Satvic choices nourish heart, health

Ayurveda guru and author, Maya Tiwari, also known as Mother Maya, says that satvic food should comprise the larger portion of a wholesome meal

The world is continually rediscovering that vegetarianism is a perfect path to inner harmony, health, and peace. Vegetarianism is a satvic, peace-generating lifestyle committed to imbibing nature's foods. The ancient Ayurveda physician Sushruta said, "A satvic diet gladdens the heart, nourishes the body, and revives mind and memory." The Charaka Samhita identifies the earth's first foods as rice, barley, mung beans, gooseberry fruit, rainwater, rock salt, honey, cow's milk and ghee. These foods balance nature's primordial energies of satva, rajas, and tamas. The balance of these three trigunas, is the key for creating and sustaining life. Therefore, grains, legumes, fruits, herbs, vegetables, milk, ghee, honey, raw sugar and rock salt should be a major part of our daily diet. Organic and natural Satvic foods are those that are naturally and organically grown on earth and are free from pesticides and genetic manipulation and are vegetarian. According to Ayurveda, satvic foods should comprise the major portion of a wholesome meal. A healthy diet is one which consists of seasonal foods combined in healthy proportions and eaten in an atmosphere of calm to feed and nourish vital body tissues. In turn, the tissues will support energy and strengthen the body, mind and spirit. The cosmic formula for a long and healthy life is eating peacegenerating foods in a harmonious state of mind in a wholesome environment. Satvic is best Satvic foods are organic, sweet, fresh, light, unctuous, nourishing, and aromatic. When eaten, these foods produce contentment, joy and invigoration that lasts long after digestion occurs. The mind and senses are immediately appeased by satvic, peace-producing foods because they transport readily digestible and nourishing sustenance to the system. Seasonal fruits like apples, oranges, grapes, bananas and mangoes; grains like rice, wheat, and barley; leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and beans that are light and fresh and easy to digest are considered the most satvic in nature, as is pure, organic cow milk. The way these foods are prepared is also important in maintaining the satva principle. A Vedic dish of rice, organic cow's milk and gur (raw palm sugar) is the quintessential satvic meal.

Adapted from Living Ahimsa

Diet: Nourishing Love & Life  by Maya Tiwari  (Mother Om Media)