Today, India is the fastest growing economy in the world. Being well educated and eligible, we Indians are migrating almost everywhere around the world. Similarly people from other countries love to visit India at least once in their lifetime. They enjoy the culture and food here. Let us dig a bit into Indian cuisine and its relations with Ayurveda (Ancient medical science) which makes Indian food step above other cuisines.
According to Ayurveda, Indian food are divided into three categories:
- Satvik
- Rajasik
- Tamsik
Vegetarians, Vegans, Non-Vegetarians are the words we are familiar with. We've received these words from the western countries. But India had them since centuries. I have explained about Satvik food in this article. I will write about other two categories in my next article.
Satvik
- Satvik food is generally whole food.
- They are unprocessed so they are easy to digest.
- Satvik diet never causes any inflammation (acidity).
- As per the philosophy, satvik diet brings carious behavioral changes like making one humble, forgiving, attentive, pure and loving. It also gives a satisfactory feeling in life.
- Examples of satvik food:
- Nuts and seeds: Almost all the nuts unless fried or over roasted and salted. Some nuts have mixed effects like almonds. They need to be soaked overnight so its skin can be peeled off as it contains tannin. Other best ones are:
- Walnuts
- Sesame seeds
- flax seeds
- pumpkin seeds
- pine nuts
- Oils and fats: Few are to be eaten in raw state while few can be used in cooking.
- Red palm oil
- Olive oil
- Flax oil
- Sesame oil
- Ghee
- Coconut oil
- Dairy: Unlike veganism, all the dairy products are not forbidden in Satvik diet. But the aim is same, the milk being base of any diary product should come from animals which are not tortured or caged. They are treated with love and care, they get proper food and water to drink. If the animal has a new born baby, that animal should be milked once the calf or baby gets its share of milk. The milk should not be pasteurized. Butter and cheese should be made fresh on daily basis. Milk has to be boiled before consuming. It should be consumed hot or warm. Cold milk is considered poisonous.
- Vegetables: Most of the vegetables are considered satvik except pungent ones like chillies, garlic, onions etc. They are considered a tamsik. Also the vegetables forming gas are not considered as tamsik except potatoes. Potatoes are considered as highly satvik. Though vegetables to be considered in satvik ahaar (food) is considered highly debatable.
- Grains: Organic whole grains are considered as satvik. Some grains needs to be roaseted to get rid of few heavy properties they carry. Some may be sprouted or soaked before using. Grains recommended are:
- Rice
- Whole wheat
- Spelt
- Barley
- Oat meal
- Legumes:
- Moong beans
- Split moong dal
- lentils
- sprouts
- Sweeteners:
- Jaggery
- Raw sugar (Khadi sakar)
- Honey
- Stevia
- Spices: Only tulsi, coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds and salt are considered as satvik. Others are categorized as Rajasik. Though the salt should be rock salt, unbleached and not iodized.
Our Yog gurus promote satvik food. They have proven it's relations with Ayurveda. There are people in foreign countries too who have started having satvik food. Just with the different terminology.