The old saying that we are what we eat can take on frightening ramifications for anyone who is trying to live a life of holistic spirituality. One way of bringing your eating in line with principles such as non-violence and respect is to adopt a sattvic diet.
Sometimes referred to as the yoga, yogic, or ayurvedic diet because of its ancient associations with the sciences, it focuses on foods that increase the sattvic guna or quality. The idea behind it is that the food we eat, as well as our manner of eating it, should be clean and pure, and it should contain, rather than waste, energy. We also should eat mindfully. Let’s find out more.
The Three Gunas
According to numerous ancient Sanskrit texts, everything in nature contains within it, exhibits, or is influenced by an interplay of the three gunas. They include sattva, rajas, and tamas.
Sattvic energy is pure, natural, vital, clean, and ripe. It encourages truth and wisdom. The rajasic guna is emotional, agitated, and passionate. Tamasic energy is stale, unclean, unripe, destructive, and dark. The latter guna encourages foolishness and ignorance.
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Fresh Fruit
The best fresh, organic fruit to include when eating according to the ancient Indian science of life includes bananas, apples, oranges, melons, peaches, grapes, plums, and berries. Be sure to eat seasonally as often as possible. Tomatoes and avocadoes should be eaten in moderation, as they are rajasic.
Legumes
Beans and pulses are a major source of protein in the sattvic diet. Among the most popular are mung beans, pigeon peas and other types of split peas also known as dals, and lentils. Chickpeas and tofu also are good protein sources. Legumes are traditionally cooked with a pinch of ground asafoetida, which assists digestion and decreases flatulence.
Vegetables
Remembering to eat seasonally, the best vegetables to include in a sattvic diet include leafy greens such as spinach and kale, beetroot, carrots, sweet potato, eggplant, and squash. Although some ayurvedic or yogic traditions exclude potatoes, mushrooms, and chilli peppers, others include them in moderation. Most, if not all, traditions exclude garlic and onions.
Whole Grains
Sprouted whole grains are a popular addition to meals prepared to enhance the sattwa guna. Barley, oats, rice, and spelt are fantastic options. If you want to eat bread, try to choose unleavened Indian bread such as chapati.
Other Food Items
Other must-have food items to ensure you have in your kitchen if you want to follow a sattvic diet include honey, nuts and seeds, oils, and ghee. In addition to honey, you can also include maple syrup, brown rice syrup, sugar cane juice, and fruit juice in moderation.
The best seeds and oils include almonds, sesame, flax, pine nuts, walnuts, and hemp. Sesame oil and coconut oils are excellent choices. Ghee is clarified culture butter, which is butter that has been churned from yoghurt.