Many people in this health-conscious world follow a lot of food guidance, from dietary recommendations to taboos. Surprisingly, many of them are still not supported by science. Most emanate from very old beliefs and superstitions passed on from generation to generation.
Such age-old ideas keep on playing their role in what we decide to eat and avoid, helping our subconscious minds in making those decisions.
This post looks at how superstitions about food have set patterns that continue right through to modern society, even when the basis is imaginary and unscientific.
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Key Takeaways
- Food superstitions originate from very ancient times and are closely related to cultural beliefs about health, luck, and spiritual well-being; they usually have no scientific basis.
- So many of the modern dietary restrictions and phobias are based upon superstitions that have outlived their sell-by dates but managed to survive despite being at odds with nutrition science.
- Social media also acts as a facilitator in spreading misinformation, which helped resurrect various old superstitions and introduced new ones, urging people to adopt restrictive and unwarranted eating habits.
- Education and critical thinking are keys that will help one out of the vicious circle of superstition to choose foodstuffs on the principles of science.
The Origins of Food Superstitions
Food superstitions have grown deep roots back in human history when science was at a minimum, and one’s illness or fortune was explained through observation, spirituality, and tradition.
Most of the ancient civilizations believed that food was much more than what would simply nourish the body. Food was attributed to health, social convention, and even to the supernatural.
Historical Background: Food as Medicine cum Magic
Food was presumed to be healing but, on the other hand, dangerous in ancient cultures. For instance, traditional ceremonies used certain types of food as medicine or protection from bad omens. When medicine was not so advanced, people tried to keep their health and bodies intact with these suppositions.
For example, in some European societies, eating garlic was supposed to ward off evil spirits, while others thought that at certain times of the year, different fruits eaten would bring a person good fortune or sickness.
Many of these were connected, in many cultures, with a lack of scientific insight concerning nutrition and diseases. Food-related beliefs that produced poor health or bad fortune developed organically from patterns noticed in nature, seasonal changes, or inexplicable illnesses.
Cultural Influences on Food Superstitions
Consumption of any food has always been culturally controlled. Much of food superstition testifies to a profound interconnection of culture and health beliefs.
For example, many Asian cultures abstain from certain seafood on varying phases of the moon because their handed-down belief has taught them this will prevent bad luck or illness.
In other cases, cultural taboos based upon religious and spiritual symbolism disallow the consumption of particular meats on specific days, a sentiment still realized today in modern practices such as Lent.
These are usually some practices that have been attributed to over hundreds of years of tradition, which could be propelled by family members. In modern times, most of these superstitions have clung to behavior in action, especially for older generations or those who hold their cultural heritage dear.
Common Food Superstitions and Their Lasting Impact
Many food-related superstitions transcend cultures in providing harmful eating habits at the same time that runs contrary to modern nutritional advice. Below are a few common examples:
1. Avoidance of Dairy at the Time of Sickness
Perhaps the most popular myths are those where one must avoid dairy during the times when one is sick, more so during cold seasons. Although there is no scientific background to prove this fact, yet people continue to avoid dairy in conditions of sickness.
This was an observationally passed belief whereby people felt that after consuming dairy, their condition of congestion and production of mucus increased, the only plausible reason being the thick consistency of milk.
2. The Myth of “No Eating After Dark”
It is also believed in some cultures that eating after the sun has set can cause problems with weight gain or digestion. This probably actually originated because of practical concerns, such as the lack of decent ways to store food in the past making it unwise to eat leftovers at night.
Over time, this pragmatic advice evolved into a more general prohibition against late nighttime eating as new food safety and refrigeration techniques improved.
3. Bad Luck at Sea and Bananas
Traditionally, bananas are not taken on boats by some fishermen in parts of Southeast Asia and the Caribbean because many regard this as an invitation to bad luck—once they are on board, the catch is poor or accidents occur.
This probably emanates from practical observations such as that bananas rot rather fast or that some insects that might destroy other goods could be attracted by them.
4. “Starve a Fever, Feed a Cold”
This old wives’ tale suggests that the body needs different types of nourishment at different times of illness. Of course, hydration and nutrition are important during any illness, but somehow not eating when we have a fever is programmed in our minds.
This baseless superstition has led some individuals to deprive themselves unnecessarily of much-needed nutrition, making their recovery that much slower.
The Psychological Influence of Superstitions on Food Choices
Such food superstitions do not stop at mere avoidance but also disturb mental and emotional well-being. The belief that a certain food can bring ill luck or bad health, for example, has a psychological effect in contributing to stress and anxiety because of an unhealthy relationship with food.
1. Cognitive Dissonance and Superstitious Beliefs
Cognitive dissonance occurs when people have conflicting beliefs and attitudes; this typically creates discomfort. When superstitious beliefs about food conflict with scientific evidence, the dissonance becomes very prominent. For example, an individual who believes that gluten is harmful yet either has no sensitivity to gluten or cannot tolerate gluten would show some feelings of unease in the presence of scientific facts challenging such a belief.
2. The Role of Fear and Anxiety
Fear is a great motivator, and when it concerns food, the fear of bad luck or illness might make people avoid foods that they really do not have to. Indeed, some fear the negative health consequences of their actions if they violate a food-related superstition; thus, they maintain diets that are highly restrictive when this behavior isn’t necessary. This anxiety can have lasting effects on a person’s dietary choices and overall well-being.
Social Media and the Resurgence of Superstitions
Social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, have also been serving to resurrect and spread old superstitions and inculcate new ones. Influencers and health gurus tend to promote diet restrictions and fads with anecdotal evidence, apparently resurrecting food superstitions.
Trending Fads based on Superstitions
Detox diets, cleanses, and elimination diets typically emerge from the ideology that foods are essentially “toxic” or otherwise noxious. These diets capitalize on food fears to market a rather restricted pattern of eating that is not necessarily grounded in hard science.
As such ideas spread via the internet and social media, they find fertile ground in existing or new superstitions that compel people to take up ways of eating that are nutritionally unsound.
Misinformation and Its Spread
The food superstitions spread rapidly on social media, finding more traction than ever. Information about the risk of common foods or health benefits from diets might go viral and make people change food habits for baseless beliefs. Such misinformation can be highly risky, especially for vulnerable populations who do not have access to credible, science-based resources.
Breaking the Cycle: Beating Food Superstitions
The only way to break loose from the tightening noose of food superstitions is turning the tide towards education and critical thinking. Demystifying nutrition myths and promoting evidence-based nutrition would better equip people with more informed and healthier food choices.
1. Nutritional Education for All
One of the best ways to fight food superstitions is through education. Knowledge in nutrition and health sciences can adequately arm individuals with the ability to question superstitious beliefs and make decisions based on facts, rather than fear. Public health campaigns and access to reliable information are important in this regard.
2. Encouraging Open Conversations About Food
Open discussions of food beliefs could be very instrumental in provoking these individuals to trace where their eating practices emanated from and the need to rethink some of those superstitious ideas. Once there is a forum where people share their thoughts and experiences concerning food, it then becomes rather easy to debunk myths.
Final Thoughts
Food superstitions, though often based in tradition and culture, are no longer helpful in today’s world of modern nutrition and science-based health.
Although many people still practice these beliefs, it is important to reflect on the psychological impact they create and, in turn, educate ourselves and others. Critical thinking, paired with scientific reasoning, will eventually help to break free from the cycle of fear-based food restrictions.
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References
[1] https://lifeofamedstudent.com/2017/06/30/superstition-in-medicine/
[2] https://www.overlakehospital.org/blog/medical-superstitions-myths-versus-facts
[3] https://www.medicalindependent.ie/life/the-dorsal-view/superstitious-surgeons/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7266200/
[5] https://blogs.bmj.com/medical-humanities/2019/05/21/the-history-of-a-superstition/
[6] https://www.paramountdirect.com/blogs/health-and-superstitions
[7] https://britainsbestguides.org/feature-superstition-science/
[8] https://babyology-care.com/a/blog/post/10-strange-superstitions-about-babies-and-parenting-around-the-world-part-2