It’s important for any person to practice a healthy diet in order to live a quality and long life. Active people especially have to pay special attention to the foods that they put into their bodies as the foods that they consume act as fuel for an active lifestyle. A practically interesting demographic of people to examine when it comes to eating healthy are people that practice yoga, also known as yogis. Yogis live a very active lifestyle as yoga uses almost every muscle in the body and requires a person to use his or her strength in every practice.
If a yogi is not eating right, he or she will not have a good practice and will not be able to build strength. Whether you are a yogi yourself or you simply are wondering how yogis practice such intense movements, it will be worth your while to know how yogis fuel their bodies. This post will detail the top 3 foods that yogis consume.
The Top 3
Yogis, no matter how old, should do their best to fuel their body with the intention of fueling their practice. Whether you are a 17 or 70-year-old yogi, you should find food that will enhance both your yoga practice and your life. In fact, an independent senior living in NJ makes it a point to serve quality food that preserves the physical health of its active residents. With that being said, here are the top 3 foods that yogis should incorporate into their diets.
1.Fresh and Simple Ingredients
This is a seemingly obvious point to make, however, it is worth explaining. Fresh and simple ingredients are foods that are not processed, do not contain additives, and are ideally organic. Fresh and simple ingredients have copious benefits to one’s health such as helping bowel regulation, preventing bloating, keeping one thin/toned, keeping blood sugar low, and preserving one’s overall health and wellbeing.
One of the focal points of yoga is to live a healthy and quality life; therefore it makes sense that they aim to do this in all aspects of life, including with their diet. Fresh and simple ingredients will preserve one’s health and make him or her feel great too. Some examples of fresh and simple foods include:
- Pesticide-free fruits and vegetables
- Organic meats and wild-caught fish
- Foods made with natural ingredients i.e. no preservatives or artificial flavoring
- Fresh beans instead of canned
2. Foods That Contain Only Natural Sugars
Similar to fresh and simple ingredients, yogis should try to eat food that contains only natural sugars rather than food that contains added sugars. Added sugars are harmful to all people as they cause spikes in blood sugar levels, obesity, diabetes, and even feelings of lethargy. Yogis especially should avoid these side effects in order to have a good practice and preserve their strength.
However, natural sugars are not harmful to one’s health and should act as a substitute for food that requires sugar for taste. Some natural sugar alternatives include:
- Honey
- Monk fruit
- Stevia
- Coconut sugar
- Sugar found in fruits
3. Sattvic Foods
Sattvic food is a food that is nourishing to the body and provides it with the proper energy needed to carry out daily tasks. Sattvic foods are generally fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, and spices. Sattvic foods are beneficial for yogis for two main reasons:
- Sattvic foods follow the fresh and simple ingredient/no added sugar rules
- This diet is based on ancient yogic literature
In addition to preserving one’s overall health and wellness, sattvic foods are based on yogi ideals. In fact, the very word, sattvic comes from the Sanskrit word, sattva which is a concept in Indian philosophy that revolves around purity, nature, cleanliness, energy, strength, and the essence of life. For thousands of years, yogis have adopted this philosophy into their everyday lives, including in their diets.
Try a Yogi Diet Today
Whether you are a yogi yourself, or you are simply interested in yogi’s philosophies, consider making it a point to switch to one of the diets listed above. The diets listed above do not put strict rules in place in regards to one’s eating, instead, they simply encourage a happy and healthier lifestyle.
