The food we eat has a direct effect on our way of thinking and meditating. A primarily (if not strict) vegetarian diet is recommended by yogis because they understand food’s influence on consciousness.
This is why most yogis eat more fruits and vegetables than flesh foods. They say that the fear that animals experience when they are in the process of dying is passed on to those who consume them.
Take your own private study. See if the people you know who tend to be habitually negative or prone to anger, also eat a diet that emphasizes beef or pork. Also compare them with those friends who eat a primarily vegetarian diet. Do you see any difference between the two groups? If you really know these people, what do they focus on in life? Diet is not the only factor, but it does make a difference.
I’m not saying people who eat meat are bad. But the food we eat does have an effect on us. I was raised on spam, bologna, Korean barbeque, and I loved carnitas and fish. When I became vegetarian it was for ethical reasons, but the year I dropped eating red meat, I actually experienced a subtle spiritual awakening that was key to bringing me to where I am now. Looking back I can see the change clearly, but at the time I had no idea there was a connection.
Yoga teaches that a fresh whole food diet that consists mainly of fruits, beautiful leafy greans, assorted vegetables, nuts, legumes, and a little milk, cottage cheese, and yogurt is the way to go. That is if, we desire a more friendly, and joyful consciousness, not to mention a closer relationship with the divine.
If I was eating meat now, I probably wouldn’t stop overnight. But I would stop eating beef and pork ASAP and eat more fish instead. I would also experiment with preparing vegetables in new creative ways. Have fun with your meals.
Juicing is an awesome way to get tons of great nutrients, and prana (life-force) from raw vegetables and fruits. Overcooking takes the life-force (prana or chi), out of food. I personally enjoy certain foods that are not raw, but I do eat more raw foods than not.
A good juicer and a serious heavy-duty blender makes life a whole lot of fun. I also love fresh citrus juice and find that I won’t drink it regularly if I don’t have a good juicer. So I included links below for my “weapons of choice” for having an awesome veggie lifestyle.
And here are two blogs I enjoy that have great ideas for super tasty raw veggies, fruits and other foods.