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They say, old is gold and in the fitness world, this saying seems to be truer now than ever before. After experimenting with promising weight-loss supplements and a dozen fad diets, the fitness world has finally turned to Ayurveda and is giving it its due importance.
Yes ladies, the satvik diet that has been endorsed by Ayurveda and yogis for the longest time, is finally get its day in the sun.
Also, read: Feeling stressed? Trust these 5 Ayurvedic foods that’ll make you calmer naturally
What does satvik food entail?
“Satvik refers to a diet based on the Ayurvedic and yogic literature of our country. In this diet, the foods that enhance the health and energies of our body are classified as rajasik and the foods that are considered to be diminishing or destroying the positive energy of our body are classified as taamsik,” explains Preety Tyagi, health coach, celebrity nutritionist, and founder, MY22BMI.
Basically, it focuses on eating foods that are provided to us freely by nature such as seasonal produce, seasonal fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, oils and non-meat products.
Cow milk and cow ghee form a major part of this diet as they’re considered to be the most beneficial forms of food, possessing endless nutritional properties.
According to her, the basic principle of satvik diet is to consume foods that are pure, essential, natural, vital, and energy-enhancing while keeping your intentions good and practicing mindfulness.
It also involves pausing for a few breaths and eating mindfully while enjoying the flavors of a dish and witnessing how it makes you feel. It advocates slowing down to truly enjoy your food and actually making it your second nature, so that meal times become stress-free periods no matter how busy your day otherwise is.
Also, read: The Mediterranean diet can help you live a long and healthy life. Here’s why
These are the benefits of satvik food
The satvik diet can help you attain optimum health, not just physical, but also mental and spiritual. It can also:
*Boost digestion, build immunity, and strengthen the body from within
*Helps in weight loss
*Balance your mental energies like sattva, rajas, and tamas
*Keep you mentally agile. It is a diet which balances the body, mind and soul, thereby resulting in longevity and good health.
The satvik diet relies on the different tastes to boost the different aspects of your body. For example, the sweet taste brings out the soft qualities and is equated to the experience of love. Sour and salty tastes bring regenerative qualities to your body, and nourish and ground you. The lighter bitter taste purifies and assists in the breakdown of fats and proteins.
It is also a balanced diet with each meal carrying the perfect balance of plant protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins.
Convinced? Well, here is a satvik diet plan for you:
If you too want to change your lifestyle and try a satvik diet, here’s a meal plan for you suggested by Tyagi:
*Start your day with a glass of nimbu pani (lemon water) to purify your body. This is an excellent way of detoxification and aids digestion and weight loss.
*Breakfast (7:30am – 8:30am): Make two green moong dal cheela with some green vegetables in the batter. Have it with 2 tbsp of coriander mint chutney and 1 bowl of curd.
*Mid-morning snack (10:30 am): Eat 8-10 Jamuns, 8-10 lychees, or any other seasonal fruit.
*Lunch (1:00pm – 1:30pm): Eat 1 cup brown masoor dal, 1 cup cooked green seasonal vegetable cooked, 1 cup rice with 1/4 tsp of ghee, 1 cup cucumber raita, and 2 to 3 slices of mango (post lunch).
*Evening Snack (5:00 pm): Nosh on a bowl of ghee-roasted makhanas with a cup of masala chai or ragi chhachh.
*Dinner (7:00pm – 7:30pm): Eat 2 multi-grain chapatis, 1 cup cooked lauki (bottle gourd), 1 cup yellow moong dal in a soupy consistency and 1/2 tsp of ghee.
The final word
“Remember, satvik diet is not just about food. It is about eating at the right time every day and eating mindfully. It is also about staying away from negative talk, negative words, negative thoughts, and negative views. So, don’t just be satvik in your diet but also in your thoughts and activities. A satvik diet without satvik thoughts and mindset is totally worthless and meaningless,” concludes Tyagi.
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