Many people who have had food at Buddhist temples are surprised
by how delicious it can be given the limitations on what
ingredients can be used - no spring onions or garlic, which are
thought of as inflaming the senses, nothing that has been killed.
Instead, Buddhist cooking brings out the full flavor of the
ingredients it does use, awakening both mind and body. Thus
Buddhist cooking also serves as an excellent alternative in an age
of proliferating food allergies and wariness of additives like MSG,
excessive meat intake and irregular dietary habits. Here, the
Chosun Ilbo explains the winning formula.
1. Natural Spices
The secret of the simple flavors unique to Buddhist dishes lies in
natural spices. More than 30 kinds of natural spices, from mushroom
powder to sea tangle, black bean powder, cinnamon powder and green
perilla powder are used.
2. Fiber
If Buddhist monks rarely have trouble with constipation, it is
because they eat hundreds of seasoned vegetables. Buddhist dishes
are thrifty, often using even the roots and rind of plants.
Vegetables and seasoned vegetables are rich not only in fiber but
also phytochemicals, which prevent cancer and chronic degenerative
diseases, says Prof. Shin Mi-kyung, a Wonkwang University
nutritionist
3. Low Salt
We add the least amount of salt for seasoning because salty food
makes it difficult to focus on self-discipline by stimulating our
stomach and does not bring out the true flavors of the
ingredients, says Hongseung, a monk with a society for research on
Buddhist cooking.
4. Low Calories
Buddhist food is low in calories, with a bowl of hot cereal for
breakfast, a full meal for lunch and a bowl of rice and three side
dishes for supper. They provide some 1,600 kcal on average a day,
only 82 percent of adults normal calorie intake. This is why it is
an excellent diet for those who want to lose weight.
5. Nuts and Beans
As meat is not an option, Buddhist cooking replaces it with pine
nuts and peanuts and other nuts, beans, tofu and green perilla as
sources of protein. Studies show that those who eat nuts on a
regular basis have a 35-50 percent lower risks of getting heart
disease, while beans are known for their anti-cancer effects.
6. Light Eating
Buddhist food makes it difficult to overeat. People often eat too
much of any delicious food because they hurry while eating, run out
of time or skip meals. Nutrients left over when our bodys energy
needs are already met are the cause of obesity and various
diseases, Hongseung says. If you make a habit of light eating,
you will be able to live a long and healthy life.
7. Food as Medicine
Buddhism teaches that eating the right food is the best way to cure
disease without taking medicine or getting other treatment. When I
have problem with my digestion, I eat cabbage, and when I have
problem with the lungs, I eat gingko nuts seasoned with sesame
oil, says monk Seonjae. According to Prof. Lee Eui-ju of Kyunghee
Universitys Oriental Medicine Hospital, food plays an important
role in the three stages of disease prevention, treatment and
post-treatment. For people with diseases related to dietary habits
such as diabetes, hypertension and hypotension, Buddhist dishes are
a great help.
