Yogic Diet Ideal Sattvic Diet

By: Kevin Pederson

Yogis survived on water, fruit, milk and clarified butter in ancient times. Eat to live, not live to eat is the yogas healthy eating motto. It is imperative to understand the purpose of eating. To supply ourselves with vital life energy or Prana, we eat. A simple diet of fresh nutritional food is the food plan of a student practicing yoga. Yogis believe that eating food directly from nature, grown in fertile soil ensures a better supply of nutritional needs especially prana. They are in the opinion, that processing, refining and overcooking destroys the nutritional food value. This is of great concern to yogis who prefer to eat foods that keep the mind calm and sharp, rather than over stimulated foods.

Yoga and Ayurveda, both advocate that sattvic or pure vegetarian diet encourages the development of peace, love and spiritual awareness. The basis of yoga diet is ideally Sattva, attitude of ahimsa or non-violence. The Sattvic diet is dominantly vegetarian. All methods that involve killing or harming animals are shunned with great emphasis on natural foods, good soils, natural ripening, cooking correctly and with the right attitude. Intake of sattvic diet helps in the development of Prana or vital energy and spiritual consciousness

Development of air and other elements or vata is the aim of sattvic diet. The sattvic diet not only detoxifies the body, but also for widens the spectrum of our mind. Therefore yogis recommend a diet of raw foods coupled with frequent bouts of fasting.

Raw foods like sprouts, cilantro, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, radishes coupled with spices like cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, and basil flushes both the mind and body with pranic energy. Conventionally raw foods, grains and dairy products are used for cleansing the nadis. An amalgamation of yogasanas, pranayama, mantra, meditation and a yogic diet works wonder for those intent on cleansing both the physical and the delicate body.

Foods to Eat: All veggies except for onions and garlic. Rice, wheat, oats, beans like mung and tofu. Not much roasted or salted nuts or seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans and sesame. Fresh and sweet fruits of all types. Dairy products from dairy animals treated well. Jaggery, honey, maple syrup. Butter, clarified butter and natural plant based oils like sesame, olive and sunflower. Spices like ginger, fennel, cumin, turmeric, basil, fenugreek, mint, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon. Herbal teas, natural water and fresh juices of tangy lemony types.

Foods to Avoid: Non-vegetarian foods like meat, fish and eggs. Canned, artificial, processed and junk foods. Farm dairy products made in factory. Fried foods, over spiced foods, onions, garlic. White sugar and flour. Reheated, stale food. Alcohol, tobacco and other stimulants. Artificial sweeteners and beverages. Animal fats, vegetable oil. Genetically engineered foods; microwaved and irradiated foods.

Article Source: http://articleblender.com

Kevin Pederson can guide you on the www.yogawiz.com"> working principles behind Yoga which focuses on the benefits of Yoga techniques intended to produce a positive state of mind in us.The yogic diet is an ideal sattvic diet helps to achieve emotional and spiritual balance, remain alert and energized all day long.

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated