Proper digestion is a key to healthy body and normal weight. There are some spices which promote good digestion, balance your weight, help in respiratory diseases and even posses sattvik qualities.Sattva is a Sanskrit word which means, light, purity, existence, reality…..
Some objects that are considered sattvic are:
- Flowers, fruits, and food that are allowed as offerings to God
- Neem tree
- The milk of a cow which has grown in good surroundings, is healthy and has been obtained after the calf of the cow has been fed well. In cases when the cow has been ill treated, it becomes sinful or evil to drink such milk (Note that the cow is sacred in Hinduism)
- Nature has always had a connotation with being sattvic. Because of this, Hindu philosophy does not encourage the eating of animals, or the destruction of nature and its habitats.
Sattva is a state of mind in which the mind is steady, calm and peaceful. A sattvic man or woman works with no attachment to the result.
When the quality of sattva is predominant or increasing in a person, there will be certain characteristics. You will see an increase of happiness, knowledge, light, purity, peace and harmony.
There are many ways to increase Sattva. Some effective ways are eating a sattvic diet, doing Japa, meditating, studying scriptures, satsang, kirtan, practicing pranayama and sharing Light energy with people around.
To have a sattvic diet, one should try to eat as much as possible foods which are fresh, ripe, nutritious and tasty. Some examples of sattvic foods are fresh milk (in small quantity) or ghee, fruits, dal or lentils (sprouts), almonds or other nuts and so on.
Among sattvik herbs are: curcuma (turmeric), cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, fennel, ginger, sesame & flax seeds etc.
- Curcuma or Haridra – soft sattvic digestive spice, is known to enhance secretion and flow of bile and act as a safeguard for the stomach and liver, heals ulcer. Curcuma reduces the craving for sweet & fatty. Moreover curcuma has strong antibacterial properties and promotes healthy intestinal microflora.
If you want to mace a cleansing mixture, to get rid of Ama (toxins) from your body, mix curcuma, gentian, barberry and honey – take 0.5-1 gr. 2-3 times/day.
If you want to improve your metabolic rate or for the weight reduction you can try to mix 2-3 teaspoons of aloe juice and little curcuma, take 2-3 times/day.
- Cardamom or Elaichi – the best digestive spice, promotes appetite and weight loss, it cures dry cough, heart problems together with ginger and cinnamon or Tvak.
You can try a cleansing mixture making a tea from it: mix 1 tsp cardamom seed powder in 1 glass of hot water and drink it hot.
Cardamom normalizes digestive force or Agni, also it’s a good healing remedy for children in diarrhea or constipation. In diarrhea make a composition of equal quantities: fennel, dill, air and cardamom. In constipation together with cardamom use asafetida or Hing, fennel, dry ginger powder or Nagara
- Corriander or Dhania – a good spice for digestive and urinary systems. Corriander herb is a good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, iron. It also possesses detoxification properties, so it benefits in overweight problems.
In constipation make a mixture of little corriander & powder of aloe, take 1-2 grams it is the same for diarrhea. If to mix curcuma and coriander it will cure hepatitis, cleanse the liver, normalize appetite. In vomitting you can try a mixture of coriander, cardamom and fennel. In respiratory conditions, cough – make a decoction of boiled coriander root and use it as a drink.
- Cinnamon or Tvak, Dalchini – this spice is beneficial for cardio-vascular and blood systems. It possesses expectorant qualities. It normalizes digestion power (Agni), is good for kidneys.
In heart problems: make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder and apply it on bread instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and could prevent a heart attack. If someone already had a heart attack and you take this combination, your next heart attack may never happen. The regular use of this combination relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; the cinnamon and honey combination revitalizes the arteries and veins.
5. Sesame seeds or Tila – a good source of calcium and magnesium. It has strong Rasayana or rejuvenation properties for bones and teeth. For this purpose you can make a mixture of 1 part sesame seeds, 0,5 part Shatavari, ginger, raw sugar and take it 30 gr/day.
- Flax seeds or Uma – a good tonic for intestine (bowels), lungs, source of calcium & protein.
Mixing licorice with flax seeds makes a good tonic for lungs, if to add some honey will be beneficial as expectorant. It is a well-known help in constipation – put 1-2 sp. of seeds in a glass of warm water, after few hours use a warm decoction for night.
