Eating is one of our most vital bodily functions, next to breathing. We convert the environment’s energy and information into intelligence that we now know as Prana “Vital life force energy." We use that intelligence to nourish our bodies.
Some factors to consider when we eat:
- Our emotional state
- Our environment
- The time of day
- The manner in which we eat/prepare our food.
Our bodies metabolize differently based on these factors. The goal here is strong digestion and efficient elimination. Rewarding ourselves with “Ojas."
“Ojas” meaning “Vigor” in Sanskrit..
- Is the purest substance extracted from food, emotions & experiences.
- Gives us strength & vitality.
- Connects consciousness & matter.
- Is key to healthy digestion.
Eating with awareness:
- Eat in a quiet, settled, comfortable environment.
- No Distractions (no TV, cell phone, or other.. including reading material)
- Limit conversations with others.
- Eat only when you feel hungry. “Eating when you’re NOT hungry, is like trying to fill your car with gas when it's already full."
- Don’t eat when you’re upset. Instead, take a walk or do something else until you calm down.
- Always sit down to eat. EATING WHILE DRIVING DOESN'T COUNT! Place attention solely on eating.
- Practice gratitude. Be grateful for the people and elements of nature that contributed. Reflecting on..
- Where the food came from?
- Where it was grown?
- Who harvested the ingredients?
- How it got to your table?
- Who prepared the meal?
- Take your time. Eat at a steady pace. Reflecting on..
- What colors are missing from your plate?
- Did you include all six tastes?
- How your body is feeling? Any sensations?
- Avoid ice-cold foods and beverages. Our digestive system is designed to digest at body temperature or slightly warmer. Cold numbs the taste buds and dilutes digestive acids. Take small sips of warm water if needed.
- Eat freshly prepared foods.. which have greater nutritional value than leftovers/canned or frozen. NO PROCESSED FOODS!
- Include all six tastes in every meal. Sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent. Favoring those tastes that are balancing to your “Dosha” (mind/body) type.
- Wait until one meal is fully digested before eating the next. It takes approximately four hours to digest the previous meal.
- Listen to your appetite. Think of an appetite gauge from a scale of 1−10:
- 1 means you're famished
- 2−3 means you're hungry
- 4−6 means you're satisfied or comfortable
- 7−9 means you're uncomfortably full
- 10 is totally stuffed!
**Eat at a level of 2 to 3 on the appetite gauge.
**Stop eating when you reach a level of 4 to 6.
- Don’t overeat. “Overeating is like stuffing your washing machine so tightly with clothes that it has trouble doing its job.” Leave ⅓ of your stomach empty to aid digestion. The stomach liquefies food through a churning action that requires space.
- Sit quietly for a few minutes after finishing your meal. Reflecting on how your body feels.. using your appetite gauge again.
- Take a short walk.
How to get started & incorporate this healthy practice:
- Eat at least one meal in total silence. Journal how you felt, physically and emotionally.
- Review the mindful eating practices (above) at every meal. Which ones do you practice naturally and which ones need improvement.
- Use your internal appetite gauge before & after you eat.
- Include all six tastes in your meals every day.
- Eat all the colors of the rainbow to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients.
- Continue to meditate twice a day and practice pranayama on a regular basis.
Namaste & Eat Well!