One of the 5 fundamental issues in Yoga is right diet. However, right diet is an extremely relative and controversial subject. In order to fully benefit from what Yoga the practices must, be accompanied by the right kind of food. To remain alert and energized all through the day, we must nourish our body and mind. An important part of the practice, Yoga insists that we have a well-balanced diet and always in moderation.
Modern science has researched nutrition at length, and there appear to be as many right diets as there are scientific studies. But Yoga Diet is special and his section covers several important aspects of Yoga Diet.
Yoga diet is predominantly vegetarian; it consists of pure, simple, natural foods that are easily digested and promote health. Simple meals help easier and faster digestion and assimilation of foods.
Until recent times, most non-vegetarians looked at vegetarians with a misgiving. By and large, they were dismissed as oddballs or food buffs, which preferred to thrive on a bland diet of brown rice and vegetable cutlets. These days, however, folks are better informed. But the vegetarian diet is still often considered unappetizing and insipid and, worse still, inadequate as far as vital ingredients go. Conversely, to develop good overall health, its important is for us to have the right, healthy diet.
The main principle of a Yoga diet is to up your consumption of fruits and vegetables with the aim of ultimately moving to pure vegetarian fare. The premise is that, such a diet being healthy, it will help develop a stronger body and a calmer, more peaceful state of mind. Then again, to really understand Yoga’s approach to diet you must familiarize yourself with the concept of the 3 Gunas or qualities of nature. In Yoga, food is traditionally classified by to its effect on the mind and body, using the 3 Gunas (attributes):
1. Sattva (the quality of love, light and life), 2. Rajas (the quality of activity and passion, lacking stability) and 3. Tamas (the quality of darkness and inertia, dragging us into ignorance and attachment):
The Yoga diet will help you achieve a better health, a keener intellect and serenity of mind and heart. Then again, any change in diet should only be made gradually and over time. Begin by substituting larger portions of vegetables, grains, seeds and nuts until ultimately all meat products are totally eliminated from your diet. Over time, you will come to experience the benefits of a vegetarian diet. More importantly, as much as a Yoga diet is nutritious, the food is also rich in Prana or vital energy. When you feel the upsurge of life force as a result of this diet, you will understand why the sages said, 'You are what you eat.'