A spiritual path may activate Kundalini which can be a very unpleasant process because Kundalini removes blockages, both physical and emotional ones. In order to make the experience as smooth as possible the advice I came across is to cleanse body and mind the purpose of which, I think, is to remove or reduce blockages. The type of food eaten may aid the process.
"...when the body is weak [through fasting--BG] it is easier for the spirit to shine through it..." (Life of Carola by Joan Grant). I am not advocating fasting.