According to the Ayurvedic constitution, an individual tends to have dominance in one of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. Upon understanding the dominant dosha, one can learn what to eat and what to avoid for balancing them. Identify your dominant dosha on the AyuRythm app.
Whatever the dominant dosha is, eating organic food is key to a healthy body. Organic food includes whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, and yogurt-based drinks. Ayurveda also advises eating seasonal foods and advocates that these foods are nature’s way of telling what to eat, and when.
Here is some guidance on what foods to consume based on your dosha
Diet for Kapha Dosha
Kaphas tend to have sweet tooth and disliking to veggies and greens. However, people with Kapha as the dominant dosha should concentrate more on eating whole grains such as millet, amaranth, and quinoa. Even sprouted beans such as mung, split peas, and lentils are good for Kapha as they are excellent sources of protein and fiber. When nuts are concerned, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are best for people with Kapha.
Leafy greens are an important part of the diet for Kaphas. Spinach, lettuces, collard greens, and mustard greens are great for people with dominant Kapha. Their diet may also include bean sprouts, bell peppers, peas, corn, potatoes, and radishes.
What to avoid?
People with dominant Kapha tend to be prone to depression, colds, weight gain, and allergies.
In order to control this, it is recommended that the practice springtime detox.
They tend to retain mucous, hence, they are advised to limit their intake of ghee and yogurt.
They may also consume turmeric and chili peppers to expel excess mucous.
Caffeinated beverages like coffee and teas are good for Kapha’s diet.
” People with Kapha Dosha are advised to avoid oily foods and sugary foods.
They should also limit their cheese and red meat intake”
Diet for Pitta Dosha
- People with Pitta constituency tend to like cooler environments and dislike environments and foods with excess heat. Therefore, it can be observed that the Pittas and the Vatas have highly contrasting diets. Unlike Vatas, the Pittas can consume colder foods. However, it is very important for them to avoid foods with excess heat, and sipping on cool water or coconut water, especially during warm months is good. Raw veggies and herbs are great for the pittas.
- Some beneficial grains include rice, oats, and barley. They are also advised to pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconut into their diets. When it comes to beans, the best ones are black beans, split peas, chickpeas, and mung beans.
- Fruits like apples, melons, grapes, mangoes, pineapples, plums, cherries, and plums. The Pittas can consume dairy in their diets.
- When experiencing stomach issues, pittas may chew fennel seeds. If the pittas face issues due to balancing, it is best for them to consume cooling herbs such as Neem, Shatavari, Bacopa, Triphala, and Amalaki.
What to avoid?
Pittas should avoid consuming spicy foods as these foods aggravate the dosha.
They should avoid eating spicy curries, peppers, and other spicy condiments.
Excess fried foods are also a no-no for pittas. It is also advised that they limit meat intake.
”Consuming coffee and other warm drinks may throw Pitta diets off balance so they should be kept to a minimum“
Diet for Vata Dosha
- The Vatas are dry, cold, and windy in nature. Therefore, this dosha is very beneficial for people with Vata constitution to eat grounding, warm, and nourishing food. It is also important for them to have warm beverages – especially the ones consisting of herbal ingredients. Cooked rice, wheat, and oats are considered to be good for Vatas.
- Just like any other diet, the Vata diet too should include fruits but what foods do good is something important to consider. The best fruits include mangoes, bananas, melons, coconut, dates, and peaches. Vegetables like carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, beans, garlic, onions, okra, sweet potatoes, and asparagus are all beneficial.
- Unlike Kaphas, Vatas can have good oils and dairy. They can have meat, eggs, and fish.
What to avoid?
It is advised that the Vatas avoid cold drinks, smoothies, and juices.
They should also limit the consumption of raw foods.
They should also limit the consumption of caffeinated drinks and instead have to calm down like ginger and ashwagandha.