What are the spiritual qualities of the foods we eat? Take garlic, for example. The Talmudic sages recommended eating garlic for the following reasons:

(1) it satisfies;

(2) it warms the body;

(3) it causes one’s countenance to shine;

(4) it increases one’s sexual potency; and

(5) it kills parasites that are in the intestines.

And some say it also instills love into those who eat it and removes jealousy from them. [ See, Baba Kamma 82a. ]