Ayurveda, which roughly translates to "knowledge of life" in Sanskrit, is an ancient, holistic medical system rooted in India. Ayurveda aims to promote health and well-being by tailoring diet and lifestyle recommendations to a person's dosha, or metabolic type. Because Ayurvedic recommendations are highly personalized, there are a range of Ayurvedic diets rather than a single, specific food plan. However, don’t start an Ayurvedic diet without talking with your doctor first, especially if you take any medications or are on a special diet for a medical condition.
Doshas
A central concept in Ayurvedic diets are the three doshas, or natural energies, that describe a person's constitution: pitta, which represents fire and water; vata, which represents space and air; and kapha, which represents water and earth. Ayurveda characterizes those with a pitta constitution as articulate, short-tempered, medium-framed, physically well-proportioned and perfectionistic, and susceptible to heartburn, ulcers and acne. Those with a vata constitution are likely slender, enthusiastic, imaginative, active, moody and anxious, and predisposed to sleep problems and skin conditions. A kapha constitution indicates someone who is relaxed, strong, heavy-set, graceful, compassionate and forgiving, but liable to suffer obesity, allergies, diabetes and high cholesterol. Ayurvedic diets aim to balance your dosha by emphasizing foods that complement rather than aggravate your dosha qualities.
Pitta Diet
If you have a pitta dosha, an Ayurvedic diet suggests cooling foods and dishes, reports Ayurvedic chef Miriam Hospodar in "Yoga Journal." Such foods include sweet, ripe fruits, moderate amounts of non-sour dairy products, foods with coriander and mint, and most vegetables. This type of Ayurvedic diet limits oily or salty foods, unripe fruit, ice-cold dishes, and acidic or spicy vegetables such as radishes, garlic, tomatoes and chili peppers.
Vata Diet
For people with a vata dosha, Hospodar says Ayurveda recommends eating foods that are cooked, warm and heavy in order to quell anxiety and overactivity. A vata Ayurvedic diet includes dairy products, steamed vegetables, rice, wheat, juicy fruits, avocados, sweet and sour vegetables, and dishes cooked with healthy fats and oils. According to Ayurvedic principles, those with a vata constitution should avoid spicy foods.
Kapha Diet
To balance out the kapha dosha, notes Hospodar, an Ayurvedic diet emphasizes foods that are light, dry or warm. This includes honey-sweetened foods, dry fruits such as apples and cranberries, buckwheat, barley, rye, reduced-fat milk, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, beans, and most herbs and spices. An Ayurvedic kapha diet limits oily, high-fat foods, cultured dairy products, excess salt and soybeans.
Eating Strategies
Along with specific dosha-based recommendations, Ayurveda offers general guidelines for healthy eating, reports Hospodar, like drinking room-temperature water throughout the day, eating your final meal early in the evening with no late-night snacking, and using warming spices such as ginger and black pepper to improve digestion. Ayurveda also advocates eating freshly prepared meals, avoiding genetically modified foods and using organic produce. Another Ayurvedic principal, explains Hospodar, is to choose foods you enjoy, and don't force yourself to eat meals you dislike.
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