THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - GLUTTONY
Down To Earth|May 16, 2024
We have been captured by food and it is driving us to do something that is arguably not good for us
THE AL'CHEMY OF EMOTIONS - GLUTTONY

How has the world’s view on gluttony changed over the years?

Views on gluttony have changed dramatically. If you go back 500 years, when the church, at least in the western world, played a dominant role, then gluttony is one of the seven sins. The church said that you might enjoy being a glutton while you are alive, but when you are dead, you will be punished. We have these paintings of gluttons in the depths of hell being consumed by other creatures. This was during a time when most people could not be gluttonous for the simple reason that they faced shortage of food.

If you go back in the eastern world, the Buddha experimented with this and tried to put himself on a very minimal diet. And in the end, he drew the conclusion that the proper thing to do is not eat too much, not too little—just the right amount.

If you go back far enough, to the savannas of Africa, people lived a day-to-day existence. You did not have a refrigerator, you could not even store food because you would have to carry it by hand to wherever you were going. So, whenever there were opportunities and when food was there, you ate a lot with the expectation that it was going to be a long stretch before you got access to food again.

But, of course, we have transformed into this incredible world where you can get what you want, whenever you want, and in abundance. However, there are still places where starvation is a problem.

Someone living on a really low income can also be a glutton. They tend to focus their attention on highly processed foods. They are going to find things that are cheap and eat a whole bunch of those because that momentary pleasure of eating that tasted good.

Esta historia es de la edición May 16, 2024 de Down To Earth.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición May 16, 2024 de Down To Earth.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE DOWN TO EARTHVer todo
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Down To Earth

A SPRIG TO CARE FOR

Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
DIGGING A DISASTER
Down To Earth

DIGGING A DISASTER

Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Down To Earth

REVIEW THE TREATMENT

Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
Down To Earth

MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE

As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Down To Earth

Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?

Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag

time-read
4 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
TROUBLED WOODS
Down To Earth

TROUBLED WOODS

Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 01, 2024
BLINDING GLOW
Down To Earth

BLINDING GLOW

The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.

time-read
10+ minutos  |
November 01, 2024
GROUND REALITY
Down To Earth

GROUND REALITY

What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
Down To Earth

GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC

On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.

time-read
6 minutos  |
November 01, 2024
Vinchurni's Gandhi
Down To Earth

Vinchurni's Gandhi

A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 01, 2024