YOGAPOORNAVIDYA...YOGA & DIET

It has been proved that diet plays a vital role in determining the qualities of man, and a yogi has to carefully analyse the diet which he consumes in his day to day life. He can select his food by understanding the basic concept about the effect of the various kinds of food on our system.

Our concept of diet is based on our knowledge about the world around us. The matter-based approach has only looked at the gross ‘material’ content of the foods that we eat-proteins, carbohydrates, fats, iron, calcium, vitamins – A, B, B2, Niacin and vitamin-C. The modern urban palate has become so tempted to a variety of tastes that is no longer satisfied by the more subtle flavors of the traditional cuisine. In this, there are more empty calories of total fats, cholesterol, refined sugar and salt. The result is – the ratio of nutrients to calories is reducing, leading to obesity, diabetes, etc.,

The yogic concept of food takes into consideration the total dimension of human existence. Apart from the atoms and molecules with which our gross physical body is made of, we all possess Prana, Mind, Intellect, Emotions and the spiritual Dimension featured by freedom. Yoga is that process by which we bring an integration of the entire personality at all levels. The stamina of the body is developed, the Prana should be brought to a balance, the mind calmed down, the emotion stabilized and the intellect under total control. A “BALANCED DIET”, therefore, according to Yoga, is that diet which restores balance at all levels. Such diets could aid in a Holistic way of living.

But, how can choose a balanced diet in the right way?

CLASSIFICATION OF FOOD
Yoga classified food into three categories, similar to the classification of human beings into predominantly,