Eating your food on banana leaves may sound weird for people living in the western world, but it's actually quite common in many parts of India. In areas of South India, you won't even find plastic plates in hotels and restaurants making it compulsorily to eat on banana leaves there.
Doing this is actually a basic, must follow rule in Ayurveda lifestyle.
Ayurveda originated in South India, and is translated as the science of life (Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge). It offers a body of wisdom designed to help people stay vibrant and healthy while realizing their full human potential.
The two main guiding principles of Ayurveda are as follows:
1.) the mind and the body are inextricably connected, and
2.) nothing has more power to heal and transform the body than the mind.
Therefore, your freedom from illness depends upon expanding your own awareness, bringing it into balance, and then extending that balance to the body. It's not as complicated as it sounds.
It's actually a lifestyle approach such as adding in meditation, eating healthier foods that correspond to your own constitution, Dosha, and something as simple as…
Eating off banana leaves.
Unlike plastic plates, banana leaves are natural and don't promote many life threatening diseases like cancer that plastic does. Banana leaves are rich in anti-oxidants and by eating on them, it helps you obtain those anti-oxidants. According to Ayurveda texts, eating on banana leaves also helps you fight many common diseases like cough, cold, fever and promotes overall good health by allowing for good digestion.
Plus they are completely biodegradable, easy to use and don't harm the earth when thrown away. People even claim their food tastes better!
