Yogic Diet

Yogic science recognizes three different qualities of food Satva, Rajas and Tamas. Satva represents the well balanced and composed aspect, Rajas is the energy which seeks to accomplish, achieve or create and Tamas indicate inertia and decay.

• Satvic food which includes fruit and vegetables is pure, wholesome and fresh.
• Rajasic foods are hot, spicy, alcohol, pungent spices which are stimulants.
• Tamasic foods are stale food, alcohol, onion, garlic etc which lack the vitality of food.

A balanced diet according to yoga is that diet which restores balance at all the levels. The practitioner should eat pleasant sweet pure food, which is offered to God. He/she should not eat for his/her own satisfaction or to satisfy the tongue, but he/she should eat to satisfy the antaryamin, the lord who reside within. One should eat only to fill half the stomach and leave the other half for air and water.

The food which is suitable for a yogi is wheat, rice, milk, ghee and sugar candy. Butter, honey, dry ginger and green grams are also recommended. The food should be nutritious, nourishing and sweet. Cow's milk products are recommended so that the seven dhatus are properly nourished and nurtured.

Should avoid eating in excess, bitter, sour, pungent and very hot food. One should avoid oil, sesame, mustard, alcohol, fish and the flesh of animals like goat, curds, grams, oily sweets and garlic. Should avoid food that is repeatedly heated, dry, salty or sour, old and putrid.