Sattvic Food
The word Sattvic is derived from ‘Sattva’. It loosely translates to balance, harmony, and light. This rightly defines the Sattvic diet too.
Sattvic food is the purest form of food. They are aimed at calming the mind, rejuvenating the body, and inspiring the heart.
Sattvic diets are extensively followed by yoga-enthusiasts all over the word. It is a classification of food that brings all the healthy food in one category.
Sattvic food finds its earliest mention in the Vedas. Ayurveda is the ancient medical science of India dating back over 5000 years. It strongly recommends Sattvic diet for everyone.
Exercising timely, meditating daily, and avoiding all the barred foods make up the Sattvic way of life. The strict regime associated is to be followed along with the food to gain all the goodness.
Sattvic Food Beneftis
- Promotes whole, nutrient-dense foods
- Reduces chronic disease risks
- Promotes weight loss
- Promoted longevity
- Provides physical and mental strength
- Good for Digestion
Rajasic Food
The word Rajasic finds its origin in the word ‘Rajas’. Rajas mean activity and movement. It also relates to agitated, sensual, passionate, moving, and emotional.
Rajasic food is said to be stimulating and contributes to physical and emotional stress. Too much of such a diet can push us towards an imbalanced life.
Ayurveda states that consuming Rajasic food regularly is bound to cause nervous disorders and overstimulate the mind and body.
Rajasic Food Beneftis
- Overexcites the mind and body
- Leads to hyperactivity
- Cause overexertion of the body
- Cause of stress and anxiety
- Causes magnified feelings of anger
Tamasic Food
The word Tamasic is acquired from ‘Tamas’. Tamas stands for inertia, dullness, inactivity, or lethargy. Tamasic food is the most un-advocated diet in the Vedas.
As per the Ayurveda, consumption of Tamasic food leads to the destruction of the mind and body alike. They are said to harm humans in all possible ways.
This harm includes anything that will lead to a duller, less refined state of consciousness. Bodily harm includes detrimental stress to any physical organ.
However, the interesting fact is that in the modern-day, about 80% of the world prefers Tamasic food over any other.
Tamasic Food Benefits
- Brings stagnation in thinking
- Causes laziness
- Causes Intense mood swings
- Irritability and Craving
- Reduces life span
Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic Food List
| Sattvic | Rajasic | Tamasic | |
| Vegetables | Spinach, Carrots, Celery, Potatoes, Broccoli, Kelp, Lettuce, Peas, Cauliflower. | Eggplant, Onions, Capsicum (Bell Peppers), Leeks, Hot Peppers (Chilis), Potatoes, Radishes, Sea Vegetables, Sprouts, Tomatoes, Cauliflower. | Mushrooms, Pumpkin, Onion, Garlic. |
| Fruits | Apples, Bananas, Papaya, Mangoes, Cherries, Melons, Peaches, Guava. | Dates (dried), Guava, Lime, Lemon, Apple, Banana. | Plums, Watermelons, Avocado, Apricots, and all over-ripe fruits. |
| Juice | Fresh Fruits Juice, Carrot Juice, Spinach Juice, Bitter Gourd Juice. | None | None |
| Grains | Barley, Amaranth, Bulgur, Millet, Quinoa, Wild Rice, Maize. | Millet, Corn, Buckwheat, Oats, Parboiled Grains. | Wheat, Rice, extensively refined grains, dried and packaged Pasta. |
| Nuts & Seeds | Walnuts, Almonds, Peanuts, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Unsweetened Coconut, Flax Seeds. | Hemp Seeds, Peanuts, Sprouts, Sunflower Seeds. | All old or exposed to light, Chia Seeds. |
| Oils | Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Flax Oil, Mustard Oil, Ghee. | Avocado Oil, Hemp Oil, Peanut Oil, Sunflower Oil. | Vegetable Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Canola Oil, and all older than 1 year or rancid. |
| Dairy Products | Cow Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Coconut Milk, Cashew Milk. | Fresh Cheeses, Cottage Cheese, Egg, Yogurt. | None |
| Legumes & Beans | Lentils, Moong Beans, Chickpeas, Bean Sprouts. | Yellow Dal, Kidney Beans, Navy Beans, Red Lentils. | Urad Dal, Black Dal, Pink Dal, and all canned items. |
| Beverages | Water, Non-caffeinated Drinks, Herbal Tea. | Coffee, Caffeinated Teas, Decaf Tea, and Coffee. | None |
| Spices & Herbs | Coriander, Basil, Nutmeg, Cumin, Fenugreek, Turmeric, Ginger. | Asafoetida (Hing), Cayenne, Chili, Black Pepper, Garlic, Salt. | None |
| Sweets | Honey and Jaggery. | None | Artificial sweeteners, White Sugar, refined sugars. |
| Other | – | All fermented food, Ice Cream, Olives, Salt, Vinegar, Commercial Almond, Hemp or Rice Milk, all Caffeine. | Alcohol, all animal flesh (Beef, Chicken, Fish, Goat, Lamb, Pork, Shellfish), barbecued or blackened food, food with preservatives or synthetic ingredients, deep-fried food, frozen food, leftovers, condiments, smoked food, microwaved food. |
*featured image credits: Nirajan_pant – Source
Meet the literarian of our group! She loves crafts, paintings, poetry, food, and can lip-sync dialogues from F.R.I.E.N.D.S all day. The world of words fascinates her, a true logophile. A typical millennial with an old touch.
