We are what we Eat !!!
‘We are What we Eat’, we all must have heard this phrase multiple times. But, does we know its real essence?
We always thought food is for our physical health i.e our weight, muscles, growth and for our physical fitness.
Generally, we are eating food to fill our stomachs and to satisfy our taste buds. Some fitness freaks judge food in terms of calories, proteins, carbs, fats, minerals etc.
But, you will be wondered to know that food impacts our emotional and mental health too.
Emotional Health
We must have observe that food often affects our mood. What if we get our favorite dish to eat we instantly becomes happy and we get upset if we get the dish we don’t like. Food which are full of chemicals, loads with spices makes us aggressive and agitated. That’s our emotional health.
Mental Health
Some food makes us feel relaxed, calm, peaceful, focused and determined. We often stuff ourselves too much or with too oily , too spicy food that we feel sleepy, not able to focus on our work. When we eat light homemade food or some fruits, our minds becomes more focused and relaxed. That is we called food affecting our mental health.
There are many factors regarding food which plays vital role on our health:
- Who is preparing our food?
Is our food is prepared at home with hygiene, fresh ingredients or some cook in a small canteen with dirty hands( he might not have taken bath from few days)? Think yourself what will be transfer in our food nutrients or germs. - With which feeling our food is prepared?
Is our food prepared with love and happiness or with hate and anger? The feelings with which food is prepared, that feelings will cultivate in the person who eats that food. - In which environment we are eating our food?
Are we consuming food with love, happiness, with healthy conversations or while watching T.V or with anger, hate or unhappiness?
Think yourself what will our body will consume? - What kind of food we are eating?
According to Ayurveda, food is divided in to three groups:|
Sattvic Foods, Rajasic Foods and Tamasic Foods.
Sattvic Foods(Pure)
According to Bhagvad Gita: “The foods which increase life, purity,strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, which are savoury and oleaginous, substantial and agreeable, are dear to sattvic people.”
We must consume Sattvic foods as they increase our energy, vitality, health, happiness, strength and endurance. It helps in elimination of fatigue and bad moods.
Foods which are as fresh and natural as possible are sattvic foods.These are:
i. Whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits,nuts, legumes and milk.
ii. Food should be raw, steamed or lightly cooked.
iii. Avoid processed food, overcooked food, overly spiced food, caffeine and too much sugar/sweets.
iv. No meat, fish, eggs, onion, garlic and vinegar.
Rajasic Foods(over-stimulating)
According to Bhagvad Gita: “Foods that are excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning, are liked by the rajasic and are productive of pain, grief and disease, and bitter,sour, saline.”
We must avoid Rajasic food as they over-stimulate the body and mind which cause stress and restless state. Rajasic foods are:
i. Onion, Garlic, radishes, white flour, white sugar, overly spiced food and too much sweets.
ii. Caffeine, tea, tobacco, soft-drinks, chemicals loaded convenience fast foods.
Tamasic Foods(dulling)
According to Bhagvad Gita: “The food which is stale , tasteless, putrid, rotten and impure refuse, is the food liked by Tamasic.”
We must avoid Tamasic food as it makes a person dull, lazy and angry. Tamasic foods leads to chronic diseases, depression and impure thoughts.
Tamasic foods are:
i. Foods that are processed, preserved, overcooked, fried, reheated or stale.
ii. Meat, Fish, eggs, alcohol, tobacco and all other intoxicants.
iii. Sattvic food if taken in excessive quantity it becomes Tamasic.
Our Goal should be to eat Sattvic food. Don’t become slave to food and drink. Take simple and natural food.
Eat to live, don’t live to eat.
If you have any query, please drop me a message.
