To put it very simply, the daily Yoga diet could be described as a natural one. This means that all foods are eaten as close to their natural state as possible. Flour should not be refined or bleached, but whole wheat; sugar should be raw or in the form of honey, or not eaten at all (since a normal day's fare of proteins, fruits, vegetables and grains contains the equivalent of 2 cups of sugar); vegetables should be steamed or baked to a soft crispness only or preferably eaten raw; rice should be unpolished (brown), noodles and all baked foods should be made from whole wheat; nuts and dried fruits should be an important part of the diet and so should yogurt; fruits and vegetables should be organically grown, without the use of insecticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers. Rule of thumb: if it is white and refined, if it is instant, if it has chemical additives in it, if it has been chemically changed (hydrogenation of fats) — it's a no-no.
The Yogi considers the body as the temple of his soul. As such he has the responsibility to keep it from falling into ruin. However, it only houses the spirit and as such, a stomach-consciousness must be avoided. The Yogi eats a little several times a day, but only when he is hungry. He chews thoroughly, eats slowly, knowing that digestion starts in the mouth, where enzymes contained in the saliva provide the first of several breaking-up processes. Such small meals might consist of a handful of sprouted seeds, or a little bowl of yogurt. It might be a bite of cheese, a banana or some dried fruits and nuts. But never is his meal huge. He knows moderation in all things. He will be aware of the need to get sufficient protein in his diet, since he very often is a vegetarian. He knows that seeds, such as sunflower seeds, soybeans, wheat germ, brewer's yeast and nuts are an excellent source of complete protein. So are, as combinations, legumes and grains, beans or nuts and milk, and brown rice and sesame seeds. Dairy products, of course, all have the eight essential amino acids, which are needed to make up a complete protein. Nor are these foods necessarily fattening. It is entirely possible to lose weight on a diet of beans and milk. However, a balanced diet is what the Yogi believes in, with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
But what of a losing diet? Of all the fad diets now so popular on the market, it can be said after considerable research, that the low-calorie diet in conjunction with vitamin supplements that help to metabolize the food and acts as natural diuretics, is still the most lasting and the healthiest. To change one's eating habits, to develop a mind consciousness, is the key. The calorie is not a food, but solely a unit of measurement. You need X number of calories in order to produce Y amount of heat. The more heat you use by exerting yourself physically, the more calories are burned. This is why a former football player will suddenly go to fat after he enters business, even though he doesn't eat more. He simply exercises less. There is a definite correlation between exercise and diet:
1. exercise + diet = maximum weight loss
2. exercise without diet = maintaining weight
3. no exercise and diet = maintaining weight
4. no exercise and no diet = weight gain
Since refined foods consist of "empty" calories — they have no nutritive values such as protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids — you can remove them from your diet forever. Did you know that sugar is addictive? If you wean yourself gradually from sugar and white flour products, you will not only feel a great surge in energy, and experience a most satisfying weight loss, but you will soon find all candies and cakes and ice cream sickeningly sweet.
