Hello franglindo,
Traditionally, a yoga practice is combined with a vegetarian diet as this diet enhances the cleansing aspect of the physical and supports clarity of inner connection. Vegetarians diets also support the practice of ahimsa (the observance of non-violence) and the intentions of tantra (thinking, acting, and proceeding in life such that all actions result in fostering positive change for all including the environment).
Switching to a vegetarian diet can be a challenge for most people especially if they are accustomed to have been eating meat and dairy for a long period. Any shift towards reduced meat consumption can be beneficial as saturated fats from meat sources have proven to promote any chronic illnesses including cancer in the digestive system.
If you are considering reducing meats, I recommend to first reduce mammal meat products (beef, pork, poultry etc). Ease your way into more fish and dairy keeping in mind that some fish and seafood contain high levels of chemicals (especially large fish like tuna). Eating fish offers greater healthy benefits especially salmon that contains high levels of omega fats.
You can readily replace the protein from much of your meat products with vegetable based proteins: soy, legumes, peas, nuts, certain grains. I recommend consulting a nutritionist with ample experience with vegetarian diets to determine the proper diet that can accommodate your interests. You want to insure that any major dietary changes still offers balanced nutrition. As healthy as vegetarian diets can be, one can easily miss out on vital nutrients like vitamin B 12 and key amino acids resulting in chronic health problems. With a proper diet plan, one can create a balanced nutrition intake that meets the needs for cellular management.
But in basic terms, start gradual:
*decrease consumption of starches especially highly refined flours and sugars, and replace these starches with more whole vegetables, grains and fruits - you will be increasing your fiber intake and supporting a more balanced blood sugar state
*eating smaller portions and more frequent - this reduces cravings and again manages blood sugars better
*monitor your fluid intake getting sufficient water and other healthy fluids throughout the day
*eliminate red meats first with fish, then as you reduce poultry and fish consumption, start to replace these proteins with vegetable proteins (again, consult a nutritionist for a proper plan)
Keep in mind that a 'vegetarian diet' is not necessarily a healthy diet. One stills needs to monitor the quantity of food intake in relation to physical activity and energy output. Many vegetarian foods can still be high in sugars, saturated fats, cholesterol and salt. Therefore, know what you are eating and learn about the qualities of foods. What foods support healing and balanced energy versus what foods are wasted calories. With some basic knowledge, your diet can become a profound component of your overall wellness program and simple dietary changes can result in substantial improvements in the quality of life: better sleep, better weight management, reduced or eliminated health conditions, improved mood and mental state, more energy, better functioning.
some recommended articles:
http://www.myyogaonline.com/healthy_living_118_Healthy_Eating.htmlhttp://www.myyogaonline.com/healthy_living_119_Vegan_Considerations.htmlNamaste,
Kreg
