Essential Yoga Diet Principles

Yoga diet principles play an important part in getting full benefits from your yoga practice. Why do sportsmen and pregnant women need special food? Our body requires food for getting energy and this energy sustains life. Food is what builds up our body, we are what we eat. Type of food and its quality affects your physical as well as mental health.

Yogic diet philosophy does not believe in calorie count of foods or the amount of vitamins, minerals or proteins we get from the food. Instead stress is laid on type of food and its quality. Some of the yogis survive on meager amount of food and still enjoy better health than all of us.

Yogic Diet For Health

Focus on nutrition available from food without bothering about its taste. Becoming a slave to taste buds is temptation yoga does not recommend. Also, moderation is recommended in whatever you drink and eat. As per yoga philosophy, self discipline in choice of foods is critical for your health and subsequent march to meditation and spirituality. Yoga diet principles are very easy but difficult to follow.

Fast Foods

Modern fast food items like hamburgers, pizzas, jams, jellies, soft drinks, ice creams etc. have gained control over our eating patterns and are the main cause of obesity we see all around. These fast foods are rich source of sugar, oils and preservatives all of which are not good for our health. People are now attracted by various types of fast food which are very low in nutrition. In addition, these foods tax our digestive system and body has to do extra work for digestion and elimination of such food. Everyday we are faced with the choice of selecting our food and we must prefer nutritious food rather than going for the taste.

Look Towards Nature

Yoga diet philosophy emphasises on the natural sources of nutrition. Nature has provided us several nutritious edible foods in their natural form like whole grains, seasonal fruits, vegetables, milk, honey and dry fruits.

Over Eating

More people fall sick due to overeating or wrong dietary habits as compared to people who get sick due to non availability of food. Observe moderation in quantity of food we eat. People who keep on over eating without proper understanding of the principles of eating are bound to harm themselves physically and mentally. One golden rule to avoid overeating is, not to have any type of snacks between your meals.

Balanced Diet

Balanced diet is essential requirement of good health. A balanced diet should include plenty of salads, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, milk and raw nuts. Include these items in your existing dietary choices.

Salads

All vegetables eaten raw constitute salad. Fresh cucumber, tomato, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower etc are used for preparing salad. Salad should be cut into small pieces with suitable dressing of you choice. Ideally salad should form first course of your lunch and dinner. Eat plenty of salad half an hour prior to your meals in case you want to reduce your food intake.

Fresh Vegetables

Ideally fresh vegetables from your kitchen garden can be the freshest vegetables. Fresh vegetables should not be dried or deformed in shape. Vegetables stored in your refrigerator do not remain fresh for a long time.

Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are most nutritious food for our body. Regular intake of fresh fruits is essential for good health. Use fresh seasonal fruits. Fruits are better than fruit juices as fruit also provides you fibre.

Raw Nuts

Yoga diet should include nuts like cashew, pistachio, almond and walnuts provide essential minerals, proteins and vitamins. For yoga practitioners, a handful mixture of these nuts is recommended for obtaining energy and good health.

Quantity Of Food

As a general rule, fill only 50% of your stomach with food, 25% of your stomach for water and keep 25% of your stomach empty. If your stomach is overstuffed, it is not properly digested. You will feel uncomfortable and your body is forced to digest extra food and also work for eliminating it. By overeating, your abdominal system is strained and body becomes sluggish. Finally, it leads to gaining of extra weight. Eat only when you feel hungry and eliminate any snacks in between the meals.

Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks are nutrient thieves; they steal and destroy nutrients available in your system. Alcoholic drinks weaken the individual physically and mentally, if used without restraint. For yoga practitioners, it is best to avoid alcoholic drinks.

Spices

Avoid excessive use of spices and salt. Too much of seasoning of food is also not recommended.

Water

Drink 10 to 12 glasses of water everyday. Drink water half an hour before meals. Avoid drinking water with food. Drinking of one or two glasses of water when you wake up is ideal for health.

Coffee and Tea

It is ideal if you can avoid tea and coffee completely. Otherwise limit your tea or coffee intake to 2 cups per day. Excess of tea and coffee leads to constipation, insomnia and nervousness in addition to extra calories each cup of tea or coffee pumps into our bodies.

Method of Eating

Eat slowly and chew your food properly. Eating fast does not allow the time for satiating signals to reach your brain from your abdomen resulting in overeating. By chewing the food properly, saliva can better mix with food and make it easily digestible. Body is able to make full use of food you eat and helps you to maintain better health. Principles of yoga diet are time tested and very easy to follow. To lead a healthy life one has to establish a dietary pattern that will sustain good health. Yoga and diet are essential components of good health and happiness. Eat to live and not live to eat.

Vegetarian Vs Non Vegetarain Diet

Shall I stop eating non vegetarian diet with yoga is a common question for yoga beginners.  Though it is not essential to stop eating meat for starting yoga but vegetarian diet is highly recommended for holistic yoga practice.

Types of Yoga Diet

The type of food you eat has an immense effect on your health and well being. As per yoga all food items can  be classified into three types of yoga diet namely sattvik, rajasik or tamasik.

Suggested Diet for Yoga Practice

A simple vegetarian diet for yoga is essential for maintaining a healthy body with yoga practice.  The diet needs to be balanced and nutritious.

How Yogic Diet Can Make You Fit? Ask Questions or Share Tips

Are you having problems in selecting yoga diet along with your yoga practice? This is the place where you can ask a question about simple yogic diet. Or you can share your valuable tips about diet for yoga practitioners with our readers.

I will give you an answer or help you solve the problem. It's free and it's easy to do. Just fill in the form below, then click on "Submit Your Question".

[ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional)[ ? ]

 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

(first or full name)

(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

  •  submission guidelines.


(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Yoga Practice and Low Energy Levels 
Hi..I went through your site, the way you handle queries is just amazing. I have a query that I have been practising yoga for last 2 months regularly. …

Queries To Reduce Weight 
Hi Daljit.. Saw many comment over here. Thought of asking you few things about yoga. I already practice yoga with the help of online links last year. But …

Regain My Body Shape 
How to regain my body shape through diet? Answer It is understood from your question that you want to get your body in good shape. Yogis …

Why No Water For 30 Minutes After Yoga Practice 
I am wondering about the rule to not eat or drink anything including water!! for at least 30 minutes AFTER practicing yoga. The rule to not eat before, …

Drinking Water Before Doing YOGA. 
Is it harmful to drink water before doing yoga poses? Answer Hello Shubhangi If you feel thirsty you can drink a glass of water half an hour …

Papaya As Breakfast 
If one takes only papaya in the morning for breakfast what would be the effect? Answer Papaya is a complete breakfast in itself as it contain proteins, …

Meat Rejection And Yoga 
I've been meditating for 20 years, on and off though not regularly at all and have done some yoga in the past. However I've been doing Hatha yoga once …

Gaining Weight Through Yoga 
Please suggest me a diet and yoga asanas for weight gain. I am 23 and weigh 40 kg. I intend to put on 10 more kgs. Answer Yoga philosophy supports …

Is Salad Safe To Eat? 
In yogic diet, the importance is given to eating salad. Salad is the raw form of a vegetable. Getting organic vegetables is not possible every time. There …

Dried Fruit For Yoga 
Is dried fruit good for me and my practice? I eat fresh majority of the time, but I'm curious what would be the most effective mix as I strive for the …

Foods to eat before and after yoga 
I am verily new to yoga and find eating chicken, soup or bread before yoga makes me feel terrible, please help. I want to know of foods that do not make …

Cheap Yoga Diet 
My diet includes pulses, rice, tea 4 times, vegetables, curd, biscuits. I want to know about cheap foods used in yoga as I cannot afford much. Answer …

Thumb Rule for Eating 
Eat every bite of food chewing and mixing with saliva deliberately for more time. Importantly stop eating when when you get your first blurp. That avoids …

Drinking Water During Meals 
Here I will answer the question asked by Veronica, "Why can't you drink water while you eat food?" Though doctors can recommend that there is nothing …

Eating Before Yoga For Lactating Mother 
What to eat before yoga for lactating mother? Hello I will be thankful if you can please guide me as I had a cesarean delivery 3 months ago and …

Yoga For Fit Body And Glowing Face Not rated yet
My age is 25. After getting my marriage, due to my spouse work, I can't sleep earlier and also wake up. My sleeping time is around 1 am to 8 am. My weight …

Contradiction calorie count and yoga Not rated yet
One of our readers has pointed out that these statments seems to be contradictory on the webpage about yoga diet "Yoga diet philosophy does not believe …

Is My Food Intake Correct? Not rated yet
In the morning, I used to take 2-3 glass of water. Doing yoga from 6 AM to 8 AM. I have normal breakfast and a cup of fruit juice without sugar. In the …

Can We Drink Water During Yoga Exercises? Not rated yet
Question: Can We Drink Water During Yoga Exercises? Answer 1. Drinking Water Not Recommended During Yoga. It is not recommended to drink …

Dilemma Suryanamaskar And Pregnancy Not rated yet
Can I continue with my suryanamaskars when I have a doubt that may get pregnancy this (first )month? Answer If you are physically fit and do not …

What Are The Foods To Eat To Lose Weight? Not rated yet
What are the type of foods to be eaten to lose weight? Answer Low calorie foods that you can eat as much as you like are as follows: Salad …

Is Eating Food Twice a Day Good For Yoga Beginners Not rated yet
Question: . Is eating food twice a day good for yoga beginners? Like eating in the morning and night. Is it good for yoga beginner? Answer: …

Fasting For Weight Loss Not rated yet
I am doing fasting as a part of my diet and trying yoga also but it has no effect on my body? Answer Fasting should be done as a means to provide …

Should I Stop Eating Non Vegetarian With Yoga Diet Not rated yet
Should I stop non veg with yoga diet? Answer Vegetarian diet is recommended for Yoga. Ideally for progress in the path of yoga, it is recommended …

Click here to write your own.

Healthy Yogic Diet Not rated yet
I am 20 years girl. What should I take in my diet? Answer 1. You must eat moderately and do regular yoga or any other exercise to stay fit. You must …

Is Raw Vegan Diet Optimal For Yoga And Health? Not rated yet
For the past month, I have been extensively studying vegan diet. I have been a vegan for a month and a half and I feel better than before. I even feel …

Click here to write your own.

  1. Home
  2.  ›
  3. Yoga Diet
  4.  

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.