Colours are said to be manifestations of cosmic powers that work like generators of energy in the body. This isn’t psychobabble. The journey on the path of wellness is, indeed, paved with surprises and miracles, empowering you to realise that you have everything that can help you change your internal states for the better, to bring about changes in your health, and in your external world.
As many of us know, our physical body is surrounded by a pulsing energy field or an energy body. It is created by the collective vibration of seven chakras – a Sanskrit word meaning a disc or a wheel. Invisible to the human eye, these seven chakras of energy are interconnected along the axis of your spinal column, beginning from the base and finishing at the crown of the head.
The job of the energy body is to help maintain the health of our physical body by taking in and sending out energetic vibrations for which the chakras act as the ‘conductors’ that keep the energy flowing freely throughout our whole body. Our health is determined by this flow of energy from the chakras through the energy circuits and into the metabolic network of the body, as it keeps our vital organs functioning optimally. Moreover, our body uses this energy on a cellular level to maintain homeostasis of the body’s systems. In addition, each of these seven chakras represents different core aspects of our personality and patterns of behaviour.
Because the chakras intercommunicate, if one of them is out of balance, the others fall into disharmony. So, if you rectify the imbalance in one of them, the energy will flow freely to all the others, balancing them out. You can balance chakras through foods, sound, colour therapy, mantras, meditation, visualisation, and mudras.
There’s a reason why food plays an integral role. It is not only a way to sustain our physical body, but a way to support our energy body as well. Food particles carry unique vibrations, which feed our chakras to activate them. Feeding the energetic layers of the chakras will lead us to a new level of higher energy and vibrant health. That’s why more conscious food choices can go a long way in healing the body and promoting higher vibration of our chakras.
Certain foods, because of their colour or properties, mirror those of a specific chakra. When we eat them, they can help strengthen a weak chakra or, if we avoid them, can help calm an overactive chakra. Let’s now take a look at the seven chakras, the symptoms that we experience when they are out of balance, and what foods will help us:
Muladhara – Also called the Root chakra, it is located at the base of the spine. Represented in the colour red, it helps to keep the energy of the body connected with earthly energies. It aids movement, survival and self-esteem. When out of balance we may have problems in the legs, feet, rectum, tailbone, immune system, male reproductive parts and prostate gland. There will be degenerative arthritis, knee pain, sciatica, eating disorders, and constipation. If underactive, feed it with root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, radishes, beets, onions, garlic, and protein-rich food like eggs, meats, beans, tofu, soy products, and peanut butter. Try vibrant red foods like strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes, chives, paprika and pepper.
Swadhishthana – Also called the Sacral chakra, it is located in the lower abdomen. Represented in the colour orange, it is associated with sensuality, sexuality, pleasure, sociability and emotions. When out of balance we may have problems like lower back pain, hypoglycemia, low energy, loneliness, lack of creativity, detachment, anxiety, emotional instability, problems with intimacy and feeling overwhelmed. To help regain its balance, feed it with orange foods high in carotenoids like carrots, squash and sweet potatoes, mangoes, oranges, papaya, passion fruit, turmeric, cinnamon, vanilla, and ginger. Water and clear fluids such as broth teas also stimulate healthy sacral activity.
Manipura – Also called the solar plexus chakra, the Manipura is represented in the colour yellow. It impacts self-esteem issues and intuitive skills. An out-of-balance Manipura could manifest as eating disorders, ulcers, diabetes, and issues with the pancreas, liver, and colon. An imbalance can also cause severe emotional problems. It could manifest as overly rigid or controlling behaviour, a victim mentality, neediness, and a lack of direction or self-esteem. Feed it with cereal, rice, flax seed, sunflower seeds, milk, cheeses, yoghurt, ginger, mints, chamomile, turmeric, cumin and fennel.
Anahata – Also called the Heart chakra, it is represented in the colour green. Located just above the heart, it works to balance the lower three chakras Muladhara, Swadhishthana and Manipura with the upper three chakras like Vishuddha, Ajna and Sahasrara. The heart chakra is seen as the balance between the world of the physical and the world of the spirit. An out-of-balance Anahata could manifest as a lowered immune system, heart and lung issues, poor circulation, high/low blood pressure, and respiratory and breathing difficulties. An underactive Anahata will manifest as shyness,
loneliness, depression and anxiety while an overactive one could manifest as excessive giving of oneself, risking emotional abuse, extreme trust, naiveté, and emotional imbalance in giving and receiving love. Feed it with leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, dandelion greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, basil, thyme and cilantro. Green teas also keep the heart chakra healthy.
Vishuddha – Also called the Throat chakra, it is represented in the colour blue. Located at the base of the throat, at the centre of the larynx, Vishuddha is associated with communication, expression, creativity and inspiration. When in balance, we can communicate our truth clearly and effectively. When it’s blocked or out of balance, we struggle to share authentically, speak aggressively and over or struggle to communicate. Using inappropriate language, making misstatements, interrupting or talking over other people, dominating the conversation, or needing to have the last word, negative, biting words, and lies, are also common. Physically, we could suffer from cold and sore throat, sores in the mouth or tongue, hoarseness, thyroid problems, and pain or stiffness in the neck.
Feed it with water, fruit juices, herbal teas, blueberries and blackberry smoothies, coconut water, raw honey, and lemon.
Ajna – Popularly known as the Third eye, Ajna is located in the centre of the head or brow and is usually represented in the colour indigo. It’s the seat of wisdom and insight. A balanced Ajna chakra allows us clarity, focus, and trust in our own intuition. An imbalanced sixth chakra can lead to feeling directionless or purposeless in life. Physically, it can also cause tension headaches, blurry vision, coordination and balance issues, and sleep disturbances. Feed it with blueberries, blackberries, wine and grape juice, purple kale, purple cabbage, eggplant, purple carrots and cocoa.
Sahasrara – Also called the Crown chakra, it is located on the topmost portion of the head. The colour used to identify it is white/violet. It is the highest form of chakra, It represents oneness, truth, spirituality, and knowing and opens up spiritual communication with higher realms. It radiates energy dedicated to peace, faith, trust, and gratitude. An imbalanced crown chakra can bring about feelings of confusion and disconnection. It also puts us at risk for disorders of the central nervous system or headaches, depression, and sensitivity to light. It focuses more on fasting and detoxing than it does on food. Detoxing can help our bodies flush out toxins, boost our energy, and clear our minds. Meditation and yoga is an excellent ways to strengthen and heal the crown chakra.
We are living in extraordinary times – times of great shift and change. When we balance the chakras, we can help heal ourselves and can also bring harmony and balance to this planet. We can adjust our frequencies, helping us to come into an alignment with the universal frequencies that will help us experience a leap in our evolution, both as a species and as a planet, to become the best versions of ourselves. And, of course, there’s nothing quite like tasting a rainbow!