Your connection to Earth, to being grounded, feeling cared for and protected is in your hands – literally. It’s in the food you eat. The more whole foods you consume, the more peaceful you become. The body utilizes everything it needs – everything else, whether it be too much of something or a foreign ingredient, is removed. This takes energy - you are energy. So the question becomes: what do you want to do with your energy?
Listening to your body is a great first step. Eating in a peaceful state of mind with no distractions can bring your relationship with food to a whole other level. As you chew each bite [32 times to help aid digestion] it can become a dance where taste meets texture. Intentionally thinking about each ingredient and how it’s benefiting you, can turn your meal into a meditative experience.
Each meal should honor the six tastes; the six tastes are associated with the five elements:
Taste Predominant Elements
Sweet Earth & Water
Sour Earth & Fire
Salty Water & Fire
Pungent Air & Fire
Bitter Air & Ether
Astringent Air & Earth
You are the five elements. According to Ayurveda everyone has a different constitution; each constitution is associated with the elements:
Constitution Predominant Elements
Vata Ether & Air
Pitta Fire & Water
Kapha Earth & Water
Your current constitution is known as your Vikriti, which is your current state of health. It’s best determined by an Ayurvedic Health Counselor; however, you can put your curiosity into action here, by taking this simple Ayurvedic Dosha Quiz.
Once your Vikriti is determined, you can relate it to the elements and thus to taste. For example, if your Vikriti is Vata [ether and air], consuming more sweet, sour and salty tastes and less pungent, bitter and astringent will help you feel more grounded and creative.
If your Vikriti is Pitta [fire and water], consuming more sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes and less sour, salty, and pungent will help channel your natural ability to be quick-witted and make good decisions.
If your Vikriti is Kapha [earth and water], consuming more pungent, bitter and astringent tastes and less sweet, sour, and salty will help increase your clarity and enjoyment for life.
Developing a relationship with your food, understanding your current state of health and honoring the six tastes will help create balance in your life and in turn, increase your peace.
