The world celebrates International Yoga Day today (on June 21). Marked annually, the day is dedicated to raising awareness about the various benefits of practicing yoga. It also promotes the holistic approach towards health and well-being. For the unversed, yoga is an ancient practice which originated in India and has over the years gained worldwide popularity across the globe, for its physical, spiritual, as well as mental benefits. This year the theme of the International Yoga Day, as detemined by the United Nations, is “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. According to the official UN website, it captures the shared aspiration of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.
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International Yoga Day 2024: History And Significance:
The proposal to observe International Yoga Day was first made by India at the United Nations’ 69th General Assembly. On December 11, 2014, the United Nations through a unanimous resolution, proclaimed June 21 as International Day of Yoga. Notably, the World Health Organisation also mentioned Yoga as a means to improve health in its Global Action Plan for Physical Activity 2018-30.
International Yoga Day 2024: Guidelines On What To Eat and Avoid:
As mentioned earlier, yoga promotes holistic approach towards healthy living; this inevitably means, it is equally important to keep up a nutritious diet, along with yoga practice, for a healthy lifestyle. Your diet plays a catalyst in the practice and benefits of yoga. As per experts, it is advised that people must avoid eating heavy meals prior to their workout. Have a small snack or fruit like bananas or nuts, seeds and berries, an hour prior to the yoga session. Post the yoga session, drink plenty of water to replenish the fluids in the body; you can also consume beverages like coconut water, nimbu paani et al. Avoid overeating after the Yoga session and instead, have healthy and nutritious meals, which are light and easy to digest.
Also Read: Benefits Of Alkaline Water: Health Benefits, How To Make Alkaline Water And Its Side Effects
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5 Recipes To Add To Your Post-Yoga Diet:
Here we have handpicked five dishes for your post-yoga meal and they hit the brief well. Let’s get started with the recipes:
1. Raw Papaya Salad:
This Thai dish is a perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy and tangy. Raw papaya strands tossed in numerous flavourful toppings and peanuts are every bit delectable. For the recipe for raw papaya salad, click here.
2. Coconut Water Lemonade:
A glass of fresh coconut water is touted to be a natural rehydration drink. But if you feel bored with the same drink every day, here’s a recipe that can elevate your experience by leaps and bounds. This is a delicious lemonade that includes coconut water in it. Click here to know more.
3. Oats Chilla:
Bored of your regular oats? It’s time to switch to oats chilla. The oats stir up the nutritional quotient of besan (gram flour) cheela, as they are loaded with essential nutrients. Add your favourite vegetables to prepare this low-calorie and nutritious high meal. To see the recipe click here.
4. Beetroot Soup:
This delicious bowl of soup is bursting with the sweet taste of beetroot. Add some bottle gourd for some depth and tomatoes for a subtle tang. This beetroot soup is extremely healthy and has a low-calorie content to keep the fitness streak in you happy. For the full recipe, click here.
5. Hummus With Avocado:
A fresh wrap made with whole wheat flour is stuffed with protein-packed chickpeas as well as some avocados, rich in healthy fats. This meal is a whole new level for low-calorie dishes, which makes no compromise on the taste. Get the recipe here.
Now that you have a complete guide for keeping up a healthy diet during your yoga sessions, we say, follow them well and enjoy a good health.
Eat healthy, stay fit!
