Sattvic Diet – All About Sattvic Food

A sattvic diet is a pure vegetarian diet and usually includes fresh vegetables, seasonal fresh fruit, dried nuts and seeds. This diet also incorporates whole grains, sprouts, pulses, honey, fresh herbs and dairy products that do not have any animal rennet in them. The food in a sattvic diet is often prepared and consumed with awareness, gratitude and love resulting in positive and energetic vibrations being absorbed by the food when it is being prepared.

It is a customary practice to adopt a sattvic diet during any festival or any other religious occasion. This is because sattvic food has the ability to elevate a person’s conscience levels and help him/her have a balanced personality. He/she will also be serene, calm and amicable as well as be full of hope, energy, good health, enthusiasm, creativity and aspirations when he/she follows a balanced diet.

According to Ayurveda, the Sattva guna is the highest guna and represents equanimity and spiritual goodness in its purest form and is manifested in the form of joy, virtue, awareness and intelligence. Sattvic foods also play a key role in enhancing the purity of the mind and body from unhealthy toxins at the same time. The Chandogya Upanishad also highlights the importance of sattvic food. These foods offer a perfect balance of all six tastes and a sattvic diet includes prana rich light-potency, unadulterated and unprocessed food.

A sattvic diet is highly nutritious as it is free of any kind of refined and processed foods and avoids the eating food that have been prepared by harming animals, people or even the environment. A sattvic meal is usually prepared in minimum quantity to serve just one meal so that there is no food wastage or leftovers.

Foods to Avoid in a Sattvic Diet

The foods that must be avoided in a sattvic diet are broadly classified as rajasic foods and tamasic foods. Rajasic foods are those that are stimulating and spicy. On the other hand, tamasic foods are dull and heavy in nature.

Some examples of rajasic foods are eggs, garlic and onions, vegetables like radishes, tomatoes, hot peppers and eggplants, fermented foods, caffeinated drinks and junk and fast foods. Tobacco and several other stimulants are also classified as rajasic foods.

Tamasic foods include foods like mushrooms, chicken, fish, red meat, refined grains, unripe fruits, potatoes, garlic, onions as well as stale, fried, frozen, canned or burned food. Drugs and alcohol are also classified as tamasic foods.

Benefits of Incorporating a Sattvic Diet

There are several benefits of incorporating a sattvic diet as it can contribute towards your all-round development and a healthy lifestyle. Read on to know some of them.

• Enhances the immune system

Sattvic diet is a great immunity booster as about 40% of the sattvic foods is consumed in raw form. These foods are also fresh and natural and assist in enhancing the overall immunity of the human body. They offer an individual the required nutrients, monounsaturated fats, minerals, dietary fibre, proteins and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.

• Assists in weight loss

Sattvic foods are generally rich sources of fibre that help to lower the calories consumed. They are low in carbohydrates while rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins at the same time. These foods enhance the body metabolism and render a gratifying feeling that stops you from indulging in unwanted snacking between meals. Hence, they save you from gaining weight unnecessarily.

• Balances mind and body

The food included in a sattvic diet helps in increasing the flexibility of the human body. This is why this food has gained popularity among people who engage in regular exercise and yoga. A sattvic diet makes the mind and body energetic with its fresh food and in turn balances them perfectly. It has been proved that a person who follows a good diet has a mind and body blessed with happiness, peacefulness and energy.

• Enhances the digestive system

Sattvic foods are predominantly raw and fresh foods. Fruits and vegetables have the maximum amount of fibre, nutrients and minerals when they are in the raw state. These tend to get lost to a large extent when the food is cooked. In the raw state, the food is rich in fibre and helps to promote and ease the digestion process by absorbing the vital nutrients in the food.

• Keeps chronic illnesses at bay

 Sattvic food can help to save you from chronic illnesses with its dense antioxidants, nutrients and fibre. Since a sattvic diet eliminates processed, canned and fried foods, it minimises the possibility of heart diseases and keep a check on your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. It also reduces chances of being prone to illnesses like diabetes, hypertension and cancer as the food is high in fibre and low in fat.

• Helps in detoxification

A sattvic diet helps in getting rid of the unwanted toxins from the human body and keeping it fresh and healthy. Some common symptoms that indicate your body needs a detoxification are recurring headaches, bloating of stomach, fatigue, skin rashes or nausea. You can practise meditation or yoga along with adopting a healthy diet in order to cleanse your body.

The benefits of adopting a sattvic diet can often been seen within a month of making the changes to your diet. The diet will help you wake up energetic and fresh in the morning without any lethargy. Your body will feel more light and flexible, thereby increasing your overall productivity.

A sattvic diet helps to enhance the emotional balance of an individual. This will, in turn, help him/her connect to the Almighty more easily through meditation and devotion. A sattvic meal also assists a person in developing a clear mindset and focus on more on his/her prayers to his/her favourite deity.

Written by - Deepthi K