About Light

Elements: Ether, Air, Fire
Balanced by 'Heavy', 'Sweet', 'Liquid'.
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Light & Many Meanings

Lightness brings numerous desirable qualities such as clarity, alertness, agility, nimbleness, swiftness, purity, and youth. Lightness is inspiring: it improves oxygen levels and creativity. It reduces viscosity of the blood. Pathological lightness creates weakness, agitation, insecurity, fear and anxiety. Too much lightness creates spaciness, ungroundedness, and instability. Lightness of being means frivolous behavior, a lack of appropriate seriousness.

Light Foods, Longevity & Wound Healing

Foods that are light aid weight loss and improve digestion. They also convince the body to scavenge and metabolize blood toxicity, thus cleansing all channels and aiding the healing of wounds. Fasting helps cleanse and lose weight. Eating lightly, including proper fasting techniques and smaller portions, directly increases lifespan in laboratory studies. Popcorn (without butter and salt), salads, and black pepper are all light. Pathological lightness creates dryness. Osteoporosis is lightness in the bones.

Light is sometimes interpreted as 'easy to digest'. On Joyful Belly, we've moved easy to digest foods under a new guna called 'Easy'.

Treatments for Excess Lightness

Although the mind enjoys lightness and often drives high Vata individuals into emaciation, the body prefers stability to freedom. Sleep, rest, routine, and reducing stress are the most important ways to gain weight and become grounded and centered. Ojas building foods such as a tsp of ghee with meals helps nourish the body and bring heaviness. Ashwagandha ghee is a medicated ghee that helps ground the nervous system while nourishing Vata. Licorice root and salt help retain and rebuild fluids. Daily oil massage soothes and nourishes Vata.

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