In Ayurvedic medicine, the five elements are thought to be converted by the digestive fire, or agni, into three different temperaments, or doshas. These include vata, which is air and ether; kapha, or earth and water; and pitta, which is fire. Different foods may be used to help calm and pacify the doshas, or to increase and aggravate them. Some feel it is important to follow a diet specific for an individual's dosha, so that he can be balanced and harmonious.
Vata Diet
According to herbalist and author Michael Tierra, the vata, or air, personality tends to be oversensitive, nervous, impatient and changeable. She is prone to coldness, dryness and neurological disorder. Cool, dry or rough foods that are bitter and astringent, such as leafy vegetables, aggravate vata. Warm, moist and nourishing foods are calming. Sweet, salty and sour flavors are best.
The majority of the diet should be sweet foods, including cooked vegetables, sweet fruit, meat, warm dairy, and grains such as rice, wheat and oats. Raw vegetables, dry fruits and apples should be avoided. All beans except for kidney and aduki beans should also be avoided.
Pitta Diet
Pitta, or fire-predominant, individuals are quick to anger and can be aggressive or overbearing. According to Tierra, they have a tendency towards inflammatory diseases, heat intolerance and infections. Warming, spicy, salty or sour foods should be avoided in a pitta diet.
Cooling, sweet, bitter and astringent foods are helpful for calming the fire. Good foods for pitta include sweet and bitter vegetables, sweet fruits, cool water and fruit drinks, wheat, oats, rice and barley, and white meat such as chicken or turkey.
Kapha Diet
Kapha, or water-predominant, types are predisposed to colds, asthma, coldness, arthritis, edema and digestive problems. They are often slow to react. Foods that aggravate kapha include dairy, fats, cold foods, or substances that are very sweet or salty. White rice, wheat products, seafood, beef, salt, and sweet fruits or vegetables should be avoided.
Spicy, bitter and astringent foods should be included in a kapha diet. Good choices are beans, leafy vegetables, chicken, turkey, eggs, hot tea, and grains such as rye, corn, millet, barley or buckwheat.
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