A sattvic diet shares the qualities of sattva, some of which include "pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-containing, clean, conscious, true, honest, wise".
[5] A sattvic diet is a regimen that places emphasis on seasonal foods, fruits if one has no sugar problems, nuts, seeds, oils, ripe vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and non-meat based proteins.
[6] In ancient and medieval era Yoga literature, the concept discussed is Mitahara, which literally means "moderation in eating".
[citation needed] Sattva is a complex concept in Indian philosophy, used in many contexts, and it means one that is "pure, essence, nature, vital, energy, clean, conscious, strong, courage, true, honest, wise, rudiment of life".
The other two qualities are considered to be rajas (agitated, passionate, moving, emotional, trendy) and tamas (dark, destructive, spoiled, ignorant, stale, inertia, unripe, unnatural, weak, unclean).
[9][10] A sattvic diet is thus meant to include food and eating habit that is "pure, essential, natural, vital, energy-giving, clean, conscious, true, honest, wise".
Both the Śāṇḍilya Upanishad [13] and Svātmārāma, an Indian yogi who lived during the 15th century CE,[14]: Introduction [15][16] state that Mitahara (eating in moderation) is an important part of yoga practice.
In Yoga diet context, the virtue of Mitahara is one where the yogi is aware of the quantity and quality of food and drinks he or she consumes, takes neither too much nor too little, and suits it to one's health condition and needs.
[4][6] The application of sattva and tamas concepts to food is a later and relatively new extension to the Mitahara virtue in Yoga literature.
[2] According to ayurveda, sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic foods consist of some combination of any of the five basic elements: prithvi (earth), jala (water), teja (fire), vayu (air), and akash (ether).
[18] Nuts that may be considered a part of a sattvic diet include raw organic almonds, cashews, and pistachios.
Rajasic spices like red pepper (kudaimilagai in Tamil, 'Shimla mirch' in Hindi) are normally excluded, but are sometimes used in small amounts, both to clear channels blocked by mucus and to counter tamas.
These include ashwagandha, bacopa, calamus, gotu kola, ginkgo, jatamansi, purnarnava, shatavari, saffron, shankhapushpi, tulsi and rose.
Food that has remained for more than three hours (i.e., one yām), is according some commentators on chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita, in the tamasic mode.
Sharma states that such incompatibilities may not have influence on a person who is strong, exercises sufficiently, and has a good digestive system.