The Benefits Of Yogi’s Incorporating More Raw Foods Into Your Diet

Eating raw foods is all about eating mindfully in order to fuel and look after our bodies, rather than about how we look. For this reason, it is fantastic in supporting other aspects of our mindfulness and spirituality, particularly yoga. You are being compassionate to yourself and your body and this will shine through your practices and daily life.

Here are some of the benefits of raw foods as well as an introduction to the kinds of foods you can eat. It is also important to be mindful of potential dangers which will also be discussed below!

The Benefits of Raw Foods For Yogi’s

The first benefit of incorporating more foods into your diet is the fact that it can help you to feel more energised. Some of the fantastic nutrients in raw food can be destroyed during cooking, so eating raw fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds can help to give your body lots of goodness. You should notice a difference in your yoga practice thanks to this!

Also, raw foods are fantastic for your general health. The high fibre and low calorie nature of most raw foods means that you are fuelling your body with fantastic foods, which can help to support the healthy function of your major organs. You will particularly benefit from improved cardiovascular and digestive health!

You could also notice a great improvement in your mood. The combination of improved energy and general health is the ideal combination to encourage happiness. When this is utilised in line with yoga, the possibilities are endless.

How To Incorporate More Raw Foods Into Your Diet

Making space in your diet for more raw foods is really simple. Here are some of the main categories you will be able to choose from:

Raw Fruits and Vegetables: You will access a fantastic range of vitamins and minerals through raw fruits and vegetables. These are also very simple to fit into your diet in the form of snacks or salads.

Raw Nuts and Seeds: Nuts and seeds are full of protein and healthy fats which makes them an important (and delicious) addition to any diet. Again, it is so easy to incorporate them into any meal. My favourites are walnuts, sunflower seeds and pine nuts!

Raw Grains and Legumes: This category includes beans, lentils, lupins and peas, which can be soaked and eaten. You do have to be particularly careful with this category when eating raw, which we will discuss below!

Plant Milks: Any kind of plant-based milk can be consumed if it has not been involved in a heating process. Plant milks are great to make smoothies which are a great staple in a raw diet.

Fermented Foods: Fermented foods like sauerkraut make a delicious addition to a raw diet. They offer some variation and are rich in probiotic bacteria which is fantastic for the body.

Things To Be Wary Of

Although a raw food diet can be great for you, there are a few things to be mindful of:

Can Be Dangerous – certain foods contain bacteria that make them unsafe to eat, unless they have been cooked, which kills the bacteria. Examples of these foods are raw meats (with some exceptions), eggs, kidney beans, lima beans, raw sprouts like bean sprouts or alfalfa, unpasteurized milk and rice. Make sure you are clued up on what you can and can’t eat raw.

Potential Deficiencies – the restrictive nature of the raw diet means you need to be very careful to ensure you consume enough of the vital nutrients you need. Focus on consuming enough protein and calories, as well as calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12. If you are wanting to take up a fully raw diet, speak to a medical professional for advice. Otherwise, simply enjoy incorporating more raw foods into a balanced diet.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, eating more raw foods can be fantastic for you and your yoga practices. Try to incorporate more raw foods into your diet to see a difference in how you feel, smoothies are one great way to do this! Just be mindful of the potential risks and enjoy the experience.