Written by Sam Coleman | Co-founder
Fact checked by Kirsten Yovino, CPT Brookbush Institute
FACT CHECKED
The overwhelming tendency promoted by today’s fast-paced society is isolation disguised as communion. Fortunately, there are still ways in which we can stay connected to those around us and our inner world alike. Strengthening and balancing the link between our bodies and our minds is an incredibly beneficial way to do that.
3 Ways to Strengthen Your Mind-Body Connection Through Nutrition
Reaching the perfect equilibrium between all aspects of yourself is an amazing accomplishment that will help you live better overall. It’s not an easy path to follow, but it’s one filled with rewards for those that are patient enough to see it to completion. Here are three nutrition-related elements that will help you embark on this journey.
1. A Healthy Meal Plan
Eating clean, organic foods is the first step towards strengthening your mind-body connection through nutrition. To achieve this fully, you will have to steer clear of processed goods entirely. This can be tricky, especially since the alimentary industry nowadays has found new, inconspicuous ways to tinker with just about anything.
Watch out for otherwise natural products that have added salt or sugar, as well as baked goods or produce whose natural state has been changed ever so slightly. This can be tricky, but you need to do your best to eat as clean as possible. Focus on consuming real food only, and you’ll be better off in the long run.
Related: 3 Body types Explained: Workouts, Diet & Tips
2. The Six Ayurvedic Tastes
Being able to fully enjoy the flavor of the dishes you eat is an important part of achieving an integral and unified experience. A stronger mind-body-diet connection can be promoted by incorporating the six tastes of Ayurveda into your daily dishes. They are culturally known as Rasas and considered to be in tight communion with the four natural elements.
Thus, depending on which of them you choose to integrate, you can stimulate various aspects of your body. While Western science has established that the human body perceived four main tastes, ancient Indian knowledge knows better. The six Rasas are as follows:
- Commonly contained in foods such as rice, dairy, wheat, dates, pumpkin and licorice, the sweet taste reunites water and earth, making it the most grounding and nourishing of them all.
- Found in wine, lemon, tamarind, pickles, and vinegar, the Ayurvedic sour taste brings water and fire together, promoting digestive health. However, it must be consumed in moderation, because excess leads to aggression.
- A flavor that is drawn from seafood, olives and various types of salt, this particular taste combines earth and fire and is the most cleansing one of them all. It is also recognized as being the main savor giver for any meal but abusing it can lead to skin damage.
- Teas and raw green vegetables are the main vessels for the Ayurvedic bitter taste, which brings together air and space. This makes it the lightest of the bunch and grants it the detoxifying and purifying properties that help our body rid itself of toxins.
- Resulting from the union between air and fire, the pungent taste encompasses hot and spicy foods such as onions, garlic, ginger, chili peppers, mustard, curry and other hot spices. Due to its very nature, it’s amazing at stimulating the body and promoting its main functions, such as digestion, respiration, and circulation.
- Characterized by a firm, cool and dry flavor, the astringent taste appears when earth and air meet. It is found in pomegranates, okra, unripe bananas, green beans and some sprouts. Because it creates intestinal gas, it should be consumed moderately.
3. Practicing Mindful Eating
A final step that ensures your mind, body, and diet are in complete balance with one another is to practice mindful eating as often as possible. Paying attention to everything that a meal involves, from texture and feel to smell and taste is crucial if you want to accomplish the perfect holistic communion.
First, you need to stick to a plan. Eat at fixed hours every day and do it in a setting that allows you to be aware of the experience. Avoid having breakfast, lunch or dinner in front of the TV or computer. It’s also recommended to enjoy your food in good company for a chance to connect with others, as well as yourself.
Meditating during a meal isn’t something that you can do anywhere, anytime, so it’s important to exercise it as often as possible. You won’t be able to focus on the characteristics of every single bite during your lunch break at work, but reserving a few dinners a week for this is perfectly achievable. And if you’ve got a couple of like-minded friends, it will be even better.
Final Thoughts
A total mind-body-diet connection is achievable, but not without ambition and dedication. Thus, if you’ve decided to go down this road, you will have to tailor all your meals accordingly. But you will soon be thankful for it.
Sam Coleman
Author