Letter to Yogis - Brain Food - 5/12/23
Dear yogis,
Thank you so much for practicing yoga with me and for your contributions. I hope you are well and living your best life. There will be a morning class on Mother’s Day - we’ll unblock all chakras through restorative poses and I’m quite excited about for that! Preponderance of blankets is a must this Sunday.
Last week we spoke about food to nourish our body and mind through the current season. This week I want to share with you some foods that we must avoid so we don’t harm our most complex and vital organ - the brain. The brain controls our thoughts, emotions, moods and behaviors, and oversees nearly everything - our movement, balance, memory, perceptions, language, reasoning, decision making, problem solving and many other cognitive abilities. The scientific interest in healthful, supportive “brain foods” as well as harmful foods is at an all time high. We all want to sail into our retirement years feeling healthy, pain-free and with our cognitive abilities intact. As practicing yogis, we are aware that we must start doing something now, today, that our future self will thank us for. Eating healthfully is practicing ahimsa (non-harming), as well as sauca and tapas (cleanliness and discipline.)
The alternative, the result of not caring for ourselves today, should be unacceptable to us: possible Alzheimer’s, dementia, cognitive impairment, inflammations, various neurodegenerative diseases and even diabetes 2 (linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline). It’s just not worth the ten minutes on the lips when so much beneficial, delicious food is available. Let’s start by listing the greatest known offenders.
Foods to avoid as much as possible, to stave off brain impairments:
Sugary drinks (sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks) cause poorer memory, slower learning and decreased brain volume. Processed foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats (fast foods and snack foods). Fried foods and foods using refined flour. Artificial sweeteners. High fat dairy products. Processed meats preserved by smoking, curing, or adding chemicals (bacon, sausage, deli meats.) Heavy, chronic alcohol consumption (chronic, long-term). Trans fats found in processed foods, baked goods and fried foods. White bread - it’s stripped of ALL natural nutrients, including fiber and vitamins. Excessive caffeine (over 2 cups per day.)
Foods to eat in abundance, the healthy brain supporters:
Unprocessed foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, whole grain breads, and lean healthy protein sources like fish, poultry, legumes). Instead of frying, opt for baking, grilling and roasting. Healthy fats (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fats) found in seeds, nuts and fatty fish. The simpler, cleaner our diet, the better our outcome.
Eating well is a form of self-respect. Go ahead and demand respect - from others, as well as from yourself.
Namaste, Mira
Donations of $5 - $15 per class, thank you so much (U. S. veterans are free)
For Zelle and Venmo payment info please email mirayogastudio@gmail.com
New students - please contact me first before joining a class Private or In-Person Classes upon request
Friday at 7pm EST Gentle Cozy Yoga
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85485997596?pwd=OFc3OFh3eWtvWFdsOC9YOVlXcEV1QT09
Meeting ID: 854 8599 7596 Passcode: YogabyMira
Sunday at 10 am EST Gentle Yoga Plus
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86219122174?pwd=bjFWSEcxdDZZakNYWEM4UGhpOE9Qdz09
Meeting ID: 862 1912 2174 Passcode: YogabyMira
Wednesday at 7pm EST Gentle Yoga
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85485997596?pwd=OFc3OFh3eWtvWFdsOC9YOVlXcEV1QT09
Meeting ID: 854 8599 7596 Passcode: YogabyMira
