Dieting is catching up around the world. ‘To Diet’ – is more popular for better looks than for sound health. High calorie junk foods are shunned. A struggle between the palate and the desire to slim down continues.
The Yogic concept of food however, takes into consideration the total dimension of human existence. Yoga believes, apart from the atoms and molecules of which our gross physical body is made, we possess prana, mind, intellect, emotions and the spiritual dimensions. Yoga is the process by which we bring an integration of the entire personality at all these levels. If the stamina of the body is to be developed, the prana should be brought to a harmonious balance, the mind should be calmed down, the emotion should be stabilized and the intellect should be under total control.
A ‘Balanced Diet’, therefore, according to Yoga, is that diet which restores balance at all levels. Only such diet could aid in a holistic way of living and development of personality!
Tamasika food – Those food which are ‘dead’, partially spoiled, which have lost their essence, which have been processed a great deal, which have been preserved in some way having no spark of life about them, or which lack the vitality of food, are Tamasika. These food may add ‘matter’ to the physical body, may nourish the grossest aspect of the body but they create a feeling of heaviness.
Eating Tamasika food makes one lethargic. One may vacillate between an irritating restlessness and a tendency to fall sleep. Due to external circumstances like busy work schedule, even when a healthy person resorts to such diet; functioning gets sluggish and diseases of degeneration and accumulation of excessive toxic matter are likely to occur leading to illness like obesity, arthritis, hardening of the arteries, etc.
When food is spoiled, its chemical structure breaks down, resulting in acidity; nutrients are destroyed. Rather than being useful, they may breakdown into products which cannot be used by the body. Instead they are under circulation and act as irritants to the nervous system as well as to the other cells, tissues and organs.
Rajasika Food – Food that which stimulates the nervous system, speeds up metabolism is called Rajasika. Coffee, Tea, Tobacco, green chilies, pepper etc are examples of Rajasika foods. Rajasika food energize, but not in the sense of lending a clear balanced energy. They tend to stimulate and push the organism to increase its speed and to indulge more in physical activity, sensual pleasures and comforts. Spiced and cooked to perfection food with lots of rich sauces, tempts one to eat more and leads the attention to the savor of the food and away from the internal signals.
Such a diet, no doubt creates in an individual brilliant energies and keeps all vigorous men restlessly striving to fulfill their uncontrolled passions and desires. Hence, in their final reactions, they lead the eater towards a life of productive ‘pain, grief and disease’.
Sattvika Food is defined as:
“ayuh sattvabalarogya sukhapritivivardhanah rasyah snigdhah sthirah hrdyah aharah sattvikapriyah”
– Bhagavad Gita
It means, those food that increase the ‘life and vitality’, purity, ‘strength and stamina’, health, happiness, ‘cheerfulness and good appetite’, are termed Sattvika. These foods are savory, oleaginous, substantial and most importantly agreeable to the system.
In contrast to Rajasika foods that supply strength to just the muscles, Sattvika foods give strength from within. Sattvika food is:
- fresh, wholesome, natural, of good quality, mild in spices, neither over nor undercooked
- are experienced as lending a calm alertness
- which augment joy and inner cheerfulness and
- Shape a state of quiet energy
Such food is believed to nourish the consciousness. They add vitality to the total system by bringing a perfect, harmonious balance of energy state. They don’t pull energy from the body; they rather give the body lightness, alertness, energy and create clear consciousness.
It increases and unfolds the secret strength to resist temptations for sense objects; provides good health so that they may not fall ill and suffer a break in their regular
‘Sadhana’ – spiritual quest!
33 Comments
This is so interesting. I really found value in this post. Thank you.
Thank you for appreciating 🙏
I am so glad it could offer value to you. Have a great day 🌸
Valuable post 👌😍
Thanks a lot for appreciating and finding value in it🙏🌸
I think my diet is comprised mostly of Tamasika and Rajasika with a sprinkling of Sattvika.
Isn’t it true with most of us? Interesting is that we all are aware of this fact but still neglect it till the diseases knock our door…
Thankyou always for being this honest. Hope your diet gets a change over… More of S…with a dash of R and T 😇
Have a blessed day 🙏🌸
I am trying very hard! Thanks!
☺️🌸🙏
Thanks for sharing this…
Thank you for visiting and giving it a read 🙏🌸
This was such an interesting read! Thank you for sharing this!!
Thank you for appreciating and finding meaning in it 🙏🌸☺️
My absolute pleasure! 😊💖🙏
🌸☺️🙏
Balanced diet, very informative post and valuable! Thank you for sharing! 👍🌸
Always thankful for your words of appreciation 🙏🌸☺️
It is my pleasure! 😊 Enjoy your weekend! 🌹 💙
Thankyou 🙏… You too ☺️🌸
In today’s world where Yoga is becaming a profit business and your posts may help people understand the real meaning and power of YOGA. Keep it up
Thank-you, that means a lot 🙏 The efforts are put in good faith; hope some could benefit .
Thankyou for your visit here…🌸🧘🌸
Soo true! Good information!!
Thankyou for the kind words🌸🙏🌸
This was very good info. My husband and I were just talking about giving up all foods with sugar. I needed this little push. Thanks for this very informative post. Love Joni
Thanks for these kind words Joni 🙏
Yes, please try to avoid white sugar; instead include natural food like dates & jaggery … We all need a little push once in a while 🙂 … I wish and pray your efforts leads you and family towards holistic health. Love loads 🌸🌸🌸
Thank you so much. Starting today. Love Joni
Fascinating post and useful to know!
Thankyou for your appreciation. Glad you found it useful 🌸🙏🌸
So, except for the milk products (I’m allergic), I’ve been eating Sattvika and didn’t even know it. Thanks for such an informative article.
That’s wonderful! Rarely people we find with that principled diet. Good to know… Inspire many more. Thankyou for your visit and appreciating the article 🌸🙏🌸
I see..!! My likings and food preferences fall under the Sattvika category.. Such a profound feeling Gunjan.. Really inspiring share it is.. Keep spreading more of these.. 😇👌🏼❤💕
That’s wonderful! In this fast moving world, rajasika dominates; good to come across sattvikas☺️… Thankyou for your kind words 🌸🙏🌸
It was my utmost pleasure dear.. Feeling blessed.. 😇💕
Mine too 😇🌸
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