Likutei Moharan 17:3/ליקוטי מוהר"ן י״ז:ג׳

13. Now the rectification for this, in order to subdue and eliminate foolishness, is through the concept of the altar. This is because the main subsistence of foolishness—namely, the evil forces—comes only from the altar, the concept of eating. For “a person’s table is <in place of> the altar” (Berakhot 55a), and they draw subsistence mainly from there. Therefore, even after a devout person eats, he must experience some confusion of the mind later on. This is because foolishness draws subsistence from there. Nevertheless, a person must not give vitality to the forces of evil, other than the bare minimum necessary and no more.

2Thus, when the altar is in a rectified state/eating is performed properly, then the evil forces/foolishness are subdued. For he gives only the indispensable, bare minimum of power and vitality, which it is necessary to give them, as is known. Yet he does not give them any more power and vitality than is needed for their existence.

3And so, by eating properly, foolishness is subdued and the intellect is elevated. As we find in the Talmud (Bava Kama 71b) concerning the difficult question which Rava asked of Rav Nachman: “In the morning he answered him, ‘… and the reason I didn’t answer you last night was because I hadn’t eaten ox meat.’” From this we can conclude that because he had not eaten, his mind was not clear. This is because through eating [properly], foolishness is subdued and the intellect is expanded.

4But when one eats like a glutton and a drunkard, this being synonymous with a blemishing of the altar, then the evil forces/foolishness draw excessive subsistence so that foolishness overpowers the intellect; whereas by eating properly they are subdued, as above.

5This corresponds to (Zevachim 53b): The altar was in the portion of the ToReiF (predator). This is synonymous with (Psalms 111:5), “He provided TeReF (sustenance) for those who fear Him”—eating properly. Through this [manner of eating] they—the evil forces and foolishness—are subdued and are TaRaF (torn to pieces). But, a blemish in the altar/in eating enforces foolishness, and ToReiF becomes TeiRuF (confusion) of the mind which prevails <over the intellect>.