Healing from disordered eating requires a consistent practice of tuning into how food feels in the body, as opposed to focusing on how it relates to appearance. While balanced nutrient intake is important, the psychological relationship with food must be healed in order to truly nourish the body, mind and spirit. By shifting your attention to the energetic qualities of food, you deepen your connection to the ways in which food influences the energy centers (chakras) of the body.
Ancient eastern medicine places as much attention on the energy of the body as it does the physiology. From the teachings of Ayurveda, there are seven distinct energy centers, or chakras, within the body. Each corresponds with a specific electromagnetic frequency and (as we learned in grade school) different energetic wave lengths are associated with different colors.
Much like how thoughts and emotions are comprised of energy, plants also have energetic qualities that interact with the body. Each color of fruits or vegetables is associated with a particular micronutrient and phytochemical profile and also vibrates at a particular energetic frequency. By selecting to consume foods of a specific color, you can enhance the chakra associated with that color.
The following information provides an overview of the seven chakras and the aura. As you are reading their descriptions, notice which resonate most with you in this moment. When selecting your next meal or snack, try incorporating foods of the color associated with the chakra in need of most support. Viewing food from this lens of eastern medicine helps shift your focus away from counting calories and obsessing over nutrient value. Challenge restrictive food rules instilled by diet culture to embrace a beautiful variety of color in your food choices.
First Chakra, Root
Located at the base of the spine near the rectum, the root chakra is our foundation. Our root connects us to the earth and to family and allows us to feel grounded in the physical body. The root chakra is associated with elimination of waste and negative thought patterns. Imbalance can present as scattered energy, anxiety and fear. This is the chakra associated with issues involving basic needs, such as financial insecurity and disordered eating. If you are a woman who is constantly giving of yourself to those around you, focus on enhancing the energy of your root chakra.
Red is the color associated with the root. It energetically supports emotional stability and a strong sense of survival. To rebalance the root chakra and release negative thought patterns, increase intake of red fruits & vegetables.
Red – Root Balancing Foods:
beets, tomatoes, red bell peppers, rhubarb, watermelon, raspberries, strawberries
Second Chakra, Sacral
Located in the lower abdomen below the navel, the sacral chakra is our center for creativity and sexuality. Encompassing the reproductive organs, it represents our sense of abundance and pleasure. The sacral chakra is associated with our ability to accept new people, experiences and ideas. Imbalance would present as sexual disfunction, repressed creativity and emotional isolation. If you are a woman who is working to heal wounded sexual experiences, or in a phase of reproduction or menopause, focus on enhancing the energy of your sacral chakra.
Orange is the color associated with the sacral chakra and energetically supports creative expression and a sense of well-being. To rebalance the sacral chakra and invoke abundance, increase intake of orange fruits & vegetables.
Orange – Sacral Balancing Foods:
apricots, papaya, tangerines, orange bell peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash
Third Chakra, Solar Plexus
Located between the sternum and belly button, the solar plexus is our center for personal power. Much like how the sun is central to the planets, this is the powerful energy center of the body. Imbalance would present as misuse of power, control issues, manipulative tendencies or low self-esteem. If you are a career-driven woman who is working to achieve specific goals, focus on enhancing the energy of your solar plexus.
Yellow is the color associated with the solar plexus and energetically supports self-confidence and self-esteem. To rebalance the solar plexus and connect with personal power, increase intake of yellow fruits & vegetables.
Yellow – Solar Plexus Balancing Foods:
yellow tomatoes, golden beets, yellow bell peppers, pineapple, lemons, ginger
Fourth Chakra, Heart
Located at the center of the body, the heart chakra represents our ability to give and receive love. It is associated with our sense of joy and inner peace. Imbalance would present as depression and difficulty in relationships. If you are woman inviting in new love, or strengthening the loving connection with your partner, focus on enhancing the energy of your heart chakra.
Green is the color associated with the heart and energetically supports self-love and love for others. To rebalance the heart chakra, increase intake of green fruits & vegetables.
Green – Heart Balancing Foods:
green grapes, spinach, kale, herbs, bitter greens, artichokes, broccoli, celery
Fifth Chakra, Throat
Located in the center of the neck, the throat chakra connects our logical mind to our feeling heart. It is associated with authentic self-expression and communication. Imbalance would present as either shyness or arrogance. If you are a woman who is longing to express your truth and vocalize your wants and needs, focus on enhancing the energy of your throat chakra.
Blue is the color associated with the throat and energetically supports our ability to verbalize our truth. To rebalance the throat chakra and strengthen your ability to communicate, increase intake of blue fruits & vegetables.
Blue – Throat Balancing Foods:
blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, black currants, blue potatoes
Sixth Chakra, Third Eye & Seventh Chakra, Crown
Located at the forehead between the eyes (sixth chakra) and crown of the head (seventh chakra), these energies represent our super-consciousness, intuition and insight. At the highest points of our physical body and closest to the universe, these chakras are associated with connection to divine. Imbalance would present as lack of clarity and direction, closed mindedness and disconnection with the spirit. If you are a woman who is searching for a clear connection with the divine, focus on enhancing the energies of your third eye and crown chakras.
Purple and indigo are the colors associated with the third eye and crown chakras. To enhance wisdom and bring clarity to personal intuition, increase intake of purple fruits & vegetables.
Purple – Third Eye & Crown Balancing Foods:
plums, purple grapes, figs, eggplant, purple cabbage, purple potatoes
Aura
The aura is the energy surrounding the body, produced by the spirit. There are seven layers of the aura, each emanating from one of the seven chakras.
White is the color associated with the aura. To strengthen your energy field, increase intake of white vegetables (which tend to be the most overlooked!).
White – Aura Balancing Foods:
cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes, parsnips, onion, jicama