World's Fastest Diet to Lose Weight

World's fastest diet! Does it exist or is it a myth? Well, if you are curious to know what is the fastest diet in the world, then this article shall provide you the necessary information. Fastest diet refers to diet that brings about quick weight loss in a natural way. Today, people have become too much conscious about their diet and losing weight has become one of their prime objectives in life. In the process of doing so, they often commit the common mistake of following crash diets, that show reverse effects in the long run. However, the fastest diet entails balancing the nutrients in desired proportion and maintain the calorie count at a standard level.

Facts about World's Fastest Diet

The most harmful of all foods are those containing carbohydrates in simple forms. You automatically lose weight if you curtail consumption of carbohydrates drastically. While planning the fastest diet, you must incorporate those foods that are nutritious and healthy. Another important aspect is that, you must limit your calories only to 1500, until you are undergoing heavy impact exercises. Thus, count your calories while having meals.

Curtail Simple Carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates should be eliminated completely if you want to achieve quick weight loss. White flour, refined sugar, white bread and white rice have dangerous consequences in body. Avoid fast foods and junks completely. Instead you can replace with complex carbohydrates, like whole wheat pasta, brown bread, oatmeal and cornflakes. These foods contain healthy carbs that are essential for you in small amounts.

Include Unsaturated Fatty Acids
Omega-3-fatty acids belong to group of unsaturated fatty acids that are necessary to fulfill the nutritional demand of your body. Different types of fish like tuna, salmon, herring, mackerel are rich sources of omega fatty acids. Dairy products like low fat butter and cheese also contain unsaturated fatty acids. If you are aiming to lose weight then you can have peanuts instead of almonds or cashews. Lentils, pulses and peas are excellent sources of fatty acids.

More Amount of Proteins
Proteins become the prime source of nutrition when you are curtailing fats and carbohydrates from your diet. Rich sources of proteins include animal products like lean meat, chicken breast, beef rib and turkey. Egg white and skimmed milk also contain high amounts of proteins. Along with these foods, you must combine vegetables and fruits in large amounts to give your body fibers, vitamins and minerals.

World's Fastest Diet Plan

• Start your day with a glass of warm water mixed with lemon juice. Lemon water is also known as the master cleanse diet that helps in emulsification of fats. Drink at least 3 glasses of water within an hour to detoxify your body early in the morning. You must consume at least 3 liters of water daily.
• Never skip your breakfast in the morning. Your breakfast should comprise one hard-boiled egg or scrambled eggs. You can also have oats or cornflakes with skimmed milk. Have a banana at breakfast or a fruit dish containing apples, avocado, guava, melon and cantaloupe.
• Have small portion of lunch and incorporate more protein during lunch time. Have boiled chicken, baked fish or grilled turkey along with a plate of fresh vegetable salad. Tofu salad, spinach soup and whole wheat tortillas are enough for lunch.
• You dinner should be as light as possible. Have vegetarian meals for dinner. Prepare a soup by boiling carrots, cabbage, beet, broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce and onions. You can also bake the vegetables and cook in minimum amounts of extra virgin olive oil. Soups prepared from pulses and lentils are also healthy.
• If you tend to feel hungry between meals, then you can quench your hunger with fresh fruit juices, peanuts, whole wheat crackers and popcorn. Avoid canned juices, aerated drinks and sugary foods.

I hope you have understood how effectively nutrients have been balanced in this diet plan. Losing weight in a healthy manner in quite possible by following the world's fastest diet explained in the aforementioned content. Consume meals in small portions and have snacks that are low in calories to maintain the standard calorie count.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/worlds-fastest-diet-to-lose-weight.html

Ramdev Baba Yoga for Weight Loss

Yoga popularized by Ramdev baba has gained immense popularity in the past couple of years. With increasingly large number of people benefiting from the yogic exercises suggested by him, it has become a great alternative to eliminate the extra body fat and regain a slimmer and healthier body.

Reasons Behind Popularity of Yoga
Hailed by the New York Times as the "Indian Who Built Yoga Empire", Ramdev baba is a yoga guru who has become an international figure, owing to his popularity of making yogic sciences available to the masses, in simple and easy steps. He believes that yoga and ayurveda both have the ability to impart healthy body to even a diseased person. Many of his followers have reaped immense benefits from his yogic exercises as well as medicines.

Readers must understand that Ramdev baba has not invented any new techniques of doing yoga, rather he has made yoga simpler and easier for the laymen to understand. A large number of people attending his camps all across the globe have claimed to have reaped phenomenal benefits by practicing yoga. Weight loss is one of the health areas where maximum number of people have gained benefits. People with thyroid problems, who find exercises ineffective in their weight control have been reported to have benefited from yoga and breathing exercises.

Yoga Asana For Weight Loss: Cycling Pose

Ramdev baba yoga focuses more on living a healthy lifestyle by combining it with a few sessions of yogic exercises and pranayama (breathing exercises). One of the most popular exercises recommended by him is to practice the cycling pose, which is very simple and effective. Following are the steps to do this exercise which is also called Pada Sanchalanasana:

• Lie on a bed or yoga mat with your face upwards. Just like in the primary pose of Shavasana.
• Relax and close your eyes for sometime by being conscious of your entire body.
• Think of how we use our legs during cycling. You have to do exactly the same.
• Open your eyes, breathe deeply, and start practicing the cycling asana.
• Raise your right leg little above the floor for at least 2 feet in the air.
• Bend the knee and gradually bring the thigh up to the chest.
• Straighten the leg upward, with the sole towards the ceiling.
• Now lower the straight leg in forward movement.
• Repeat this entire process by going forward and backward ten times.
• While raising and lowering the right leg, keep the other leg straight, touching the mat or bed.
• Repeat the entire procedure with the left leg.

Remember to inhale while straightening the leg and exhale while bending the knee.

Pranayama for Weight Loss: Kapalbhati Pranayama

Although there are six to seven breathing exercises that have been popularized by Ramdev baba, the most effective one is Kapalbhati Pranayama. The word 'Kapalbhati' is derived from the Sanskrit word "kapal" meaning "forehead" and "bhati" meaning light. It is said that practicing this pranayama imparts luster and shine to the forehead, improving our overall health. Kapalbhati pranayama is one of the most preferred and very effective breathing exercises. In Kapalbhati, there is a forceful exhalation that is accompanied by passive inhalation. Following are the steps to perform this breathing exercise:

• Sit cross-legged in a comfortable asana and breath normally.
• The spine, back, and shoulder must be in vertical alignment. You must sit straight by elongating your spine and lengthening your neck. The back of your head and spine must be aligned properly.
• Relax and close your eyes. Let your breathing be normal. Don't strain or think about anything else. Just try to focus on your breathing.
• The hands must be in gyan mudra. This means that your thumb and index fingertips must meet, and the wrist must rest gently on the knees with the palms turned slightly upwards.
• Let the stomach muscles relax, and mentally prepare yourself to breathe.
• Now, expel the air as forcefully as you can. Do not strain. This will cause the abdominal muscles to be drawn inwards. It is just like the stomach muscles are sucked in. Remember not to draw your stomach inwards without exhaling. Your exhalation will automatically cause the abdominal muscles to be drawn inwards.
• Allow the inhalation to occur totally without any extra efforts.
• Repeat the exhalation and inhalation cycle for at least 10 times.
• In the starting sessions, inhale and exhale as per your body strength.

Initially, you may experience mild pain in the abdominal region; however, it may disappear with more practice. Kapalbhati pranayama must only be practiced on an empty stomach. The ideal time for practicing it is early in the morning. People who wish to practice kapalbhati in the evening should do so, only after 4-5 hours of their afternoon lunch. Yogic and breathing exercises supplemented by proper diet for weight loss can lead to a healthy body and mind. Ramdev baba encourages individuals aiming for weight loss to stop the consumption of aerated or carbonated drinks. He recommends the consumption of green vegetables, sprouts, pulses, salads, and fibrous foods, and avoidance of spicy or oily foods. Drinking one or two glasses of water every morning after we wake up, not only fosters digestion but also helps balance the fluids in our body.

Many people have benefited from Ramdev baba yoga for weight loss and individuals interested in watching him live can visit his camps or purchase his yoga CDs. The official website of Ramdev baba provides information regarding the yogic exercises to lose weight.

Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only. Always consult a physician before starting any physical fitness program in order to reduce the risk of injury.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ramdev-baba-yoga-for-weight-loss.html

Things You Should Never Do While Trying to Get in Shape

Did You Know?
Using tapeworm is one of the worst and most dangerous measures taken to shed off pounds. On consuming tapeworm pills, the worm grows inside the body, and lives off the food we eat. Apart from being very gross (imagine a live worm in your stomach), it can be dangerous and can lead to death.

 

Healthy weight loss is achieved by following a healthy diet, increasing your level of physical activity, and adopting good lifestyle habits. Period. But some lack the motivation or patience to follow healthy techniques to lose weight. Those desperately looking to get in shape will resort to any 'quick' method available. They may not realize that these methods can put their overall health at risk.

Here are the common myths or wrong weight loss methods that should be avoided. Make sure you do not make these mistakes when trying to lose weight.

 

Relying on Packaged 'Diet' Food

Nowadays, a lot of prepackaged diet meals are available in the market (Pure Package, Diet to Go). Here, you get a pre-designed packed box of breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner every day. As these foods contain less amounts of calories, they are claimed to be effective. However, what people are unaware of is that these foods contain preservatives, sugar, and other additives. Secondly, drastically cutting down on calories can slow down your metabolism. Products like diet soda contains artificial sweeteners and caffeine, which does more harm to the body than good. Substituting a balanced and nutritious meal with anything marked 'diet' or 'fat-free' food is actually not healthy. Consuming foods with high sugar can lead to diabetes and kidney damage, whereas, consuming foods with high amounts of sodium can lead to hypertension. Packaged or anything coming in a box is not healthy. It may be convenient, but the additives in these foods will prevent you from losing weight, and is not healthy either.

Eating Fat-Free Food

What most of us are unaware about is that fat-free does not necessarily mean low in calories. It's true that consuming less fats can help you get in shape sooner, but packaged 'fat-free' foods are loaded with carbohydrates and sugar, and hence, are high in calories. Secondly, low fat foods like dried fruits, nuts, beans, dairy, packaged yogurt, salad dressings, pretzels, etc., contain high amounts of calories. For example, fruit juices (fresh as well as packaged ones) contain no fat, but have high calories. Therefore, consuming more than 1 glass of fruit juice will not help in warding off excess weight, due to the high caloric intake.

 Relying on a Liquid Diet

To rely only on fruit and vegetable juice to lose weight is a wrong method, for two reasons. Firstly, by substituting your meal with only juice, you decrease the calorie intake drastically. It will help lose weight, but it can cause health problems like lack of energy, nutritional deficiency, headaches, stomach disorders, etc. We require carbohydrates and proteins to gain energy. Secondly, if you consume fruit or vegetable juices, but do not cut down on their portion sizes, you may still gain weight because of the high calorie content (read the aforementioned 'Eating Fat-Free Food'). Watching your portions, following a balanced diet, and exercising to burn off excess calories, is the best way to be healthy and fit.

 Not Cutting Down on Food Intake

Exercise plays an important role in maintaining healthy weight. It is true that exercise helps burn extra calories, but it will probably not help you much if you do not take care of your diet by reducing your calorie intake. If you believe you can exercise every day and eat to your heart's content, you are mistaken. For healthy weight loss, you need to burn more calories than you consume. So, you need to limit the intake of food, else, the amount of calories consumed will exceed those burnt off. Now, those sweating out for hours together at the gym, did you know that extreme exercising is also linked to premature aging?

 Using Sauna Suits or Rubber Belts

You may come across many products that claim to promote quick weight loss, like rubber belts, sauna suits, etc. If you wish to get rid of excess weight, you need to burn off fat. Sauna does not help burn fat, it just helps in losing water weight. You will regain weight as soon as you replenish your lost fluids by drinking water. Sauna suits induce excessive sweating, which can have harmful side effects like severe dehydration, loss of electrolytes, heatstroke, etc. Using a sauna suit is not a safe way to lose weight.

 Having Time-Based Meal Plans

A diet that suggests you to follow a rigid meal plan is not a practical approach to weight loss. In the present day lifestyle, it is impossible to follow a rigid time-based meal plan, unless, of course, you are waited on hand and foot. If your diet plan says not to have meals after 6pm, it may not be possible every day, as you are working, have chores to fulfill, etc. Having specific set of foods at specific times is impractical and difficult. In fact, eating healthy snacks when hungry can boost your metabolism. Remember, eating when hungry, and only so much as to suppress your hunger, is the correct way to go.

 Believing Skinny is Fit

Weight loss is usually recommended to those who are overweight or have a BMI higher than normal. However, once you get rid of the unwanted fat, you should aim to maintain that, and stop the unwanted fat from returning. Remember, being skinny does not mean you are fit or healthy. In most of the cases, being skinny is associated with fasting and starving, which leads to health problems like nutritional deficiency, headaches, stomach disorders, dehydration, etc. A skinny person can be as unhealthy as an overweight person due to wrong food and lifestyle habits. Compromising on your food and following crazy diets can be harmful. Being underweight takes a toll on your overall health, and is commonly associated with malnutrition, weak immune system, disorders of the skin, hair, stomach, etc.

 Skipping Exercise

As mentioned above, it is a myth that only extensive exercising or strength training in the gym helps lose weight. Although there is no doubt that these exercises are effective, there is no denying the fact that other exercise types like aerobic exercises, household chores (lawn mowing, washing the car, scrubbing), or other daily physical activities like climbing the stairs, are also equally effective. Walking, running, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc. (along with good food habits), help in losing and maintaining proper body weight. A regular exercise regime combined with a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle habits is the ideal way to get in shape.

 Starving Yourself

Cutting down on fatty and high-calorie foods is recommended in every weight loss plan. But some take it to another level, forget the word 'wrong' foods, and go on a near-death starvation diet. Our body needs food to keep going, to gain energy, and also to perform different functions in the body. Starvation deprives the body of its fuel. Along with fat loss, starvation also causes muscle loss. Secondly, as your body starts conserving energy, the metabolism slows down drastically, and fewer calories are burnt. This means, even when you switch to a healthy diet later on, you will have trouble burning calories. Did you know that the effects of starvation can take nearly a year to reverse completely?

 Having Diet Pills/Drugs

Diet pills and drugs, like appetite suppressants, magic pills, laxatives, purgatives, etc., are used by some dieters to get in shape quickly. Many manufacturers claim weight loss with these pills, sans diet or exercise. Although this may appear very convenient and easy, it is not safe. Many diet pills contain large amounts of caffeine or appetite suppressants that will never make you feel hungry. There are no immediate effects of these diet pills, except a few side effects like anxiety, headaches, fatigue, lethargy, etc. But these pills are very addictive, and there are chances of developing a tolerance for the same. You will resume the lost weight after stopping the pills, if you do not follow a proper diet and exercise routine.

Sometimes, people adopt extreme weight loss methods like starvation or the tapeworm pills method mentioned above. It is not only dangerous but can have serious long-term health hazards. If you come across any bizzare or unconventional diet or weight loss tips, make sure you have detailed information about all its pros and cons, and after effects. If in doubt, it is always recommended to consult a doctor or a certified nutritionist before commencing any weight loss routine.

It is possible to lose weight with healthy methods. Following are the things you can do to achieve an ideal weight and maintain it.

What To Do

• Follow healthy food habits.
• Consult a nutritionist and understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy food.
• Stop binging and emotional eating.
• Do not skip meals. But, watch your portions.
• Exercise regularly for 20-30 minutes every day.
• Be physically active.
• Follow a practical weight loss plan.
• Continue maintaining a healthy lifestyle even after you lose weight.
• Try to reduce stress.
• Stay focused and motivated.

Remember a simple principle - as excess weight is not gained overnight, it cannot be lost in a short time either. Give yourself some time. Although healthy methods may take a bit longer to work, they are more effective, and definitely beneficial in the long term.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only. Consult your doctor/nutritionist for a personalized diet plan.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/things-you-should-never-do-while-trying-to-get-in-shape.html

Why Yoga is Better Than Going to the Gym

International Yoga Day
June 21 was declared International Day of Yoga by the United Nations General Assembly, in December 2014.

While deciding any type of exercise over the other, your approach and purpose behind making a choice is very important. Let's say yoga is the best. But, it is not like an intensive 15-day routine that will help you lose five pounds a week. Although, if you seek complete health, then it is the perfect option for you.

In this age of race and competition, what we continuously aim at is achieving a balance. That is what yoga teaches us. To balance, not only through physical postures, but throughout several facets in our life. According to Patanjali, yoga is 'Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha', or the cessation of mental fluctuations. Calming the mind is what yoga is all about. So gym or yoga? Which is better? Let's find out.

Why Yoga is Good For You

1. Tones the Body and Mind
Going to the gym mostly trains only the physique. It strengthens the muscles and makes the body sturdy and well-built. Yoga, on the other hand, tones the body as well as the mind. Flexibility is attained when you practice different asanas (postures); these make you lean. But yoga is not merely about the asanas, as it also includes various breathing practices that ensure a healthy and peaceful mind.

2. No Equipment Needed
Except for the fact that you must be awake, yoga requires no preparation, nor any heavy equipment for a workout. It can be practiced anywhere. If I feel like doing some asanas early in the morning at 4 o'clock, I can. All I need is myself, and perhaps a mat (a carpet works too). That is definitely affordable, right?

3. No Risk of Injuries
Another point where yoga wins over training in the gym, is that it is free from any risks of physical injury. You do not have the chance of accidentally hurting yourself because you lifted weights, or because you were in an uncomfortable position. In yoga, you move and stretch with ease, and only where you can.

4. Improves Metabolism
Metabolism refers to the chemical processes within our body that break down matter (food) to produce energy components like proteins. Digestion is an important element of metabolism. Yoga improves your digestive system. If you do not feel hunger, you would start to, or if you tend to overeat, you would begin to cut down on some comfort food.

5. Non-competitive
The environment in a gym is different, where you tend to compare yourself with the people around you. How much faster, how much better than others can I do, is the goal while you are walking on a treadmill or in an aerobics session. There also are many distractions like loud music; you tend to simply follow the group in a gym routine. On the contrary, yoga requires you to focus on yourself, no one else matters. You may be a little bulkier than others, but the shape of your body is no important here.

6. A Stress Buster
After a heavy workout at the gym, you may experience fatigue and tiredness. Alternatively, with yoga, which mostly ends with a few minutes of breathing and meditation, you don't experience that. It is a powerful stress buster, as it heals you from both, the outside and inside.

7. Healthy Eating Habits
A routine in the gym may make you feel hungry after exercise, and also stressed out at times. You may end up consuming as much calories as you burned, or even more. The goodness of yoga lies in that it naturally directs you to healthy dietary habits. You tend to eat at the right times, and the right quantities of highly nutritious foods. All because you know the rhythm of your body.

8. Breathing Connects the Mind and Body
Mindfulness, being in the present, looking within ourselves, and introspection just happens, of course, when one practices yoga. Any change in our emotions alters our breathing pattern. So, our breath is the only powerful tool to control our emotions, that further helps us maintain a healthy body. You learn about your body through a variety of postures. The mind-body union, which is the basic underlying concept of 'yoga' ('yuj' the root term meaning union), also improves memory and the ability to concentrate.

9. Saves Time and Money
One of the simplest reasons of why yoga is good, is that it saves a lot of time and money. You need not waste your time in traveling to the gym, nor adjusting yourself to the gym timings. Also, the fees you pay to get in shape seem a waste when you again put on weight, because you discontinued the exercise. Yoga saves you all that trouble.

Physical exercise combined with meditation inculcates happiness and peace within. So, especially today, when most of the stress is mental and psychological, yoga provides a better way to find your own self, and accept it happily.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/why-yoga-is-better-than-going-to-the-gym.html

Fat Loss Factor and Diet Tips: What to Eat After a Run

Fat Loss Factor and Diet Tips: What to Eat After a Run: Importance of the Post-Run Snack Whether you're training for a race or just running for fitness and fun, it's important that you...

Can Turning into a Pescatarian be Beneficial to Your Health?

TIP
When following a pescatarian diet, make sure you have no more than 12 ounces of low mercury fish every week.

A pescatarian diet focuses on eating fish, along with a variety of vegetables. It is essentially a vegan diet, plus seafood. The diet excludes all meat products, including poultry and red meat. Turning pescatarian from a vegetarian is always beneficial, as a vegan diet lacks vitamin B12, which one can get from fish. However, are there any other advantages of becoming a pescatarian? Plenty! Here are all the benefits of turning into a pescatarian.

Low in Saturated Fats

With meat cut off from the diet, you don't have to worry about sources of unhealthy fats that carry cardiovascular risks with them. To put it simply, this type of diet is very low in saturated fats, as it does not contain pork, beef, lamb, and poultry foods. All these meat products contain too much of saturated fats, which can be detrimental to health, particularly to the heart. Saturated fats increase the triglyceride levels in the blood, a potential risk factor for artery-clogging. So, following a diet that is essentially low in saturated fats can certainly help one stay healthy.

Heart-friendly

One of the most important benefits of this diet is that it provides ample amounts of omega-3s, healthy fats that slash LDL (bad) cholesterol and help maintain good cholesterol, in turn reducing the risk of heart diseases. That is why regular consumption of fish is considered to be good for the heart.

Provides an Anti-inflammatory Effect

Omega-3s act as a natural anti-inflammatory agent, which works to alleviate inflammation in the entire body. In fact, omega-3s could be a natural substitute for over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen. So, the pescatarian diet that essentially provides an anti-inflammatory effect can also help treat and even prevent joint inflammation associated with chronic ailments like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Assists in Weight Loss

A pescatarian diet that is high in omega-3s can also assist in an endeavor to lose weight. As we know, insulin spikes cause an increase in fat storage. Omega-3s lowers insulin levels, crucial for burning those fat reserves. So, getting adequate omega-3s allows the body to easily access fat stores for energy. Thus, more fat is used everyday, which works to lose extra pounds.

Healthy Source of Proteins

Although red meat such as beef are good sources of protein, protein intake from sea-food and plant-based sources is a better choice from a health standpoint. Red meat consumption has been linked to an increased risk of mortality from cancer and other diseases. So, replacing red meat with healthy sources of protein such as seafood and plant-based food would obviously be a sensible decision.

Improves Insulin Resistance

This diet also benefits in regulating blood sugar levels. High intake of omega-3s has shown to make the cells more sensitive to actions of insulin. This effect of reducing insulin resistance can help achieve better control over blood sugar levels, which is particularly beneficial for diabetic patients.

Disadvantages

As fish is the primary constituent of a pescatarian diet, following it regularly may increase health risks associated with excessive mercury exposure. Mercury, a highly toxic organic compound, is present in fish due to pollution of water bodies. This compound can negatively affect the brain and the nervous system, and cause symptoms like infertility, high blood pressure, memory loss, vision problems, and tremors.

The risk of mercury poisoning always exists when eating fish that contain high amounts of mercury. As such, avoid eating swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tuna, and tilefish. Instead, go for salmon, sardines, scallops, trout, shrimp, and tilapia, as they contain the lowest levels of mercury.

On the whole, following a pescatarian diet is healthy, provided you have fish in moderation. Keep in mind that vegetables are also an integral part of this diet. So just don't stick to eating fish, and include a variety of vegetables and fruits into your diet.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/can-turning-into-a-pescatarian-be-beneficial-to-your-health.html

What to Eat When on a Rastafarian Diet

Did You Know?
Although the Rastafarian diet has not been formulated for weight loss, it can certainly assist in losing extra pounds and maintaining weight.

The Rastafarian diet has been designed for the followers of Rastafari ideology, a spiritual movement that started in Jamaica and Ethiopia in the 1930s. The spiritual ideology is considered to be a way of life that denounces materialistic comforts and sensual pleasures. The Rastafarian diet too revolves around foods that help promote spiritual upliftment. Foods that hinder spiritual progress are forbidden in this form of diet. The diet revolves around eating pure, and clean non-meat sources of food.

The foods that are included in this diet are considered to be sacred by the Rastafarian people, and often tagged as Ital food. The word 'Ital' comes from the English word 'vital'. Followers of this diet firmly believe that these vital foods boost the livity, or the life energy, the life force that is said to reside within us.

Foods to Eat

Natural Foods
The Rastafarian diet focuses more on eating earth-grown foods. Vegetables and fruits that are cultivated without the use of any synthetic chemicals form an integral part of this diet. Foods that are processed and involve the use of artificial preservatives and sweeteners are against the ethics of the Rastafarian diet.

Coconuts as well as its extracts are an integral part of the Rastafarian or Ital cuisine. No wonder, quite a few Rastafarian recipes contain coconut and coconut milk as their primary ingredient. Other foods that can be eaten when leading a Rastafarian way of life are legumes, whole grains, and beans.

Fish
Although meat products are not allowed in the Rastafarian diet, one can include fish in it. However, it excludes shellfish from the diet, as they regard it as an impure food. Crayfish and shrimp primarily eat dead stuff and prey on other fish, which is not pure. In fact, large fish prey on smaller ones for survival. So, when it comes to including fish in the Rastafarian diet , the size of the fish matters. Therefore, fish with a length more than 12 inches are prohibited. However, strict followers of this diet mostly prefer to completely drop fish from the diet.

Herbal Tea
The diet encourages the use of herbal tea, because they contain natural ingredients with minimal processing (if any). Anything that is herbal and does not contain unnatural ingredients can be included in this diet.

Foods to Avoid 

Meat
Being labeled as a vegetarian diet, meat products have no place in a Rastafarian diet. Rastafarians are against eating meat, as it is believed to lower the livity, or the life energy. They believe that handling meat is like touching a dead body; hence, they abstain from eating flesh.

However, those who aren't very rigid in following the diet may prefer to include meat that comes from clean sources. So, meat from cows, goats, and sheep can be included, as they graze on pastures. However, as pigs scavenge on rotten stuff, pork is excluded from the diet. Birds, camel, horse, and even rabbit meat is also forbidden for the same reason.

Dairy and Eggs
People following this diet are also advised to desist from eating animal-based products, such as dairy (milk, butter, cheese) and eggs.

Salt
Adding salt in any dish is also prohibited. That is why canned foods that are laced with high amounts of salt are forbidden in this diet. The rejection is due to the fact that salt contains additives like iodine, and undergoes a lot of processing. However, some followers prefer to use pure sea salt.

Alcohol
Leading a Rastafarian lifestyle means staying away from alcohol and cigarettes. Drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes only gives sensual pleasures, and moreover, is spiritually detrimental. Hence, alcohol consumption or smoking is against their beliefs. Followers of the Rastafarian diet also abstain from drinking caffeinated beverages, as they are processed and chemically altered to enhance their taste. That is why, coffee, sodas, and carbonated drinks are opposed by their followers.

The Rastafarian diet also gives importance to the type of material used in making cookware and other utensils. Followers of this diet are not allowed to use utensils other than clay or wood. Using metal utensils for cooking purposes is considered as a violation of the diet. On the whole, eating foods that are as close to their natural state, forms the basis of a Rastafarian diet. It is essentially a vegan diet that does not contain any salt or processed condiments.

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Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-to-eat-when-on-a-rastafarian-diet.html