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Writer's pictureJeff Perlman

The Sattva, Rajas & Tamas of Food

Updated: Jul 15



In Sanskrit, “Guna” means string or thread, virtue or merit, or quality or attribute, and is generally defined as “that which binds.” In Yoga and Ayurveda, the Gunas relate to all matter and energy describing the qualities of nature and states of consciousness and are generally defined as:



Sattva: lightness, balance, harmony, purity, well-being, goodness, and harmony.

Rajas: heat, activity, passion, restlessness, turbulence, stress, anger, or confusion.

Tamas: heaviness, lethargy, dullness, ignorance, delusion, darkness, or destructiveness.


Our natures have a proportion of each Guna; for instance, without Tamas, we would not sleep; without Rajas, we would lack dynamism; without Sattva, life would be uninspiring, without the higher consciousness. 


When relating these attributes to food and health, Ayurveda utilizes the Gunas to understand the energetics of foods, spices, herbs, and beverages and how they affect individual constitution, imbalances, and overall health and well-being.


In addition to examining the Gunas of food, Ayurveda also emphasizes eating proper quantities, following an organic seasonal diet, and having regular meals. Hence, the body has effective digestion, assimilation, and elimination processes; our state of mind while preparing foods instills consciousness, and following proper food combinations ensures that what we eat is compatible and does not create Ama or disease.


According to Ayurveda, these gunas have the following effects on our health:


Sattvic foods are those that purify the body, bring calmness and presence, and raise our consciousness. These foods include fresh fruits, level vegetables, nuts, grains, fresh milk and dairy products, and spices like fresh ginger, fresh or dried turmeric, coriander, cardamom, and fennel. A sattvic diet includes preparing foods with love and full awareness and eating food within 6 hours of preparation before they lose their energy. Pungent and Astringent foods and spices can be non-sattvic and include onion, garlic, red chilis, and black pepper.


Rajasic food stimulates the body and mind into action, but in excess can cause hyperactivity, restlessness, anger, irritability, and sleeplessness. These foods included overly spiced foods, onions, garlic, tea, coffee, fried foods, excessively sugary foods, chocolate, and soft drinks. 

A rajasic person might eat on the run and experience poor digestion and health, and is usually aggressive and overflowing with energy. According to Ayurveda, this can be beneficial if used wisely and lead a person towards prosperity, power, and prestige. 


Tamasic food is also known as dead food, and it includes meat, fish, poultry, eggs, frozen and reheated foods, sugary foods, oily and heavy foods, and processed or preservative-laden foods.

Alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs also fall into this category. All of these substances do nothing to lift our energy and consciousness, and in fact, they pull us down into a state of laziness, dullness, careless and unaware of ourselves and others. Living tamasically can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart and liver disease. We will feel unmotivated, careless, and oblivious of ourselves and others.

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