Eating Sattvic, Yogic diet

Sattva is purity and goodness, Sattvic food is that which is pure clean and wholesome. Eating a sattvic diet means eating food that gives life, strength and energy. It is eating to give us subtle nourishment necessary for vitality and consciousness. Some foods leave us feeling lethargic. This is known as the tamasic effect. Other foods we put into our bodies leave us agitated, this is known as the rajasic effect. To feel calm, alert and refreshed, we loot to eating a sattvic diet,

According to the Bhagavad Gita Rajasic foods are known to be pungent, sour, salty, hot and harsh. Tamasic foods are described as stale, tasteless, smelly, and foul. Sattvic foods promote life; they are savoury, firm and pleasant to the stomach. Eat healthy, organic fruits, vegetables, and green and raw. Eating foods in their purest form promotes purity and vitality in your body.

Sattvic foods, are light and easy to digest, they are cooling and refreshing to not disturb the mind. They are alive and rich in Prana. Consuming foods rich in prana transfers into your body. Sattvic foods should be prepared with love and awareness. On this note, as much as food affects our mind. Our thoughts and emotions affect our food. You can eat high quality food, but if it’s prepared or eaten in anger it will transfer to you directly. Eat and absorb to nourish your mind and body. Keep your mind positive and pure when eating or preparing food.

Chew your foods carefully and eat in modest portions. Over eating leads to being tired or tamasic. Avoid over seasoning, and eat in its pure form. Too much spice has a rajasic effect leading to over-satiation. There is a loss of taste. There is increased pleasure in having a refined taste for food in its pure healthy form.

Eat fresh organic fruits. Fruit is symbolic of generosity and spirituality and is often exchanged as a gift. Dried fruits are good for the digestive system to operate optimally.

Organic Vegetables, most vegetables are considered Sattvic. Green leafy veggies, squash and sweet potatoes. Harsh vegetables like hot peppers, garlic and onions are considered gas producing. And can cause distress. Drink fresh vegetable juices to take in their live Prana.

Dairy, in the yogic tradition is considered wholesome. Use only the highest quality organic dairy. Homemade yogurt and cheese are recommended. Dairy provides nourishment in a vegetarian yogic diet. By combining diluted milk , warmed and mixed with spices like cinnamon, and cardamom and served with raw honey can overcome mucus-forming tendencies.

Nuts, and seeds are a good addition to the diet in small portions.

Raw Honey to sweeten.

Spices, Sattvic spices are generally mild and good for digestion. Such as cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, fennel, basil, fennel, fresh ginger and turmeric. Rajasic spices are black, red pepper and garlic.

Protein. Generally the Sattvic or yogic diet is vegetarian, the reason for this is, the fear and trauma the animal feels when it is being killed will then transfer into the person that consumes it. However eating a vegetarian diet can become to cooling. Some yogis on the Tibetan plateau sometimes include meat for warmth, Protein can also be ingested through legumes. The smaller the legume the easier to digest, lentils, mung beans, yellow split peas, and adzuki beans are considered Sattvic.

A test of food we put into our body is when we meditate, whether is through the physical form of yoga as a moving meditation or through a seated meditation. If you find yourself tired, falling asleep, it is the tamasic effect. If you have an over active mind and have difficulty in quieting the mind, you may be eating foods that give you the rajasic effect. To find the right balance, eat a balanced sattvic diet. “When sattva predominates, the light of wisdom shines through every gate of the body” (BG14:11)

The above suggestions are a starting point. Most arrive at the sattvic diet through trial and error. According to the Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles, Charak Samhita,”The persons having the sattvic essence are endowed with memory, devotion, are grateful, learned, pure , courageous, skilful, resolute, free from anxiety, having well directed and serious intellect and activities and are engaged in virtuous acts. (CS111-8:110)

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