“ANNAM BRAHMA” YOGIC FOOD THERAPY
2 May 2019 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
Introduction:
A diet that is totally conducive to the practice of yoga and spiritual progress is called Yogic Diet. It purifies the body, calms the mind, and explores the spirit. It is also called satvik food or natural food. The food which purifies the body and calms the mind is sattvic or yogic food. The process of disease management through the use of yogic food on the basis of disease nature and need is called Aahara or Diet therapy. “Food is first medicine” so whatever we eat we get the effects. Diet has an intimate connection with the mind. Mind is formed out of the subtle portion of food. We should pay great attention to food to attempt good health and life. We should eat to live but not live to eat. Learn about YOGIC FOOD THERAPY.
These constituents can be divided into three groups:
- Energy Yielding Food likes carbohydrates and Fats.
i. Produce energy for voluntary and involuntary functions of the body
ii. Help in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism process of enzymes, and hormones with fats.
iii. Help in manufacturing of vitamins.
iv. Keep the temperature balance in the body. - Body Building Food; like Proteins and
minerals (some):
i. Build up the new cells.
ii. Repairs and maintains the tissues.
iii. Increase immunity power. - Protecting Food; Vitamins, water, and minerals.
i. Increase the protecting power or immunity power.
ii. Build up the muscles, teeth, bones, blood, etc.
iii. Maintain the chemical levels in the body.
iv. Prevent deficiency diseases.
Types of food according to Yogic Approach:
Satvik Food:
The food which gives purity, calmness, and awareness is called satvik or yogic food. This food should be light, pure, fresh, nutritious, energetic, protective, and alive which increases vitality, energy, stamina, strength, health, and happiness and cure all types of ailments. Almost organic, natural, fresh or alkaline food from the earth directly for purity of body and calmness and harmony of mind is known as Satvik food. Eg; fruits, green vegetables, fresh milk, fresh butter, chapatti, curd, rice, wheat, corn, salad, sprouted nuts and seeds, herbal spices, and herbal tea.
Rajasik Food:
The food which stimulates, activates, and speeds up the body’s units and processes is known as Rajasik Food.It also gives energy but no purity and calmness. It makes it more unstable, movable, restless and unpeace. Eg. All types of fast food, dried food, fried food, roast food, spicy, salty, oily, and heavy. It is only testable but no prana; so many items but nutritious. It is not yogic but is not totally harmful as well.
Tamasik Food:
The food which has no life, no natural quality, tastes, colors, and artificial food is known as Tamasik food. Eg. Stale food, decomposed food, smoke, drugs, alcohol, all meat products, repeated cooking, unmatchable food, unseasonal food, untimed food, etc. are the Tamasik food.
DIET CHART
YOGIC FOOD THERAPY is for Normal Healthy People:
Time Food Items
5 to 6 am Drinking water (Ushaapaan) 200 ml 600 ml
07 to 08 am Herbal Tea; vegetable; unsalted sprouts; milk; fruits; daliya or soaked resins; curd;
11 to 12 am Salad, Vegetables 60%; whole pulse 35%; fats 5%; Chapati 25%; salad/ fruits 25%; Curd and chapatti or rice.
3 to 4 pm fresh fruit; salad, fruits juice, herbal tea;
7 to 8 pm Vegetables and salad; Chapati (Light Dinner)
Food Rules for All in General:
- Wash hands and feet before eating and gargle with water.
- A place where one eats should be neat and clean with a calm atmosphere.
- Eat only when you feel hungry.
- Food should be tasty, fresh, and good to look at.
- Take a meal in a pleasant mood.
- Eat at a fixed time and keep a gap between two meals.
- Never take a meal when you are angry, worried, restless, and in fear.
- Avoid excessive eating, and maintain rules of meetahar which means ½ of the stomach is filled with solid foods and the rest ½ is for water and air.
- Don’t eat dust-exposed and contaminated food.
- Don’t take the next meal until the meal taken before has been digested.
- Avoid taking food if you feel acidity, nausea, vomiting, and burning sensation.
- Take fresh meals, overcooking is harmful.
- Don’t work hard after food. But you can walk 100 to 200 steps in the plane zone as needed.
- Eat when the breath flows through the right (surya swara) nostril and drink water when the breath flows through the left (moon swara) nostril.
- After walking 100 to 200 steps sit on vajrasana for 5 to 15 minutes and after taking food, lie down on the left lateral side for easy and good digestion.
- Go to bed after 2 hours of taking the food at least.
- Pass urine just after the meals.
- Pray before eating meals.
- Don’t take fried food and do not store the cooked food for more than 6 hours.
- Don’t drink water ½ an hour before a meal and 1 hour after a meal.
- Sit on the ground keeping the spine erect while eating food.
- Avoid cold beverages, late-night snacks, and junk food.
- Chew the food properly and swallow slowly.
- Eat seasonal and fresh foods.
- Don’t talk, watch television and be silent while eating.
- Always take sattvic vegetarian food and be able to attain the qualities of pity, sympathy, compassion, love, kindness, respect, purity, peace, etc.
- Don’t eat too much cold and too hot things and also don’t eat cold after hot and no very hot after cold things.
- Drink a cup of warm water or herbal tea without sugar after taking a meal.
- Eat first sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes respectively.
- Put your wet palms on your eyes for a few moments.
Diet Therapy for Common Diseases:
Time Food Items
5 to 6 am Drinking water (Ushaapaan) 200 ml 600 ml
07 to 08 am -Herbal Tea; vegetable; sprouts; fruits; gram soup or fruits juice; buttermilk; curd;
11 to 12 am -Vegetables 50 to75%; Daliya 25% or Chapati 25%; salad/ fruits 25%; Curd 50 – 150
3 to 4 pm fresh fruit; salad, fruits juice, herbal tea;
7 to 8 pm Vegetables and salad 75%; Chapati 25%
YOGIC FOOD THERAPY is for Chronic Diseases Time Food Items
5 to 6 am Drinking water (Ushaapaan) 200 ml 600 ml
07 to 08 am Herbal Tea; lemon-honey Luke warm water; vegetable; sprouts; fruits; gram soup or fruits juice; buttermilk; curd;
11 to 12 am Boiled Vegetables 50 to75%; Daliya 25%; salad/ fruits 25%;
3 to 4 pm fresh fruit; salad, fruits juice, herbal tea;
7 to 8 pm Daliya 25%; Vegetable 75%; or Vegetable 50%; chapatti 25%; salad 25%, no pulse and fat