Sattvic Diet
BINOD BARAL
Tourism & Business Advisor of Nepal | Honorary Goodwill Ambassador | Chief Judge Asian Curry Award UK | Visiting Faculty Oxford College of Engineering & Management | Weekly Food Columnist Annapurna Express
Sattvic Diet the simplest and most natural diet.
A sattvic diet, includes foods that are light, fresh and healthy. In Ayurvedic practice, sattvic foods are thought to increase energy, happiness, calmness, and mental clarity. In practice, that means eating things that are vegetarian, nutritious, fresh, and tasty.
There are the three types of foods
In the teachings of traditional yoga, foods are classified into three categories: Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.
What are Sattvic foods?
Sattvic foods are those that are believed to promote a sattvic state, meaning they enhance clarity, harmony, and balance in the body and mind. These foods are typically vegetarian and include:
Sattvic foods are typically consumed in their natural form, without being processed or refined. They are also prepared with mindfulness and positive intention.
Benefits of the Sattvic Diet
The sattvic diet is believed to have several benefits for the body and mind, including:
Concerns about the Sattvic Diet
While the sattvic diet is generally considered safe and healthy, it may not be appropriate for everyone. For example, athletes or individuals with high energy needs may require more protein and calories than the sattvic diet provides. Additionally, those with certain medical conditions may need to modify their diet accordingly.
Benefit of Sattvic Foods
1. Improves the immune system and acts as an immune booster:
Sattvic diet is extremely nutritious as 40% of Sattvic diet includes raw vegetables and fruits in the form of salads. Consuming natural fresh foods provides all the necessary nutrients, dietary fiber , antioxidants, proteins, minerals and monounsaturated fats. If this diet is followed regularly, it boosts your immunity, allowing a healthier immune system.
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2. Helps in weight loss:
If our everyday meal includes sattvic foods like a fresh salad made from seasonal vegetables and fruits, lentils and sprouts greatly promote weight loss. These foods have low carbs and calories which is loaded with the goodness of protein, vitamins and minerals. It gives a satiate feeling which will prevent you from sinful snacking before the next meal. Slow chewing of food is proven to reduce fat absorption and instantly boosts metabolism. Sattvic food is rich in fiber , which helps in reducing calories.
3. Maintain balance in body and mind:
The sattvic diet is greatly popular among people who practice yoga and exercise. This food brings flexibility to the body. Food is considered to be healthy if after consumption brings energy and freshness to the body and mind. On the other hand, if you feel sleepy and lethargic after having the food, then it means that food is not compatible with your body. Scientists have proved that a good diet brings energy, peacefulness and happiness to the mind and body. The sattvic diet is loaded with goodness that maintains the balance in body and mind. With a healthy body and mind, we are sure to increase our life expectancy. People who are seeking spiritual growth should follow the sattvic diet.
4. Improves digestive system:
Being on a sattvic diet means eating only fresh foods. Our everyday meal should have 40% of raw vegetables, sprouts, nuts and fruits. This means salad should be a part of our everyday meal. Vegetables and fruits have the maximum nutrients, minerals and fiber when eaten in the raw form which is usually lost when cooked. This promotes easy digestion due to fiber rich food. According to Ayurveda, each morsel of food has to be chewed 24 times before swallowing. This helps complete the absorption of nutrients from food and improves digestion.
5. Prevent chronic diseases
A low-fat and high fiber diet reduces certain chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, hypertension, heart disease and also helps fight Coronavirus.
The sattvic diet is rich in fiber, nutrients and antioxidants, which prevents certain chronic diseases. A small change in the diet can make a big impact in the long run. Being on a sattvic diet means you stay out of fried foods, processed foods, canned foods, etc. This keeps the cholesterol level in control and prevents heart diseases. Diabetes and certain cancers are also kept at bay since sattvic food keeps our stomach happy with easy digestion and absorption. Eating nuts increases the good cholesterol or monounsaturated fats in your body that keeps the blood pressure in control. These foods also prevent stomach ulcers.
6. Detoxes the body:
Toxicity in the body can be measured if you feel a sense of bloating, headache, skin rashes, fatigue, acne or nausea. If you are regularly experiencing these symptoms, change the diet and detox your body. Having a sattvic diet will help detox your body. Having a sattvic diet will help detox your body. Practice fasting once every month. Having a glass of warm water mixed with a pinch of turmeric and honey every morning removes toxicity in your body. Practising yoga or meditation along with a healthy diet will help cleanse your body.
7. Stay Energetic:
A visible change in the body can be noticed within a month of having a sattvic diet. You will wake up fresh in the morning without feeling tired and sleepy. Our body feels light and energetic with more flexibility than before. Your mood is elevated bringing in a significant change in the productivity of your work. The sattvic diet helps you to stay energetic.
We have seen all the benefits of being on a Satvic diet. During this modern age, it’s not possible to follow this diet entirely, but we can slowly incorporate it along with our regular diet. Once you reap the benefits I am sure you will follow them regularly. So leverage the easily available resources to improve your health rather than going to the doctors or nutritionists.
Enjoy and if you can adapt.