Food is something, which should not be enjoyed for its taste alone but also because it provides the body with the essential nutrients and satiation without introducing toxins. Cooking is a way of caring that gives complete satisfaction.
Indian cooks take the help of Ayurveda to hone their knowledge of herbs and spices, vegetables, legumes and so forth. Ayurveda helps to maintain physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony since the nature of food greatly influences the well being of a man. Man's guna (qualities) or temperament greatly influences his desire for particular foods. Eating well not only leads to a naturally balanced foundation, it also provides the fuel the body needs to operate and function. In that respect human body can be likened to a well oiled machine, a finely tuned piano or a well-crafted Cookery.
When food is prepared, eaten and assimilated into our systems with awareness, love and honor, our bodies will receive the "life force" of health and wellbeing.
The food is either satvic, rajasic or tamasic according to its character and effect upon the body and the mind. One can find out the nature or temperament of a man from the nature of the food he prefers.
Satvic Food
satvic foods are fresh, juicy, light, unctuous, nourishing, sweet and tasty.
It increases the energy of the mind and produces cheerfulness, serenity and mental clarity.
satvic food is highly conducive to good health.
A satvic man relishes juicy food and other foods which are attractive in form, soft to touch and pleasant to taste, which are small in bulk but great in nourishment like the words from the lips of a spiritual preceptor.
Milk, butter, ghee (clarified butter), fresh ripe fruits, almonds, dates, moong (green gram) sprouts, barley, wheat, cereals, tomatoes, parwar, torai, karela (names of Indian vegetables), plantains etc., are satvic.
Rajasic Food
rajasic foods are bitter, sour, salty, pungent, hot and dry.
These foods create sensuality, sexuality, greed, jealousy, anger, delusion, fantasies, egotism and irreligious feelings.
The rajasic man always plans to prepare various kinds of preparations to satisfy his palate. The palate remains unsatisfied until the stomach is completely filled with pungent things and till the tongue is burnt with chillies.
Puri, kachori, pungent condiments, meat, fish, eggs, sweets, fried bread, curd, brinjal (egg plant), carrots, urad (black gram), onions, garlic, lemon, masur (red gram), tea, coffee, betel leaves, tobacco are rajasic articles of food.
Tamasic Food
Tamasic food is stale, dry, bad smelling, distasteful or unpalatable.
It increases pessimism, ignorance, lack of common sense, greed, laziness, criminal tendencies and doubt.
The tamasic man will eat, in the afternoon, food which has been cooked on the previous day and also will like the food which is half-cooked or burnt.
Foods that have been processed, canned or frozen are tamasic.
Beef, fish, eggs, wine, garlic, onions and tobacco are tamasic foodstuffs.
