Yoga is practiced by 300 million people, 35 million from the United States alone. While it’s encouraging that 14% of the population is practicing mindfulness, it’s concerning that 46% of US adults have a poor-quality diet. According to Tufts University, people consume too much salt and sugar-sweetened beverages. Therefore, there may be a conflict between many Americans’ diets and exercise regimens. Yoga differs from other workouts in that it encourages a lifestyle of self-awareness and balance. Improving your nutritional intake to get the most out of your yoga practice may be beneficial.
Nutrition and your yoga practice
Traditional Ayurvedic yogis believe that food can directly influence your thoughts and well-being; hence, yoga practitioners consume food mindfully. A study found that those who practiced yoga gained less weight over ten years than those who did not. Because yoga espouses increased body awareness, this intentionality carries over to nutritional habits, which can lead to a more ideal body weight over time. These align with the principles promoted by the best weight loss program, which uses advanced nutrition science to build a sustainable foundation for healthy eating and doesn’t focus on rigid criteria like obsessive calorie tracking. Instead, it zeroes in on the nuances of food label data and focuses on building healthy habits, one step at a time, encouraging a more compassionate perspective on weight loss. Progress becomes more important than perfection with this mindset, encouraging sustained results.
As you advance in your yoga practice, you will require a broader range of movement; this is where better nutrition will kick in. Your ligaments, tendons, and fascia—the connective tissues in the body that help you hold poses—need to receive enough nutrients to stay flexible and minimize the risk of injury. Poor diet can cause tissue stiffness and make yoga more challenging, and muscles also need water. A dehydrated body may have more fluid retention, leading to stiffness. To ensure your body has all it needs to be a better yogi, here are the ideal components to consider including in your diet.
A yogi’s ideal diet
Yoga encompasses all aspects of well-being, making healthier eating habits intuitive and second nature. This can result in natural weight loss. However, practitioners can focus on natural, unprocessed foods following yogic philosophy for a more targeted approach to weight loss. This is called the sattvic diet, which denotes pure and strong energy. Some sattvic foods include fruits, whole grains, ghee or clarified butter, and most vegetables.
In contrast, rajasic foods like coffee and salt are associated with stress, while tamasic foods like meat and alcohol are associated with laziness and slowness. Traditional advice states that rajasic food should be avoided at dinnertime, as it inhibits digestion, which can cause weight gain. Naturally, you want to increase consumption of sattvic foods while minimizing rajasic and tamasic options. However, sattvic food can take on rajasic properties depending on how it’s prepared. Thus, avoid adding excessive oil or ingredients that can make otherwise healthy food less nutritious and more calorie-dense.
Better-quality foods will also improve grip strength, which helps maintain balance in many poses. A 2023 study found that participants who joined a diet program of fish, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, and eggs saw positive changes in muscle mass and grip strength. These foods contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and antioxidants, which aid metabolism, thus helping with weight loss. Finally, hydration is vital so you can power through your sessions and encourage more weight loss in the long term. A Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research study found that even 1.5% dehydration can decrease muscle strength. Aside from ensuring adequate water intake, water-rich foods like strawberries, watermelon, broccoli, and spinach are ideal for yogis. Water can help suppress appetite and increase your resting energy expenditure rate, so you burn calories even outside of yoga class.
As many dedicated yogis know, yoga is not merely an exercise; it’s a lifestyle. By making critical nutritional changes, you can reach a healthier weight and find continued success in your practice.
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