Hi!
Did Yogananda give any diet suggestions for people suffering from colitis?
Thanks!
—m, india
Yogananda stated that one cause of colitis can be Vitamin B deficiency. He suggested the following food sources of vitamin B: wholemeal flour, whole barley, whole unpolished rice, oatmeal, rye, nuts, eggs, milk, peas, beans, lentils, and yeast. Vitamin B is also present in small amounts in nearly all fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes and spinach. Because Vitamin B is soluble in water, care should be taken to use the water that vegetables are cooked in. Better still, steam your vegetables.
In his book The Art and Science of Raja Yoga, Swami Kriyananda wrote, “Basically, what is necessary for all stomach [i.e., digestive] ailments is the elimination of poisons, and the stimulation of energy in the stomach, through fasting, better diet, and right exercise.” Concerning colitis specifically, he wrote: “Colitis, like most stomach ailments, is usually associated with some nervous disturbance. Concentrate on curing not only the effect, but also the cause. The postures and breathing exercises, and above all meditation, can gradually restore one to a state of harmony, physically as well as mentally.”
Blessings,
Gyandev
