Why Makhana Has Always Been a Satvik Staple (And Still Is)

Makhana has already been eaten as a ‘vrat’ food for thousands of years. Why is that so? And what does it mean? Let us explore this topic.

Characteristics That Make a Food ‘Satvik’

Now let us find out the characteristics that make a food ‘satvik’. The satvik food in Ayurveda and Yogic philosophy is pure, fresh, gives physical vitality, mental clarity, and spiritual satisfaction.

The basic properties of a satvik food are as follows: purity/ahimsa, whole/unprocessed, mild spices, fresh, and intentional mindfulness. There have been certain foods that have always been termed as satvik foods from ages together. Among those is makhana.

Why Makhana Is Ideal as a Satvik Food

Easy to Digest: It is highly digestible and therefore is ideal as a satvik food for mindful eating and meditation.

Pure and Unprocessed: Being a natural seed it is not too stimulating nor dulling to the mind.

Fasting Food: Makhana is a staple during Navratri, Ekadashi, and Shivratri fasts, as there are no grains in it and it gives sustained energy.

Nutritional Profile

• Rich in Nutrients: High in plant protein, calcium, and magnesium.
• Low in Calories: A guilt-free, low-calorie, gluten-free snack.
• Antioxidant-rich: Contains flavonoids and amino acids that help fight inflammation and aging.

The Body Requires Calm Fuel, Not All Types of Fuel

Much like a car, the body performs better with premium fuel. As opposed to regular fuel, calm fuel, or food which calms the nervous system, avoids the spikes and drops and inflammation caused by foods high in sugar content and processed foods.

In order to ensure focus in your brain and complete nourishment to your body, here are some essential components.

4 Pillars of Calm Fuel

• Complex Carbohydrates: Examples include oats, brown rice and whole wheat roti which stimulate serotonin production in the brain, making you feel calm.
• Lean Proteins: Paneer, dal, chicken and eggs provide amino acids, which form chemicals which regulate moods.
• Healthy Fats: The brain is made up of 60% fats. Avocados, almonds, walnuts and ghee help maintain blood sugar levels and avoid energy crashes.
• Essential Micronutrients: Magnesium found in spinach and pumpkin seeds and B vitamins in bananas and whole grains are necessary to reduce stress and support the nervous system.

Foods That Drain Your Energy Levels

Processed Sugar: Candies and drinks have high levels of sugars that give sudden spikes and drops in glucose, causing irritation.

Excessive Caffeine: Excessive amounts of coffee and sugared tea may mimic the physical effects of anxiety.

Heavy and Fatty Foods: Greasy foods require the consumption of high energy levels by your body to process it, leaving your brain cloudy and tired.

Makhana: Your Original Calming Food Source

Here is where makhana completes a circle. Carefully study the four factors mentioned above, and you will see that makhana satisfies most of them on its own.

It gives you an easy-to-digest plant-based protein. This food has a low content of bad fats and high content of magnesium – the mineral that calms down your nervous system and makes you less stressed. Moreover, it doesn’t contain any processed sugar, excessive amounts of caffeine, nor does it leave you feeling heavy and tired afterwards. In other words, our ancestors didn’t select makhana as their fasting food just because it was convenient; they selected calming fuel even before the term came into existence.

This is how makhana has remained integral to satvik diet for generations now, and continues to remain relevant in our modern world when you are fasting, engaged in yoga, or even looking for an eating routine which keeps your body and mind balanced throughout the day.

Choose Calmness over Chaotic Snacks

As you unroll your yoga mat, just bear in mind that yoga is not just about spending an hour in the practice of asanas; but it also depends on the food and drink you consume.

At Makhanawala’s, we have been doing for generations now the best that can be done to source makhana from Mithila region of Bihar, the very same fox nuts that have sustained the satvik diets and fasting diets of people since ages. Roasted, mildly seasoned, and never unnecessarily processed, our makhana is calming fuel kept simply.

Avoid energy-crashing snacks. Just pick up a handful of Makhanawala’s makhana and keep your body energized in the way it was meant to be all along.