Yogi Diet Plan

A major component of health and well being is the foods an individual consumes. Protiens, carbs, vitamins, and fats are the fuel and energy source for all human beings alike. As a competitive swimmer and student, the foods I consume are extremely important. Whether it's a begal to power me through a five hundred freestyle race or bowl of oatmeal to fuel my mind to ace an Economics paper!

Swimmers have long practices and long competitive seasons. They need to eat 3,000 to 6,000 calories per day during training.Carbohydrates should make up the greatest part of a swimmer’s food plan. During training and the competitive season, swimmers need 2.3 to 3.6 grams of carbohydrate
per pound of body weight per day. When choosing carbohydrates to eat, it is very important to stick to complex carbohydrates. These are foods such as potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, rice and oatmeal. These carbohydrates are important for weight loss and maintenance because they are converted to sugar much more slowly by the body. This will prevent slowing the metabolism.

Swimmers need 0.55 to 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. You need more protein at the beginning of the season when you are adding and strengthening muscle. Good sources of protein include fish, chicken, turkey, beef, low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, nuts, and soy. Swimmers need at least 0.45 grams of fat per pound of body weight per day. Choose heart-healthy fats, such as canola oil, olive oil, and nuts. Many swimmers don’t pay much attention to fluids because they are surrounded by water! However, the environmental conditions of swimming—the warm pool water, warm air temperatures, and high humidity—can lead to dehydration in less than 30 minutes. Dehydration can hurt the performance of even the most fit swimmer.

The practice of Yoga should be complemented by the right kind of food in order to fully benefit from what Yoga has to offer. We need to nourish our mind and body to keep us alert and energized throughout the day. Yoga Diet is an essential aspect of Yoga practice. In the unmanifested uiverse, energy has three qualities, known as Gunas, that exist together in equilibrium: Sattva (purity); Rajas (activity, passion, the process of change); and Tama (darkness, inertia) Once energy takes form, one quality of the three predominates. For example, take an apple on an apple tree, some of the fruit is ripe( sattva) some ripening( rajasic) and some overripe( Tama). No matter which qualitiy prevails, an element of each of the other two will always be present as well. The three Gunas encompass all existence, all actions. In all people one of the three Gunas has superior strength and is reflected in all they do and think.

Sattvic foods is the purest diet, the most suitable one for any serious student of yoga. It nourishes the body and maintains it in a peaceful state. And it calms and purifies the mind, enabling it to function at its maximum potential. A sattvic diet thus leads to true health: a peaceful mind in control of a fit body, with a balanced flow of energy bewtween them. Sattvic foods include cereals, wholemeal bread, fresh and veggies, pure fruit juices, milk, butter and cheese, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouted seeds, honey and herb teas.

Rajasic foods are very hot, bitter, sour, dry or salty. They destroy the mind- body equilibrium, feeding the body at the expense of the mind. Too much rajasic fod will overstimulate the body and excite the passions, making the mind restless and uncontrollable. Rajasic foods include hot substances, such as sharp spices or strong herbs, stimulants, such as coffee and tea, fish, eggs, salt, and chocolate. Eating in a hurry is also considered rajasic.

A tamasic foods diet benefits neither the mind nor the body. Prana, or energy, is withdrawn, powers of reasoning become clouded and a sinse of inertia sets in. The body's resistance to disease is destroyed and the mind filled with dark emotions, such as anger and greed. Tamasic items include meat, alcohol, tobacco, onions, garlic, fermented foods such as vinegar, and stale overripe substances. Overeating is also regarded as tamasic.