The Yoga of the Threefold Faith

Krishna describes tamasic food—food that is dear to tamasic people. These foods are 'yāta-yāmaṁ gata-rasaṁ pūti paryuṣitaṁ'—stale (yāta-yāmam), tasteless (gata-rasam), putrid (pūti), and rotten (paryuṣitam). They're also 'ucchiṣṭam api cāmedhyam'—remnants (ucchiṣṭam) and unclean (amedhyam). These are foods that are old, stale, processed beyond recognition, or impure. They're 'tāmasa-priyam'—dear to tamasic people—because they match the tamasic nature's tendency toward ignorance, inertia, and disregard for health. Tamasic food promotes dullness, lethargy, and ignorance. Understanding this helps you recognize tamasic food and avoid it to support your growth.