International Day of Yoga: Why Healthy Food Habits are Also Important with Yoga

With the 'International Day of Yoga' being around the corner, let’s focus on why practicing yoga for just one is not the right way to bring in lifestyle changes. International Yoga Day is celebrated to raise awareness on the importance of including it in our daily lives, to balance our mental and physical well-being. To achieve your fitness goals, inculcating regular yoga practice and healthy food habits is vital.

While yoga helps in sustaining muscle repair, increasing strength, endurance and sustaining energy levels, adding a few healthy food habits and dietary changes bring in a balance. Healthy foods are recommended to be included in a daily diet as per Ayurveda. The well-known yoga treatise states that half of the stomach should be filled with food, the other half, or one-fourth of it, should be filled with water, and the other one-fourth should be left empty to allow for airflow.

You shouldn't fill your stomach to the brim. Overindulgence in food hinders the practice of yoga. One must avoid starvation. Weakness or exhaustion because of overindulging in calorie restriction should not occur.

Fresh fruits and vegetables, sprouts, unadulterated fruit juices, legumes, salads, seeds, nuts, milk, butter, and cheese, whole-meal bread, herbal tea, honey, and coconut or almond milk are a few examples of sattvic foods. Two hours before working out, you must refrain from eating. Once you are ready for bed, the same rule applies. This is frequently due to their belief that digestion is a waste of energy. Once you start doing yoga, you should dedicate your focus to holding the correct poses.

Additionally, you should ensure that the meal has been properly digested before going to bed. In yoga, mental clarity and attention are just as important as physical strength. A balanced diet keeps your mind clear and focused while enhancing cognitive function. Better mental performance is the outcome of consuming meals rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins.

Here are some healthy food habits that go well with yoga practice:

• Fruits and vegetables: Due to their high vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content, fruits and vegetables should always be consumed. Every day, include a variety of colored fruits and vegetables in your diet. Whether you're eating a substantial salad for lunch or a banana before your morning practice, these foods should be your yoga partners.

• Whole Grains: Long yoga practices demand steady energy, which is provided by nutritious grains like oats, brown rice, and quinoa. They also include fibre and other minerals that aid digestion.

• Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds include high levels of protein, healthy fats, and different minerals. Nuts like walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, and flaxseeds should be a part of your regular diet.

• Low-fat protein: Muscle strength and recovery depend on protein. Incorporate lean protein sources like lentils, tempeh, tofu, and lean meats if you are not a vegetarian.

Drink water to stay hydrated! Maintaining adequate water is essential for your practice because dehydration can induce fatigue and cramps that could affect your performance. It should become second nature to sip water both before and after your yoga sessions. There is no denying the benefits of yoga and eating well. Yoga offers a comprehensive method for promoting both physical and mental health, but its advantages are further enhanced by a healthy diet that supports and feeds the practice.

Yoga practitioners can benefit from enhanced energy, better digestion, enhanced mental clarity, successful weight management, and a stronger immune system by consuming a diet high in whole, nutrient-dense foods. The information on ‘healthy food habits that go well with yoga practice’ was provided by Dr. Smita Naram, an Ayurveda Practioner. In the end, a more balanced, lively, and contented existence might result from combining yoga with a nutritious diet.