Food plays such a huge role in our daily lives—one way or another, so much of our time revolves around eating and feeding ourselves. But it’s easy to lose awareness of what we’re actually consuming: just one more drink, another slice of cake, a handful of chocolates here and there…sound familiar?
You don’t need to keep a strict food diary or mentally track every sugary, fried, or alcoholic thing you eat. Instead, simply paying attention to how you feel after certain meals or drinks can help you stay healthy. Many people are amazed by how deeply their diet affects their mood and overall well-being!
Ayurvedic principles offer a great foundation for understanding the connection between food and our bodies and minds. Broadly speaking, Ayurveda categorizes diets into three types—Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic (the three gunas). These guidelines are general, so if you have an illness or specific needs, your diet should be adjusted accordingly.
The 3 Ayurvedic & Yogic Diets
Sattvic Diet: This is the diet typically followed by yogis and often served in ashrams, retreats, and meditation centers. It includes fresh fruits and veggies (organic when possible), whole grains, legumes, and dairy. Mild, sweet flavors are favored, while strong, stimulating spices are avoided. Sattvic foods are believed to keep the body light and agile while promoting a calm, clear, and compassionate mind.
Rajasic Diet: Think of this as the “party food” diet! These foods tend to be spicy, salty, or sour—think pickled or fermented items like sauces, ketchup, vinegar, wine, tea, coffee, soda, alcohol, and red meat. Rajasic foods are said to boost restlessness and irritability.
Tamasic Diet: This includes processed, stale, overcooked, oily, or heavy foods. Canned meats and fish, preservative-loaded foods, frozen meals, and genetically modified items fall into this category. Tamasic foods are thought to increase lethargy, dullness, and apathy.
A Sattvic diet isn’t always the best choice—sometimes low energy or depression calls for Rajasic foods, and even small amounts of Tamasic foods (like canned tuna) can add convenience and nutrition to a meal. Next time you’re dining out, you might consider these three categories when ordering—or simply notice how you feel and let that guide you.
Once you become more mindful of your food choices, you’ll find it easier to shift toward a more Sattvic, nourishing diet that supports your yoga practice. You can also take our quick guna quiz to better understand how to balance your diet’s energy.
Most importantly, once you recognize how food impacts your mental, physical, and emotional state, you can move beyond these three categories and fine-tune your eating habits even further.
What’s your relationship with food? Do you notice how different foods affect your mood, energy, or even your yoga practice? What kinds of foods make up most of your diet? Share your thoughts in the comments!