YOGIC DIET
Nutrition concepts from yogic and Ayurvedic philosophy
"You are what you eat."
In ancient times, food was considered medicine. The principles of healthy eating were known to everyone and the properties contained in each herb or food were used to purify, correct imbalances and heal. There is a tendency to return to understanding these principles. The expression “you are what you eat” is becoming more accepted, however, according to Ayurveda the more correct expression would be “you are what you digest”.
Ayurveda is a broad science of life that recognizes that health begins in the digestive system, the result of a state of balance between body, mind and consciousness, as well as a state of inner balance between the Tridoshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which according to with Ayurvedic science, there are three factors or forces whose balance is crucial for health. Ayurveda recognizes that food is medicine and uses this principle as one of several ways to restore health.
The 3 types of food
Sun foods: Grow more than one meter above the ground. They absorb the most energy from the sun and the least from the earth. They are ethereal foods that elevate consciousness and have an effect of accelerating and lightening the body and nervous system. Examples: fruits, nuts, avocados, dates, coconuts.
Soil foods: Grow up to one meter above the ground. They absorb more energy from the earth and less from the sun, are rich in nutrients and are great cleansers. Examples: beans, rice, bread and green vegetables.
Earth foods: Grow below ground. They have great energy from the earth and the energy from the sun is received only indirectly. They have healing properties and great energy for everyday affairs and heavy work. Examples: potatoes, turnips, beets, garlic, ginger, onions.
Os 3 Gunas
The gunas are 3 qualities or forces that are present in all matter. They describe the different manifestations of cosmic energy and how it expresses itself in mind and matter. According to Ayurveda, the Yoga theory of gunas can be applied to the foods we eat.
Sattvic: quality of purity, balance, harmony, peace, ethereal quality. Ex: fruits and vegetables, milk, whole grains, legumes, especially foods from the sun and soil.
Rajasic: energy to act, complete or create. Exciting and changeable, passion, greed, restlessness. Ex: herbs and condiments, caffeine, sweets, spicy foods, especially local foods.
Tamasic: regressive property of inertia and decline: ignorance, impurity, indulgence and slowness. Ex: meat, fish, poultry, eggs, alcohol, onions, garlic, mushrooms, intoxicating drugs.
A sattvic diet is perfect for those who are free to live a contemplative, meditative and peaceful life. For those who want to maintain a meditative mind, but also need to live and work in the world, a diet containing sattvic and a little rajasic foods is ideal. Those who practice heavy disciplines that transmute sexual energy into spiritual energy, such as Kundalini Yoga or martial arts, need a certain amount of rajasic foods in their diet. And tamasic foods should be avoided.
Foods for healing and health
The trinity of roots: onion, garlic and ginger
Garlic: It has long been known that garlic is a sacred and powerful condiment. The Egyptians used it to swear oaths when they made solemn vows. Roman doctors claimed that garlic cured 61 illnesses. Modern science is revealing its wonderful healing properties. Since the turn of the century, garlic and its extracts have been used to combat gastrointestinal disorders, poisoning, typhus, cholera, bacterial infections and even cancer. Research by Russian scientists has made garlic oil so popular in their country that it is called “Russian penicillin”. Garlic increases and stimulates semen production, essential for sexual potency and nerve health.
Onion: The onion was considered by the Egyptians as the symbol of the universe. The word onion (onion in English) comes from the Latin unus – unique. Through the centuries, onion and its juice have been recommended to cure earache, colds, fever, laryngitis, warts and cancer. Onions are said to stimulate blood production and purification and help keep sugar levels balanced.
Ginger: Ginger has been used since before the Roman Empire. It was said to cure love problems and prolong life. King Henry VIII recommended ginger to prevent the plague. Used both as a medicine and a spice, it is now widely used as a digestion stimulant. Very useful especially for women, giving energy and relieving tension associated with menstrual cramps. Ginger root nourishes the body's nerves and allows them to carry more energy. Keeps the spine and cerebrospinal fluid healthy.
In the science of Ayurveda, onion and garlic are used as remedies for various health problems such as flu, colds, infections, etc. Although these ingredients are healthy, using too much is not recommended, as they are tamasic foods and destabilize the human mind and consciousness.
Foods that should be avoided
White sugar: Steals vitamin B from the body. Affects the nerves; can cause heart problems; creates stress.
Salt: Prevents the assimilation of calcium; overstimulates the adrenal glands – chronic fatigue; hypertension; retains liquids from fluids, putting pressure on the heart and stomach hyperacidity.
Nicotine: Steals vitamin C from the body and iron from the body.
White Bread: Devoid of nutrients, particularly vitamin B and has a high glycemic index.
Alcohol: It poisons and causes stress on the body because it overloads the liver and is addictive.
Caffeine: Affects coordination, memory, perception; puts stress on the heart; increases cholesterol levels, irritates the stomach; prevents digestion; disrupts sleep patterns.
