Proper Diet

Eating simple, healthy, vegetarian foods that are easy to digest notably have a positive effect on the mind and body, as well as the environment and other living beings. The yogic diet is a lacto-vegetarian one, consisting of pure, simple, natural foods which are easily digested and promote health (Sattvic Diet). Simple meals aid the digestion and assimilation of food.

There is a cycle in Nature known as the “food cycle” or “food chain”. The sun is the source of energy for all life on our planet; it nourishes the plants (the top of the food chain (which are eaten by animals (herbivores or vegetarian) which are then eaten by other animals (carnivores). The food at the top of the food chain, being directly nourished by the sun, has the greatest life-promoting properties. The food value of animal flesh is termed a “second-hand” source of nutrition. Eating foods first-hand from nature, grown in fertile soil, organic, and not genetically modified will help ensure a better supply of nutritional needs. All natural foods (fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and grains) have, in varying quantities, different proportions of these essential nutrients. As a source of protein, these are easily assimilated by the body. However, second-hand source s are often more difficult to digest and are of less value to the body’s metabolism.

Many people worry about whether they are getting enough protein, but neglect other factors. The quality of proteins is more important than the quantity alone. Dairy products, legumes, nuts, and seeds provide the vegetarian with an adequate supply of protein. Although dairy products are source of proteins, they should be consumed at moderation due to the modern dairy practices e.g. use of hormones and antibiotics, unlike the old days when cow milk was pure and organic. In addition, dairy products tend to intensify the production of mucus which interfere the natural flow of breath. It is best to understand that the purpose of eating is to supply our being with the life-force or prana, the vital life energy. “Eat to live, not live to eat”.