When we have a meditation practice, we will develop a level of sensitivity where we can observe how food impacts on our thoughts and the level of mental activity. Obvious examples include drinking caffeinated drinks or high sugar content foods which can make us restless and agitated.
Research shows us that that diet and nutrition affects our mental health. For example, people who have a diet high in processed foods, fats and sugars have shown a higher tendency towards depression and dementia. Diet also affects thought processes.
Stimulating, depleting and harmonious foods
In the yoga tradition, foods (as well as other things) are classified according to their inherent qualities and the effect they have on us when we consume them. Satvic foods are harmonious to the body and mind and are preferable and conducive to meditation and mental health. Rajasic foods cause agitation and activity and will therefore be counter-productive to the meditation process and particularly if you suffer from anxiety. Thamasic foods cause dullness and laziness and are therefore also unhelpful when we meditate – we are likely to fall asleep. Thamasic food should be avoided by people experiencing depression.
Food preparation can also transform satvic foods into thamasic foods – this includes cooking while angry, using the microwave oven, eating left-overs and old foods and freezing your foods. Re-heating your food too many times turns it thamasic.
Satvic food
Will raise our consciousness, inspire us to positive action, deeper meditation and unleash our hidden potential and creativity. Includes fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, grains and sprouts, nuts, seeds, honey, herbs, milk and dairy products which are free of animal rennet and free range. Satvic food is cooked with love and eaten with full awareness and gratitude. Food remains sattvic after it has been cooked, but when left to stand for too long, becomes thamasic.
Rajasic food
Destroy the mind-body equilibrium, feeding the body at the expense of the mind. Includes spicy or hot foods, food with onion and garlic, coffee, fizzy soft drinks, tea, sugary foods and too much chocolate. Eating on the run, rushed food and causing poor digestion and health as a result.
Thamasic food
Pull us downward into laziness and inertia. We will feel unmotivated, careless, unaware of ourselves and others. Includes dead food such as meat, fish, poultry and eggs. Stale food, old food, processed food containing chemical additives, take away fast foods, reheated food, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs of addiction. Sattvic food can become tamasic when processed, old or fried.
Benefits of fasting
Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the immune system, even in the elderly. There is more evidence being recorded in the medical sciences about the benefits of fasting. Although fasting diets have been questioned by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests fasting kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection. Other benefits include:
- Improves blood sugar control
- Decreases inflammation
- Boosts brain function and decreases neuro-degenerative disease
- Delays ageing and promotes longevity
- Cell repair
- Improves immunity
- Improves heart health
To enhance your meditation even further, a simple fast is recommended. Fasting is very beneficial if we eliminate rajasic and thamasic foods and only partake satvic foods to nourish the body and calm the mind. A typical ayurvedic ‘fast’ does not completely starve the body but involves eating a small quantity of highly nutritious and detoxifying food.
Swami Sivananda, the great Indian yogi and medical doctor, enthusiastically recommended fasting: “Fasting is nature’s greatest curative agent. It is the unfailing remedy to bring your health back to you when everything else has failed…Fasting is a natural rejuvenator.” (Swami Sivananda, Self Culture, The Divine Life Society, Dehradun, 2005, p29).
A simple ayurvedic ‘fast’ is highly recommended for your meditation practice and thousands of people can testify personally of the benefits to their body, mind and spirit. We regularly initiate such fasting and meditation processes and dozens of people have directly experienced how this greatly improves mental health, calms the thoughts, and enhances meditation. It is the perfect complementary lifestyle choice to your meditation and yoga practice – or simply to improve your mental health. The mind truly becomes clear through fasting; agitations will reduce, and the body becomes energetic. I have personally experienced this and fast regularly.
If you wish to try a fast, I recommend a half-day fast in the beginning. Then fast for a full day. Then fast for two days. Fasting is very easy after two days and the wonderful mental and physical benefits kick in and you will feel fabulous.
You will need to break the fast gradually, and obviously not sit down to a heavy meal. If you wish to receive some guidance on performing a simple ayurvedic fast, please get in touch and I will send you a guide that I have used myself and have recommended to many people.
If you have reached a road-block in your meditation practice, please consider a simple ayurvedic fast to experience new depths of inner peace and wellbeing.
