Satvika Nutrition

Nutrition = the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

Above nutrition is described by definition. Bhakti Ayurveda Ahaara Satvika nutrition goes well beyond the above definition.

Bhakti Ayurveda Satvika Nutrition is known as ‘Naishthiki Chikitsa’, the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for physical, mental and spritual health and acquiring spritual elevation.

‘Naishthiki Chikitsa’ which is Lord Krishna’s Celestial Prescription as said in Sreemad Bhagvad Geeta;

Like a doctor who studies the symptoms of a patient to diagnose the nature of the disease and then proceeds to prescribe appropriate medicines to cure the causes of the ailment, Lord Krishna in Shreemad Bhagvad Gita (the Divine Song of the Soul) describes, ‘Satvika bhojana’ as the food for the health, happiness and harmony of body, mind and soul.

Lord further elaborates, that food which contains rasa, or is juicy and palatable, unctuous (containing some amount of fat), which brings stability, is a tonic to the heart, easily digestible and is liked by the individual, is a balanced diet.

Ayurveda has divided foods and medicine into three ‘gunas’ namely ‘satvic’, ‘rajasic’ and ‘tamsic’ or a combination of these ‘gunas’.

Sattva: Essence (sutble)

Rajas: Activity

Tamas: Inertia (gross)

Satvika foods:

Give energy to the body without taking any away.

Promotes higher states of consciousness.

Are fresh, juicy, light, unctuous, nourishing, sweet and tasty.

Many hebs and spices in the right combination with other foods.

Other examples: fresh milk and butter, soaked or sprouted beans, juicy fruits, fresh easily digestible vegetables, grains and nuts.

Rajasika Foods:

Form the foundation of motion, activity and pain.

Increase the speed and excitement of the human organism.

Are bitter, salty, pungent, hot and dry.

Specific foods and spices that are strongly exciting.

Other examples: Satvika foods that have been eaten in access or Satvika foods that have been fried in oils.

Tamasika Foods:

Form the foundation of ignorance, doubt and pessimism.

Consume much more energy than what they deliver in digestion.

Are dry, old, decaying, distasteful and/or unpalatable.

Foods that are stale or incompatible with each other.

Other examples: Meat, eggs, fish and liquor are especially Tamasika in nature or foods that are strongly processed, canned foods, frozen food, old food and reheated foods.

“Ayurveda” prescribes that a proper dietary regimen would promote healthy development of both body and mind and reduce, if not totally eliminate, the need for medicines.
The interaction between the body and mind and the role of three Guna(s) in the process can be recognised by careful observation. When you are depressed in mind, your body debilitates and is unable to function with the optimum efficiency it is normally capable of when your emotions are normal. Conversely, when you are physically healthy, you are able to think clearly, speak effectively and act correctly. If your body runs, your mind also runs as fast; if you fall sick, your mind also suffers a setback. And, mind is only a representative of your `Atma’ or soul.

Also, there is a saying that, ‘one should eat that which is agreeable to the body-system, moderate in quantity, tasteful and vegetarian and brings peace and love in the mind’. A person who eats only one full meal a day is a ‘Yogi’ (fit to do yoga); one who eats twice is a ‘Bhogi’ (fit to enjoy life) and one who eats more than twice is a ‘Rogi’ (fit to suffer disease)’.

By adapting to Bhakti Ayurveda Satvika Nutrition; the weak becomes strong, the concealed becomes revealed and the mind turns into the ‘intuitive and inquisitive Mind’.