Significance of Sattvic diet
Food, not all nourishes our body, but it impacts our minds and consciousnesses. Yogis and sages of ancient India believed that food is the creator of the life force that sustains our body and keeps us in good health.
It is essential to choose the right kind of food for well-being and a healthy lifestyle. Yogis have classified food into three types based on the effects they have on our body- Sattva, tamas, and rajas.
Hence they have developed three different food habits pertaining to these emotions, namely, Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic. Today we will be talking about the Saatvik diet.
Satvik Food
The word ‘Saatvik’ has been derived from the Sanskrit word “Sattva”. In Yogic literature, Sattva means something that is clean, pure and ethically energetic. A Saatvik diet is intended to incorporate food items that adhere to their true meaning. It also pertains to ideal eating habits such as eating in small portions (avoiding overeating).
All these together are said to maintain the equilibrium of a healthy mind and body. Ayurveda advocates that a person must eat according to his/her dosha. Essentially the human body is said to be made up of three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata dosha is concerned with energy that controls bodily functions associated with motion like blood circulation, eye blinking, breathing etc.
Pitta dosha is the energy that regulates the metabolism of the body, which includes nutrition, digestion, body temperature etc. Kapha dosha pertains to maintaining growth in the body. It helps in maintaining the immune system by providing water and moisture to all body parts. Hence, Ayurveda envisages eating as per these doshas, so as to avoid any imbalances in the body and mind.
A Saatvik diet is a regime that is purely directed towards a vegetarian diet. It may include seasonal fresh fruits, ample fresh vegetables, whole grain pulses, sprouts, dried nuts, seeds, honey, fresh herbs, milk, and dairy products, which are cruelty-free.
However, onion and garlic are precluded from this diet. There exists a pervasive misconception that the Saatvik diet is all about raw or uncooked food, which is completely mistaken. It consists of both raw and cooked food. The ulterior idea of the Saatvik diet is to incorporate foods and eating habits that are “pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, wise”.
Ayurvedic science believes that food of this dietary regime contains the quality of Sattva, which represents the quality of goodness, positivity, truth, and virtuousness guided towards Dharma or Gyaan (knowledge). Saatvik diet is known to promote Ahimsa, the practise of non-violence or not causing harm to other living things.
This is the cardinal reason why Yogis and saints follow a Saatvik diet. In this dietary system, fresh nuts and seeds, which are not overly roasted, can also be consumed. All fruits are considered to be a crucial component of a Saatvik diet.
Most mild vegetables are considered Saatvik. The regime of this dietary system embodies the virtues of non-violence or Ahimsa as it comprises vegetarian proteins, derived without harming nature or any of its living organisms. Saatvik diet has a plethora of flavours –sweet, savoury, bitter, astringent, etc., as opposed to the general notion that it is bland and tasteless.
Impact of Sattvic diet on the body:
Yogic diet or Sattvic diet has a plethora of benefits, helping the body, mind, and soul in innumerable ways. A few of them are as follows.
· The Saatvik diet has many scientific implications. Here, it is a rule to start the morning ritual with a glass of warm water with a dash of lemon juice in it. It acts as an alkaline, which helps to cleanse the body and get rid of harmful toxins. If the process of detoxification is religiously followed, it aids the body organs to function at their optimum capacity and keeps ailments and diseases at bay.
· Saatvik diet is known to promote flexibility and agility of the mind and keeps it energized all the time. The prerequisite of this regime is that it attempts to bring about a balance between the body and mind, which helps an individual to live a longer and healthier life.
· Since the Saatvik diet envisages eating in small proportions or moderations, it helps in losing those extra inches to attain ideal body weight. The diet also strengthens the immunity power of the body, without rendering it pale or weak. If the regime is followed by some good physical exercises like yoga or pranayama, it protects the body from various lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure etc.
· Satvik food strides to keep the mind and body healthy by including ghee, coconut oil, sprouted seeds in the diet. These are known to be good fats which are necessary to maintain a healthy brain and also enhance memory powers, which helps in taking cognitive life decisions.
· The Saatvik diet is known to nourish the tissues and cells as it is effortless to digest. This Ayurvedic dietary system is known to utilize the six tastes of Ayurveda namely, sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, astringent to balance the sattva rajas and tamas maha Gunas (mental energies of the body). It can provide a rounded meal that has both nourishing and purifying qualities, which boosts immunity and metabolism.
· The Saatvik diet helps in creating a protective shield against various chronic diseases, which are known to destabilize the immunity system and metabolism of the body. Since the diet is very clear and pure, devoid of any unwanted protein or fat, it is inadvertently helpful in enhancing the defense mechanism of the body, to ensure good overall health. It assists in reducing the chances of heart disease risk factors such as LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Conclusion
The Saatvik diet is based on Ayurvedic principles, which promotes both health and happiness. It cleanses the mind and purifies the body and also re-energizes the Pranas within, which consequently helps the sense in taking leaps and the body stretching without discomfort.
The modern lifestyle is very challenging and taking a severe toll on our bodies. It is high time we considered the Saatvik diet as a dietary option to ensure a healthier body and a peaceful mind. Embark on this culinary journey, and you would never want back to your coveted chickens and eggs!
