Important Definitions
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Agni: The power to digest the world. In a human being, it means the process of transforming all the different kinds of energy and information that our bodies receive and converting it into the matter of our body. Depending on the strength of one’s Agni, it determines a person’s ability to break down what it receives into the essential elements of life, earth, fire, air, water and ether, ingest what's needed and eliminate the rest. This is not just limited to food, but also includes ideas, information, and experiences.
Ama: The undigested toxic matter of the body. It can originate from undigested foods, thoughts, or improper actions. The build up of these toxins are the cause of all disease.
Ojas: The final product of proper digestion and assimilation of food. The pure, subtle energy of a healthy system. It is said to enhance vitality, strength, immunity, and well-being.
Sattvic: The highest quality of Ayurvedic food meant to maintain blanched body-mind-spirit connection. They include organic vegetables, milk, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, legumes, whole grains and clarified butter.
Rajasic: Medium quality foods that are higher in protein and more difficult to digest. Sweets, aged cheeses, fried foods, eggs, nightshades are all Rajasic foods.
Tamasic: Foods that are low quality such as chemical and preservative laden, processed, fermented, frozen, canned, or leftover from another meal. Foods that are not whole. They are stripped of nutrition such as alcohol, meat (thought to contain the negative energy of the scared and helpless animal), drugs and tobacco, popcorn and other salty snack foods.