In recent years, interest in the ancient Indian Vedic healing system known as Ayurveda has spread to the West. This 5,000-year-old form of holistic medicine examines all areas of life, seeking out imbalances in the body, which are believed to be the cause of disease. In Ayurveda there are three main body types called doshas: pitta, kapha and vata. If you already know you are a pitta dosha, Ayurveda gives specific dietary recommendations for balancing.
Identifying Pitta Dosha
If pitta is your dominant dosha, there are specific physical and mental characteristics that are most likely a part of you. You may have a strong, medium-sized build and fair skin. According to Dr. Deepak Chopra, pitta people may have a strong sex drive, an effective digestive system and plenty of energy. However, a common trait of pitta dosha is also a fiery temperament.
Pitta Imbalance
When the body has an excess of pitta energy, this can manifest in several ways. According to Chopra, common physical symptoms of an excess of pitta include heartburn, rashes, indigestion and ulcers. Too much pitta energy can also manifest emotionally as an argumentative temperament accompanied with a feeling of being overheated. To pacify pitta, making a few changes in your diet are likely to be helpful.
Foods to Eat
According to Holistic Online, eat plenty of dairy, grains and vegetables to pacify pitta. A good choice for breakfast would be cold cereal with wheat, rice, barley or oats. To balance pitta, you should choose foods which are cool in temperature as well as in spice content. Sweet foods also help cool pitta. Fresh salads that include bitter and astringent tastes such as cucumber, fruits and melons are all soothing to pitta. Chopra specifically recommends eating grapes, cherries, mangos, pineapple, oranges and plums. Vegetables he recommends to pacify pitta include green and leafy ones as well as potatoes, asparagus, cauliflower, green beans, pumpkins, zucchini and broccoli.
Foods to Avoid
Drinking hot, caffeinated beverages such as coffee in the morning will only further aggravate pitta in the body. Salt and "heating" spices such as cayenne, black pepper and ginger should all be avoided. Holistic Online encourages avoiding fried foods and pickled foods altogether, as well as all forms of alcoholic beverages. As sour taste aggravates pitta, avoid foods such as yogurt, sour cream and cheese. Chopra recommends minimizing your consumption of beef, seafood and eggs which all may increase pitta.
Additional Recommendations
When cooking with oils, the best choices to pacify Pitta include olive, sunflower and coconut. When spices are added to foods, choose only those that are cooling to inflamed pitta such as coriander, cilantro, saffron and fennel. Chopra recommends chewing on fennel seeds to soothe an acidic stomach that often accompanies an excess of pitta. In balancing pitta, it is best to not skip meals or wait until you are famished before eating. Implementing a daily routine that includes leisure time is also recommended.
