Shocking Health Benefits of Quitting Onion & Garlic You Never Knew

It may surprise many people, but in several traditional Indian and spiritual beliefs, onion and garlic are not seen as vegetarian foods.

In the world of health and spirituality, a surprising debate surrounds two everyday kitchen staples—onion and garlic. Most people think of onion and garlic as important cooking ingredients, but Sanatangyan teachings, based on ancient texts like the Upanishads and Ayurveda, see them differently. These traditions believe that onion and garlic can strongly affect the mind, body, and soul—usually in a negative way.

Let’s find out why some spiritual traditions see onion and garlic as non-vegetarian, and what unexpected benefits people notice when they stop eating them.

Onion & Garlic According to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, the universe and all matter—including food—are made up of three gunas or qualities: Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (ignorance). Food also can be categorized in different ways. There are certain characteristics that define those categories.

• Sattvik: Fresh, light, and nourishing—fruits, vegetables, grains.

• Rajasik: Spicy, pungent, salty—like onion and garlic.

• Tamasik: Stale, heavy—like meat, alcohol, or overly fermented food.

Onion and garlic are grouped as rajasik and tamasik foods because they have a strong taste and smell. According to ancient Sanatangyan teachings, these foods can increase desire, anger, ego, and sexual urges, which can block spiritual growth. Ayurveda expert Dr. Robert Svoboda says that eating onion and garlic makes people focus more on material things, making it harder to stay spiritually focused.

Onion & Garlic in Sanatangyan Scriptures

In texts like the Manusamhita, it is stated that eating onion and garlic is impure. The scriptures even prescribe penance for those who consume these foods. Why? Because they grow underground, in impure soil, and are linked with the qualities of darkness (Tamas).

Furthermore, Sanatangyan teachings cite a mythological origin: when the demon Swarabhanu consumed nectar illicitly, his head was severed. The nectar that spilled formed onion and garlic—imbued with demonic essence. Though born from nectar, they carry negative energies, and thus are considered spiritually contaminating.

The Vaishnava Perspective: More Than Just a Preference

Vaishnavism, a major branch of Sanatangyan tradition, also forbids the consumption of onion and garlic. One tale narrates how during a sacred yajna (ritual), a pregnant sage's wife hid a piece of cow flesh. The onion was born from that flesh and garlic from the bone—making them symbolically non-vegetarian.

From a Vaishnava viewpoint, these foods disturb inner peace and hamper devotion. They are avoided not due to superstition, but because of their impact on mental clarity and spiritual discipline.

Jainism and Non-Violence: A Deeper Layer

Another clear reason why Jains avoid onion and garlic relates to them focusing their beliefs on Ahimsa or non-violence against living beings whether it is an animal or a plant. In Jainism root vegetables, onion, and garlic are referred to as Anantakaya. This means they have countless tiny life forms in one single plant. So, pulling them out harms many living beings.

Pulling out these vegetables kills the entire plant, harming countless living organisms. Hence, Jains abstain from root vegetables altogether, as per their spiritual and ethical commitment.

Surprising Health & Lifestyle Benefits of Quitting Onion & Garlic

Although many reasons to avoid these foods come from spiritual traditions like Sanatangyan, many people today who stop eating onion and garlic also notice real health and lifestyle benefits.

• Improved Digestion – Onion and garlic can irritate the stomach lining. Many experience fewer digestive issues without them.

• Better Breath & Body Odor – Their strong sulfur compounds lead to unpleasant smells.

• Mental Clarity – People say they feel less agitated and more mentally focused.

• Enhanced Meditation – Without rajasik influence, meditation becomes deeper and more calming.

• More Harmonious Relationships – Reduced aggression and irritability help improve interpersonal dynamics.

These benefits match the Sanatangyan belief that food should help both the body and the mind stay healthy and balanced.

In conclusion, while onion and garlic are widely used in everyday cooking, many spiritual and traditional practices view them as disruptive to mental clarity and inner peace. Backed by both ancient wisdom and modern anecdotal evidence, quitting these pungent staples may lead to surprising improvements in digestion, mood, and spiritual focus—offering a compelling case for a more mindful approach to what we eat.