Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

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Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team.

Yoga diet

   Yoga is a spiritual philosophy and a lifestyle rooted in healthy living. The yogic lifestyle includes yogic diet also. Some yoga practitioners choose a vegetarian or vegan diet, while others follow a stricter diet that’s free of stimulants, like caffeine, alcohol, and refined sugar. The yogic diet is one that it promotes healing, balance, and inner peace.

    The classic yogic texts such as Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and the Bhagavad Gita don’t list any specific foods for following a “yogic diet.” The exponents of yoga define yogic diet as a diet that offers your body a great basis for practice.

  What we eat, not only influences our physical well-being, but also our emotions and thoughts. Yoga, does not classify food into proteins, carbohydrates or fats, instead it classifies them according to the effect they have on the body and mind, into three types – satva, rajas and tamas.

   Tamasic food is the kind of food which makes us lethargic or sluggish, while Rajasic food is that which brings about activity or restlessness. Sattvic food is the kind which makes you feel light, energetic and enthusiastic. Sattvic foods tend to be light, nourishing, fresh, sweet, and, most importantly, full of Prana (vital energy). These foods keep the body lean, healthy and energized. Sattvic foods are plant based and include seasonal fruit and vegetables, pulses, herbs, nuts, grains etc.

    We might eat the right kind of food in the right quantity at the right time interval. Erratic food habits upset the functions of the body as a whole and the natural rhythm of the body is impaired. Therefore it is very important to eat food at the same time every day and eat it at regular intervals.

    Yoga diet is often prescribed by physicians or trainers according to the nature of the person’s constitution in an individualized way. Food that might be favorable for someone might be harmful for a person of another constitution.

Foods to restrict, limit or avoid [ According to constitution/choice] in yoga diet include:

Added sugar

Added salt

Onion and garlic

Meat

Fish

Poultry

Eggs

Processed foods

Artificial sugar

Alcohol

Caffeine

Fried food

Spicy food

Instructions to follow while on yoga diet

·       Mindful eating is helpful and beneficial for improving digestion and enjoying food.

·       Eat at regular time. It’s important to allow at least five hours between your meals. This helps your digestive system to fully digest and absorb the previous meal or food.

·       Take organic seasonal fruits, nuts and vegetables.

·       Vegetarian food is preferred mostly. The digestive fire is strongest at midday and encourages the largest meal to be consumed at lunchtime. All other meals are light and small. Yogic diet recommends for eating a cooked food for dinner as it can be digested easily.

·       Herbs and health drinks are good for consumption in yogic diet. Herbs and spices, like turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, fennel, mint, basil, cumin, parsley, cilantro, and black pepper are included as they help digestion.

·       Eat two hours before asana practice or sleep to avoid fullness of stomach.

·       Fasting is decided according to the constitution of individuals and it is recommended at intervals for improving the health of digestive tract. The purpose of fasting is to cleanse the body, seek a spiritual goal. Fasting is not recommended for individuals with poor digestion or having a tendency towards weight gain. Fasting for more than a few days is not recommended as it enhances the stress on the body systems.

Benefits of the yogic diet 

  It helps to improve digestion and health of your gut. Gut health is important for mental health as per recent research studies in neuropsychiatric medicine. Yoga diet helps to boost metabolism and enhances energy.

  Yoga diet is low in carbs, fat and unhealthy ingredients. Therefore it decreases the risk of occurrence of chronic illnesses such as lifestyle diseases and cancers. The consumption of natural, unprocessed foods of yoga diet may promote spiritual, mental, and physical health.

It is nutritious also as they contain nuts, dairy products, leafy greens, and legumes which are all great sources of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals.

References

·       https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/health/ayurveda/eat-like-a-yogi/
·       https://www.artofliving.org/yoga/yoga-and-food/yoga-food
·       https://www.yogabasics.com/explore/yogic-lifestyle/yogic-diet/yogic-diet-guide/