Published Paper Details:

This study examined the influence of plant-based satvik (no onion/garlic) and vegetarian diets on mindfulness capacities among adults practicing three meditation styles - Rajyoga, Ruhani Satsang, and Vipassana. A sample of 600 participants filled out the 15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15) assessing skills in observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity to inner experiences. Results of two-way ANOVA tests showed higher total mindfulness and non-judging scores in Satvik versus Vegetarian practitioners regardless of meditation style. Significant diet-by-meditation interactions were also noted, with Ruhani Satsang practitioners specifically exhibiting heightened describing and acting with awareness facets when following satvik diets. Findings support synergistic effects between nutrition and mindfulness practice, with removal of excitatory foods potentially enabling calmer, more attentive cognitive states conducive to meditation. Tailored integration of lifestyle modalities could inform multimodal behavioral therapies targeting holistic wellbeing.