Eating for your Constitution

How did you get on with your constitutional analysis?

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of the characteristics of each of the doshas, so today I will be advising you on the best foods to consume and avoid for your unique constitution.

Firstly, we shall look at vata. Vata is the leader of all three doshas, it governs all movement in the body and mind, pitta or kapha would not be able to move or exist without vata. If you have more than one imbalance, it is important to pacify vata first. 
You may have a vata imbalance if:-

* Your skin and hair is dry and rough
* You feel the cold easily
* You fatigue easily
* You suffer with constipation
* You have pain in the joints and lower back

If your mind is constantly anxious, restless, worried or fearfull, this may also indicate you have a vata imbalance.

The attributes of vata are cold, dry, light, rough and astringent, so to balance this dosha favour sweet, sour and salty foods. Avoid bitter, pungent and astringent foods. Avoid cold and raw foods and always eat warm food and spices, using cooking methods that will promote moisture, i.e. steaming, baking or sauteeing in a little ghee or oil.

All vegetables are to be cooked, and favour sweet vegetables such as sweet potatoes, turnips, carrots, zucchini, okra, green beans, asparagus, corn, garlic and onion.
Most fruits are good for vata especially sweet fruits like bananas, grapes, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, berries and pear. Apples are allowed if cooked. 
Wheat is good for vata so include wholewheat bread, pasta, cous cous and bulgar in you diet. 
Cooked oats and all varieties of rice are excellent for vata.
All dairy products are good for vata types but you must favour low fat varieties such as soft cheese rather than hard cheese.
All nuts are good, especially if soaked overnight in water and then peeled. Almonds are the best.
All oils are good and sesame oil is the best for vata.
Chicken, turkey, fresh fish, shell fish, tofu and eggs are very good for vata as they help to ground your energy.

The best drinks for vata are:
Ginger, Lemon Grass, Cinnamon, Orange peel, Licorice root and Chamomile herbal teas.
Snack on sweet ripe fruit, handful of nuts or a cup of natural yoghurt.

Pitta is made up of fire and water and governs all metabolic activity in the body including digestion, body temperature, hunger, thirst and endocrine function.  
You may have a pitta imbalance if:-

* You are prone to rashes or inflammation either internally or externally
* Your skin is overly oily and you sweat a lot
* You suffer with diarrhoea
* You suffer with eyestrain and tension headaches

If you are prone to anger or get easily frustrated, aggressive, controlling or obsessive, this may indicate a pitta imbalance.

The main thing when pacifying pitta is to avoid hot, spicy and sour foods.
Favour sweet, bitter and astringent foods that are warm or cool.
Avoid foods and spices such as chillies, pickles, vinegar, hard cheese, sour cream, citrus fruits, tomatoes, garlic and onion as these foods will aggrevate the acid and pitta in the blood and intestines.

Enjoy sweet fruits like mangoes, sweet berries, sweet grapes, apple, pineapple, cherries, melon, coconut and figs.
Favour all dark green leafy vegetables, mushrooms and potatoes.
Wheat is good for pitta, and rice especially white basmati rice is great for pitta. Oats and barley are also very good.
Favour black lentils, chickpeas and green mung beans, other varieties will increase pitta in the body.
All dairy products are good for pitta except for hard cheese and eggs.Organic natural yoghurt is to be consumed with spices like cinnamon or corriander.
Sunflower, canola, coconut or olive oil are best for pitta and ghee is the best choice for cooking with.
All sweet herbs and spices are good especially mint, corriander, fennel, basil, turmeric, cardamom and cinnamon.
Chicken and fish are allowed in small amounts.

The best drinks for pitta are:
Cold water to cool down you fiery nature, all fruit juices excpet citrus fruits, sweet homemade lemonade is neutralizing and smoothies with low fat milk.
Peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, jasmine and lemon balm herbal teas are good.
Snack on a juice piece of fruit, low fat cottage cheese, raw veggies, bowl of salad or a homemade cookie and cold milk.

Kapha is made up of earth and water and governs the stucture within the body controlling growth, weight, lubrication and formation of all the tissues. 
You may have a kapha imbalance if: -

* You gain weight easily
* Feel lethargic and lack in energy
* You experience bloating or water retention
* You suffer with sinus problems or chest complaints such as colds, flu, asthma and bronchitis

If you become over-attached, greedy and possessive, this may indicate you have a kapha imbalance.

Kapha types need dry food to balance their oily nature. All meals are to be light and nourishing to counter the heaviness of kapha. 
Avoid heavy, oily and cold foods that have predominantely sweet, sour and salty tastes.

Increase intake of vegetables especially greens.
Lighter fruits such as apples and pears are best for kapha.
Rice, dry oats, millet, barley, buckwheat, corn and rye bread are all good for kapha.
Most beans are good providing they are cooked well, and lentils and dahl are very good.
All dairy is to be avoided, cow and goat's milk is allowed in small amounts.
Ghee, canola and corn are the best oils for kapha to cook with, all other oils to be avoided.
Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, almonds and walnuts are good if slightly roasted and ground before eating.
All herbs and spices are excellent for kapha.
All meat should be avoided.

The best drinks for kapha are:
Hot water with lemon, hot water with lemon and ginger.
Snack on celery and carrot sticks, apple, pear or low fat crackers.

Try to implement these foods into your diet to bring yourself back in to balance and so you can achieve optimum health and wellbeing.

Namaste,

Sharon xx