'Bhagavad Gita’s food code': What to eat for calm, clarity, and power

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

Life Fuel

Sattvic foods like fresh fruits and ghee nourish the body and mind, fostering clarity, joy, and peace—aligned with Gita 17:8's call for purity and vitality.

Mind Clarity

Whole grains and herbal teas are believed to sharpen intellect and elevate consciousness, supporting meditation and spiritual focus, according to Ayurvedic principles.

Sacred Nourishment

Foods prepared fresh and consumed within hours are prized in sattvic living, said to retain "prana" or life force, enhancing overall spiritual well-being.

Fire Starter

Rajasic foods—think chili and coffee—ignite energy and ambition, but too much, per Gita 17:9, may spark restlessness and inner turmoil.

Emotional Storm

Spices and stimulants may inflame desire and ego, leading to agitation and dissatisfaction, as emphasized in yogic dietary guidance.

Action Mode

Rajasic diets support active lifestyles but can hinder calm reflection—ideal for worldly pursuits, yet disruptive for inner stillness seekers.

Soul Heavy

Tamasic foods like stale leftovers and alcohol drag down mental clarity and vitality, breeding inertia, as the Gita cautions in verse 17:10.

Shadow Eating

Processed or overcooked foods are considered energetically “dead,” fostering confusion, lethargy, and even depressive states in traditional yogic wisdom.

Vital Choice

Choosing sattvic over tamasic is more than diet—it’s a lifestyle of intention, helping one align body, mind, and spirit for holistic harmony.