Feeding Your Chakras
The ancient system of Ayurveda promotes a holistic approach to wellness. An enthusiast in this area, Cecilia explores the belief of how choosing the right foods can help us to keep both our body and mind healthy and in balance.
By Cecilia Yu
Eating to ‘feed’ your emotions? Or eating to ‘balance’ your emotions? Which would you choose?
When it is the former, we think of stuffing our faces with sweets, chips, and/or alcohol to deal with our sadness, frustrations, anxieties, or even just boredom. And oftentimes, feeding ourselves this way might simply perpetuate the emotions, or in the short term, suppress them.
Now, the latter option. We are talking about the kind of eating that can be part of a holistic solution to help prevent us from falling deeper into whatever is plaguing us. We call this healthier approach ‘feeding our chakras’.
According to the ancient healing system of Ayurveda, originating from India as far back as 1500–1000 BC, we have seven main chakras located along our bodies from our tailbone area up to the crown of our head. Each chakra is a wheel (or vortex) of energy that governs our physical and emotional wellbeing. Each one corresponds to specific nerves and organs in our bodies (Lindberg, 2020) and has a unique corresponding color reflecting a different shade of the rainbow (Gieber, 2015). When these colors are balanced, the chakras are balanced, and you can achieve a sense of equilibrium in your mind, body, and soul.
Imbalances or blockages in the chakras can present as diseases, aches, and discomfort in the associated organs, as well as have detrimental effects on our emotional wellbeing. Therefore, it is essential that we always try to keep them open.
There are many natural ways to do this including yoga, lifestyle choices, meditation, Reiki, and sound healing. One of the easiest ways, however, is through a healthy, balanced diet. According to the proponents of viewing health through the lens of chakra balancing, our choice of foods can bring about desirable or undesirable physiological and emotional outcomes. Each of the seven chakras needs to be nourished with certain foods, and, for the most part, eating colored foods associated with the specific chakras will help modulate the energy flowing to them (Nielsen, 2021).Ok, let’s get right into the juicy parts (pun intended) of the seven chakras. Table 1 shows the emotional and physical elements that are governed by each chakra and suggests foods that can be eaten to help keep that chakra open, allowing us to be our healthiest selves.
Root chakra
Color: red
Location: tailbone / perineum
Recommended foods: Any root vegetables, red bell pepper, tomato, raspberry, strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, radish
The root chakra corresponds with feelings of safety, security, stability, worthiness, belonging, and trust. A blocked root chakra can lead to increased anxiety and feelings of isolation.
Corresponding parts of the body include the spine, bladder, blood, kidneys, male reproductive organs, knees, legs, and feet. A blocked root chakra can contribute to problems with the joints, digestion, and infertility.
Sacral chakra
Color: orange
Location: sacrum
Recommended foods: Carrot, orange, pepper, sweet potato, salmon, butternut squash, pumpkin, nectarine, cantaloupe, mango, apricot, peach, papaya, persimmon, orange
The sacral chakra corresponds with sensuality, sexuality, pleasure, joy, creativity, and intimacy. A blocked sacral chakra can lead to feelings of depression and lethargy.
Corresponding parts of the body include the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the kidneys, adrenals, skin, and female reproductive organs. A blocked sacral chakra can contribute to autoimmune concerns and infertility.
Solar plexus chakra
Color: yellow
Location: above the navel
Recommended foods: Banana, pineapple, mango, lemon, golden kiwi, yellow bell pepper, yellow squash, corn, oats, brown rice, farro, spelt, rye, beans, quinoa, millet, bulgur wheat, sprouted grains, ginger, turmeric
The solar plexus chakra corresponds with sense of self, sense of purpose, esteem, empowerment, courage, willpower, strength, personal boundaries, confidence, and self-worth. A blocked solar plexus chakra can lead to increased feelings of anger and resentment.
Corresponding parts of the body include the nervous system, stomach, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, large intestine, small intestines, and liver. A blocked solar plexus chakra can contribute to digestive issues.
Heart chakra
Color: green
Location: middle of the chest
Recommended foods: Kiwi fruit, spinach, swiss chard, bok choy, brussel sprouts, watercress, kale, green apple, pear, lettuce, broccoli, peas, avocado, cabbage, peppers, zucchini, cucumber, celery
The heart chakra corresponds with feelings of love, forgiveness, acceptance, kindness, and compassion—for self and others. A blocked heart chakra can lead to increased feelings of loneliness, grief and anger.
Corresponding parts of the body include the circulatory and respiratory systems, heart, arms, hands, shoulders, ribs, breasts, diaphragm, and thymus gland. A blocked heart chakra can lead to heart problems and asthma.
Throat chakra
Color: light blue
Location: back of neck; throat area
Recommended foods: Nuts, seeds, plum, blackberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, purple grapes, purple carrot, purple cabbage, purple cauliflower, eggplant, honey, lemon
The throat chakra corresponds with communication, self-expression, ability and courage to speak your truth. A blocked throat chakra can lead you to feel very critical and impulsive.
Corresponding parts of the body include the thyroid gland, larynx, trachea, ears, nose, teeth, mouth, and throat. A blocked throat chakra can lead to thyroid problems and issues with the teeth, gums, and mouth.
Third eye chakra
Color: indigo
Location: between the eyebrows
Recommended foods: Blueberry, goji berry, mulberry, vitamin D, cilantro, chlorophyll, raw cacao, spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass, raw apple cider vinegar, plum, blackcurrant, fig, prune, raisin, elderberry, purple varieties of: kale, sweet potato, eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, grapes
The third eye chakra corresponds with intuition, insight, wisdom, imagination, spiritual connection, and clairvoyance. A blocked third eye chakra can lead you to feel unable to tap into your intuition or to see the bigger picture
Corresponding parts of the body include the pineal gland, eyes, nose, ears, and skeletal system. A blocked root chakra can contribute to more frequent headaches and problems with hearing.
Crown chakra
Color: violet
Location: top of the head
The crown chakra is about connection to our spirituality and life’s purpose, not to the physical world. Hence, there really aren’t any ideal foods to activate this chakra. Many advocate fasting instead.
The crown chakra corresponds with enlightenment, awareness, serenity, feeling connected to all things in life, sensing the beauty and divinity in everything, connection to higher power, and discovering higher purpose. A blocked crown chakra can lead you to feel narrow-minded and stubborn.
Corresponding parts of the body include the brain, nervous system, and pituitary gland. A blocked crown chakra can contribute to concerns with the nervous system.
Photos from Canva.
References
Lindberg, S. (2020) What Are the 7 Chakras and How Can You Unblock Them? healthline.com/health/what-are-chakras#bottom-line
Gieber, M. (2015) Keep Your Chakras in Balance With Food. ediblesiliconvalley.ediblecommunities.com/speaking-food/foods-balance-your-chakras
Nielsen, B. (2021) Balance and Heal Your Chakras with Food. corepotentials.ca/blog/balance-and-heal-your-chakras-with-food
About the Author
Cecilia Yu is a self-compassion enthusiast and coach. Certified in Integrative Nutrition Coaching, Culinary Nutrition, Goddess Yoga and Women's Circle Leadership, Cecilia empowers mommies and their loved ones to lead a healthy, soulful life through anti-inflammatory dietary lifestyle, meditations, yoga, journaling, and her Self-Compassion Circles for Moms. For inspiration, follow her on @CeciliaADoseofVitaminL (FB/IG)
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