“We are what we eat” – This seems more and more obvious today and many people are paying attention to eating healthy.
But, did you know that your diet can influence your state of stress?
Ayurveda & Yoga define three states of mind and the diet that promotes them:
- SATTVA means balance, harmony, clarity and light.
Sattvic foods are: fresh seasonal and local fruits and vegetables, (as much as possible), whole grains, legumes (like lentils), nuts and seeds, honey, aromatic plants, milk and dairy products (organic from well-treated animals).
These foods will promote calm in the mind, will inspire positive actions and emotions such as love, kindness, attention to others, forgiveness, empathy. They will open the way to a clearer, calmer and more creative mind.
On a daily basis, while we are subject to a multitude of stressful factors, this type of diet allows us to at least eliminate one additional stress factor for our body and our mind.
If in addition, they are prepared with love and are eaten peacefully or in a good atmosphere, the benefit on stress management will be increased tenfold. - RAJAS means activity, movement, agitation, passionate, emotional, emphasis.
Rajasic foods are coffee, garlic, onion, tea, soft drinks, sweet foods and spicy/heating foods. These foods provide energy but also have the disadvantage of increasing the Stress experienced, such as excitement, movement, agitation in the body (poor digestion) and the mind. A diet consisting of these foods every day destroys the body/mind balance. They should therefore be consumed in moderation and for pleasure. - TAMAS means heaviness, lethargy, boredom, inactivity, numbness, darkness
Tamasic foods are dead foods like meat and fish, processed/industrial foods containing additives and preservatives, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.
These foods will give an impression of heaviness, leading to laziness and inertia. We feel unmotivated, stressed but without the desire to do anything about it, sad or even depressed.
These are therefore the least recommended foods and should be consumed sparingly.
Experience and Find your BALANCE 🙂
The Sun Touch by Margot 