If you are holding on to excess weight, you have what Ayurvedic doctors would consider a "kapha" imbalance. This means an imbalance in your body is most likely causing weight gain. In Ayurveda, India's medical system, lifestyle and diet changes are used to prevent and treat disease and illness. Consult your doctor before using Ayurveda for weight loss.
Vegetables
While a variety of vegetables are good for you, sticking to a few specific ones for the time being may help bring balance to your body and weight. Try increasing your intake of kale, eggplant, celery, carrots, cabbage, beets, broccoli, asparagus, arugula, corn, peas, sprouts, green beans, collard greens, cauliflower, leeks, bok choy, bell peppers, okra, onions and mustard greens. Avoid squash, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and cucumbers until desired weight is achieved.
Fruit
During weight loss, try to eat more apples, apricots, berries, peaches, pears, raisins, figs and pomegranates. While you're trying to balance your body weight, avoid avocados, bananas, melons, grapefruit, dates, coconut, cranberries, papaya, rhubarb, pineapple, plums and watermelon. Fruit can provide you with important vitamins, so eliminating specific types should only be temporary. In Ayurveda, eating seasonal fruits and vegetables when possible is always recommended.
Grains, Beans and Other Things
Focus on eating barley, buckwheat, corn, millet and rye, as they having a balancing effect on the weight. For your protein, try to avoid eating animal products for the time being. Instead, get your protein from legumes such as aduki beans, black beans, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, navy beans and pinto beans. Also, keep oil, nuts, seeds and sweeteners to a minimum. If you must use a sweetener, use raw honey.
Additional Tips and Considerations
Director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico Dr. Vasant Lad recommends drinking a tea consisting of ginger, cinnamon and clove for kapha imbalances. Also, try adding yoga to your routine for additional assistance in your weight-loss efforts. Founder of Structural Yoga Therapy Mukunda Stiles recommends daily practice of the warrior sequence, which involves practice of all the warrior poses.
References
- "Ayurveda, The Science of Self Healing"; Dr. Vasant Lad; 1984
- "Ayurveda: A Life of Balance"; Maya Tiwari; 1995
- "Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy"; Mukunda Stiles; 2007
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