The chakras are an ancient Ayurvedic system for understanding your body's energy and the practice of clearing and balancing the chakras can help circulate free-flowing positive energy throughout the body. Nutrition plays an enormous role in the body's vitality and each chakra can be balanced and sustained with specific foods.

Muladhara -Root Chakra

Muladhara is located at the base of the spine and represents our foundation. The Root Chakra controls our survival and finances so when it's open we feel confident and grounded and when blocked we feel threatened and unstable. The colour red is associated with Muladhara and eating red healthy foods like tomatoes, berries, pomegranates and apples can help put things into balance.

Svadhishthana controls how we relate to ourselves and others - it also guides our creativity and sexuality so when open we feel connected with abundant energy and when blocked we can feel isolated and joyless. Located in the lower abdomen and represented by the colour orange, Svadhishthana can be brought into balance by eating carrots, oranges, melons, and mango.

Manipura is located in the upper abdomen and speaks to our confidence and self-worth. When in balance we can be our true selves however shame or self-doubt can kick in when Manipura is blocked. Distinguished by the colour yellow and balanced by eating bananas, ginger, turmeric, and corn.

Anahata is located at the centre of the chest (just above the heart) and governs love and joy and can influence our ability to accept and receive love from both ourselves and others. When in balance we are open and loving with compassion and empathy however when blocked we have difficulty with these emotions and are unable to connect. The heart chakra is green so think to incorporate broccoli, avocado and leafy greens into your diet.

Vishuddha is our voice and communication. Located in the throat and represented by the colour blue or turquoise. When in balance the Throat Chakra allows our ideas to be expressed clearly and when blocked we lack the ability to communicate and can lose our own personal power. Blueberries, currants and dragon fruit assist in clearing Vishuddha.

Ajna is located between the eyes and is connected to our intuition and imagination. When blocked we can lack vision and when in balance our intuitive nature kicks in. Associated with the colour purple, try to consume foods such as purple grapes, blackberries and purple kale to help bring Ajna into balance.

Sahasrara is our highest chakra and our connection to the divine. As the name suggested, Sahasrara sits at the crown of the head and when open we have access to a higher level of consciousness. This chakra is unable to be nourished by food and can only be opened with spiritual practice, chanting and meditation.