Ayurveda For Dummies
Book image
Explore Book Buy On Amazon

Your basic Ayurvedic constitution or type (vata, pitta or kapha) influences which foods are most appropriate for you for staying healthy and balanced. Remember: you’re probably a combination of types, so follow the advice for your predominant dosha.

If vata is prominent in your constitution, your daily diet should be light, warmed and slightly oily, to help your digestive system.

  • Soak dried fruits before you eat them.

  • Always eat breakfast to keep your energy levels up.

  • Avoid products with yeast, which create gas.

  • Nuts are a good snack for you, eaten little and often.

  • Avoid caffeine if you can; if not, stick to black tea in moderate amounts.

  • Spices help stimulate the flow of your digestive enzymes.

If you’re predominantly pitta, you benefit from nourishing, cooling and sweet foods. Pittas have voracious appetites so try not to eat too much in one go.

  • Eat raw foods and enjoy salads and refreshing cool drinks – especially in the summer.

  • Include a good quality protein, such as beans, in your meals.

  • Wheat products and heavier foods help keep you in balance.

  • Keep your fluids high in hot weather and take advantage of the abundance of fresh sweet fruits.

  • Don’t eat when you’re upset or angry; you’ll suffer from indigestion and headaches.

If you have a kapha constitution you already have a strong, well-built body so need less of heavy foods like bread and pasta:

  • Eat light, dry and warm food.

  • Seek pungent, bitter and astringent tastes.

  • Avoid oily, cold or heavy foods and drinks.

  • Pass on rich desserts. (Sorry.)

  • Skip really salty foods to keep weight from piling on (although a little is okay and even encourages salivation and enjoyment).

  • Make your food spicier to increase digestive power.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Angela Hope-Murray, MSc (Ayur) MA, BSc (Ost), has been a practitioner of complementary medicine for over 30 years. She trained extensively in Ayurvedic Medicine in Britain, the US, Germany and India, becoming a registered Ayurvedic Practitioner in 2001. Angela is a member of the Health Professions Council, and is currently based at The Hale Clinic in London.

This article can be found in the category: