Food choices aren’t as simple as they used to be. Just last month, I found out that McDonald’s—yes, the home of the Big Mac—has started offering vegetarian options. At the same time, I heard rumors that bananas, the innocent-looking fruit we all trust, might not be as pure as we think. And if that wasn’t enough, … Read more
Protein is one of the most important things your body needs. It helps you maintain lean muscle, keeps your immune system strong, gives you energy, helps with weight control, and plays a key role in enzyme activity—which is essential for basic body functions and detoxification. Most people think of protein supplements as something only weightlifters … Read more
When you eat with your full mind and body, you become deeply aware of the flavors, textures, colors, aromas, and even the sounds of your food. But when you eat without paying attention, you might miss these details entirely. As we move beyond childhood, we often lose touch with the simple wonders of perception—including how … Read more
Yoga is not merely contorting yourself into pretzel positions. It’s a body of philosophical thought and a lifestyle built around wellness. While some yogis choose to eat vegetarian or vegan, others extend the practice by excluding things like caffeine, booze, and processed sugar. The actual mission of a yogic diet? To promote healing, equilibrium, and inner harmony. All that being said, most people adore the concept but feel they can’t cope with the restrictions. To facilitate the change, we’ve compiled some down-to-earth advice to assist you in realigning your diet with your yoga. What is the yogic diet? The yogic diet is centered on natural, unprocessed foods that nourish spiritual, mental, and physical health, in alignment with yogic philosophy. It’s based on three main ideas: ahimsa, sattva, and saucha. Ahimsa is non-violence—the trust that … Read more
As the hot, sunny weather of summer arrives, fire element—agni tattva—burns brightly in us. This fire energy ignites the third chakra (manipura), promoting healing, transformation, growth, and manifestation. Agni tattva also revs pitta, Ayurvedic dosha (bio-elemental energy) peaking in summer, propelling digestion and metabolism. Excessive agni and pitta are likely to trigger anxiety, restlessness, anger, irritability, heartburn, constipation, heavy menstrual bleeding, or dry skin. Alternatively, weak pitta and agni can manifest as slow digestion, fatigue, weak immune system, weight gain, or depression. Fortunately, Ayurveda—yoga’s sister science—provides easy advice on balancing pitta and agni with diet. Hydrate and Eat Raw The easiest way to prevent pitta from … Read more
Autumn’s Hidden Effects on Our Well-Being We all behold the golden leaves falling, but Autumn’s shorter, cooler, and windier days do more than transform the landscape—they subtly affect how we feel within. Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda (the ancient sister science of yoga) instruct us that being in harmony with the natural rhythm of each season is the key to health. And the best way to achieve it? A simple principle: opposites attract balance. How Food Affects Your Energy & Health What we eat profoundly influences our prana—our life-force energy—dictating our inner balance and overall wellness. Using … Read more
In Ayurveda, it is believed that each bite you consume will hurt or heal you. Nutrition and food comprise approximately 50% of the remedies practiced in Ayurvedic medicine, and how well this works demonstrates just how much influence food has on our health and well-being. The Ayurvedic diet begins with the premise that food is not just about pleasure or craving. It’s about what you’re eating, how it’s cooked, where you’re eating, who you’re eating with, and even your frame of mind when you’re eating. When we listen to these details, we can introduce more balance into our lives—just by changing the way we eat. The Second Key: Knowing Your Dosha The other key component of achieving balance using Ayurveda … Read more
Have you ever noticed how the food you consume influences your yoga practice? Some foods obviously create more internal turmoil than others—consider bloating or indigestion. But it’s also interesting to see how some foods quietly impact your head and temperament. Ayurveda, yoga’s sister philosophy, provides us with a profound awareness of how various foods affect not only our physical well-being but also our mental acuity and even spiritual resilience. In Ayurveda, Sattva signifies purity, equilibrium, and spiritual excellence—manifesting as wisdom, awareness, virtue, and joy. Sattvic foods nourish the body and mind, promoting tranquility, lucidity, and compassion. These foods are soothing, nourishing, and promote a calm, steady mind while enhancing intelligence and empathy. A sattvic diet is always vegetarian, not consuming anything from animals … Read more
Winter: A Time for Rest, But Also for Nourishment We all know winter is the season of slowing down. Plants take a break, animals disappear into their dens, and the days grow short and dark. But what’s not so obvious is how to live—and eat—in a way that works with winter’s energy rather than against it. Because … Read more
Over the past few years, “gluten-free” has turned into a buzzword and a fast-growing niche in the food industry. But with new health trends constantly popping up, it can be tough to figure out what’s legit and what’s just hype. When it comes to gluten-free diets, more than any other recent food trend, the debate … Read more