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NEWSLETTERS |
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CSA Newsletter December,
2005 CSA Newsletter
February, 2006
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Below is an excerpt about Tamas, Rajas, and Sattwa from Diet &Nutrition by Dr. Rudolph Ballentine, pp549-550 Tamas Those foods which are “dead”, partially spoiled, which have been processed a great deal, which have been preserved in some way, which have no spark of life about them, which lack vitality of food that is alive or has been recently cooked are called “tamasic”. Such foods create a feeling of heaviness, of lethargy; they nourish only the grossest aspects of the body. If the diet is consistently comprised of tamasic food, then the person can continue to live but the body will become heavier, or else functioning will be sluggish, and diseases of degeneration and accumulation of excessive matter are likely to occur (obesity, arthritis, hardening of the arteries, and so forth.) The matter of the body may be added to, but its energy, vitality, and its consciousness are not increased through the use of such food. |
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Rajas Food which is cooked a great deal to increase its taste appeal, that which stimulates the nervous system, speeds up metabolism and activates is called “rajasic”. These foods will energize, but not in the sense of lending a clear, balanced energy. Rather they tend to stimulate and push the organism to increase its speed and to indulge more in physical activity, sensual pleasure and “creature comforts”. Rajasic food is the fare of the bon vivant and of the epicure. Spiced and cooked to perfection with gobs of rich sauces, it tempts one to eat more and lends the attention into the savor of the food and away from internal signals. |
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Sattwa By contrast to the above two categories, those food which are fresh, whole, natural, of good quality yet mild, neither over nor undercooked, are experienced as lending a calm alertness and at the same time a state of quiet energy. Such foods are called “sattwic.” They are said to nourish the consciousness. They not only provide nourishment for the body, but they do not adversely affect the overall energy state. They add vitality to the total system by bringing a perfect, harmonious balance of energy states in the food itself. They don’t pull energy from the body, they don’t weigh it down, they don’t make it heavier; neither do they irritate it nor push it beyond its capacity. Rather, they provide a precise balance of nourishment and create no undue waste. Such foods are the ones most likely to be experienced as sattwic. They are the ones which are likely to give the body lightness, alertness and energy and create a keener consciousness. |
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Spiritual Food CSA |
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4209 East-West Highway Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
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