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Gifts Of Nature To Help You Balance Those Chakras

You may or may not already be familiar with the concept of the 7 chakras. In recent times, especially since the West has begun to heavily discuss the chakras, this concept has now become a regular topic in pop culture, as well as spirituality and yoga practitioners. Even though more has been spoken about the chakras now than ever before, they have existed as long as the human has. However, they were first mentioned in the Vedas long before they received recognition.
So what are the Chakras? The Chakras are said to be energy points in one’s body. The work ‘chakra’ literally refers to a wheel when translated from Sanskrit. They are present at 7 integral parts of the body and should remain open, aligned and balanced at all times for one to be able to experience and fulfilled and happy existence on Earth. The location of the chakras corresponds to bundles of nerves, major organs, and areas of our energetic body that affect our mental and emotional well-being.
In addition to meditation and chanting mantras to balance the chakras, there are certain foods, which when consumed, help to clear the chakras of any residual negativity. Here is a list of foods that you can eat to maintain healthy and aligned chakras.

Root Chakra (Mooladhara Chakra)

This chakra is located at the base of the spine and is responsible for the feeling of being grounded. It is also the energy point that determines one’s sense of self and stability. The colour of the root chakra is red and the mantra to be chanted to balance it is ‘lam’. Imbalance of the root chakra can physically manifest as arthritis, constipation, and bladder or colon problems. Emotionally, a blocked root can manifest as being insecure about finances, and general well-being.
Healing foods: Since the colour of the root chakra is red, red foods are beneficial to help balance it. Apples, raspberries, beetroots, tomatoes, pomegranates are great, as are root vegetables such as sweet potato, onion, carrots, parsnips, turnips, garlic or anything that grows under the ground. Eggs, beans, and lean meats are helpful to along with spices such as cayenne pepper, horseradish and paprika.

Sacral Chakra (Svadisthana Chakra)

The sacral chakra is located just below the belly button in the abdomen. Its colour is orange and it deals with creativity, intimacy and self-worth. The mantra associated with this chakra is ‘vam’. Chanting this mantra regularly can improve issues with self-esteem and confidence. An unbalanced sacral chakra can manifest as urinary tract infection, lower back pain or impotency. Emotional problems associated with this chakra are blocks in creativity, low self-worth, body image issues, lack of confidence in intimate relationships, and commitment issues.
Healing foods: Orange foods are the best balancers of this chakra. Carrots, oranges, peaches, tangerines, and apricots are great options along with foods rich in Omega-3, such as salmon. Nuts and seeds such as flax, walnuts, almonds and sesame can also help the sacral chakra. Coconuts are also a great option.

Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura Chakra)

The third chakra is present in the stomach area, just below the sternum. This one is yellow in colour and the mantra associated with it, is ‘ram’. A blocked solar plexus chakra can cause trouble with self-esteem and confidence, lack of purpose and insecurities. In the physical aspect, the blockage can appear as stomach ulcers, chronic indigestion, heartburn and pains.
Healing foods: You probably get the drift by now, yellow is the way to go with the solar plexus chakra. Pineapples, lemons, bananas, and corn are wonderful to balance this chakra. Additionally, complex carbs and whole grains like oats, brown rice, and rye are also helpful. Add a lot of vegetables to the mix as fibre is also important to this chakra.

Heart Chakra (Anahata Chakra)

This beautiful chakra is located in the entre of the chest. The colour associated with this chakra is green. This energy point governs love and compassion. The mantra that corresponds to this chakra is ‘yam’. A blocked heat chakra can result in always putting others first to the detriment of one’s self. It also shows a lack of self-love. The state of the heart chakra is reflected in one’s relationships. Physically heart chakra problems can manifest as asthma, heart attack, and weight issues. Emotionally, it will show up as anxiety, anger, paranoia, low self-esteem, and feeling isolated.
Healing foods: As you can probably guess by now, the best foods to heal the heart are hearty greens! Eat them raw and organic for maximum effect. Make sure you have a green smoothie, salad or juice every day to maintain a healthy Anahata chakra. Broccoli, kale, matcha, coriander, parsley, curry leaves, mint leaves, lettuce, cabbage, avocado, spirulina, moringa, are all magical for this chakra.

Throat Chakra (Visuddha Chakra)

As you can imagine, the throat chakra has everything to do with clear communication. Blue is the colour of this energy point and the associated mantra is ‘hum’. The throat chakra focuses on the energy of self-expression, speech, intuition, integrity and honesty. When this chakra is out of balance, one can expect miscommunication, feeling stifled, and misunderstandings being created. Physically, a blocked throat chakra can result in blocked sinuses, swollen glands, and neck and shoulder pain. One can even catch themselves indulging in gossip, lies and deceit.
Healing foods: You guessed it, its blue foods. Blackberries and blueberries are great for the throat chakra. Consume foods that are a good source of fibre, antioxidants, and vitamins. Have soothing items such as coconut water, herbal teas, and honey. Apples, plums and other fruits that grow on trees are also good to heal this chakra.

Third Eye Chakra (Ajna Chakra)

This chakra is also known as the brow chakra and is present right in between the eyes. The literal meaning of ‘Ajna’ is to perceive. When activated, the third eye or more commonly known as the sixth sense helps to see beyond what one perceives to be true reality. A balanced third eye helps with focus, and heightened intuition. The colour associated with it is Indigo and the mantra is ‘om’. An unbalanced chakra can lead to feeling a lack of direction, confusion and being caught up in the illusion of this existence. Physical manifestations of this can be seen as tension headaches, blurry vision and migraines.
Healing foods: Purple foods are great to help with the brow chakra – eggplants, purple cabbage, grapes, blueberries, and even cacao. Foods that are rich in flavonoids and boost serotonin help to relieve stress and inflammation are greatly beneficial to help clear an overworked mind and regain focus.

Crown chakra (Sahasrara chakra)

The seventh and final chakra is the crown chakra which is located at the top of the head. This chakra is associated with spirituality, enlightenment, the openness of the mind, and greater knowing. The colour of this chakra is violet and the mantra to chant is ‘om’. A balanced Sahasrara chakra offers peace within one’s self, gratitude for all that is, and wisdom. However, on the other end, one experience a feeling of insignificance, confusion, and disconnection. Disorders of the nervous system, headaches, depression, and sensitivity to light are all physical manifestations of the blocked crown chakra.
Healing: The crown chakra focuses more on fasting and detoxification, it’s all about the mind. Fasting can help flush out toxins that relieve the body of stress. Meditation and yoga are great practices to heal the crown chakra. Herbs such as lavender, sage, and juniper are great to balance this chakra.