FOOD CAN MAKE OR BREAK
YOU
The Chinese do not draw any distinction
between Food and Medicine… Lin Yutang
COMBINATION
OF FOOD
It is very important to
combine the food we consume. Our digestive system produces various
kinds of enzymes which digest ad metabolize the food we eat. Many
enzymes that are produced do not co-ordinate with each other. For
example: The enzyme which digests acidic foods can not digest the foods
with alkaline content. Therefore, if acidic and alkaline foods are
consumed in combination, they will hinder the process of digestion due
to the neutralization of the enzymes. Do not have a repetition of the
same meal, grain, fruits or vegetables. Variety and moderation is very
important. For example: one should have a seven day menu for breakfast /
lunch / dinner. For better health and active metabolism one must
maintain a variety, as the old adage goes ‘variety is the spice of
life’. Half fill your stomach, drink very little water during meals
leaving at least 25% of space for air to circulate. This facilitates the
movement of the food through the gastro-intestinal tract. Remember do
not eat when there is no real urge. Do not stuff yourself or overeat. It
is a slow killer. Over eating is a vicious and dangerous habit which
most people do.
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Yoga has laid some
basic guidelines regarding the combination of food.
Do not consume milk and salt together. This
results in the production of toxins in the blood. Various skin disorders
have been found to be the result of this combination.
Avoid consumption of lentils and milk or milk
products together. None of them will digest properly if consumed. In
addition, it causes acidity and gastric problems.
Yoghurt should never be eaten at night. When
consumed at night it results in a cough and joint pains.
Dry fruits are rich in protein, several
minerals and vitamins. The best way to consume dry-fruits is to soak
them in water over-night and eat them the following morning. Almonds
with honey should be taken together. Almonds may be taken with orange
juice.
Avoid consuming crystal sugar, polished rice,
branless flour. Tinned fruits and vegetables, or processed food items
etc., as they hardly provide any nutrition. Their properties are either
destroyed fully or contaminated. These kinds of food pose an unnecessary
burden on our system.
Meat, wine, eggs, drugs, very spicy and
extremely pungent foods, vinegar and food prepared with vinegar should
be avoided. These foods produce toxins which damage the delicate
protective linings of our digestive system.
Meat eaters get an excessive quantity of the
Adrenaline hormone from animal meat. The hormone makes us over active,
less tolerant, restless and anxious. It weakens the will power and leads
to poor control on our desires, tendencies and mind.
Fasting once a week for twenty four hours
allows our system to get rested, overhauled, repaired and activated.
Do not eat saturated fats and hydrogenated
oils. They clog the blood stream and are enemies of the heart.
Fried fatty and greasy meats must be avoided.
White flour products such as white bread,
enriched flours, rye bread that has wheat-white flour in it, soda
bicarbonate crackers, macaroni, spaghetti, pizza, ravioli, pies,
pastries, cakes, cookies, pre-pared commercial puddings and ready mix
bakery products should be avoided as much as possible.
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Drink an average of 10 glasses of water
daily. An average of one and half liter of urine should be passed in 24
hours. The colour should be light golden. If dark, the intake of water
should be increased. If too transparent, the intake of water should be
reduced. Inadequate consumption of water dehydrates the kidneys whereas
on the other hand, excessive intake may rid our body of vital minerals.
Timings: Yoga divides a day in 3 zones. Every 4 hours dominate with Acid
(Pitta), Air (Vayu) or Cough (Shleshma).
1st Zone – morning 6 to 10 AM is cough hour. At this time we
should indulge ourselves in exercising, praying, studying or delve in
some mental or spiritual activities. Our breakfast should be very light
and should not have any items that might induce a cough.
2nd Zone – 10 AM to 14.00. This period is predominated with
Acid (Pitta) and we should have our main meal at this time. Foods eaten
during this period are easily digested, metabolized and stabilized. We
must avoid sleeping at this time.
3rd Zone – 14.00 to 18.00. This period is influenced with Air
(Vayu). This time is ideal for meetings and social activities. We should
refrain from eating a main course meal as it interrupts the function of
the autonomic nervous system.
4th Zone – 18.00 to 22.00 is cough hour. Our body will not
adapt to heavy food items, therefore, dinner should be very light and
must be finished before 10pm. No food should be taken after 22.00hrs.
The best sleeping time is from 22.00hrs to 4 or 6 am. Anyone who remains
in bed after this time will be prone to cough related diseases and poor
immunity. If, we follow these basic guidelines in our daily life and
practice Yoga religiously then we will be capable of keeping this body
temple as clean and as pure as merciful God has granted us. That is why
a great 16th century Yogi Kabir says JYON KI TYON DHAR DINI
CHANDARIYA. I have left this sheath as spotless as given, May God bless
all and give enough strength to move on the path of right living and
right eating.
Principles of Yogic Diet
Please follow the guidelines when preparing the food:
First of all you have to know that purpose of food consumption is to get good health not a taste. This doesn’t mean that your food will not be delicious as the taste isn’t in the food but it is in your mind. You have conditioned yourself for having taste in some specific type of food and it is only you who has conditioned some food items for bad taste. For
We have 206 taste buds in our tongue but not all of them are active.
Example: Asians have conditioned themselves to certain kind of food while Europeans have different foods to taste. Arabs taste food differently and Americans differently. What I mean to say is that from childhood you have been getting a kind of food to which your mind has gotten accustomed. Now you need to educate yourself for a kind of food and eating habits which are fit and required for a healthy body, healthy mind, healthy thinking and healthy soul. Yoga teaches you the change criterion and concept of food.
Food that you consume becomes not only your flesh, blood, marrow, bone, skin, semen and fat but it becomes your thought, behavior, habits and attitude as well. Therefore here I will mention some basic guidelines of Yogic-Diet.
The great book of Yoga science ‘Bhagvad-Gita’ has declared three kinds of food. They are classified as Satwic, Rajsic and Tamsic. These three types of food are liked by people according their nature, tendency and work. And if one can change his food habits one can change himself physically mentally and emotionally. I shall explain all three types of food here in brief. First, The Satwic food; Foods promoting longevity, strength of mind, power, health, comfort and pleasure, which are delectable, oily, oily, firm and appetizing, appeal to men of Satwic temperament. Second, Rajsic food; the foods which pleases the Rajsic temperaments are excessively bitter, sour, saltish, hot, pungent, harsh, burning; they cause pain, suffering, ill-health. Third, The food dear to the Tamsic temperament is ill cooked, tasteless, smelling, decayed, refuse and impure.
What we eat is very important because it bestows both mental and physical effects. The mind is affected from GUNA quality inherent in all substances; the body cells are built from food.
Modern scientists and nutritionists analyze the value of food stuffs according to their physical properties and how they react on the body; but Yogis, who delved in the spiritual science of food, consider its vibratory nature in determining what is beneficial, stimulating or harmful when ingested. These type of classifications deriving from the Yogis begins with the basic verity that all things are evolved from God the omnipresent and are materialization of His one intelligent vibratory creative consciousness. Manifesting objects come into being and are subject to modification under the influence of the interacting SATTWA, RAJAS and TAMAS, qualities of nature. These three GUNAS distort the pure cosmic vibration into an infinite variety, characterized by varying degrees of elevating, activating, or stultifying properties.
Sattwic foods, in general, are sweet fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables (row or prepared as per rules of naturopathy) whole grains and legumes, fresh dairy products, nuts (after soaking in water night before consumption) natural sweets such as honey and dates and nominal amounts of fats ( less that 20 grams per day altogether) from dairy or vegetable sources only. While preparing combinations and cooking should be taken care of so that it retains or increases their nutrient values. They should be suitable to the body constitution, mildly seasoned, tasteful to the palate and pleasing to the eyes.
This type of food enhances not only good health, vitality, longevity, but also metamorphoses mind to nurture contented, pacified, cheerful disposition inclined toward goodness and spiritual aspirations.
RAJSIC foods are those which do over stimulation to PRANAS life forces in the body, mind and senses as well. Such stimulants are not completely restricted or bad. For average materially active person, moderation and verity are agreeable. The instant and intense reaction on the palate of hot, spicy, salty or otherwise strong flavors of most RAJSIC foods denote their stimulating quality.
Eggs and certain meats such as fish, lamb and fowl – the lesser harmful of the animal flesh food stuffs are considered to be RAJSIC.
Among the most TAMSIC food stuffs commonly consumed in the modern society are the meats of higher forms of animal life, especially beef and pork and products made from them. Both chemically and vibration wise these injurious and highly avoidable for the body and considered not to be good for spiritual nature of man.
Any edible items harmful to the body will also be inimical to one’s mental and spiritual well being; and conversely food that causes an adverse mental or spiritual reaction will deleterious to the physical constitution as well.
Written by Dr. Rakesh
Kumar Singh
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