A sattvic diet is a high fiber, low fat nutritious vegetarian diet. Apart from promoting a healthy living, a sattvic diet helps to keep our minds clear to function at its full potential and be at peace. Yoga practitioners follow this diet to contribute in the development of higher consciousness.
Foods that are natural, fresh and organically grown fall into this sattvic food category. Canned or processed food, and food prepared with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, irradiation and hormones should be avoided. Adding these substances into whole foods diminishes them of their prana.
Here are some examples of sattvic foods:
Fruits โ Apple, apricot, banana, lychee, papaya, mango, orange, watermelon, berries, dates, peach, pear, plum, prune
Vegetables โ Eggplant, lettuce, asparagus, bitter gourd, carrots, lotus root, artichoke, spinach, broccoli, radish
Whole Grains โ Barley, rice, quinoa, amaranth
Oils – Almond oil, coconut oil, ghee, macadamia nut oil, mustard seed oil, sesame oil, olive oil
Spices โ Nutmeg, basil, coriander, black pepper, parsley, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, cumin
Nuts โ almonds, chestnuts, gingko, brazil nuts, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, pistachio, cooked cashew nuts
We really cannot deny the benefits a sattvic diet will bring to oneself, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Each personโs body is different and has their own dietary requirements to function normally.
In my opinion, the best diet is one that does as little harm as possible to your body. If a vegan diet makes you feel depleted or undernourished, you should listen to your body and stop. Practice Ahimsa on yourself and make changes to your diet accordingly. You will still be able to build your prana and sattva through other means.