
05/09/2021
Ayurvedic principles state a strong connection between food and the human mind. The mind is directly influenced by the quality, method of preparation, appearance, freshness and aroma of food. Ayurveda advocates that the quality of food influences mental agility and vigour and even emotion.
In order to understand the inter-relationship between food and mind, it is important to understand the three gunas (qualities) of human beings – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is associated with goodness, positivity, selflessness, purity etc. Rajas is associated with all qualities that determine our actions and movement (thinking, working, making decisions), energy, anger, passion, aggression etc. Tamas is associated with all that hinders mental progress, motion and action like sleeping, sitting aimlessly, harbouring negative feelings like greed, jealousy etc. [i]
Ayurveda has classified the food groups also based on the gunas as Satvik, Rajasic and Tamasic foods.