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Originally Posted by littlemanpoet
Do be careful not to over-Clive Staples Lewis-ize Middle Earth. The process and dynamics would be much more subtle. Thus the "sour" would be a matter of the soul rather than the belly, I think, and only over time.
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Right. Actually I was thinking more of Ezekiel's scroll (was it Ezekiel? Must check...) ( No, way off, it was John in Revelation10:10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.) and sort of the Proverbs thing, Stolen bread tastes sweet but ...ooops again, anyway Proverbs 9:17 or so says
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17 “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.
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The above said, it would probably wokr like any toxic substance we take into our bodies in modern times, depending on the type. Sugar is toxic, for example, especially the processed kind, but we like it so much we ignore the harm it does to our bodies. Preservatives in food are toxic, but not as much as wall paint. I didn't realize that lembas was Galadriel's own recipe. That changes things. However, that begs the question: was Galadriel's lembas the best, or the only? If the best, then Tharonwe might have swamp lembas that he could tell was inferior, and made with his own spirit's ill, would be toxic in some way. If the only, then Tharonwe only has waybread that may be toxic the same way preservatives are. Okay, I'm going to stop beating this dead horse before I come up with a really weird answer.  In short, Raefindan would get much more soul damage from having his mind invaded than from dark-elvish waybread. Don't you think?
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Er, yes to your last question-- but over all, no. If we are going with the Roman Rite thread, then there is either Consecrated host, or, a false host-- so you are dealing with communion by faith and un-communion by unfaith.
One of the results of lembas was to lighten the hearts of those who ate it (I don't think he meant arteries...) It was a spiritual "bread", not just a physical one. It was another of those mystic unities, I think. Essence of life.
But it takes a non-protestant to feel that way, I think. Now I should be off to band practice but I'm gong to take a minute and google lembas and queen.....