Ayurveda is the science of life, wisdom in medicine, and balanced nutrition, with its origins dating back more than 5,000 years BC.
This science teaches us to listen to our body and to better understand our biotype in order to understand how to feed ourselves in a more balanced way according to our nature, our physical, mental and emotional body.
By understanding the properties of the 5 elements (Space, Air, Fire, Earth, and Water) and better understanding the 3 Doshas (main bioenergies) Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, we can make better decisions according to what foods are best for our biotype, metabolism, digestion, and balance.
By knowing better the 3 Doshas we will learn to listen to our body to understand what it needs to feel better.
What is Vata bioenergy, and how can we balance it?
Main characteristics: cold, fast, unstable, and changing energy.
Vata People: They are thin people, with cold skin, tend to have constipation, asymmetry, long bones, changeable, in balance they are very inspiring and creative people, in imbalance they suffer from a lot of fear and anxiety.
- Vata needs warm, soft, and moist qualities.
They need balanced nutrition, sweet, salty, and sour tastes, fresh, warm, and soft food. Frequent and regular meals, avoid too much fasting and dieting.
- Water: warm, milk with spices or tea
- Oils: Ghee and/or cold-pressed sesame oil.
- Foods: good quality dairy, soups, stews, rice, grain bread, natural pasta, creams, oatmeal, beans, root vegetables such as carrot, beet, and sweet potato. Also, they need meat, beans, and lentils if she is a vegetarian.
- Avoid: cold and frozen food.
- Spices: hot and spicy such as ginger, cinnamon, cloves.
What is Pitta bioenergy, and how can we balance it?
Main characteristics: warm, light energy, has color, and transformation.
Pitta People: They are medium-sized people, with red, sensitive, and hot skin, fast digestion, may have gastritis, medium bones, in balance they are very enterprising and courageous people, in an imbalance they suffer a lot of anger and impatience.
- Pitta needs fresh, cool, and pleasant qualities.
They need balanced nutrition, sweet, bitter, and astringent flavors, fresh, cold, and moist food.
- Water: mainly cold and juices
- Oil: Ghee
- Food: mostly raw, mainly vegetarian diet, all sweet fruits, no citrus fruits, strong green vegetables (spinach, chard, and watercress), beets, and carrots. Yes, rice, oatmeal, red and black lentils.
- Avoid: Alcohol, black tea, and vinegars.
- Cold spices such as cumin, fennel, and coriander.
What is Kapha bioenergy, and how can we balance it?
Main characteristics: heavy, cold and stable energy.
Kapha People: They are big, strong people, they can be overweight, with oily skin, slow digestion and big bones, in balance they are very constant and stable people, in unbalance, they suffer a lot from attachment and do not like changes.
- Kapha needs hot, light, and spicy qualities.
It needs balanced nutrition, spicy, bitter, and astringent flavors, warm, light, dry food with little fat.
- Water: mainly warm and hot.
- Oils: organic sunflower or olive in small quantities.
- Foods: Dried fruits like almonds or cashews, light not heavy fruits like grapes or apples, mostly all raw or lightly cooked vegetables like leafy greens and drumsticks, grains like millet, oats, and corn, red lentils, meats occasionally, and only light meats.
- Avoid: cold water, frozen and heavy foods such as potatoes.
- Spices: spices such as chili, ginger, and cinnamon.
Self-knowledge is the key to more balanced nutrition. With this small guide, you can begin to identify your personal biotype and thus begin to make better daily choices to feel better, prevent disease, feel more energy, and improve overall physical and mental health.
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If you want to know more in-depth and personalize your diet, consult with the expert in Ayurveda, functional nutrition, change of habits, and naturopathic biological medicine.
