In the ancient view, food has a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual impact.
The term ‘Conscious Eating’ associates with this holistic aspect of diet and is a higher concept than simply ‘healthy eating’. The idea of conscious eating has been much propagated by the ancient traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda, and the aspect of healthy eating is inherently a part of conscious eating.
So, what does conscious eating actually mean?
Conscious eating considers all layers of our being and is based on the ideology that whatever we eat has a deep impact not only on the body functioning, but on how we think, behave and operate on a day to day level.
Foods that impart low vibrations may impact the otherwise Sattvic state of the mind and make our behaviour Rajasic (overactive and overwhelming) or Tamasic (dull or in a state of inertia), even though their nutritional value may be high. For example, consuming a large quantity of animal food may provide us with concentrated proteins but can also impart the fearful, frightening or aggressive energy of the basic nature of the animal meat consumed. Thus, in the Yogic and Ayurvedic sciences, it is highly recommended to make conscious food choices to keep the mind pure and in a state of Sattva.
Here are a few tips for incorporating conscious eating with your Yogic practice:
- It all begins with a commitment to self and dedication to stay on track with high vibrational food choices.
- Introducing more fruits, vegetables and sprouts in the diet and slowly minimizing animal food consumption.
- Making each meal nutrient dense with inclusion the of wholefoods such as wholegrains, proteins from beans and lentils, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
- To eat healthier, start by making small changes. Make each meal or snack contain nutrient-dense foods, and try to avoid processed foods.
- Consuming organic & non-GMO foods as much as possible.
- Minimizing the consumption of bottled water that comes with heavy toxic chemicals such as fluoride, chlorine, BPA, and heavy metals. Consuming mineralized spring water frequently.
- Cleansing & detoxing regularly
- Keeping the body pH alkaline by consuming mineral-rich foods. These include sea salt, sea vegetables, lemon water, and cultured foods.
- Cutting down sugar consumption as sugar is highly acidic for the body. The brain survives on ‘good sugars’ that come from whole grains and vegetables versus refined sources of sugars.
- Feeding the gut bacteria with probiotic rich foods or through probiotic supplementation.
- Consuming ample amounts of green leafy vegetables to rid the body of sickness, imbalances, weight concerns, and acidic load, and to feel more alive in the body and mind.