What you eat affects your brain. Are you eating things that will energize you mentally?
October 29, 2010, 12:45 p.m.
Mental health disorders have become so common in the United States that according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated one in four Americans ages 18 and older suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. One factor that mental health scientists agree on is the imbalance of the complex, interrelated chemical reactions of the brain. How this imbalance occurs continues to be a cause for study. Meanwhile research has produced a pharmacopoeia of prescription meds to ease our mental suffering. Rarely is quality of diet mentioned as a treatment plan for mental illness, yet the ancient Ayurvedic practitioners and yogis knew the affects food can have on the brain.
The human body requires essential nutrients on a daily basis to function properly. We know from medical research that a lack of these nutrients can cause chemical imbalance in organ and brain functions. Ancient practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine — the world’s oldest surviving healing system — created a lifestyle in which the body and mind maintain optimal health and mental well-being. By creating a harmonious chemical balance in the body, and practicing yoga and meditation, one can become more spiritually liberated.
The practice of Ayurveda distinguishes food as having particular energetic qualities, known as the three Gunas: sattvic (lightness, purity), rajasic (overactive, passionate), and tamasic (lethargy, inertia). These energies are universal in dimension and permeate all living and inanimate life. Eating too much of rajasic or tamasic foods will create a chemical imbalance in the brain. Instead eat these foods in moderation and aim for living a sattvic lifestyle. The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center incorporates this knowledge into its teachings and has compiled a list of foods for students of yoga to follow.
This story was written by Delia Quigley. It originally appeared on Care2.com and is used here with permission. Visit Care2.com to discover more than 5,000 ways to enhance your life — from holistic health and wellness to pets and family life, the experts at Care2.com share great tips for living a healthier, happier and more sustainable lifestyle.
What you eat affects your brain. Are you eating things to energize you mentally?