The Chakra bowl, an introduction to nourishing the Chakras through food.
I am a firm believer that to create overall wellness and health, we have to look at the balance between the mind and the body. It's no secret that eating a varied diet with lots of nutrients, combined with frequent movement will not only keep the physical body in good shape, but also aid mentally.
Through practicing yoga you may notice benefits from the combination of fluid movements, concentration on breath and building of strength. As we take a deeper look into yoga and bring the attention inwards we start to notice the connection with the "Subtle Body" aka The Chakras. This is a term used for energy that flows throughout us human-beings. This energy can not be seen or touched, however if a Chakra is blocked the body will feel imbalanced, effecting physical, emotional and mental health. Practicing yoga is one way to free up energy and stimulate an imbalanced Chakra, paving the way for a noticeable internal shift.
To support the balance through the Chakras, healing crystals, essential oils and food can also be used. There is evidence in the yogic principle of how combining diet with holistic health can unite and strengthen us. Which is why I have turned my attention to how this can connect to the subtle body.
I have created a chakra bowl that is based on each energy centre, here I will describe an example of what can be eaten to help benefit each connecting Chakra. By integrating mind, body and energy, helping the subtle self through nourishment.
One of the most important things to remember when choosing food, is to think about how the body feels, what the body craves and what it is you want to achieve, this helps to see what area of the subtle body that needs to be focused on. Always feed from a place of love. By listening to the body in this way, you can become closer to alignment and energy.
Each chakra represents a yogic energy within the subtle body. Each chakra is associated with different emotions, organs and body systems. By creating a bowl that compiles each chakra into one round meal, it should aid in strengthening and balancing the whole body. The 7 Chakras from bottom to top are:
Root
Sacral
Solar plexus
Heart
Throat
Third Eye
Crown
HOW TO BUILD A CHAKRA BOWL
ROOT Muladhara
Tomato and radish salsa
Starting with the energy centre that supports our entire foundation. Connecting us to the earth. It is also the most common chakra to experience blockage or weakness. It controls the survival instincts, security, fight-or-flight, and fear. An imbalanced root chakra may cause issues with the legs, feet, digestive system and emotional imbalances. This may result in feelings of not being supported, insecurity, loneliness, or fear. Vitamins and nutrients from the soil and are rich in folate, vitamin C, antioxidants, and beta-carotene are perfect when looking for ingredients to support the Root Chakra.
For this bowl I diced Tomatoes, rich in vitamin c with sliced pickled Radish, a root vegetable that adding texture and minerals from the earth.
SACRAL Svadhisthana
Sweet potato and Butternut Squash
A balanced second chakra allows us to express our creativity, form deep, intimate relationships, and pursue our passions. An imbalanced sacral chakra can lead to many disturbances, including commitment issues, digestion problems, stifled creativity and lack of drive.
Sweet potato and butternut squash was chosen to focus on the Sacral Chakra, as they are both easy on the digestive system, creating a therapeutic option for the stomach.
SOLAR PLEXUS Manipura
Yellow pepper with pepper corn
The solar plexus controls our energy as it is related to willpower, goals, and general purpose. Governed by ambition and action, a balanced third chakra will translate into feelings of inner peace, confidence, and self-control.
Sweet yellow pepper is used to represent this Chakra as it not only aesthetically uplifting with the vibrant yellow appearance but contains Vitamin B6, which is helped to absorb into the body with the addition of peppercorn.
HEART Anahata
Avocado smash with Spinach
For the heart Chakra we look for whole balanced nutrients to help with energy and stress
Organic greens such as Avocado and Spinach, can help greatly with energy and stress and provide the body with complete, balanced nutrients. These foods were chosen for the fourth chakra which supports joy, compassion, and love, not only for others but also for ourselves. It paves the pathway to a relationship with others and it establishes our own self-worth.
THROAT Visuddha
blue berries with balsamic glaze
For the Throat Chakra we look for healing foods with antioxidants, this is becasue located in the throat, the chakra focuses on the energy of true expression, intuition, integrity, honesty, and openness. An imbalance in this chakra can cause a blockage of communication, misunderstanding, and a stifled voice.
Blue berries are high in antioxidants and lower blood pressure, making them a naturally relaxing food for this area.
THIRD EYE ANJA
Beetroot houmous
For this chakra we look for"Brain Foods”, which can instantly help clear an overworked mind and help to regain focus.
Known as being the centre of wisdom, this chakra’s element is light. A balanced third-eye chakra allows us to see clearly, focus, and trust our own intuitions. The chakra’s energy stems from our purpose, ability to grow, and desire to constantly learn. An imbalanced sixth chakra can lead to feeling a lack of direction or purpose in our life. Beets contain nitrates, which may help increase blood flow to the brain, improve cognitive function and possibly reduce the risk of dementia. (Please note: more research in this area is needed).
CROWN Sahasrara
Mushrooms with ginger seasoning
The crown chakra focuses more on fasting and detoxing than it does on food. It focuses more on the spiritual aspect of our bodies; our minds. Detoxing can help our bodies flush out toxins, boost our energy, and clear our mind. Ginger is often found to be a detoxing seasoning as it can cleanses through digestion and circulation. This helps to clear toxins in the colon and liver.
By adding these ingredients to a bowl together we are able to create a chakra balancing meal that will leave you truly satisfied. Have a go yourself and let us know your thoughts!
I will be posting further ways we can nourish the Chakras with food in future posts, so keep an eye out for more inspiration to come.
Have a good evening or day wherever in the world you are, namaste.