Foods are suggested by Ayurveda for individuals based on their predominant body type. This is done because it is thought that some meals can be both therapeutic and the cause of imbalance and problems.So what is your ayurvedic body type and diet?
It is believed that by eating foods that are appropriate for our Ayurvedic body type, we will produce less Ama, or waste, in the body.
People are categorised in Ayurveda using the vata, kapha, and pitta principles. But it’s crucial to realise that, despite the fact that we may favour one principle, our bodies truly contain all three. The ratio of the others is smaller.
In reality, the majority of people will combine two of these ideas, with the third idea having a modest influence. The three are present in all of us, yet any one of them can become out of balance.
Pitta
Pitta-dominant body types’ characteristics
#1 Determined
#2 Healthy digestion
#3 Initiative
#4 Strong willed
#5 Enthusiastic about numerous things
Cooling meals, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, are calming to the Pitta constitution according to Ayurveda. Watercress, parsley, collards, and the majority of green vegetables are bitter and good for pitta. Sweet berries, sweet apples and apricots, coconut, figs, mango, sweet oranges and pineapples, plums, watermelon, pomegranates, and prunes are some fruits that are good for pitta body types.
The majority of dairy products are also cooling meals, albeit sour cream, hard cheeses, and yoghurt don’t really work for pitta because they are too fatty, salty, or sour. However, milk, cottage cheese, soft cheeses, and ice cream are dairy that works well with pitta!
Barley, basmati rice, and wheat are among the grains that are suitable for pitta body types (unless you are allergic or gluten sensitive).
Pitta body types typically require more protein than the other Ayurvedic body types and like eating a lot of it. The importance of cooling spices cannot be overstated. These include fennel, dill, mint, parsley, coriander, cumin, and mint. Nevertheless, since garlic is so hot, it should be avoided.
For desserts, Pitta body types ought to stick to raw honey, maple syrup, barley malt, brown rice syrup, and honey that is no older than six months.
Things that can upset Pitta body types include:
#1 Too much heat, warm weather, and hot times of day
#2 Humidity
#3 Holidays and periods of high movement
#4 A diet high in oil
#5 An excessive amount of spicy and hot dishes. But it might also mean eating too many prepared meals.
#6 Too much alcohol, salt, red meat, and caffeine
Vata
People with a prominent Vata body type have the following traits:
#1 Adaptability
#2 Sharp mind
#3 Innovative
#4 Constant motion, both physically and intellectually
The goal of a vata-supportive diet is to anchor this energy-in-motion. Although vata body types don’t normally develop routines, they are nevertheless incredibly beneficial. Meditation, warmth, calming music, taking pauses, and resting are all beneficial to vata folks (again, not their natural inclination!).
Warming spices such as ginger, cloves, anise, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, horseradish, caraway, mint, mustard seeds, parsley, fried onion, paprika, rose water, vanilla, tarragon, thyme, and rosemary should be included in foods for vata body types.
Salads should not entirely be avoided because they contain important nutrients, however people with the vata body type should limit their intake of raw foods, including salad. However, vata should season the salad with an oil and vinegar dressing and be mindful of the weather when eating it. On warmer days, vatas should eat salads because they are more susceptible to the cold.
Ice-cold beverages do not balance vata; on the contrary, they do the reverse. Vata types are unbalanced by sugar as well, but they are fortunate in that they can indulge in other delicacies.
Fruit often appeals to Vata, who have an ayurvedic constitution. Apples, pears, cranberries, melons, and dried fruit are the exceptions. Fruit that is sweet and moist, such as mangoes, nectarines, bananas, coconut, fresh figs, peaches, and strawberries, is best for vata types.
For the vata ayurvedic constitution, cooked grains like oatmeal, basmati rice, and brown rice are highly grounding. On the other hand, beans (legumes) are not! Beans don’t support vata since they are heavy, dry, and chilly.
Vata dominant body types can be unbalanced by the following:
#1 Extensive travel, particularly by plane
#2 Jarring sounds
#3 Continuous stimulation
#4 Alcohol, sweets, and narcotics
#5 Cold weather, especially when it’s bitterly cold, and cold food
#6 Food that is dried and frozen
Kapha
People with a kapha dominant body type have the following traits:
#1 Strength
#2 Endurance
#3 Stamina
#4 Groundedness
#5 Calm
#6 Fluid
A high-protein diet like the Atkins diet is not suitable for kapha body types. They should also refrain from consuming an excessive amount of heavy protein. Although it doesn’t seem good, the weighty kapha attribute is what gives Kapha body types their excellent stability and strength.
Protein for the kapha should be light and low in fat. Beans are excellent for kapha, with the exception of soy and soy derivatives. But for kapha, soy milk is prefered than dairy. Beans aid in the slight movement of kapha’s energy and digestive system. Barley is also quite good. In terms of meat, kapha prefers chicken and turkey.
Vegetables that are bitter, such as peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, corn cobs, peas, beets, and celery, should be consumed in large quantities by kapha body types.
Dairy is heavy and cold, not suitable for the Kapha body type according to ayurveda. Foods like corn tortillas and popcorn that are light and crispy are good for kapha. Because kapha body types are more susceptible to becoming stagnant than other body types, kapha persons should make sure their diets are varied.
Foods with an Asian or Latin American flair are excellent for kapha. They don’t include dairy, are spicy and light, and contain a tonne of vegetables.
Things that can upset Kapha body types include:
#1 Inertia
#2 An excessive amount of fat in the diet, especially the cooking oil!
#3 Milk products
#4 Not enough challenge and stimulation
#5 insufficient variety
#6 Insufficient exercise
#7 Consuming excessive amounts of bread, ice cream, and sweets
