Page 13 - Lesson 10.xps

Diet and Nutrition MODULE-3
Holistic Health
b) What are the major differences among Tamasic, Rajasic and Sattvic
diet?

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2) Classify the following food items: under Tamsic, Rajasic and sttvic diet.

Tobacco, Bananas, Pickles, Hot things, Turnips, Spices, Onions, Coconut, Note
Brinjals, Dates, Sugar-candy, Meat, Pomegranates, and Twice cooked things:

Tamasic .....................................................................................................
Rajasic .....................................................................................................

Sattvic .....................................................................................................

In the yogic concept, the ‘sattvic diet’ is considered to be the best diet. The
reason is that the mind is often compared to an ape, which is usually restless and
wandering all the time. For yog practisers, it will take some time to control the
restless mind. During such practice of yog, having foods, which are rajasic or
tamasic in nature, can trigger the instability further. On the contrary, the sattvic
foods help to calm down the mind. A relaxing mind is the first step towards
achieving stability in life and progress in yog.

For health purpose, yogic diet focuses on availability of nutrition from food, not
its taste. It is suggested in yogic diet that whatever you eat and drink should be
in balance. As per yogic concept, self-control in selection of foods is important
for your health. Although, yogic diet theories are very easy, yet they need higher
level of dedication and willpower to follow.

You have read about the concept of balanced diet, but a balanced diet in yog is
something different. In yog it is based on the concept of Mitahar which claims
that the final effect of intake of diet depends upon its quality, quantity and state
of mind during food intake. The details of all these three factors are as follows:

a) Quality of food: The food quality should be sattvic in nature and should be
acquired in its natural form.
b) Quantity of food: The stomach is divided into three parts and 50 percent of
it should be filled with food, 25 percent with liquid and the rest 25 percent
should be kept empty for the free flow of air (gases).

c) State of mind while taking food: When you are taking your food, your
mind should be in a state of peace and control, enjoy your food, as well as
not be engaged in any form of intense thinking.

Physical Education and Yog
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