Sattvic Diet

Ayurveda emphasizes on having a Sattvic diet as it can help lead a healthful life. According to Ayurveda, “Sattva” means anything that is pure in quality. A Sattvic diet is one which promotes purity of both mind and body. It is a way of life and more than just vegetarianism.

A Sattvic diet takes into consideration the following:
1.The composition of diet
2.The quality of food
3.The environment in which food is prepared
4.Mood of the person who prepares the food
5.Quality of food
Sattvic foods are abundant in prana (life-force), vegetarian, wholesome, seasonal, fresh and easy to digest when cooked properly. They are not processed, are free of preservatives and are grown in a chemical-free environment. Foods considered Sattvic include [i]:

Grains: Whole grains like aged and brown rice, millets (jowar, bajra, ragi etc.), oats, quinoa, barley, whole wheat. Bread is not considered sattvic as it is processed and has yeast.

Pulses: Moong dal, lentils, yellow peas and soybean.

Fruits: Almost all fruits are considered Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, sweet lime, and grapes), Melons, Apples, bananas, berries, apricots, dates, mangoes, peaches, pears and plums are especially sattvic.

Vegetables: Almost all the vegetables are considered Exclusions are:

Onion and garlic which are pungent are considered rajasic in nature

Mushrooms and potatoes are considered tamasic in nature

Combining the above vegetables with other foods or spices can nullify their negative effects

Dairy: According to Ayurveda, milk and Ghee is one of the purest sattavik foods, which is the essence of medicinal plants which the animal has eaten. Milk is believed to increase strength and life and has a tranquilizing effect. Milk products like butter, ghee, home-made paneer/curd and whey are all considered sattavic.

Nuts, seeds and Oils: Any nuts and seeds, which are not roasted or salted are considered. Almonds soaked overnight and peeled are considered to be very good for health. Ayurveda recommends cold-pressed oils.

Sweeteners: Honey is considered as a natural sweetener and is known for boosting immunity.

Spices: Spices used commonly in our households like Black Pepper, Cumin, Coriander, Ginger, Turmeric, Anise, Cardamom aid digestion, have anti-microbial properties and possess several other health promoting compounds.

The environment

The environment in which food is prepared must be clean and clutter-free. The person cooking should have taken bath and must wear clean clothes and should possess clear thoughts. The kitchen must be calm and pleasant during food preparation which enhances the quality of food being prepared.

Mood of the person preparing food

Preparing food with a lot of care and love creates positive, energetic vibrations which gets absorbed by the food during preparation and has an overall positive impact on our health. Quality of food is also enhanced by small acts like – how the vegetables are cut, the way the spices are ground or even in the ways ingredients are added to the preparation.