on the dish. It is thought to be more modern, hygienic and convenient, however most people don’t realise that there is a rationale behind eating food with your hands.

Vedic wisdom
Eating with food one’s hands is an ancient practice, one that dates all the way back to the time of the Vedas. The actions involved in eating have been derived from mudras (hand positions) that are the basis for yoga, meditation and classical Indian dance. According to the Vedas, the digits on our fingers and toes represent the five elements. It is believed that these five elements work on the food, cleansing it of any negative vibes and preparing it for us to eat. These are the representations of the elements:
• Thumb: Fire
• Index finger: Air
• Middle finger: Heaven
• Ring finger: Earth
• Little finger: Water

The benefits of eating with your hands
Touch: Unlike when you eat with a spoon or fork, your fingers come in contact with your food before you put it in your mouth. Your nerve endings in your fingers sense the temperature and texture of the food, thereby preparing your brain for what you are going to be eating and triggering the release of the appropriate digestive juices and enzymes. Additionally, you will never burn your mouth when you are eating with your hands, since your fingers will be able to sense if the food is too hot to eat. When you eat with a spoon or fork, the food goes directly from the plate to your mouth, so you may not realise if it is too hot.

Bacteria: Our body is thought to have a certain kind of bacteria that has protects us from the harmful bacteria in the environment. This bacteria resides in places like our hands, mouth, throat, intestine, gut and the rest of our digestive system. When we eat with our hands, this pattern of bacteria is maintained and we are protected from harmful bacteria. Of course, it is important for you to wash your hands before and after you eat, to ensure that they remain clean and hygienic.

Attention and satisfaction: When you eat with cutlery, it is a more mechanical process than when you eat with your hands. When you eat with your hands, you have to actually pay attention to what you eat. Not only do you experience the food more and enjoy it better, you are also more aware of what you are eating and how much. Mindless eating is one of the biggest causes of weight gain, whereby eating carefully is a much healthier option.

Article Courtesy: http://healthmeup.com/

*Image courtesy: Shutterstock