Proper diet – Vegetarian
Nutrition
Correct nutrition and diet gives proper fuel for the body and the mind without creating toxins and digestive problems. Optimum utilization of food, air, water and sunlight is essential.
There is medical evidence that a balanced vegetarian diet is extremely healthy and provides everything the body needs. The Yogic vegetarian diet is sattvic (pure), and helps to calm the mind, and to reveal the spirit as well as nourish the body.
The body needs food for two purposes: as fuel to supply energy, and as materials to repair body tissues. For repairing and building tissue, the body needs: 1. protein; 2. carbohydrates; 3. fats; 4. minerals.
These elements are found in larger proportions in vegetable tissue than in animal tissue. Nuts, peas, beans, soy bean products like tofu, and milk contain protein. Wheat, oats, rice and other grains are mainly carbohydrates.
All protein foods and vegetable oils provide the fats, and the main supply of organic minerals and vitamins comes from fruit and vegetables.
A vegetarian diet is a natural diet, fresh and wholesome, full of fiber and alkaline in nature, energy producing, and easy to absorb and to eliminate.
Sattvic Diet
To maintain a sattvic diet, free from rajasic and tamasic influences, avoid stimulants and depressants such as caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, drugs of all kinds, overly spicy food, onions, garlic, overcooked food, old food, frozen food, canned food, sodas and processed foods, as well as all meat.
Yogis advocate “ahimsa”, the principle of non-violence, non-injury and respect for life. Everything our body and mind needs for growth can be provided from the vegetable kingdom.
By avoiding eating animal flesh we nourish ourselves in a natural and healthy way.
The vegetarian diet helps in the performance of asanas as the body and the joints becomes more flexible. It is a wonderful way to prevent heart disease, arthritis, obesity, and a good remedy for many chronic diseases.
Gradual Change to Vegetarian diet
Changing to a vegetarian diet can be gradual and life transforming. It consists not only in deciding to stop eating meat, but in learning a new way of life, by being conscious of how you nourish yourself.
It includes not only being aware of what you eat, but also how you eat. Yogis promote taking time to cook, and to eat consciously in a regular manner, with appropriate intervals between meals to allow the digestive fire to activate and digest the food.
Proper diet includes periodic fasting as well, to give a break to the digestive system, purify body and mind, and to make the mind more perceptive, more sattvic, and more conducive to concentration, contemplation and meditation.
by Swami Sitaramananda
JUNE, 2023
We invite you to share in this venture for Tastes. The Sivananda Recipes are not only tasty but also healthy. With just a few ingredients at home, you can make your own healthy and delicious treats!
Sivananda Cookies
You will find that Sivananda cookies are favored by all around the world. It’s no surprise at all. This simple but elegant recipe originated from The Sivananda Yoga Cookbook. With a few adaptaions, the cookies turn out to be just as fine as the original ones. Try it out and let us know if it tastes good or not!
Ingredients
70 servings
- 10 cups oats
- 2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 plant-based oil (add more if texture is too dry)
- 1 1/2 cups grated coconut
- 1 1/4 cups cacao powder ( you can replace it with Matcha powder too)
- 1 cup sesame seeds (optional)
- 5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground ginger powder
- A handful of raisins
- 2 tsp baking powder
Photograph by http://hiddenglasshouse.com/
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 180-200ºC, upper and lower heat
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In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients until well combined.
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In another bowl, mix the wet ingredients (water and oil) and add them to the large bowl. Mix well with a fork or spatula.
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Using your hands, take a small ball of dough and shape it into your favourite cookie shape. Add them to a baking tray and bake for about 25 mins. Watch out to ensure they don’t overcook or burn!
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Once baked, let them sit to cool down for 20 mins.
- Ready to serve!
Food is essential to life. In the form of food only, we are able to absorb the 5 basic elements – ether, air, fire, water and earth – that will sustain the physical body.
Golden Milk
Also known as tumeric milk, is a delighted tonic for our bodies.Drinking Golden milk before bed can treat insomnia and allow us a better sleep. With very simple instructions you can enjoy this heart-warmimg treat in an instance!
Ingredients
1-2 cups
- 150ml cow’s milk (choose organic one)
- 1/2 tps turmeric powder
- 1/2 tps pepper
- 1 small piece of fresh ginger or ginger powder
- 4 cardamom seeds (optional)
- 1 tps of coconut oil
- 1 tps jaggery or honey (optional)
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a saucepan, and simmer until almost boiling.
(If using honey, let the milk cool down to about 40 degrees celsius before adding)
Serve warm!
