The sattvic or yoga diet is the greatest type of diet to follow if you want both a healthy body and a calm mind. To increase the benefits of a yogic diet, combine it with yoga and meditation. You won’t go back if you lead a sattvic lifestyle! It is said that adhering to it might achieve a balanced state of mind and body.
The Yogic Diet’s Three Fundamentals
Ahimsa, saucha, and sattva are the three yogic principles of the yogic diet.
- Ahimsa: The word “ahimsa,” which means “non-violence,” relates to the notion that all living things are interconnected. Thus, those who adhere to the yogic diet should avoid harming living things (or the environment) and make an effort to reduce their intake of meat, fish, and dairy.
- Saucha
Saucha is the term for the purification and cleansing ritual. When this idea is used in relation to nutrition, it means ensuring your food is free of contaminants and chemicals. A good technique to obtain saucha is to eat organic, non-GMO foods (and remember to wash them before eating).
- Sattva
This concept alludes to the tranquility that yogis eventually pursue. By consuming sattvic foods, you can develop a quiet heart and a clear mind, also known as inner peace.
Simple Yoga Diet Rules
- All food must be satvic
Food that helps the body maintain itself and relaxes the mind should be pure and fresh. The sattvic diet consists of foods that keep a person in good physical and mental health and balance in body and mind.
- Eating raw:
Every aspect of yoga is connected to prana (life force). We gain both physical and emotional power from prana-containing food. Cooked food is less important because heat degrades fiber, minerals, and enzymes significantly. Canned, frozen, microwaved, or highly processed foods are also acceptable. We receive all the vitamins and minerals we need from raw food designed by nature and in its most bio-available form.
- It offers vegetarian cuisine
The yoga diet promotes a healthy digestive system because it solely contains green and leafy vegetables, which are simple to digest. It excludes animal meat and flesh and protects the body from uric acid buildup and other pollutants that can cause gout, cancer, and other disorders.
- Organic ingredients should be used in food
It is advisable to utilize organic ingredients for yoga dishes because a satvic diet emphasizes using fresh, chemical-free ingredients. Dairy products derived from cows and buffaloes are given organic feed and fall under this category.
- Food ought to always be fresh.
Food consumed while following a yoga diet should not only be made with organic and fresh ingredients but also be freshly cooked; this means that the food cannot be cooked and then refrigerated to be consumed later, and it must be consumed as soon as it is prepared.
- Eating mall Potions:
Overeating is the biggest threat to health and longevity. In yoga, a concept known as mitahara refers to moderate eating with one-fourth of the stomach set aside for airflow. This eating pattern is simple for the digestive system and contains portions that can maintain the body and mind healthy and energized.
- Food Should Be Consumed every day at a Specific Time
In a yogic diet, meals should be made each day simultaneously. Like, if breakfast is eaten at 7 a.m., it should be eaten at that time every day. This causes the body to anticipate eating during that time, making it simpler to perform more effectively.
- Meals Should Be Eaten Two Hours Before Asana Practice or Sleep
Food must be given time to digest to avoid affecting other organs and your bowel motions, leading to diseases and obesity. Therefore, eating two hours before practicing yoga or going to bed while following a yoga lifestyle diet is essential.
- Fasting
According to yoga, toxins build up and cause sickness. An imbalance of the mind and body is caused by improper dietary habits, exposure to chemicals, and the accumulation of harmful emotions. The fundamental justification for fasting is to rest our digestive system. Several fasting methods include giving up one or two meals daily and going on fruit or water fast.
- No Consumption of Alcohol or Caffeine
On a sattvic diet, one should refrain from using artificial sweeteners, alcohol, tobacco, tea, and coffee.
Advantages of consuming sattvic foods:
- Improves your immune system:
The sattvic diet is a good source of nutrients, antioxidants, minerals, monounsaturated fats, proteins, and dietary fiber. Additionally, it strengthens your body’s immune system, leading to a robust immune system.
- Weight loss assistance:
A sattvic diet promotes weight loss and has several positive health effects. It is packed with vitamins, proteins, and minerals that help you feel full and satisfied while also helping you burn off calories.
- Improves digestion
Plant-based vegetarian (and vegan) dietary patterns boost the development of healthy gut microbiomes. It makes perfect sense because eating more fiber, which we know supports your gut flora and promotes regular bowel movements, means eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Boosts metabolism.
Energy and digestion will both improve as the metabolism is optimized. According to research, people who eat plants typically have greater resting metabolic rates than those who eat meat, which means they burn more calories throughout the day—even when resting.
- Your body and mind are in harmony
The strong gut-brain connection supports the idea that what you eat affects emotion. A good diet keeps your mind active, joyful, and calm, and a sattvic diet aids in achieving complete body-mind harmony.
- Prevents chronic illnesses
Fiber, minerals, and antioxidants in the sattvic diet help ward off chronic diseases. Additionally, it guards your body against numerous illnesses.
- Reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases
The majority of people today are fighting several serious health ailments, including cardiovascular disorders. Yogic diets are considered safe to eat since they discourage meat consumption, lowering your risk of developing heart disease.
- Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Yogic diets consist mainly of whole grains and foods with less added sugar, fat, and preservatives.
Therefore, following this diet reduces your risk of developing elevated cholesterol and blood sugar.
Nutrition is not a singular practice, just as yoga and Ayurveda are not. If these sattvic foods are consumed independently, they might offer nutritional advantages. Still, you won’t experience all the benefits of a sattvic diet until you adopt a more comprehensive strategy. We must approach wellness from a higher viewpoint if we are in harmony with what we eat, drink, breathe, and live. Yoga, meditation, healthy eating, and herbal supplements work together to help the body and mind become more centered and clear.
