Concept of Yogic Diet
Diet
D- Desired
I – Intake of
E – Energy
T –To sustain an individual in the optimum way with his
environment, it affects the internal and external homeostasis of a person.
Importance
1. Provision of the
various required micro and macronutrients.
2. Maintain health.
3. Satiate the
taste buds. example Processed food
4. Time saving
approach. example canned and processed food
5. Facilitate other
health practices. Example mitahar and satvik diet for yogic practices.
6. Indicator of
culture. Example idlies for south Indian cusine and culture.
Factors Affecting
Diet
1) Climatic
conditions
Example: Use of more meat and meat products in the west
owing to very severe winters
2) Lifestyle
Example: Use of more processed and canned foods by the
office goers.
3) Culture and
already prevalent eating habits
Example: Taking more ghee and butter by the people of
northern belt specially
4) Individual
preference
Example: teenagers prefer fast foods more than conventional
foods.
5) Economic
condition
Example: Better purchasing power has allowed people to have
more partying. Thus, more intake of junk food is leading to obesity and
associated problems.
Modern diet
Now people prefer diet which satiate their taste buds and
that dietary pattern is readily available. Results are disastrous leading to a
greater percentage of the population crossing their acceptable B.M.R and moving
towards obesity and associated problems.
1. Modernization
leading to a stressful life leading to eating disorders like psychiatrically
imbalance.
2. Improper work
time altering the eating habits. Example: Night shifts.
3. Food for
fashion. Example: Fast foods.
Diet, Obesity and
Mind: The Vicious Circle
Stressful life » Meals skipping » Overeating » Stressful
life » Meals skipping » Overeating
1. Pancreas-
hyperinsulinimia-hypoglycemia- tiredness
2. Stomach-
increase secretion of gastric acid- angry feeling and irritability
3. Intestine- less
mucus- heaviness and improper digestion- depression
4. Irritable colon-
large amount of adrenaline- paralyze intestinal muscles- constipation and
irritability.
Yoga and Obesity
1. Downward
movement of Apana affected and it moves up.
2. Suspicious Mind,
aggravates normal control of eating and condition of colon
3. Mental and
physical ill- health
4. Inability to do
yogic practices
Balanced Diet
Definition
Diet having the optimum amount of all the essential
nutrients and yet providing calories just sufficient for the person is known as
balanced diet. It resembles the traditional diet of many cultures and retains
the foods and flavors well liked. It has low fat and more fruits and grains.
Constituents
1. Carbohydrates
(major share) - Grains
2. Proteins
3. Fats- oils
4. Roughage and
minerals - vegetables
5. Vitamin B12
Guidelines:
Recommended allowances
1. Take more
dietary fiber along with normal intake, example: fruits and vegetables
2. Prefer skimmed
and toned milk
3. Cut down on
excess oils and fat intake
4. Take more of
less refined carbohydrates like cereals and grains and avoid breads
5. Have
frequent small meals instead of full and heavy meals
6. Do not go for
crash diets and intensive fasting instead you can increase your physical
activity like brisk walking and asanas
7. Distress
mentally by meditation, Aum and gayatri chanting.
Zen View on Food
Eat cooked food that is more grounded and strong and better
for health. Recommends light cooked raw and watery food. Do not eat food which
is not good for health.
Mitahar
By ancient yogis diet was considered to be an important
factor determining health and proficiency in the yogic practices. Mitahar
refers to the moderate and balanced diet conducive to the body. The ancient
yogis were more advanced in their concept of balanced diet and essential
nutrition. Concept of mitahar is dealt in detail in two of the famous yogic
texts
1. Hathapradipika
2. Gherand Samhita
Concept of
Hathapradipika
Quantity of food
Eating sweet unctuous food offered first to almighty,
leaving one quarter of stomach empty is mitahar.
Explanation
Remaining one quarter must be filled with water to provide
necessary lubrication for adequate churning process. Remaining one quarter must
be kept free for air and to provide space for food to be moved in the stomach.
Quality of food
1) Eating food which is bitter, sour, pungent, salty , hot,
green vegetables, sour gruel oil, mustard, sesame and consuming alcohol, fish,
meat, curds, butter-milk, kulattha, berries, oil cakes, asafoetida, garlic etc
are said to be bad for a hatha yogi
Explanation
1) Above mentioned foods are difficult to digest and also
produce acidity in stomach leading to ulcerative conditions but some foods by
my opinion need not be avoided totally.
2) Good grains are wheat , barley, rice, swastika, milk
sugar, butter sugar candy, honey ,dry ginger, patolaka fruit, 5 leafy
vegetables, green gram and rain water collected when the sun is in magha are
considered to be wholesome food for the yogis.
3) Food that is heated over again, dry, excessively salty or
sour and food with excess of vegetables are unwholesome & should be
avoided.
Concept of mitahara leads to a feeling of ahimsa
psychologically and physiologically which is very conducive for the yogic
practices.
By Gherand Samhita
1) He who performs the practice of yoga without controlling
his diet suffers from many diseases and does not progress in yoga.
A) Quality
1) He should eat food which is easily digestible, agreeable
and soft and sticky which nourishes the elementary substances of the body.
2) Yogi should avoid food which is polluted, producing heat
in the body, stale, extremely cold and extremely hot.
3) Yogi should eat food prepared from rice, flour, barley, wheat, green gram, black gram, horse gram etc which should be clean and free from husk.
