Food of the gods. You will hear occultists and spiritualists alike proclaim one particular food species is superior above all others, and they will repeat it over and over again. Yet the chosen food often differs dramatically from philosophy to philosophy. Some say Citrus, some say Mushrooms, others extol the mighty power of the lone Tomato, and yet even more others say Cacao (chocolate). The list goes on and on.

     The simple answer is, it is all nonsense.

     From the most potent, existential chili down to a subtle and unassuming grain of rice, all foods have a significant value that should not be hidden behind a veil of childish elitism... "my loaf of bread could beat up your bowl of oatmeal ANY DAY."

     But the absurdity is not limited to the fringe health movements of society. We are constantly attacked with slogans and ideas that are all the rage today, and then proven to be very wrong tomorrow.  Eat only meat, it makes you strong and smart.... no wait, we figured out meat is EVIL, don't ever eat it again... no wait, eat only white meat. Eat fish... don't eat fish.

     Here are the basic facts of life. A healthy human being is capable of eating any variety of foods while still maintaining optimum physical and mental health. Often you will find that dietary health fanatics, and the self proclaimed healers are themselves surrounded by illness. They are recovering from their own ignorance and excesses, and actively surround themselves with people of failing/inferior health. (I would like to stress this point.. these people are not do-gooders... this is their idea of having a social life; telling others how to live their lives)
     Their advice should not be followed as their focus and knowledge base is limited to warding off illness, with a twist of messianic ego to finish off the mix. A diet that fortifies and strengthens is the true path to good health. You should not be so close to death and decay that it consumes your every choice.

"But what about the plague? What about all those ye olde blights on humanity that science has cured? SCIENCE says I should take supplementary pills to keep me healthy."

     Propaganda. And contrary to this propaganda, human beings of antiquity lived LONG, healthy, cancer free lives by way of natural fruits, vegetables, and yes... meat. Certainly there was a lot of illness in the world's history, but there always will be. As long as there is a single idiot plague bearer, running around promoting bad ideas while carelessly spreading their actual infection, there will always be the threat of serious disease and dysfunction to the human species.
     Herein lies the root of the Culinary Arts. To combine the necessary elements that nourish and fortify the body in a manner that also contributes in strengthening the mind.

     When we eat, our enjoyment of food is very important. The taste and the texture, the sight and the scent... all of it contributes to our sensory palette, and our sensory health is based on chemical reactions within the body. What's more, there is an entire realm of adventure you can explore in this world of food.

     Not everyone shares the same, or even similar palette. If you were forced to eat a certain vegetable that you abhorred as a child, you were right in not wanting to eat it. You were listening to your body say "no, right now that is the wrong source of sustenance for me." You had an unpleasant experience, you move on. Some children love beetroot, others wretch at the taste of it. But to forcibly consume something that the body is trying to reject is the peak of self-destruction.
     This is the state of culinary appreciation most people have lost, and must get back to. None of this acquired taste nonsense. Listen to what your palette is telling you, heed the reactions you have to certain foods, and food combinations. And remember you are not a stone in time. Your body progresses through age and experience... your taste buds change, and so too the elements in your diet.
    Only then will you be ready to travel down the path of culinary enlightenment.

NOTE: A WORD ON CULINARY HEALING
No matter the style of healing; western/eastern medicine, naturopathic, holistic... the most powerful first step in healing is always based within fresh, succulent foods. The exceptions to this rule would  be the ingestion or injection of toxic substances (like poisoning), instant catastrophic trauma (like being crushed in a car accident), respiratory problems, and sexually transmitted diseases.

     There is a popular movement in this day and age to classify alcoholic beverages as a narcotic substance. It is not that we, the Horrorscope, disapprove of the idea. We downright spit upon it, and the mental midgets that vomit this philosophy... with extreme prejudice.
     Alcoholism is an aspect of addictive behaviour disorders.  Responsibility with all addictive disorders and dysfunctions end with the addict.  Environment or availability is no excuse. If you do not like the sound of that, find a support group that strokes your need to justify that bleak pit of inferiority that surrounds you, and the actuality of your failure in life.

     That said, let us briefly examine the benefits of alcoholic beverages.
     The one universal ingredient to all of the beverages in question is the raw, natural chemical concentrate called Alcohol. There are really only two key health benefits this ingredient provides in a diet:

1. Alcohol thins the blood. This has many benefits, most notably it can contribute to the prevention of heart disease.
2. Alcohol is a natural preservative... meaning it will contribute to preserving the vitality of your innards.

     How this applies to your well being must be understood from the perspective of personal moderation. Alcohol is a very potent chemical that can easily turn toxic if consumption exceeds tolerance levels. This is why some people are natural heavy drinkers, whilst everyone else is NOT. The idea of a wine glass a day, or two beers a day, or whatever is a fashionable limit to your part of the world, is a partial myth. Some people have a toxicity limit that means they should consume only one or two glasses for the span of an entire month. For some a weekly consumption is wise, and others; daily.
     This limit can also change depending on your current metabolic rate and diet.
     In the end you have to make an educated decision for yourself. Learn to know your body better than a doctor ever could. After all, you live with it every second of every day, you should know about it.

     Like fruit, vegetable and meat produce, not all alcoholic drinks can be trusted to be 100% healthy. This really is an area that requires diligent research into how certain breweries and distilleries make their products.  The ingredients used, the processes, and the chemical reactions that you end up with. Studies are continually being undertaken to determine the anti-cancer properties in high quality liqueurs (like single malt whiskies, triple distilled vodkas, etc.). The more well known studies often revolve around wine and beer... research all of them, not just your favorites.