an old-growth forest and your most recent breath are
inextricably intertwined. The quality of the soil in which
your food is raised is directly connected to the health of
your tissues and organs. Your environment is your
extended body. You are inseparably interwoven with your
ecosystem.
Of course, you do have a personal body that consists of
the molecules that temporarily comprise your cells, tissues,
and organs. We say temporarily because although it
appears that your body is solid and constant, it actually is
continuously transforming. Scientific studies using radio-
isotope tracings convincingly show that 98 percent of
the ten trillion quadrillion (10^28 ) atoms in your body are
replaced annually. Your stomach lining re-creates itself
about every five days, your skin is made anew every
month, and your liver cells turn over every six weeks.
Although your body appears to be fixed and stable, it is
continually metamorphosing.
The vast majority of the cells in your body are derived
from the food you eat. Recognizing this, Shankara named
the physical body annamaya kosha, meaning “the covering
made of food.” To create and maintain a healthy body,
yogis pay attention to the food they consume, minimizing
the toxicity they ingest while maximizing the nourish-
ment they receive. Certain foods are said to be particularly
conducive to a yogic lifestyle. These foods are known as
sattvic, which means they contribute to the purity of the
body. The four most sattvic foods revered by yogis are
almonds, honey, milk, and ghee (clarified butter). Get-
ting a daily dose of these foods benefits the body, mind,
and soul of a person dedicated to creating greater mind-
body integration. When acknowledging the relationship
16 The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga