SUBTOPIC: Vegetarianism
– Most expressions of the Ital diet include strict vegetarianism
– Ital followers believe eating meat goes against Livity elevation
– Rastafarians consider humans to be natural vegetarians based on physiology
– Some strict adherents are vegans excluding dairy
– Fish consumption is accepted by some Ital adherents
SUBTOPIC: Drugs
– Rastafarians generally disapprove of alcohol consumption
– Some may drink alcohol in moderation without clouding the mind
– Cigarettes are generally disapproved of due to health concerns
– Many avoid coffee and caffeinated beverages
– Some grow their own coffee, sugar, and cocoa
SUBTOPIC: Other restrictions
– Strict interpretations avoid rock salt and preserved foods
– Metal cooking utensils are prohibited, only clay and wood are used
– Few adhere strictly to these rules
– Sea salt can be used as a substitute
– Canning or drying of food is avoided
SUBTOPIC: See also
– Christian vegetarianism
– Kashrut
– Halal
– Jewish vegetarianism
– List of diets
SUBTOPIC: References
– Ital Cooking – EatJamaican.com
– Rastafari Livity: A Basic Information Text
– Ital Food (Jamaica) – Jamaicans.com
– Movement and Change: Movement and Change
– Ital Is Vital – The New York Times
Ital, also spelled I-tal (/ˈaɪtɑːl/), is food often celebrated by those in the Rastafari movement. It is compulsory in the Bobo Ashanti and Nyabinghi mansions, though not in the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The word derives from the English word "vital", with the initial "v" removed. This emphasis on the letter "I" is done to many words in the Rastafari vocabulary to signify the unity of the speaker with God and all of nature. [citation needed] The expression of Ital eating varies widely from Rasta to Rasta, and there are few universal rules of Ital living.
The primary goal of adhering to an Ital diet is to increase liveliness. The life energy that Rastafari generally believe lives within all human beings, as conferred from the Almighty, is referred to as Livity. A common tenet of Rastafari beliefs is the sharing of a central Livity among living things, and what is put into one's body should enhance Livity rather than reduce it. Though there are different interpretations of ital regarding specific foods, the general principle is that food should be natural, or pure, and directly from the earth; Rastafari therefore often avoid food which is chemically modified or contains artificial additives (e.g., colour, flavourings, and preservatives). Some also avoid added salt in foods, especially salt with the artificial addition of iodine, while pure sea or kosher salt is eaten by some. In strict interpretations, foods that have been produced using chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizer are not considered ital. Early adherents adopted their dietary laws based on their interpretation of several books of the Bible, including the Book of Genesis ("Then God said, "I give you every Seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." (Genesis 1:29)), the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Along with growing dreadlocks and the sacramental smoking of ganja, observing a vegetarian diet is one of the practices early Rastafari adopted from Indian indentured servants living in Jamaica. Rastafari's founder, Leonard Howell, affectionately called "Gong" and "Gyangunguru Maragh", though not of Indian descent, was fascinated with Hindu practices and was instrumental in promoting a plant-based diet in the Rastafari community of Pinnacle.