Yoga Diet and Cleansing

There are many approaches to eating.



But, without doubt, the right food, taken in the right amount, in the right combination, at the right time, is most important. It is just as difficult an art – one that can only be mastered by trial and error – to find out what works best. This article will focus on one of the many Yogic cleansing techniques – the cleansing diet.

There is a primeval belief that you must exhale before inhaling. Differently put, you must empty before filling.



Likewise, with regard to nutrition, you should cleanse before you nourish. The first step here is to eliminate all junk foods from our diet, food additives, snacks, desserts, leftovers, canned & processed foods and salty stuff. The point is to eat fresh foods freshly prepared and keep our meals as simple as possible. Reduce the size and frequency of meals, and make sure to chew your food carefully.

The second step is to learn to differentiate between the heavy and light food groups. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats fall into the category of heavy, or nourishing. Fruits, vegetables and herbs are called light, or cleansing foods. In a balanced diet, servings of heavy foods are matched almost evenly with portions of light foods. In a cleansing diet, you decrease heavy foods and increase the quantity of light foods.

Next you learn to do away with animal-based proteins – these include pork, red meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy. They are thick and very nourishing foods and, hence, are considered inappropriate for cleansing. Besides, being high on the food chain, they are likely to carry environmental toxins. For energy, you should continue to eat plant-sourced protein in small quantities during your cleansing. For this, the best choice is a blend of simple well-cooked whole grain and beans. The smaller the beans, the easier they are to digest.

You can use the cleansing diet any time you feel your digestion is sluggish, if you feel heavy, congested or lethargic or when you are feel yourself coming down with a cold or fever. Other symptoms for which the cleansing diet is suitable include headaches, a thickly coated tongue, bad breath and digestive indispositions such as flatulence, bloating and constipation. There may be some side-effects to the cleansing diet as well. Some of these include weakness, insomnia, palpitation, fainting spells, absence of menstruation and certain specific illnesses. For this reason, it is advisable check with your doctor or physician before embarking on Yoga cleanse.

Ideally, the yoga cleansing diet should be supported by gentle stretching and other asanas, deep breathing, sweating and massage. Bear in mind, you should leave plenty of time between meals and have no meals between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. A short cleanse can be done within 3 days. Some folks may have to remain on a cleansing diet for anywhere between 1 to 3 weeks, depending upon their constitution and condition.