3 Types of Food

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian science on holistic wellness. As per Ayurveda, the food that we consume nourishes our body, mind ,emotions and soul. There are three types of food namely Sattvic, Rajasic and  Tamasic.   The three qualities are Sattva (Tranquil or subtle energy), Rajas (Active energy) and Tamas (Inertia or dullness).

• Sattvic Food 
  
  
  
  • Fresh, natural, freshly cooked and lightly seasoned food.
  
  
  • Consists of wholesome and nourishing carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins
  
  
  • Examples Of Sattvic Food:
    
    
    
    • Whole grains and legumes: Rice, Whole wheat, Millet, Corn, Lentils, Oats, Beans
    
    
    • Freshly picked and organically grown vegetables: Celery, Sweet potatoes, Sprouts, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Lettuce, Green beans, Spinach, Broccoli, Asparagus
    
    
    • Fresh fruits: Apples, Peaches, Oranges, Bananas, Guava, Berries, Papayas, Pomagranate etc.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Sattvic Food makes person's nature loving , pure-minded, compassionate, optimistic, calm, composed, energetic
  
  
  
  


• Rajasic Food
  
  
  
  • Very hot (spicy), bitter, dry or salty.
  
  
  • Excess flavouring of salt and spices is given to food to make it tastier.
  
  
  • Rajasic foods are irritants and stimulants.
  
  
  • Canned food with added salt, sugar , bottled fruit juice, fermented foods, all tempting foods.
  
  
  • Examples Of Rajasic Food
    
    
    
    • Fish and Meat: Such as Salmon, Sole, Trout, Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, Tuna, Eggs
    
    
    • Excess of Sharp Spices: Salt, Pepper, Black Pepper, Ginger, Onion, Radish, Garlic
    
    
    • Stimulants: Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Cola Drinks, Chocolates, Alcoholic Drinks
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Rajasic food makes you ambitious, aggressive, egoistic, competitive and proud. Such a person has a tendency to control others, work hard and like power, prestige and position and are perfectionists. He suffers from a fear of failure, tends to be angry and jealous. Rajasic individual gets quickly drained of mental energy. He requires at least 8 hours of sleep as his quality of sleep is not so good.
  
  
  
  


• Tamasic Food:
  
  
  
  • Over-processed, no longer fresh, and difficult to digest.
  
  
  • Examples Of Tamasic Food:
    
    
    
    • Deep Fried Foods: French Fries / Chips, Foods preserved with Salt, Pickles preserved in Vinegar etc. Preserved Meats: Beef, Veal, Hot Dogs, Sausages, Bacon, Ham
    
    
    • Hard Liquor: Gin, Vodka, Whisky, Rum, Scotch, Martini and other Alcoholic drinks
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Makes a persons tend toward depression, laziness, excessive eating, drinking, , greediness, possessiveness, attached to materialistic things, irritable and uncaring towards others, lacking in motivation, excessive sleep.
  
  
  
  

All 3 of these qualities (Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic) are necessary for survival and to move in a progressive direction in life. Sattva qualities make a person calm and joyful. ‘Small amount’ of Rajas makes the person active and passionate, while Tamas in ‘moderation’ is considered as grounding and promotes stability. The base of our diet should always be Sattvic. We need just a small amount of Rajasic foods to stimulate creativity and for active outward motion. Tamasic food can be helpful when an excess of Rajas is present to bring the stability. If the mind is hyper and ungrounded, some tamasic food can be eaten to promote stability.