vegan nutrition

Yesterday I picked up a book at Jivamukti Yoga Studio entitled Thrive: the Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance. I've been reading it steadily, and although I've been following a mostly vegan diet I admit it's been hard at times to figure out what works and what doesn't. Should I be eating fruit or green juices? Do I eat many small meals or a few big meals? How do I choose among fruits and vegetables?

I received some diet/nutritional clarification and recommendations last fall from Thara, the Ayurvedic doctor at the Chopra Center in NYC. She told me my dosha type (which is basically the energies that characterize your physical, mental, and spiritual makeup) and recommended certain foods, oils and herbs to balance everything out.

I found the book Thrive to be a great complement to her recommendations, and it also offers the nutritional/scientific basis for his food choices. The author, a professional Ironman triathlete, ended up with a vegan diet not for ethical reasons, but simply out of a desire to gain more energy, speed his recovery time, have higher mental and physical function, and keep a high muscle/low fat body.

It's funny that his conclusions, based on over 20 years of research and personal experimentation, yield the same foods that have been touted by doctors for their antioxidant properties, by activists for saving the lives of animals, by environmentalists for creating less stress on the environment, and by yoga practitioners for increased energy and awareness.

By the way, I haven't finished the book yet, but at the end there are several recipes and meal options which compose of his "Thrive" diet. Just glancing at them, they are designed to be quick and easy to make, and use lots of fresh, health, energy-boosting ingredients. (I'll let you know when I try the recipes.)

Peace,

Kaity