7 Secrets of Yogic Nutrition

Ever wondered what is so special about the way yogis eat ? Here's revealing some of the top secrets of yogis that can help attain a balance between the mind, body and soul.

An Alkaline Start:

There is a build-up of toxines and acids in our bodies overnight, hence a ritual of lemon water on an empty stomach is very dear to yoga. It is extremely alkaline, detoxifies and wakes ups all the organs much better than coffee does. Add pink Himalayan slat to it and you amplify its detoxify flying power.

Sattvic Eating :

In ancient texts, there is no mention of carbs, proteins and fast. Food is divided into sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. Sattvic diet is one that leads to clarity of mind and physical health. It is plan-based, light, extremely alkaline and Eco-friendly-like fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts and grains. Rajasic is more stimulating, Heat producing, rich and acidic, which includes meat, eggs, pickles, tea/coffee. Tamasic diet leads to dullness and lethargy. It's acidic , Putrid and reheated. It includes alcohol, sugary foods and beverages. Yogis only follow the sattivic way of eating.

Plant-Based :

Everything in yoga is related to prana (life force). Food which has prana gives us physical and emotional strength. Cooked food is of less importance- Heat destroys its fiber, nutrients and enzymes to quite an extent so are canned, frozen, microwaved, or highly processed goods. Raw good, as intended by nature, gives us all vitamins and minerals and in the most bio available form. The method of sprouting is given top importance as its's one of the best way to consume functional "live enzymes. Enzymes play a vital role in digestion and fighting disease.

Fasting :

Yoga believes that accumulation of toxins breeds diseases. Wrong eating habits, exposure to chemicals, build-up of negative emotions lead to an imbalance of mind and body. Fasting is one of the most common practices that can counter-balance this. There are various ways of fasting. water fast, fruit fast, giving up one or two meals in a day, The main reasoning behind this is to give our digestive system a break.

Smaller Portions

A famous yogi once said " the greatest enemy of health and long life is overeating." There is a team in yoga called Mitahara, which means moderated eating, leaving one quarter of the stomach reserved for the movement of air, This eating style is easy on digestion and in quantities that can keep that body and mind clear and light.

Good Fats:

Yogic nutrition is incomplete with out ghee, coconut oil and soaked nuts/seeds. They make food appetizing, digestible and satisfying. They help in healing the mind too. They presence of fast in the body improves memory, neural conductivity and mental well-being.

Herbs & Adaptogens :

Teas or concoctions of intensely flavored and power-packed herbs like turmeric, ginger,coriander, pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom are the go-to beverages for yogis. They are anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial and detoxifying in nature. yoga also encourages use of adaptogens like ashwagandha and Triphala. They are known to lower stress, stimulate thyroid function and protect against oxidative stress.