One of my newsletter subscribers asked me this question: “Why does sattvic diet avoid onion or garlic?”
Thank you for asking this question. I am answering this question in the blog because it might help other people also.
People often tell me, “We are vegetarians. So, we eat sattvic food.”
One common misunderstanding about sattvic diet is that any vegetarian food is sattvic food. The science and philosophy of sattvic diet is based on several inter-related practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, and to some extent, Jainism.
The main tenant is non-violence that affords equitable opportunities for all species to co-exist.
Sattvic diet has two parts the nature of the food itself and the way we consume the food. The food which is natural, clean, essential and vital for the body and supports the purity and blossoming of the consciousness is sattvic in nature. The sattvic diet supports the blossoming of the consciousness, while providing essential and vital nutrients to the body.
Here are some compelling reasons why we need to consider following Sattvic Method of eating:
Promotes Mental Clarity: Sattvic food is known to help clear the mind and promote mental clarity. This is because the sattvic foods are fresh, whole, and minimally processed. Such foods help to reduce mental and emotional clutter, leading to improved focus, concentration, and memory.
Supports Physical Health: Sattvic food is promotes health and nourishes the body. Since sattvic foods are rich in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber, they help support optimal physical health.
Enhances Energy Levels: Sattvic foods help improve energy levels by providing the body with nutritious, sustained, slow-release energy. In general, sattvic foods are easily digestible and rich in fibers. Bulk of the ingredients in the Sattvic Method includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes which are thought to help regulate energy levels throughout the day.
Encourages Emotional Balance: Following Sattvic Method the food choices may help promote emotional balance and stability. When we eat foods rich in antioxidants, natural enzymes, and can be calming and grounding, which can help reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and restlessness.
Supports Spiritual Development: In addition to its physical and mental benefits, sattvic food is believed to help support spiritual growth. By eating foods that are considered pure, simple, and harmonious with nature, individuals may be able to achieve a deeper sense of connection to themselves, others, and the world around them.
Several foods, we generally consider vegetarian, are not sattvic. For example, the use of onion, garlic and green chilies is avoided in sattvic diet. You can still eat them as medicine, but not as food. In case you are wondering the difference between the two, recall that when you eat anything as medicine, you control the dosage, route, and frequency of the use. You also stop taking the medication when you are well.
Onion, as medicine, regulates nervous system, joint pain and areas affected with sciatica. It has several other medicinal properties. However, when it is used regularly in cooking, it causes a ‘heaviness’ in people emotional and they become prone to agitation. These become ‘holes’ that lead to energy ‘leaks’ in our system. Just like you cannot fill a sieve with water, a body which is not strengthened by sattvic diet becomes unable to hold the energies and higher levels consciousness.
This video explains the importance of sattvic diet for experiencing the highest possibility in our life-
You can still make a perfectly balanced, healthy and tasty meal with sattvic vegetables.
Unfortunately, most people have been raised to believe that meat is essential part of the diet. In this video, Mark Bittman explains what is wrong with what we eat:
https://embed.ted.com/talks/mark_bittman_on_what_s_wrong_with_what_we_eat
Subscribe to Sattvic Method’s Youtube channel to see a variety of tasty sattvic recipes. We post new recipes frequently.
Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions!
