Eliminate processed foods.

Not only are they loaded with chemicals and other toxins, processed foods are often dry and crunchy (think cereal, crackers and chips). Dry crunchy foods increase the dry and rough qualities of vata, and all processed foods are hard to digest. Because of their high sugar content processed foods are highly addictive and can lead to obesity, metabolic syndrome (which can lead to heart disease), irritable bowel syndrome, and even depression and anxiety.

An Ayurvedic diet consists of whole or minimally processed foods that are simple for your body to digest and free from harmful additives, preservatives, and other chemicals.

Yoga and Ayurveda are both based on the Samkhya philosophy and the foundational component of the three gunas - rajas, tamas, and sattva. These three gunas are the inherent qualities found in everything in the manifest world, nature, living beings, inanimate objects, and even our food.

Rajas is the energy or quality of activity, when out of balance this looks like over stimulation, stress and anxiety. Rajasic foods are sugar, caffeine, alcohol, hot & spicy foods, garlic and onions. Tamas is the energy or quality of inertia. When tamas is out of balance it looks like lethargy and depression. Tamasic foods are processed, deep fried, heavy foods like meat, and leftovers. Sattva is the energy or quality of balance and harmony, and looks like grounded, peaceful energy. Sattvic foods are fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts.

Start paying attention to the way you feel when you eat certain foods. What’s you mental state like? Your physical state? Your psycho-emotional state? Do you feel more sattvic — calm, peaceful, grounded — after you’ve had a home cooked meal made with fresh local vegetables or when you’ve run through the drive thru at Chick-fil-A? Listen to your body. Listen closely. It will tell you how to eat.