Ital Is Vital

When you first hear 'Ital,' you might think of Italian fusion or maybe a new Apple product. Learn how the diet of Bob Marley and the Rastas' is taking the foodie trend to the next level, and how it could change your life and the world, too.

The Rasta movement was born in Jamaica as a reaction against centuries of colonization and imperialism. Ital is a lifestyle; a way of bringing about connection to the Almighty through food. But it's more than a diet, it's a way of life.

The foundation of the Rasta and Ital movements are that the African slaves who were brought from the heart of Africa to the Caribbean are believed to be a lost tribe of Israel. As Hebrews, Ital follows the dietary guidelines described in the Book of Leviticus. The ancient text lists all the unclean foods: anything that crawls, any animal without split hooves, any animal with paws, any fish without scales or fins, ect. Another important note is that while some animals are considered clean to eat, you must never eat their blood. All animals must be blessed, sacrificed, and drained of their blood before it can be clean to eat. This is because blood is considered to bind your soul to the material world.

The notion of material vs. spiritual is another major cornerstone in Ital. The purpose of the Ital diet is to elevate the natural vibration you possess as a spiritual being so that you can connect to the ultimate Spirit. You therefore only eat what gives you life. Since all life is a vibration, you must only eat foods that are alive. This means eating foods that are raw, uncooked, and full of pure sunlight. Because only plants possess the ability to turn sunlight into energy through the process of photosynthesis, they actually feed your body (and soul) pure life. The more chlorophyll a plant has, the higher the vibration. Make sense?

Rastas following a Ital diet do not eat anything that bleeds, nothing with a face or eyes, nothing with artificial colors or dyes, no medicine, and no sugar. If it does not grow where they live, if it has been processed in any way, they do not eat it. While caffeine and Western medicines are shunned, all herbs are accepted.

This diet might seem extreme at first, but once you learn all the foods you can eat, it get's easier. All fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are enjoyed. Ital is more than a diet, it is a total lifestyle. It means being kind to one another, the earth, and protecting the soul of the earth, which God has created. And while it may take some time adjusting to the 'strict' rules of the Rastas, once you feel the benefits of a clean life, you'll never go back again.

Like the Rastas' say, Ital is vital.