Raw Cacao Bet you didn’t think we’d be telling you to eat more chocolate! But specifically, foods that are high in raw cacao, or just raw cacao nibs. This superfood is packed with antioxidants that naturally help your body fight disease, as well as magnesium to help support your emotional health. Plus, eating chocolate releases endorphins, which can make you feel happier and more connected to your yoga practice. This matches up perfectly with yoga's aim of helping you live a longer, happier life. A few cacao nibs in your daily smoothie can be the perfect pick-me-up on a cloudy day.
Quinoa
Yoga can be quite an intense physical workout, which means you need as much protein as you can get for concentration and energy. Quinoa is a great way to get that in your diet without having to change too much. Quinoa also contains all nine essential amino acids, iron, vitamin B2 and magnesium. There’s a reason it’s called a superfood! Just substitution rice or oatmeal for a serving of quinoa can keep your body in fit.
FRUIT Fresh fruit to be precise. Along with being a refreshing and delicious treat, fresh fruit is full of fibre, antioxidants and natural sugars. So they’re not only good for your health, but they’re a great way to give yourself a boost of energy and satisfy the hunger you build up during your practice. If you’re not sure how to fit fresh fruit into your day, our chef has this amazing recipe you can try:
Cold Soup of Melon and Avocado One of the dishes that our guests love is this fresh soup, perfect for the summer days in Mallorca. It’s really easy to prepare, and by changing the ingredients' proportions it can also be served as a dessert. It’s the best snack after a sweaty practice, giving you fibre, vitamin C and good fats.
Ingredients:Half a melon, One avocado, One cucumber, Two yoghurts (dairy or soya), A few leaves of fresh mint, One lemon or orange, Olive oil, Salt & pepper, Spanish ham (optional as a topping), Mango (optional as a topping),
Method: Clean the melon and cut it into cubes. Do the same with the avocado and the cucumber.Mix all the ingredients with the lemon or orange zest and its juice in a big bowl and blend it until smooth. Strain for a better texture. Leave it in the fridge for at least one hour. Serve in a small bowl. Add your toppings of choice. Spanish ham for a savoury option or mango for the sweeter version.
SMOOTHIES
Before starting your practice, a refreshing green smoothie can be just the thing to give you the energy and focus to get the best from your sessions. A power smoothie made of fruits, green vegetables, nut butter and coconut water can stave off dehydration, increase energy and even improve flexibility! Plus it’s packed full of nutrients to keep you healthy and fight off illness.
FRUIT
Fresh fruit to be precise. Along with being a refreshing and delicious treat, fresh fruit is full of fibre, antioxidants and natural sugars. So they’re not only good for your health, but they’re a great way to give yourself a boost of energy and satisfy the hunger you build up during your practice. If you’re not sure how to fit fresh fruit into your day, try a variety of fruits like blueberries, bananas, and add fruits you like. Or enjoy a refreshing fruit cocktail with sparkling water.
Dark Leafy Greens
Speaking of greens, are you getting enough of yours? Specifically of dark, leafy greens are a great source of B, C, E and K vitamins, as well as iron, fibre and calcium. Whether you eat them cooked with your dinner, blend them into a smoothie or eat them raw as a snack, adding some dark leafy greens to your diet can improve your overall health and vitality.
At Yoga retreats in the Balearic Islands they not only teach yoga, but provide home-cooked meals that fuel your practice and share their recipes too.
TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH !
