The root chakra is an energy center located at the base of the spine. When it vibrates there’s a vibrant red color in your aura. The root chakra is connected to grounded physical, emotional, and mental well-being.  It’s known as the first chakra with a strong connection to survival, generational patterns, and security with food, money, love, etc. The root chakra holds the base of our lives. Check out Chakras 101: The Root Chakra to find out more.

Working consciously with the root chakra can have a profound effect in healing the mind and body connection. Your root chakra may be closed, open, or overactive, so here are some guidelines to evaluate what your root chakra is doing.

When your Root Chakra is closed: You may feel abandoned by your parents, friends, or a partner. You feel that you’re constantly scrapping by, going without, and holding on to life barely surviving. You may have thoughts relating to a lack of money or food. You feel that you’re not connected to anyone in your presence so you act aloof and withdrawn. You have negative self-talk that you hate your body and you’re not good enough the way you are. Depression, no endurance, anxiety, lack of focus, and restlessness are what you feel on a daily basis.

When your Root Chakra is open: You feel that you’re wanted and belong with your family or friends. You’re healthy with a strong connection to your body and happy with your current physical manifestation. You’re financially secure and manage money well, with a steady flow of having what you need and want. You work with the world and trust in the universe.

When your Root Chakra is over-active: You have materialistic thoughts placing your self-worth on what you have. You may develop an overactive sex drive, with greediness, anger, aggression, annoyance, controlling and impulsive behavior. It’s difficult for you to accept change and have very rigid boundaries with the people around you.

After determining where your root chakra is, always keep in mind that it’s not constant. You have the ability to develop your root chakra into a thriving, healthy, and vibrant energy center.  With a balanced root chakra, you will feel more stable and fulfilling. Whatever the state your root chakra is, closed, open, or overactive, these tips will guide you. Having open and balanced chakras is a lifestyle that includes daily practice. The root chakra is the base on which all other chakras sit. Maintaining a healthy root chakra allows the other chakras to gain life force energy.

There are many ways to have a healthy root chakra. In keeping with the Spirit Food theme this article will focus on how and what to eat, but also check out these 5 Powerful Techniques to Balance Your Root Chakra.

How to eat: The root chakra is strengthened with tribal connections. Enjoying a relaxing meal with friends or family can have a profound effect on your healing. Also, having gratitude before and during the meal is a useful way to make each day about your journey of health and vitality.

All the food we consume matters because it holds a vibration that has an influence on the energy centers within our physical and emotional bodies.

What to eat: Always choose organic!
1. Protein
2. Minerals
3. Red Colored Fruits and Vegetables
4. Root Vegetables

Protein has a grounding effect and strengthens the physical body. Protein is used throughout the body by vital organs. Lentils, tofu, black beans, quinoa, amaranth, soy milk, green peas, artichokes, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, tempeh, hemp milk, edamame, spinach, black-eyed peas, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, almonds, spirulina, tahini, chickpeas, nutritional yeast, and peanut butter are all excellent sources of vegan proteins.
Minerals are stable compounds from the earth’s crust. The root chakras element is Earth and a mineral rich diet creates stability. When a body is functioning properly the body is at homeostasis. The body needs minerals for a constant and stable condition. For example, the mineral calcium builds strong bones and a healthy skeletal system which is crucial to overall well-being. Minerals the body needs in large amounts are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur.  The body needs small amounts of trace minerals. These include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium.
Red Colored Fruits and Vegetables help the root chakra in many wonderful ways. The root chakra is red and eating red can help regulate the root chakra. Most red fruits and vegetables are a good source of Vitamin C. The root chakra is connected to bone, skin, and the adrenals which all need Vitamin C to thrive. Red apples, strawberries, pomegranates, cherries, tomatoes, red cabbage, beets, and many more are beneficial.
Root Vegetables  are a vital resource because they are grown in Earth’s soil. The grounding and stabilizing energy of Earth is within the vegetables. Eating root vegetables like potatoes, beets, carrots, onion, garlic, and parsnips can have a positive effect on the root chakra. As well as, caffeine free dandelion root tea, which has a soothing effect on this chakra.

The Root Chakra Side Dish Recipe uses all root vegetables including the vibrant red beet! This delicious and satisfying dish will promote a healthy root chakra.

Root Chakra Side Dish

Ingredients:
6 medium beets, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch chunks
3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch chunks
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 medium garlic clove, finely diced
salt
pepper
grape seed oil or olive oil (your choice)

Equipment:
oven
timer
aluminum foil
baking dish
bowl
wooden spoon
fork
1 tsp
1/2 tbsp

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. (200 degrees Celsius)
2. Line baking dish with aluminum foil for even cooking and easy clean up.
3. Place beet chunks in bowl and add 1/2 tbsp of oil, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper over beets. 4. Coat beets with oil/seasoning using wooden spoon and stirring.
5. Place coated beets into baking dish and put it in the preheated oven. Set timer for 15 min and bake for 15 min.
6. While this is cooking add diced sweet potatoes, diced onion, and diced garlic into bowl. Coat vegetables with 1/2 tbsp of oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper. Again use the wooden spoon to stir and cover all vegetables.
7. After timer has buzzed, remove baking dish from oven and set on a safe surface.
8. Add the bowl of vegetables to baking dish.
9. Add a layer of aluminum foil over the baking dish to cover the top.
10. Place covered baking dish into oven and set timer for 45 min.
11. When timer has buzzed, remove baking dish, place on a safe surface, and remove aluminum cover.
12. Be very careful because the dish and vegetables are very hot. Use the fork to poke through the beets and sweet potatoes to make sure they are soft all the way through.
(If they are not, recover the baking dish and put back in oven, checking it in 10 min intervals until done.)
13. When they’re soft, turn off the oven, leave the aluminum cover off, and let the vegetables cool for 10 min.
14. After 10 min. use the wooden spoon to ladle the vegetables onto a serving dish.
15. Serve the dish and enjoy the benefits of a nourished root chakra.