Eating and Cleansing with Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term meaning the knowledge of life which relates to life as a state of balance between the body, mind and consciousness. The two goals of Ayurveda are to keep the body in a state of health and free from disease and to show us how to use health on the path to enlightenment.
Sattvic Food for Meditation and Cleansing
Ayurveda recognizes that food is medicine therefore can be used to purify and heal. Cleansing has become very popular in our society in these times. For cleansing, Ayurveda recommends a sattvic diet with some rajasic foods. Sattva, or Pure Essence represents calmness, alertness, kindness and compassion and examples of these foods are fruit and vegetables, nuts, avocados, dates and coconuts (sun foods). Rajasic foods are stimulating herbs and spices (earth foods) and are to create, complete and accomplish but in excess may cause indecisiveness, hyperactivity and anxiety. Sattvic foods and small amounts of rajasic foods are effective together with raw foods for cleansing and renewal.
Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic Food
The literal translation of Ayurveda is “science of life,” and it provides a system for the care, maintenance, and preservation of the human body, mind, and spirit. Food and herbs can be used to purify, correct imbalances, and heal. Every time we eat, we are creating our future selves—you are what you eat! In Ayurveda, foods are divided into three categories according to their inherent qualities: Sattva means purity, calmness, alertness, kindness, and compassion. Examples of sattvic foods are fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Rajas is the energy to accomplish, achieve, or create. Examples of rajasic foods are stimulating herbs and spices including onions, garlic, and ginger. Tamas is inertia, decay, and indulgence. Examples of tamasic foods are alcohol, intoxicating drugs, and meat. For people who live a quiet, contemplative life, a pure sattvic diet is perfect. For those who wish to maintain a meditative mind but also wish to live and work productively in the world as families and householders, a diet of sattvic foods, combined with some rajasic foods, is best.
Sattvic Food for Meditation and Cleansing
Ayurveda is the science of life which relates to life as a state of balance between the body, mind and consciousness. It recognizes that food is medicine therefore can be used to purify and heal. Cleansing has become very popular in our society in these times. For cleansing, Ayurveda recommends a sattvic diet with some rajasic foods. Sattva, or Pure Essence represents calmness, alertness, kindness and compassion and examples of these foods are fruit and vegetables, nuts, avocados, dates and coconuts (sun foods). Rajasic foods are stimulating herbs and spices (earth foods) and are to create, complete and accomplish but in excess may cause indecisiveness, hyperactivity and anxiety. Sattvic foods and small amounts of rajasic foods are effective together with raw foods for cleansing and renewal.
Often dis-ease in the body is due to disconnection from spirit plus also sluggish digestion (Agni) and elimination (Apana). A protein dish that is very easy to digest is Kitcheree (Mung Beans and Rice). Kitcheree accompanied by a green salad with Green Goddess Dressing and Flax Crackers makes for a healthy and lively sattvic meal.
Second Ayurvedic Cooking Intensive - Santa Fe, New Mexico October 26 - 30th, 2011