The recommended diet for a student
of yoga is a simple and wholesome vegetarian one, made up of
natural foods that are easily digested. It keeps the body vital
and healthy, and the mind calm and free from restless thoughts.
Processed and tinned foods are to be avoided when possible.
In yogic philosophy, our diet affects far more than our physical
well-being. Our vital energy, mental capabilities, and emotional
health are all influenced by the food that we eat. The practice of
meditation, postures, and breathing exercises is directed towards
bringing the mind and the body into harmony. Eating the right
foods is an important element in achieving this goal. Foods that
are beneficial to us are said to be Sattvic, or pure. Impure foods
that can upset our physical, emotional, or intellectual balance
are identified as being in the categories. Tamasic (stale or
rotten) and Rajasic (stimulating). You should avoid these foods.
Avoid tamasic foods
Foods that are stale, tasteless, unripe, over ripe, or putrified
are Tamasic. They poison the body, sap our energy, and dull the
intellect. Tamasic foods include meat and fish, mushrooms, and
foods that have been frozen, preserved, tinned, over-cooked, or
re-heated. Foods that have been fermented, such as vinegar, are
Tamasic, as are all drugs and alcohol. Eating too much is also
considered to be Tamasic.
Avoid Rajasic Foods
Onions and garlic, tobacco, eggs, coffee, tea, chillies and other
strong spices, and foods that are sour, acid, or bitter are all
Rajasic. Chocolate, white sugar, white flour, and most prepared
and convenience foods are also Rajasic to a lesser extent. All
these substances excite the passions and over-stimulate the mind,
making it difficult to control. Eating too fast and eating too
many combinations of foods is also Rajasic.
Choose Sattvic Products
Sattvic foods from the ideal diet, being nourishing and easy to
digest. They create new energy and a clear, calm mind, enabling us
to use all our mental, physical, and spiritual talents. Sattvic
products include cereals, fresh fruit and vegetables, natural
fruit juice, milk butter, beans, honey, and pure water.
Yogic philosophy identifies two impure categories of foods-Rajasic
(over-stimulating) and Tamasic (Stale or rotten). Tobacco is both
giving up smoking eliminates toxins from the body and helps you to
achieve a calm mind and body.
Caffeine is considered to be Rajasic, as it is powerful stimulant.
It causes the mind to be over-active and gives the body artificial
energy. It can also disrupt your natural sleeping pattern,
impairing your ability to relax. If you cut out tea and coffee
from your diet, you will find that meditation becomes easier.