The question of whether to include meat in our diets or not has become one of the most heated and contentious debates of our time. What truly constitutes the optimal diet for us as human beings?
Some experts advocate for a vegetarian diet, while others claim that eating meat is necessary for good health. Not everyone agrees with either of these viewpoints, and there are studies supporting both sides. And each side presents valid arguments and scientific evidence, making it confusing and overwhelming.
What would the Yogis say about all this? What was their opinion on our food consumption?
Their ideas were simple.
Among the different branches of the Yogi philosophy, there is one called Hatha Yoga, which focuses on physical well-being and living in the most natural way possible. It's not about practicing yoga poses (asanas) in a hot yoga studio. It’s about taking care of our physical well-being. One component of taking care of our bodies is exercise, and one great way to do that happens to be yoga. That’s why yoga studios use those terms. And another component is proper nourishment through food.
Changing long-standing habits of generations and our ancestors is incredibly hard, if not almost impossible. When it comes to what we eat, it's important to rely on our own experiences and growing knowledge rather than blindly following the ideas of others. For example, it can be challenging to give up eating meat if we've been eating it all our lives, or to switch to a raw diet after being used to cooking everything.
The Yogis emphasized having a variety of foods. Beans, bread, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The less processed, the better. Choose what seems most natural to you. They prefer not consuming meats because it is unhygienic; and because of the aversion in the East, where these teachings originated, to consuming animal flesh.
But they are not strict about it. If a yogi is vegetarian or doesn't eat much meat and is invited to a cookout or travels with friends, they will adapt to the situation and avoid being a burden. They understand that the key is to chew their food properly, regardless of what they eat.
Saliva plays a crucial role in digestion. When we chew our food properly, saliva comes into contact with other fluids in the stomach, breaking down the food and extracting nutrients for nourishment. By chewing thoroughly, saliva reaches every part of the food. But if we swallow big chunks of food without proper chewing, the center of those pieces won't be reached by saliva, and the body will struggle to extract nutrients.
In his book "Hatha Yoga: The Yogi Philosophy of Physical Well-Being,” Yogi Ramacharaka wrote:
"It is not what a man eats, but the amount that he assimilates, that nourishes him."
Basically extracting the maximum amount of nourishment from the minimum amount of food.
Whenever you're faced with food choices, take a moment to think and trust your instincts. Eat whatever you enjoy. Try to eat a variety of foods. And remember to chew your food slowly and thoroughly until it dissolves in your mouth.
