| Ayurveda recommends foods for people according | | | | salads should not be eliminated completely as they |
| to their primary body type. The reason this is done is | | | | provide valuable nutrients. But vata should ground the |
| because it is believed foods can be both healing, and | | | | salad with a dressing made from oil and vinegar, and |
| the source of imbalance and difficulties. By eating | | | | be aware of the weather at the time of eating it. |
| foods according to our Ayurvedic body type, the | | | | Being more sensitive to cold, vata's should have |
| belief is that we will accumulate less Ama, or waste, | | | | salads on warmer days.Icy cold drinks are not |
| in the body.In Ayurveda, people are classified | | | | balancing for vata - in fact quite the opposite. Sugar |
| according to three principles, vata, kapha, and pitta. | | | | also throws vata types off balance, though vata are |
| But it's important to understand that although we | | | | lucky in that they can enjoy other sweets.Vata |
| may be dominant in one principle, we actually have all | | | | generally love fruit, and it suits their ayurvedic |
| three present in our body. The others are in a smaller | | | | constitution. The exceptions are apples, pears, |
| ration. Most people will actually be a combination of | | | | cranberries, watermelon and dried fruit. Vata types |
| two of these principles, with the third only playing a | | | | should go for sweet and moist fruit, like mangoes, |
| minor role. But because we all contain the three, any | | | | nectarines, bananas, coconut, fresh figs, peaches, and |
| of them can get out of balance.PittaCharacteristics of | | | | strawberries.Cooked grains like oatmeal, basmati rice, |
| Pitta dominant body types* determination | | | | and brown rice, are very grounding for the vata |
| * strong willed | | | | ayurvedic constitution. Beans (legumes), on the other |
| * good digestion | | | | hand, are not! Beans are cold, dry, and heavy - not |
| * initiative | | | | the attributes that support vata.Things that can |
| * energy | | | | imbalance vata dominant body types include:* a lot of |
| * passionate about many thingsAyurveda's Pitta | | | | travel, especially by plane |
| constitution is calmed by cooling foods, such as fresh | | | | * loud noises |
| fruit and vegetables. Bitter green vegetables like | | | | * constant stimulation |
| watercress, parsley, collards and most greens suit | | | | * drugs, sugar and alcohol |
| pitta. Fruits that suit pitta body types include sweet | | | | * cold climates (especially extremely cold ones) and |
| berries, sweet apples and apricots, coconut, figs, | | | | cold food |
| mango, sweet oranges and pineapples, plums, | | | | * frozen and dried foodKaphaCharacteristics of |
| watermelon, pomegranates, and prunes.Other cooling | | | | people with a kapha dominant body type:* strength |
| foods include most dairy products, though sour | | | | * stamina |
| cream, hard cheeses, and yoghurt don't really suit | | | | * endurance |
| pitta due to their being too high in fat, salt, or sour. | | | | * groundedness |
| But dairy that suits pitta includes milk, cottage | | | | * calm |
| cheese, soft cheeses, and ice cream!Grains that suit | | | | * fluidKapha body types are not suited to a high |
| pitta body types include barley, basmati rice, and | | | | protein diet like the Atkins diet. Not only should they |
| wheat (unless you are allergic or gluten sensitive).Pitta | | | | avoid too much fat, but also, excessive heavy |
| body types generally like a lot of protein, and they | | | | protein. The kapha quality is already heavy, and |
| probably need a little more than the other Ayurvedic | | | | although this doesn't sound great, it is what provides |
| body types. Spices that are cooling in nature are also | | | | Kapha body types with a wonderful stability and |
| important. These include coriander, cumin, mint, | | | | strength.Kapha should have light and low fat protein. |
| parsley, dill and fennel. Garlic should be avoided | | | | Beans, with the exception of soy and soy products, |
| though as it is too heating.In terms of sweets, Pitta | | | | are great for kapha. Soy milk is preferable to dairy |
| body types should use maple syrup, barley malt, | | | | though, for kapha. Beans help move kapha's energy, |
| brown rice syrup and honey that is 6 months or less | | | | and digestive system, a bit. Barley is also excellent. In |
| old, preferably raw.Things that can imbalance Pitta | | | | terms of meat, chicken and turkey suit kapha.Kapha |
| body types:* excess heat, hot climates, and hot | | | | body types should have plenty of vegetables, |
| times of day | | | | including bitter vegetables, peppers, broccoli, brussel |
| * humidity | | | | sprouts, cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, onions, |
| * vacations and times when there is increased | | | | potatoes, mushrooms, corn cobs, peas, beets, and |
| mobility | | | | celery.Dairy is heavy and cooling, and it does not suit |
| * excess oil in the diet | | | | the Kapha ayurvedic body type. Light and crispy |
| * too many hot foods, including spicy foods. But this | | | | food, like corn tortillas and popcorn, suit kapha. Kapha |
| can also mean too many cooked meals | | | | people should make sure they have variety in their |
| * excess caffeine, salt, red meat and | | | | diet, as kapha body types have a danger of falling |
| alcoholVataCharacteristics of people with a dominant | | | | into a rut more than others.Asian and Latin American |
| Vata body type:* flexibility | | | | style meals are great for kapha. They are spicy and |
| * quick mind | | | | light, free of dairy, and have plenty of vegetables in |
| * creative | | | | them.Things that can imbalance Kapha body types:* |
| * always on the go - mentally and physicallyDietary | | | | inertia |
| choices that support vata aim at grounding this | | | | * too much fat in the diet, including oil we cook with! |
| energy-in-motion. Routine is also very helpful, though | | | | * dairy products |
| not naturally something vata body type people will | | | | * not enough stimulation and challenge |
| create! Vata people benefit from meditation, warmth, | | | | * not enough variety |
| soothing music, taking breaks, and resting (again, not | | | | * not enough exercise |
| a natural vata inclination!).With regards foods, vata | | | | * too much bread, iced foods and drinks, and |
| body types should include warming spices, including | | | | sweetsReferences: Amadea Morningstar and Urmila |
| ginger and cloves, anise, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, | | | | Desai, The Ayurvedic CookbookFor some great |
| horseradish, caraway, mint, mustard seeds, parsley, | | | | articles on ayurveda, including home remedies, click |
| cooked onion, paprika, rose water, vanilla, tarragon, | | | | here. For more articles on nutrition, click here. |
| thyme and rosemary.People with the vata body type | | | | Rebecca Prescott runs the website which accepts |
| should minimize raw food, including salad, though | | | | submissions of health, fitness, and beauty articles. |