According to Yogic philosophy, the body is considered as an instrument for carrying out karma's and actions originated by food. The body arises from the energy source from food.

Why do masters believe that?

They believe that the body arises out of the energy supplied by food. Food was ingested as energy consumed by parents. Energy is then converted to sexual relations. The conception of the child happened by the energy that was created from food.

If there is no food, the body will perish.

In Yogic philosophy, the body is referred to as 'Anandamaya Koshum' or 'the sheath which dwells on food'. Food plays a major role in the yoga philosophy.

Food dictates the thought of a person. You are what you think.! You are what you eat!

The nature of a person is composed by food.

Yogi's believe food to be classifeid into 3 categories:

1) Satvic food

2) Ragasic food 

3) Tamasic food

 Yogi food is Satvic food.

Satvic food is :

- beautiful to look at 

- pleasant smelling

- easily assimilated

- consumption of which the person who takes it will feel energised.

Satvic food liberates energy quickly. It releases more energy than it takes to assimilate.

Eg: butter, ghee, milk, rice, wholemeal bread, honey, fruits, vegetables, grain, palm sugar, honey 

Click here for some yummy Satvic recipes!

Ragasic food is :

- strong in smell

- more gross in it's nature

- gives energy though takes alot of time to assimilate

- gives alot of activity to the elemental system

 eg: spices, liquor, meat, eggs, refined sugar, flour , ginger, chilli

Tamasic food is:

- foul smelling

- old

- putrefied

- preserved

- not pleasant looking

- takes alot of energy to assimilate

- the person will feel drowsy after eating.

eg. cheese, preseved foods (meats , salami's), canned foods, fish, shellfish, mushrooms

Summary for a Yogic Diet

• • Eat only freshly prepared food, not more than three hours old
  • Take cooked /heavy food/grains only twice per day
  • Eat when you are hungry and stop before you are overfull
  • After eating the stomach should be ½ solid food, ¼ liquid & ¼ space
  • Keep meal times routine – same every day
  • Take 1 teaspoon of cow’s ghee regularly
  • CHEW your food properly so it can be digested easily (32 times)
  • Stimulate your appetite before meals with a little salt or ginger
  • SWALLOW the mouthful you are working on before you take the next mouthful
  • Eat slowly and CONCENTRATE on your food
  • Think of your food as the greatest energy from the earth and the universe, and in this sense, food is God for you
• Don't
  • Don't drink too much before immediately after or during meals: This dilutes the digestive juices, thus 100 ml. is maximum
  • Don't combine milk with fruits
  • Don't eat when your stomach is upset/ when you are sick
  • Avoid processed, refined, frozen, deep-fried, or tinned food
  • Avoid bakery products, caffiene, soft drinks, spicy food, excess sugar or salt and GMO (genetically modified foods)
  • If you want to control your emotions and desires, avoid garlic and onions except when needed for health reasons
  • Avoid talking, reading or watching TV during meals
• The ideal yogic diet can be summed up as the most natural and simplest to purchase, prepare and dig