Ayurveda preaches that our bodies are made up of a certain kind
of dosha – either vata,pitta or kapha. In order to keep
healthy, we need to balance our dosha. Yogi
CameronAlborzian who has studied Ayurveda at the Arsha
Yoga Vidya Peetam Trust under the guidance of Sri Vasudevan, explains how one
can balance their dosha with the right foods, in his book ‘The One Plan’. He says, ‘Many
people suffer from discomfort, imbalance, and even disease when they use food
as a way to gratify themselves, but when it’s used as medicine, it can help us
feel whole, content, and most of all, nourished. This is never more apparent
than when you shift your body into a more balanced state by eating
appropriately for the doshic imbalances you encounter.’ Here is an excerpt from
his book on dosha-friendly foods.
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Eliminate Dryness with a Vata-Balancing Diet
If you have excess Vata energy, you will likely have dry skin,
produce a small, hard stool that is difficult to move, have trouble sleeping,
and be prone to fidgeting, shaking, or other indications of excessive movement.
A Vata-balancing diet requires us to eat foods that nourish the body,
moisturize the gastrointestinal tract, and generally build strength and a sense
of groundedness.
Foods to favour include the following:
Fruits (sweet fruits in particular ): apricots, avocados, bananas, blackberries,
cherries, fresh figs, grapefruit, grapes, lemons, mangoes, melons (but not
watermelons), nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums,
raspberries, strawberries
Vegetables (cooked vegetables in particular): asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber,
garlic, green beans, okra, onion, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips, zucchini
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Grains (cooked grains in particular): oats, wheat, white basmati rice
Dairy: cheese
(in moderation), cow’s milk (whole), ghee, yogurt
Legumes (in moderation): mung beans, tofu
Nuts and seeds (in moderation)
Oils: almond
oil, olive oil, sesame oil
Sweeteners: natural
sweeteners (maple syrup, honey, molasses, jaggery)
Spices: cardamom,
celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, mustard seed,
salt, sesame seed
Reduce Heat with a Pitta-Balancing Diet
If you have excess Pitta energy, you likely suffer from skin
irritation, profuse sweating, indigestion, and irritable thoughts. Generally,
you have excess heat in your body, and you’ll benefit from a diet of foods that
reduce heat. This will cause less distress in your digestive tract and allow
you to experience greater peace.
Foods to favor include the following:
Fruits (sweet
fruits in particular): apples, avocados, fresh figs, grapes (black or red),
mangoes, melons, oranges, pears, pineapples, plums, pomegranates, prunes,
raisins
Vegetables: asparagus,
broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumber, green beans, green peppers,
leafy greens, mushrooms, okra, potatoes, pumpkins, zucchini
Grains: barley,
oats, wheat, white basmati rice
Dairy: cow’s
milk (whole), ghee
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Legumes: black
beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, mung beans, tofu
Nuts and seeds: pumpkin seeds, sunflower
seeds
Oils: coconut
oil, olive oil, sunflower oil
Sweeteners: jaggery,
maple syrup
Spices: cardamom,
cinnamon, coriander, fennel, saffron (it is ideal to reduce your intake of
spices when suffering from a Pitta imbalance)
Reduce Moisture with a Kapha-Balancing Diet
If you have excess Kapha energy, you likely suffer from
respiratory congestion, asthma, and overweight or obesity, and feel lethargic
and stuck. Excessive Kapha energy leads to a buildup of moisture, such as
congestion in the respiratory system. When you balance Kapha energy through an
appropriate diet, you will reverse heaviness in the body.
Foods to favor include the following:
Fruits: apples,
apricots, blackberries, cherries, dried cranberries, dry figs, mangos, peaches,
pears, persimmons, pomegranates, prunes, raisins
Vegetables: asparagus, beets, broccoli,
Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, garlic, leafy greens,
mushrooms, okra, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, spinach, sprouts
Grains: barley,
corn, millet
Dairy: ghee,
goat’s milk.
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