8 Foods to Balance Your Heart Chakra

---

Your heart chakra can cause serious disruptions in your life when it becomes unbalanced. There are multiple methods of correcting it, from yoga and meditation to crystals. What about your diet? Can the right foods balance your heart chakra? 

They can. Chakras are energy centers in the body, with the seven primary ones running from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. They correspond to various organs and different aspects of the human experience. 

What is your heart chakra, and what happens when it becomes unbalanced? Better yet, what can you add to your dinner plate to correct it? Here are eight foods to balance your heart chakra. 

Your Heart Chakra 

Your heart chakra lies in the center of your chest. The easiest way to identify it? It’s where you physically feel discomfort and a deep sense of longing when in conflict with or separated from a loved one. Next to your brain, it has your body’s largest concentration of neurons — the sense detectors that let you perceive anything at all. 

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then,  that negative emotions can cause this chakra to fall out of balance. It can even result in physical health woes and death — broken heart syndrome is a real medical phenomenon that often occurs with a deep shock, like losing a loved one. For example, many believe that singer Johnny Cash succumbed to this condition after losing his beloved wife. 

Like your heart itself, your heart chakra is crucial to life. How can you nurture it? 

1. Heart Chakra Colors, Stones and Symbols 

The first step to nurturing your heart chakra is fostering awareness. While in meditation, draw your attention to your heart center. Keep your energy focused on this area as you observe what arises in your mind. 

You can also use colors, crystals, and rituals to balance your heart chakra. Things associated with this energy center include:

• Colors: Green and pink. 
• Crystals: Rose quartz, emerald, rhodonite, green jade, rhodochrosite, malachite 
• Animal: Bird 
• Yoga poses: Ustrasana or camel pose, Camatkarasana or rock star pose, Bhujangasana or cobra pose. 

A lovely ritual to balance your heart chakra may begin by submerging in a bath with rose petals. Then, go to a green, natural area for your meditation. Hold a crystal associated with this chakra in each hand as you meditate and draw awareness to it while birds chirp overhead. You might seal your practice with a gentle yoga flow featuring the poses above. 

2. Signs That Your Heart Chakra Is Unbalanced 

How do you know if your heart chakra can use some TLC? Look for these signs that it is unbalanced: 

• Lack of empathy: There are many unaligned heart chakras in today’s world — don’t let yours be one of them. 
• Resentment 
• Inability to forgive 
• Difficulty expressing emotions 
• Codependence: Relying on others to give you a sense of fulfillment, even if you publicly declare “you don’t need anyone.” 
• Jealousy
• Inability to set boundaries: it’s possible for your heart chakra to become too active, leaving you open to victimization by those who would take advantage of your good nature.

Related Reads:
• 6 Foods to Balance Your Root Chakra
• 7 Foods to Balance and Heal Your Sacral Chakra

8 Foods to Balance Your Heart Chakra 

The following eight foods are among the best for balancing your heart chakra. You’ll probably notice that most of them are great for your ticker, too. 

1. Deep, Leafy Greens 

This list includes more foods than you might think. For example, did you know kale and broccoli were once the same plant, bred for different features? The beauty part is foods falling into this category are keto-friendly for those following a low-carb lifestyle. Nourish your heart chakra with a healthy salad featuring these greens or perhaps some arugula or Swiss chard. 

Plant-based foods are also good for your gut microbiome, which helps to process and absorb nutrients in the food you eat. Packing your diet with healthy greens will ensure your body is strong and nourished. 

2. Olive Oil 

You’ve probably heard about olive oil’s benefits for your heart. It’s rich in monounsaturated fats, the kind your body needs for healthy heart and brain tissue. It’s also rich in polyphenols, a class of antioxidants that whisks harmful free radicals out of your blood. 

Olive oil is also perfect for light summer recipes. For example, this vegetable pasta with pesto calls for a hearty dose and makes an ideal contribution to your next barbecue.

3. Green Tea 

Green tea is another polyphenol powerhouse. It also comes in a lovely light shade that resonates with your heart chakra. One simple fix that you can try to rebalance this energy center is to exchange one cup of your morning joe for this brew. Both coffee and green tea have health benefits, but tea is the better bet for chakra balancing. 

4. Avocados

Avocados are another food high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. It’s rich in oleic acid and vitamin E, both necessary for strong heart tissue. The oil is equally good for you, and what makes it even better is its high smoke point. That means you can safely use it in high-heat stir fries and baking without changing chemical composition. 

5. Berries 

Berries are rich in anthocyanins, an antioxidant that’s particularly good for your heart and brain. They’re also a sweet, delicious treat that you can use in scores of ways: 

• Add them to cereal or oatmeal.
• Blend them into smoothies.
• Toss dried or fresh versions into salads.
• Layer them in a yogurt parfait.

6. Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are especially vital for your heart chakra if you follow a vegan diet. That’s because you need omega-3s, which typically come from seafood. However, you can also find them in plant-based sources, and flaxseeds have the highest ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. 

7. Algae 

Algae is another source of omega-3 fatty acids for the vegan crowd. Nori and chlorella, two popular choices, are also excellent plant-based sources of vitamin B12, which can cause anemia among this demographic. This nutrient typically occurs in meat, but certain microorganisms imbue these types with the necessary nutrient. 

8. Flower Petals 

Please remember that not every flower species is edible, and you should avoid those sprayed with pesticides or fertilizers. However, you can eat many flower petals, like the ones below. They add a peppery tang or mild sweetness to salads, elevating nearly any plating from everyday boring to a presentation worthy of the Four Seasons. Species you might try for balancing your heart chakra include:

• Rose
• Hibiscus
• Carnation 
• Nasturtiums
• Phlox

Balance Your Heart Chakra Through Diet 

When your heart chakra falls out of balance, it can disrupt your life. You could suffer from a lack of empathy and an inability to relate to others. Conversely, you might become overly emotional and entangle yourself in others’ affairs to the point where your mental health suffers. 

Fortunately, you can balance your heart chakra through diet and ritual. Try adding more of these foods to your meal plan today to bring this energy center back into alignment.