Kapha food menu. Energy meridians of the body

Kapha – heavy, slimy, dense, soft. This Dosha is the slowest, but also the most stable of all. She is less likely than others to lose balance, however, if this does happen, Kapha falls into a kind of lethargic sleep, and it becomes extremely difficult to “stir up” it.

It is noteworthy that, despite the fact that Kapha is considered extremely stable, in comparison with and, in practice one can often see the opposite picture. Take, for example, the Western world, where one in three people suffers from obesity, which is a shining example imbalance of this Dosha. The same can be said about runny nose, colds and diabetes.

Kapha consists of earth and water, it is influenced by the Muladhara chakra and Svadisthana chakra, and is located in upper section chest cavity.

Psychological portrait of Kapha dosha

Kaphas are undoubtedly excellently adapted to life in the material world. Ayurveda believes that it was they who once made family and social rules for people.

This Dosha is characterized by inertia, immobility, sensuality and stability; it is calm, stable and does not have its head in the clouds. At the same time, she has a valuable quality - she allows her loved ones to live “here and now.” However, despite such goodness, Kaphas always remain the true owners.

Kaphas are balanced, stable and stable

Another one characteristic feature people with this – the desire to “be on the edge”, to lie low, to find peace. They are not familiar with the irrepressible flight of imagination and heart-sizzling passion. That is why they are not inclined to waste energy, which they prefer to spend carefully and carefully.

People with balanced Kapha are pleasant conversationalists, they are good-natured and peaceful, self-confident, and attractive. This Dosha exudes inner strength, which Vata and Pita so strive for.

Harmonious Kapha always respects the feelings of other people, she is sensual, capable of compassion, thinking soberly and calming others in a timely manner. Sometimes it seems that it is completely impossible to get her emotional.

Solidity and prudence are the hallmarks of Kapha dosha. She is cold-blooded, calculating (in the good sense of the word), conservative, adequately assesses her capabilities and does not “spray” into hundreds of ideas.

Vata and Pita should learn moderation from Kapha; this Dosha never rushes and, as a rule, always wins thanks to such wise behavior. And when she wins, she helps other people and does it without waiting for anyone to ask her.

Physical portrait

A woman with Kapha Prakriti has a round, full figure, slightly short legs, and exudes grace, leisure and self-confidence. A man of this type is distinguished by developed muscles (if the Dosha is in balance), a powerful body, broad shoulders and hips.

People with Kapha Prakriti are distinguished by pale, moist and smooth skin, on which wrinkles appear very late, wide bones, relatively short legs, with full hands, strong and dazzling white teeth, thick eyelashes framing light eyes, full lips and thick, thick hair.

If Vata dosha is unbalanced. Diseases

Kapha dosha is located in the chest, head, throat, cavities, nose, mouth, liquid secretions, plasma and joints.

Most often, the imbalance of this Dosha is reflected in the mucous membranes. These are runny noses, allergies, colds, asthma, joint pain.

Kapha imbalance can lead to runny nose

The following ailments are also characteristic: diabetes, swelling, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, shortness of breath, malignant neoplasms, sinus inflammation and lymph nodes, digestive problems, skin diseases, pharyngitis, hoarseness and emphysema.

Psychological signs of imbalance are stubbornness, laziness, greed, envy and idleness, which gives rise to slowness of mind. Kapha can be depressed, melancholic and suspicious. She suddenly begins to feel useless and deeply disappointed in people.

Besides, a clear sign The soreness of this Dosha is drowsiness, lethargy after waking up, excessive worries about one’s health and about loved ones. The latter often suffer from such aggressive care, bordering on possessiveness.

Kapha can be upset by damp and cold weather

What can throw Kapha out of balance? Firstly, it is heavy and very cold food, an abundance of sweet, fatty and salty foods, alcohol, aimless worries about one’s own unhealthy image life, sleeping during the day, envy, pride, lack of any significant events in life, damp and cold weather.

Improvement of Kapha dosha

Since Kapha is characterized by a tendency to cool, damp and heavy, drying and warming procedures, stimulating and relieving therapy are used to treat it.

The taste of health products can be pungent, astringent and bitter. The latter is preferred most often. In addition to it, Ayurveda prescribes fasting or a gentle diet in order to remove from the body excess water. Fluid can also be removed by diuresis (through the kidneys), stimulation of sweating (for asthma, lymphostasis, bronchitis and febrile conditions).

Special emetics that stimulate the digestion of herbs (hot and spicy), as well as natural laxatives, have a good effect.

The following stones and metals are considered healing for Kapha dosha: agate, red and yellow garnet, red diamond, ruby, topaz, red and yellow opal, gold and copper.

Diet for Kapha Prakriti People

Kapha loves to eat tasty and hearty meals, however, more than other Doshas, ​​she should monitor her diet and, especially, its volume, since she has weak digestion.

People with this Prakriti definitely need to eat by the hour, eating twice a day - at noon and in the early evening. It is advisable to make the first meal filling and healthy, consume more natural products and strictly monitor their compatibility. Dinner should be as light as possible.

Old, overcooked, fatty, watery, very cold and very hot foods, yeast bread and strong alcohol should be avoided.

The most strong influence has an effect on increasing kapha dosha sweet taste, then (in decreasing order) salty and sour.
The greatest influence on the reduction of Kapha Dosha is exerted by pungent, less bitter and astringent tastes.

Fruits.
General rules:
1. Ripe fibrous fruits are favorable. Fruits and berries with an astringent (tart) or bitter taste are especially useful.
2. Sweet fruits are not recommended.
3. It is necessary to exclude from the diet all types of processed fruits with sugar - preserves, jams, marmalade, marshmallows, etc.

Balance:
Apricot.
Cherry plum.
A pineapple.
Orange.
Watermelon (acceptable).
Barberry.
Cowberry.
Grape.
Cherry.
Guava.
Blueberry.
Grenades.
Grapefruits.
Pears.
Blackberry.
Strawberries.
Fresh figs (acceptable).
Carambola.
Kiwi.
Dogwood.
Strawberry.
Cranberry.
Gooseberry.
Lime (acceptable).
Lemons (permissible).
Lychee.
Raspberries.
Tangerines.
Juniper.
Cloudberries (permissible).
Nectarines.
Peaches.
Broom.
Rambutan.
Rhubarb.
Rowan.
Plum.
Dried fruits (all).
Turn.
Feijoa.
Persimmon.
Cherry (permissible).
Blueberry.
Chokeberry.
Apples.

Vegetables.
General rules:
1. All sharp and bitter vegetables are favorable.
2. Sweet vegetables unbalance Kapha Dosha.
3. Vegetables are good to eat both raw and thermally processed.
4. in raw salads(to improve absorption) be sure to add a small amount of vegetable oil, ginger, red or black pepper. After a vegetable salad, it is not recommended to eat legumes or dairy foods, as well as fish.

Balance:
Artichokes.
Eggplant.
Bamboo (acceptable).
Broccoli.
Swede.
Brussels sprouts.
Mushrooms (permissible).
Daikon - radish.
Green beans and kidney beans.
Green chili.
Green pea.
Mustard greens.
Dandelion greens.
Turnip greens.
Beet greens.
Garden greens.
Zucchini.
Capers.
Cabbage (red and white).
Cilantro.
Kohlrabi.
Burdock root.
Watercress.
Corn.
Lettuce.
Leafy greens.
Onions (cooked).
Leek.
Carrot.
Okra (okra).
Patissons.
Parsnip.
Pepper, sweet and hot.
Parsley.
Tomatoes (cooked).
Radish.
Radish.
Turnip.
Savoy cabbage.
Salad.
Beet.
Celery.
Asparagus.
Jerusalem artichoke.
Turnips.
Pumpkin.
Cauliflower.
Chicory.
Cheremsha.
Garlic.
Spinach.

Cereals.
General rules:
1. For the kapha diet, cereals should be used unrefined from the grain shell or with the addition of bran.
2. Milk porridges are strictly not recommended.
3. the most healthy cereals barley and buckwheat with the addition of large quantity ghee. Multi-grain porridges are also beneficial.
4. It is not recommended to use porridge as a side dish.
3. Yeast and soft bread is unfavorable.
4. All dry cereal products (crackers, breakfast cereals) should be consumed with a sufficient amount of liquid (preferably with herbal teas).
5. Products and dishes containing starch are strictly contraindicated.

Balance:
Buckwheat.
Corn.
Cousus - couscous.
Oats (dry).
Oat bran.
Spelled
Millet.
Wheat bran.
Wheat flour (unrefined).
Millet (permissible).
Basmati rice.
Rye.
Barley.

Ready-made products and dishes:
Crackers.
Muesli.
Polenta (corn porridge).
Rye unleavened bread.
Rice cakes.
Cereal breakfast cereals.
Sprouted wheat bread.
Chapati made from unrefined flour and corn.

Legumes.
General rules:
1. Legumes are a difficult food for kapha, and they should be consumed in small quantities and with spices.
2. In order not to cause an imbalance of Kapha Dosha, it is important to prepare legumes correctly:
Before cooking, soak the beans for several hours.
After swelling, rinse well with cold water;
Boil the soaked and washed legumes for 10 minutes, drain the water, rinse the legumes, pour clean water, add enough spices (turmeric, long pepper, cumin, a pinch of asafoetida, or black salt) and bring to full readiness;.
3. if legumes cause flatulence, then long pepper, cloves, ginger, and black cardamom should be added to the prepared dish.
4. It is not recommended to eat legumes with vegetables, grains, or fish.

Balance:
White beans.
Aduki beans.
Pinto beans.
Peas.
Dried peas.
Black-eyed peas.
mung beans (mung beans).
Moong dal (shelled mung bean).
Tempe.
Tofu (hot) *.
Tour - gave.
Beans.
Black beans.
Lentils (red and brown).

Dairy products.
General rules:
1. In principle, milk is not recommended for kapha people. This complex product, which increases Kapha Dosha as it causes mucus production.
1. you need to avoid fatty dairy products;
2. dairy products(kefir, lassi, yoghurts) can be consumed, please note, only in a diluted form.
3. Occasionally you can eat low-fat and hard varieties of cheese.
4. Eating ice cream is highly discouraged.
5. Do not consume milk or dairy products before bedtime.
If for some reason an evening intake of milk is recommended, then so that it does not cause an imbalance in Kapha Dosha, it must be boiled with saffron, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and drunk very hot.

Balance:
Ghee (in small quantities).
Yogurt (diluted).
Kefir (diluted).
Goat's milk (skimmed).
Low-fat yogurt.
Goat cheese (unsalted and not old).
Hard cheese, low-fat.
Cottage cheese (from skimmed goat milk).

Food of animal origin.
General rules:
1. Many Ayurvedic specialists recommend vegetarian food, especially for kapha-type people.
2. Occasionally (two to three times a week) you can eat lean meat.
3. It is recommended to bake or steam the meat.
4. Fried meat should be completely excluded.
5. raw meat ("Tatar" steak), half-raw meat (for example, rare steak) are highly not recommended.
5. Spicy herbs, garlic, red and black pepper, fresh herbs balance well.
Meat dishes.

Balance.
1 meat:
Mutton.
Meat by-products (permissible).

2 bird:
Chicken (white meat).
Turkey (white meat).
Goose (permissible).
Quail.

3 game:
Pheasant (permissible).
Rabbit.
Nutria (acceptable).
Venison.

4 fish and seafood:
White fish (sturgeon, sterlet, beluga).
River fish is low-fat.
Shrimps.
Crabs.
Squid.
Oysters.
Mussels.
Holothurians.
Caviar.
Sea kale.

5 eggs:
Chicken (permissible).
Duck (permissible).
Goose (permissible).

Oils/vegetable oils.
General rules:
1. Kapha-type people are advised to strictly limit the consumption of fats and oils.
2. The best oils for kapha type are corn, sunflower and ghee.

Spices and seasonings.
General rules:
1. For Kapha Dosha it is good to consume a lot of spices. Almost all spices are beneficial.
2. avoid:
Ketchup.
Lime.
Mayonnaise.
Pickles (including mango, lime).
Soy sauce.
Salt.
Vinegar.
Mango chutney (sweet).

Nuts.
General rules:
1. In general, nuts are not recommended for kapha people.
2. The only recommended nuts for kapha type are almonds without husks. To remove the husks, you need to soak the almonds overnight and peel them in the morning.
Ten nuts in the morning will provide excellent tone for the whole day.

Balance:
Almonds (soaked and peeled).
Walnuts (permissible).
Hazelnuts (permissible).
Pine nuts (permissible).
Fir nuts (permissible).

Seeds.
Balance:
Flaxseed (acceptable).
Popcorn (no salt or butter).
Melon seed.
Sunflower seed (acceptable).
Pumpkin seeds (acceptable).

Medicinal herbs.
General rules:
1. For kapha-type people, all herbs and herbs that stimulate digestion, as well as cleansing herbs, are recommended.
Imbalance:
Althea.
Kalgan.
Burdock rhizomes.
Liquorice root.

Sweet.
General rules:
1. sweet taste is disharmonious for kapha dosha.
2. Very small amounts of honey can be consumed.
3. Dried fruits in small quantities are healthy sweets.
Balance.
Sweeteners:
Honey.
Rose hip syrup.
Sweets:
Sesame halva.
Tahini halva (acceptable).

Nutritional supplements.

General rules:
1. Ayurveda does not recommend the use of synthetic vitamin preparations.
2. Vitamins and minerals should be obtained in their natural form from food (fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils, etc..
3. if there is a need to enrich your diet with a balanced set of vitamins and microelements, it is recommended to use Ayurvedic tonics (for example, chyawanprash.
Dried fruits.
Imbalance - potassium.

Beverages.
General rules:
1. The volume of fluid per day for kapha-type people should be no more than a liter per day in cold weather and one and a half liters in hot weather. Excessive consumption of liquid is unfavorable: the digestive fire is extinguished, which is already quite weak in kapha people, the body gains excess moisture, and as a result of excess weight, a tendency to edema appears.
2. All drinks should be consumed warm or slightly hot.
3. Fruit and vegetable juices must be diluted with lukewarm water before consumption. 4. Carbonated drinks, cold drinks and iced drinks are not recommended. 5. Tea consumption should be limited due to the tendency to retain moisture and edema. 6. Coffee consumption should also be limited. To neutralize caffeine, coffee can be brewed with cardamom, cinnamon or a slice of lemon. 7. Compotes made from dried fruits are very favorable. 8. very useful herbal teas with a sour and bitter taste, chicory. Balance: water: still mineral water warm water milk: hot milk with spices soy milk(hot, with spices) coffee: coffee drink made from cereals compotes and fruit drinks: dried fruit compote fruit and berry compotes vegetable juices: carrot juice beet juice aloe juice alcoholic drinks: dry red and white wines apple cider fruit juices: apricot juice pineapple juice grape juice cherry juice (sweet) pomegranate juice pear juice cranberry juice peach juice plum juice mango juice apple juice berry juices teas: green tea mate black tea (with spices) herbal teas.

Diet for Kapha Pitta. Nutrition and lifestyle for Pitta kapha dosha

In Ayurvedic teaching, every person has three main doshas in a certain amount, which create his physiological and psycho-emotional state, and if they are imbalanced, the development of any disease is possible. If after a special dosha test it is revealed that a person belongs to kapha pitta or pitta kapha dosha, then what lifestyle and diet should he adhere to in order to be healthy.

Description

The big advantage of such people is that due to pitta ( fire element), they are endowed with energy, and due to kapha (water element) - stability. This combination makes them physically and mentally stable.

Pitta kaphas are physically developed and rarely get sick. They are also characterized by satisfaction with their own lives, so they do not need psychological consultation.

Carriers of such a predominant dosha are conservative by nature, but they prefer to control everything and be in charge everywhere, which for the most part brings them disappointment. Also, such people have an attachment to results, which in most cases prevents them from leaving it and moving on.

To maintain a balance between the doshas present in a person, it is necessary to adhere to a certain lifestyle and diet.

Nutrition

For kapha pitta nutrition, according to Ayurveda, bitter and astringent tastes are preferred. He is also recommended to adhere to the following dietary rules:

The temperature of the food should be average, i.e. neither hot nor cold;

try to avoid adding dishes such as butter and sauce;

reduce intake of dairy products (cheese, yogurt);

The menu should also be dominated by fruits and seasonal vegetables, mainly in raw form.

By adhering to these rules, you can increase vata dosha without suppressing either pitta or kapha.

Diet

The basic rule of the pitta kapha diet is that it should be dry, warm and light.

Therefore, the most commonly used healthy products include:

legumes (peas, white beans);

various greens;

fruits and berries (apple, pear, gooseberry, apricot);

cereals (oats, rice, barley).

It is enough to create a balance of doshas for a person who has both pitta and kapha predominance. difficult task, since what one requires is contraindicated by the other. Therefore, both in lifestyle and in nutrition, everything should be introduced gradually.

Lifestyle

Since such a person has a suppressed air element (vata), he is recommended to add the following to his life:

increase in length of stay fresh air, especially in cool and windy weather;

passion for active sports activities in winter;

begin body hardening procedures.

The main thing is to make such changes in life gradually, so as not to cause an increase in the already predominant doshas.

Diet for kapha dosha for weight loss. Dietary food for healthy Kapha: what is useful and what is harmful

Kapha people enjoy every meal, so it is very difficult for them to go hungry. Since this is fraught with the appearance excess weight, they need to carefully monitor their diet more than other doshas.

Nutritional principles that Kapha dosha people should adhere to:

1. It is advisable to eat only twice a day and strictly by the hour. The first meal should be at noon and it should be well nourishing and healthy. The second should take place in the evening and consist of light, easily digestible foods.
2. Food should have a warming effect, seasoned with hot and bitter spices. Here is some of the list of things that are good for Kapha:

• vegetables and greens – beets, asparagus, corn, Jerusalem artichoke, green pea, cabbage, pumpkin, broccoli, parsley, celery;
• fruits (also dried fruits) and berries - pears, apples, apricots, pomegranates, quinces, peaches;
• honey (in small quantities);
• porridge – buckwheat, corn, rye;
• Legumes recommended include yellow and black peas (chickpeas), red lentils;
• spices and herbs - anise, orange zest, dried ginger, sage, cardamom, cloves, turmeric, thyme, black pepper, marjoram, basil, eucalyptus, tarragon, cilantro;
• drinks - a mixture of vegetable juices, prune compote, rice milk, teas (with raspberries, ginger, chamomile, hops, cinnamon).

Overcooked, fatty, very cold and hot, watery foods are harmful to Kapha. Yeast bread, which takes a long time and is difficult to digest, as well as strong alcoholic drinks should also be removed from the diet.

Do not forget about the power of aromatherapy on the doshas. Kapha “loves” the smells of myrrh, rosemary, juniper, laurel, bergamot, eucalyptus and incense.

Diet is one of the most effective tools for bringing the dosha into balance. For kapha, it is better to eat small portions, with virtually no snacks; eat less sweets, but you can eat as many vegetables and suitable fruits as you like. The main meal should be at noon.

Below are foods that are good for kapha and those that should be limited. It must be remembered that most of us have not one, but often two doshas, ​​whose influence is the strongest, therefore, if, for example, in addition to kapha, you also have strong pitta, then make the main priority in nutrition on recommendations for kapha, but also consider how various products affect your pitta. There's a lot to consider to determine how certain products affect you specifically, so the recommendations below will serve as a good guide.

Prefer light food

The natural heaviness of kapha can be counteracted by light food. Under " light food“This means not only how it is absorbed, but also its density.

Hence the recommendation to eat more vegetables and fruits, because... They are light in nature and not very dense. You can eat both fresh and cooked (they are usually easier to digest, since kapha does not have such strong digestion as pitta, for example). Vegetables are given higher priority than fruits, because... vegetables are more suitable for kapha. Salads made from fresh vegetables are good in season. Herbal teas made from suitable herbs are good.

Heavy foods include hard cheeses, puddings, nuts, pies, cakes, wheat dishes, most types of flour and flour products, breads and pastries, anything fried (especially deep-fried), overly processed and refined foods - it is better to significantly limit such foods, or exclude it altogether.

By the way, if you eat a lot at one meal, this will also create a feeling of heaviness, so prefer small portions at one time. Do not overeat under any circumstances - this is a sure way to excess weight, which is so easy for kapha people to gain.

If we talk about proportions, then it is ideal to fill the stomach one third with food, another third with liquid, and reserve the remaining third for air. This way you will have good digestion.

Warm is better than cold

Kapha dosha is cold in nature. Warm or hot food balances it out. Moreover, here we mean not only temperature, but also energy, for example, there are warming spices that can be added to dishes. Peppers have warming energy. When food is cooked on fire (electricity, gas), it also acquires thermal energy, so it is better for kaphas to give priority to freshly prepared food, especially in the cold season. Drinks are also best drunk at room temperature or hot. Warm water with honey is very useful - you can drink it little by little throughout the day. Honey not only warms you, but also helps remove toxins.

Try not to drink ice-cold drinks or eat frozen foods - this is simply tragic for kapha dosha people. This also applies to leftover food that was put in the refrigerator - they adversely affect this dosha when subsequently consumed.

Prefer dry food

Kapha is moist and oily, dry foods will help balance it. Beans, potatoes, dried fruits, rice crackers, and puffed corn are suitable. When cooking, use a minimum of oil, preferring vegetable oil.

Avoid or limit fatty foods, such as avocado, coconut, olives, whey, cheese, milk, nuts and seeds.

Do not overuse liquids, because... your dosha tends to retain them in the body. Drink just enough to satisfy your thirst and according to the time of year and activity level. Avoid foods that contain a lot of liquid, mucus or juice, such as melons, zucchini, yogurt, etc.

Rough food is better than tender food

This includes foods rich in fiber, such as raw vegetables and fruits. Kapha is gentle and soft in its qualities, so rough food balances it. However, remember that cooked vegetables (stewed, boiled) are better absorbed, so you shouldn’t lean too heavily on raw vegetables. The same applies to fruits.

Good fit: cauliflower, broccoli, White cabbage, leafy vegetables, legumes.

Limit bananas, rice puddings, milk, cereals, cheeses and all similar foods with a soft or delicate texture.

Video by O.G. Torsunov - Nutrition for kapha

Kapha dosha diet. Description

Kapha dosha is the energy that nourishes a person, which comes to him from beneficial properties the primary elements of water and earth, which are closely interconnected. By creating and maintaining the substances of the body, kapha dosha not only influences the formation of its tissue mass, but also affects the emotionality of the individual, controlling a number of positive properties, among which are love, mercy, good nature, leniency and regret.

The main seat of kapha is the stomach. However, there are five kaphas in the body:

Tarpaka - concentrated at the level of the head;

Bodhaka - mouth, tongue;

Avalambaka - rib cage;

Kledaka - belly;

Sleshaka - joints.

Descriptions of kapha dosha vary both in appearance and in certain character traits. They are usually of large build with good physical inclinations, with a wide, roundish face, with large blue or light brown eyes and thick eyelashes, and a large mouth with full lips.

The main problem of kapha dosha people is excess weight, which is usually difficult to combat.

As for character traits, people of the kapha type are distinguished by ambiguity, a combination of positive and negative traits. But mainly among representatives of kapha constitutions the following prevail:

understanding;

nobility;

composure in difficult situations.

Representatives of this dosha need to constantly worry about the formation of their morals and spiritual characteristics, so that their apparent balance, calmness, adequacy and thoughtfulness of actions do not transform into negative traits their character.

In diet and lifestyle, kapha doshas must constantly adhere to the recommendations inherent to their type. Because any imbalance leads to negative results.

Diet for Kapha dosha is based on restoring the energy component of water. It involves using the following principles when building your power system:

• Cooking with water, steam, grill, oven. Use raw foods in unlimited quantities, which will allow the body to quickly and easily absorb them.
• Dilute your diet with various greens, herbs, etc.
• Use approved spices for cooking. Do not use ready-made sets for various dishes. They often contain flavorings as well as enhancers taste qualities, which only increases energy.
• Maintain the standard time between meals for all diets – 3–4 hours.
• The Pitta dosha and Vata dosha diet, as well as Kapha dosha, suggests the possibility of skipping breakfast. In the morning, you can drink herbal unsweetened tea or use plain water.

• Drink enough fluid, which is necessary to restore energy and physiological balance in the body.
• Eat small amounts of food at a time.

• You can eat food both hot and cooled - warm. Use pleasant flavor combinations, but don’t overdo it with sweets.

It is important to remember that bitter foods activate the influence of water – kapha; the combination of water and fire allows the pungent taste of foods to balance.

• Limit your intake of nightshades, as they often cause allergic reactions in people who are more naturally energized by water.
• It is not recommended to consume grains and dairy products at the same time, as this can lead to fermentation in the body.

A single rule for all energies is to eat food in a calm and balanced atmosphere, which allows all valuable components to be normally absorbed by the body.

Since Vata and Kapha are essentially opposites, maintaining their balance can be challenging. Usually, in order to reduce Vata, it is recommended to increase its opposite Kapha. In this case, this method does not work well, since Kapha is already high, so the least manifested dosha, Pitta, should be activated.

To increase Pitta, you can use a variety of ways:

• use hot spices (if Vata predominates, do this with caution);
• visit a sauna or steam bath (sweat and warm up);
• build emotional relationships;
• lead a more active lifestyle.

Increasing fire will reduce both Vata and Kapha at the same time. If you have a Vata-Kapha constitution, a diet that reduces Vata, massage or self-massage “abhyanga” with sesame oil is useful.

For representatives of Kapha-Vata, prakriti is very important for physical and spiritual warmth. They need to love, show kindness and mercy - this is inherent in their nature. Such qualities disappear when the doshas are imbalanced. In this case, the person begins to eat a lot and gain weight. Thus, unrealized love turns into a passion for food and fat accumulation.

When restoring the balance of Vata-Kapha prakriti, one should first work with the most vulnerable and important Vata dosha. When Vata is more or less normalized, you can move on to lowering Kapha. In general, you need to constantly monitor the increase or decrease of these doshas, ​​and adjust your lifestyle and diet accordingly.

At the stage of working with Vata, light yoga and pranayama complexes, prayer, meditation are useful, you should get enough sleep and rest, and adhere to an “anti-Vata” diet. When working with Kapha, everything is the same, but aimed at this dosha. All selected yoga asanas should be warming and moderately stimulating.

Pitta nutrition. What are doshas

To understand the basics of dosha, we first have to see how Ayurveda classifies the elements of the universe, including what we are all made of. These elements include:

• Ether (space)
• Air
• Fire
• Earth

The idea is that each person is made up of an individual, unique mixture of the three main doshas, ​​which come from the elements. These doshas and elements are:

• Vata dosha (ether/space + air)
• Pitta dosha (fire + water)
• Kapha dosha (water + earth)

And this is where things get interesting. Every person has one dominant dosha, and sometimes two. And this primary dosha can become out of balance, threatening our mental and physical health.

We are all unique combination all three doshas, ​​but in this article we will focus on better understanding Pitta dosha, its nutrition and lifestyle.

In Ayurveda, “like increases like.” This means that pitta types need to work very hard to stay balanced during the pitta season, which is summer. For example, the hot qualities of summer can easily overheat an already fiery pitta constitution. If Pitta eats a lot of spicy food during the warm season. In Ayurveda, opposites are used to create a balanced lifestyle and nutrition for Pitta dosha.

What are the characteristics of Pitta dosha? According to the Himalayan Institute, when pitta is in balance, it has healthy digestion, immunity and enzymatic processes. However, imbalanced Pitta, also known as high Pitta, can result in the following symptoms:

• Inflammation
• Heartburn
• Joint pain
• Headache
• Irritability/Anger
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Painful menstruation and PMS

Ayurveda gives us a time-tested approach to help bring things back into balance.

The word "Kapha" means a viscous, sticky and sticky substance that is controlled by water. In Ayurveda, it is believed that excessive strengthening of this dosha provokes rigidity, focus on one point of view and loss of mental flexibility. Weakening Kapha leads to loss of concentration, dryness respiratory tract and heartburn.

Signs of increased Kapha dosha

Excessive strengthening of Kapha dosha can be caused by the abuse of fatty, cold and sweet foods. An imbalance manifests itself through a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, lethargy and drowsiness, general malaise, increased salivation, loss of energy and strength, the development of atherosclerosis, poor digestion, the appearance of boils, a stubborn character or complacency.

Some foods can bring Kapha dosha into balance. Among them are mango, carrots, watermelon, pomegranate, honey, lemon,. To people of this type it is also recommended to use , . Foods with bitter and astringent tastes are good for weakening Kapha.

Should be avoided frequent use sweet, sour and salty foods. It is recommended to more often introduce dry, warm foods and seasonings such as, and into the diet. The menu should include a lot of vegetables. In this case, you should not season the dishes big amount oils

Foods to Avoid for Kapha Dosha Imbalance

It is recommended to limit sweets, fatty foods, fish, meat, sugar, dairy products, dates, ice and too cold foods. It should be borne in mind that the diet should be formulated based on general condition body, otherwise you can provoke an increase in existing health problems. Before changing your diet, it is better to consult your doctor.

• Try to be energetic and avoid stagnation;
• Train your body and mind daily;
• Treat yourself to a daily ten or twenty minute massage using warm sesame oil;
• Don't lead a sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity should be an integral part of your daily schedule. Jog, bike, do martial arts, or any other sport at least 5 times a week;
• Avoid hearty breakfasts until 9 a.m., and make dinner as light as possible;
• Regularly visit baths and saunas to increase sweating;
• Try to always keep your body warm and dry, regardless of weather conditions;
• Find time to relax through meditation, music and yoga.

According to Ayurveda, there are practically no people who have a pronounced dosha. Let's look at the features today features and recommendations on how to balance nutrition for kapha pitta representatives.

Character and appearance of a kapha pitta person

Such a successful combination provides stability and flexibility from the water element, determination and assertiveness from the fire element, but lack of lightness or its weakness due to the small influence of vata dosha. People with this innate prakriti are resilient both physically and psychologically.

They have a muscular build and excellent health due to the strong digestion of pitta and the strength of the skeletal structure of kapha. Capable of achieving high results in sports and business. Leaders by nature. However, there are obvious differences in the case of differences in combinations of doshas or their imbalance.

Kapha pitta dosha is sensitive to the manifestation of emotions, kindness, prone to love for neighbors and their forgiveness. Regular physical exercise so that kapha laziness does not provoke the appearance of excess weight. On the unpleasant side, problems with digestion, emotional background and health in general are likely.

The pitta-dominant option is completely opposite.. The person is extremely purposeful, tries to control everything and everyone, a workaholic both at work and at home. His frequent companions are arrogance, arrogance, high irritability, and criticism. In order to avoid too strong manifestations of one or another dosha, they should be balanced.

How to balance them

Pitta and kapha, as Ayurveda says, are opposite elements. What is good for one is contraindicated for the other. Cool and astringent lowers the fire, but strengthens the water. Therefore, it is difficult for people with a kapha pitta constitution to choose a diet and diet so that each dosha remains in balance. The solution is the development of the vata component.

To strengthen it, frequent walks in the air are good, including in windy weather, hardening, winter views sports But remember that kapha can also increase. Herbs that lower kapha and pitta are shown, which have the effect of dispersing blood, lymph, and fighting bacteria, viruses, and inflammation.

Consider climate type and air temperature when balancing doshas. For example, heat easily unbalances pitta. One of the effective ways to influence the manifestation of a particular dosha, according to Ayurveda, is nutrition. Let's talk about this in more detail.

The principle of strengthening the element of air is also valid when choosing foods for food. Only milk and its derivatives will have to be abandoned, since they increase kapha.

Slightly warm food with minimal oil content should be a constant and favorite option for a kapha pitta person. Instead of fried, switch to oven-baked or steamed. Give preference to fresh salads from seasonal vegetables, seasoned with a symbolic amount of oil or mayonnaise.

Vata dosha loves apples and cabbage. But the latter provokes gas formation in the intestines. To avoid it, Ayurveda recommends adding asafoetida to dishes. The kapha pita diet is replete with fruits, except for very urgent ones. Thus, you will have to limit or completely abandon melons, watermelons, grapes, peaches, cherries, and strawberries. They are friends of kapha, and our goal is to reduce it, not increase it. You can diversify your diet with seasonal dried fruits and cereals.

Basic rule for balanced nutrition Kapha Pitta is the use of seasonal foods.

To extinguish overly active pitta, you should give up violent foods - eggs and meat. They contribute to the growth of aggressiveness in representatives of pitta kapha and the suppression of the will of other people.

Ayurveda determines the duration of the spring-winter period from December to early May.
This time is characterized by a smaller amount of fresh greens, fruits and vegetables grown in the area where you live. However, representatives of pitta kapha can create a menu for themselves from cereals - barley, brown rice, oats and wheat, and durum pasta. Barley has a drying, cooling effect and reduces the acidity of the digestive system. We consume minimal amounts of buckwheat, corn and rye..

We refuse yeast bread because it has a sour taste. We replace it with yeast-free one. Add legumes - beans, chickpeas, tofu, white beans, except lentils. Vegetables should be eaten boiled or stewed. Beets and carrots are ideal. Spinach with low-fat sour cream will appeal to representatives of this constitution.

Occasionally we season dishes with nuts and seeds such as roasted sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds. As well as vegetable oils: soybean, sunflower, olive, rapeseed, nut, and corn. We exclude sesame, almond and mustard. It is healthy to eat ghee - melted butter all year round.

You can consume goat milk and its derivatives in small quantities and avoid industrially produced dairy products.

For sweets, treat yourself to dried fruits, brown and cane sugar, and honey. You can eat sweet fruits - oranges, pomegranates, pineapples, grapes, apples. Can't eat white sugar and its substitutes, black molasses, fructose.

Sweets have a calming effect on pitta dosha. They digest well and calm her down.

Useful herbs and infusions diversify your taste pleasures. Mint, turmeric, coriander, fennel, saffron, pink water, cumin, anise, cardamom, bay leaf, dried ginger, vanilla, cinnamon.
Alcohol, chocolate drinks, hot and very cold drinks, carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks, and overly sweet fruit drinks should always be avoided.

In the cold season, herbal teas made from chamomile, blackberry, chicory, hibiscus, jasmine, lemon balm and mint, rose petals, raspberry leaves, birch, strawberry, cloves, and eucalyptus will warm you up. Rarely add a squeeze of lemon to your cup. Absolutely no to ginseng and rose hips.

Of course, vegetarian dishes are decorated with seasonings in terms of taste. Pitta kapha dosha can easily afford black pepper, curry, mustard, cilantro, coconut milk and baked coconut, mint leaves, lemon juice, weak pickle, sea ​​salt, orange zest, chili pepper. But ketchups, iodized salt, black sesame seeds, soy sauces, olives (black and green), seasonings with hot, salty and sour tastes.

Water should be drunk in sufficient quantity. It is optimal if it is slightly cool.

According to Ayurveda, the period between May and the end of November is a time of variety and availability of fresh greens and fruits. The nutrition of a person with a fire-water constitution is changing, new combinations of products and gastronomic sketches are being added to the table.

Every day you can drink fresh concentrated fruit juices, maple syrup, sometimes include carrot juice with the addition of ginger, other vegetable juices, milk of different origins - goat, coconut, soy; chicory drink, a sweet yoghurt drink flavored with spices.

Suitable cereals for preparing main dishes are white and brown rice, wheat and bran, barley, corn, oat groats and cereals, whole grain pasta, whole grain flour. Rye and buckwheat products are excluded. To enhance the taste of the prepared food, season it with fresh basil, parsley, dill, ginger, paprika, mint leaves, black pepper, curry, orange zest, sweet peas, sage, star anise, marjoram, cloves, mustard seeds, rosemary, thyme. We remember that our enemies are fresh garlic and onions.

In the warm season, herbal teas and seasonings are the same as in winter and spring.

If you notice that the element of water has begun to dominate your well-being, follow some recommendations to reduce it:

• eat warm, dry foods with minimal oil content;
• fast regularly at least once a week;
• forget about the sweet taste, replenish your diet with astringent and bitter ones;
• reduce the volume and number of servings if possible;
• eat dinner before 6 pm, or exercise twice a week;
• reduce the amount of potatoes, juicy fruits, meat, seafood;
• Exclusively from the diet: dairy products, cheeses, rice, oats, wheat.

Activating vata dosha through food

Ayurveda notes that sweet, sour and salty tastes are indicated for vata. Eat little and often. Enrich your diet with creamy vegetable soups muesli steamed in water or milk. If the food is more dry, it is good to drink it with acidified water little by little during the meal.

Finish your meal with sweet herbal tea. Desserts, crackers, biscuits, crackers are excessively dry, therefore Vata doshas are contraindicated. We also exclude products obtained as a result of fermentation. Fruits to enhance vata should be in moderation, sweet in taste and only well-ripened. Dried fruits must be soaked in water before use. It is best to lightly roast the apples and sprinkle them with sweet spices.

Honey can be eaten in small doses. Boil milk and mix with cardamom or fennel before drinking. We will talk more about the nutritional features of the vata constitution in the following articles.

Be healthy, happy and successful!

Try to control every aspect of nutrition, because even the most healthy foods will become poison if they are not absorbed correctly by the body.

Features of metabolism

People with a predominance of Kapha dosha in their constitution have a good appetite, a pronounced feeling of hunger, but slow digestion. If, succumbing to a slight feeling of hunger, they begin to eat frequently or overeat, due to slow metabolism, the food will not be completely digested and will cause the accumulation of waste and toxins, and the digested part of it will first be deposited in adipose tissue. Therefore, the mandatory rule should be two or three meals a day with strict adherence to the volume of food eaten.

Kapha, when out of balance, promotes the accumulation of mucus in the body - it is by its nature slow, passive, heavy, cold, slightly caustic and flowing, therefore it causes blockage of pores and tissues inside the body, promotes the development of tumors, thickens the blood and various body fluids, disrupts the work of the endocrine glands, causes an increase in body weight and fat deposits. To balance these qualities, it is necessary to avoid eating very fatty, salty, sweet, heavy, oily and cooling foods - milk, dairy products, fatty meats and broths, bananas, nuts, milk porridges. In contrast, it is necessary to eat light, penetrating, warming, fibrous and dry foods.

An important feature of an organism with a dominant influence of the Water element is the difficulty of digesting incompatible food, therefore separate meals are recommended for people of this type.

The nature of Kapha is passive, enveloping and cold, so in order to keep it in balance, it is necessary to exclude very cold foods and drinks, as well as very hot and excessively spicy food. The ban on the latter is imposed because the spicy melts the mucus and causes it to move throughout the body, and when the mucus is removed from the source of fire, it will harden, clogging energy channels and vessels.

Therefore, food for people of this type should be hot and warming, but not scalding. oral cavity. “Water” people are quite static and calm, but they often “succumb” to stress and begin to “eat up” it, thereby causing an increase in Kapha in the body and suppression of Pitta, which protects the body from stress and adverse external factors. In turn, this can contribute to the development of even deeper stress, the accumulation of mucus in the body and the appearance or exacerbation of mucus diseases - sinusitis, rhinitis, hormonal disorders, tumors, diabetes.

Meal time

Due to their slow metabolism, “water” people tend to have swelling and congestion in the body, so they should not eat too early or too late.

Breakfast 8.00-10:00. Breakfast for people of Kapha constitution should be very light and consist mainly of fruits, for example, a baked apple or pear combined with a few plums. It is important to remember that raw fruits do not combine with other foods, so they must be consumed separately. Sometimes representatives of this type can sometimes completely do without breakfast.

Lunch 13:00-15:00. For Kapha people, this should be the bulk of their meals, as this is when digestion works best. It is recommended to have a thin vegetable broth soup for lunch, a little lean meat, buckwheat porridge, vegetable salads, vegetable stew or steamed vegetables, honey.

Dinner no later than 18:00. It is recommended to have dinner no later than 3 hours before bedtime. In the evening you should eat lighter meals. It is also recommended to avoid lactic acid products in evening time. If you eat food shortly before going to bed at night, it will be much less digestible.

It is very important to learn to distinguish the body’s actual needs for food and drink from the state when you really don’t want to eat and drink, but something tempts you to do so. Thus, it is necessary to eat when you are hungry and drink when you are thirsty.

With any constitution and following any diet, it is imperative to exclude food at night. Eating late does not give rest to the digestive system and leads to the formation of toxins, which prevents normal operation the whole body.
In the modern lifestyle of a big city, it is sometimes difficult to exclude a late dinner, since this is the only time after work when you can eat calmly and fully. Therefore, for many, dinner is after working day becomes the main meal. Very carefully, without trying to break internal resistance and habits, it is important to shift main reception food for the day, closer to noon, when the fire of digestion is most active. Heavy and difficult to digest foods should also be consumed in the middle of the day.

Amount of food

For people whose constitution is dominated by Kapha, the amount of food varies great importance. Their metabolism is at a fairly low level. As a result, they can and should eat less than people of other types of constitutions - skipping several meals a week should become the norm for them. After all, they can easily live the whole day on water or juices alone, without experiencing any physical discomfort, since their body stores a large amount of energy.

If there is an excess of food, it will be absorbed worse, becoming poison (ama). In addition, overeating stretches the stomach, which will require more and more food. Ideally, you should eat no more than what can fit in your cupped palms at a time.

The meal should be stopped before the feeling of heaviness in the stomach occurs, without filling it completely. It is good to finish a meal when one third of the stomach is filled with food, one third with water and one third with air. It is important to strictly adhere drinking regime, avoiding taking in excessive amounts of liquid and drinking no more than 1 liter per day.

How the food is prepared

For people with Kapha predominance, it is good to use a lot of spices for cooking. Almost all spices are beneficial. However, you should not add ketchup and mayonnaise to dishes. It is necessary to avoid old, heavy, fatty, oily, mucous, watery foods, yeast bread, and strong alcoholic drinks.

Most vegetables are very healthy for this type of person as they are usually light and dry in nature. Especially useful are sharp, bitter and astringent vegetables, which can be either boiled or eaten raw (preferably in warm weather). Mushrooms are also often included in the list of vegetables recommended for water-type people, but most of them are quite heavy, so they can throw the Water element out of balance.

Mushrooms should only be consumed when cooked with spices that enhance Pitta dosha in the body (asafetida, ginger, garlic, black pepper, etc.). Kapha-type people usually do not need animal products, since they are less susceptible to tissue failure than others. Of all types of meat, poultry causes the least harm. Fatty and red meat should be excluded from your menu. If you cannot do without meat, then it should be cooked with a lot of spices (turmeric, cumin, coriander, black pepper, a little red pepper, mustard seeds are suitable).

Representatives of this type of constitution should, if possible, avoid dairy products (except low-fat curdled milk), because they promote mucus formation and the occurrence stagnation. But if you love milk, you can reduce mucus formation by adding spices like cardamom, ginger, saffron or masala mixture.

Oils are generally not suitable for water type people due to their wet and heavy nature. As a result, it is better to use them in very small quantities for cooking.

Animal fats, such as lard, are much heavier vegetable oils, and therefore it is advisable to completely avoid them. It should be remembered that most legumes need to be soaked overnight and washed in the morning - this way they are better absorbed. If legumes cause flatulence, then long pepper, cloves, ginger, and black cardamom should be added to the prepared dish. Cereals are not very suitable for people with a predominant constitution of Water, as they are heavy and can increase weight, and even more so you should not cook them with milk.

Food by season

Kapha dosha is most active in winter and early spring, when the weather outside is damp and cold. These days it is better to eat less raw and more cooked food, and use warming spices in food and drinks. At that time long fasts and a raw food diet are contraindicated.

Nutrition by age

When compiling a diet, you need to take age into account, keeping in mind the following:

From birth to 16 years- the time of predominance of the Water element, so at this time people often get sick colds. During these years, it is especially important for representatives of the “water” type of constitution to monitor their diet and not abuse food that increases the amount of the Water element in the body. However, we must not forget that this is a period of active growth of the body, the formation of organs and tissues, so it is better to refrain from strict diets. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains should make up approximately 75% of a child's diet. You should avoid a lot of sweets.

From 16 to 50–55 years old- the time of Fire, therefore, when drawing up a diet for people with a Water constitution, it is important to monitor the balance of the fire element in the body, still limiting the consumption of salty, sweet and sour, and also not overusing spicy tastes.

From 55 years onwards- the time of Air, so at this time it is very important to create a diet based on Current state body, because By consuming foods that reduce the amount of Water, we increase the level of Air, which can lead to diseases and disorders associated with this element (arthritis, arthrosis, etc.). During this period of life, you should not abuse raw vegetables and fruits; it is advisable to give up coffee and strong tea. People over fifty years of age, regardless of their constitution type, are not recommended to consume yogurt; cleansing fasting is best done under the supervision of a physician. You should not eat heavy food, because... at this age, people with a “watery” type of constitution gain weight especially quickly.

Diet for those with a Kapha constitution

A distinctive feature of the diet of people with a predominance of Water in their individual constitution is a decrease not only total number, but also the calorie content of food consumed. Representatives of this type are recommended to have the following balancing diet:

• 30–40% grain products: dry rye bread, dry semi-finished grain products, subjected to culinary processing grains;
• 20% protein: chicken, turkey, soft-boiled or hard-boiled eggs, a small amount of goat's milk, legumes - including chickpeas, aduki, kidney beans, red lentils, black and white beans, mung beans, split peas, black-eyed peas (this general recommendations for everyone: if you do not eat meat and other products, then be sure to ensure that your diet is complete);
• 40–50% fresh vegetables;
• 10% fresh or dried fruit (if desired);
• useful to include in daily diet salads.

Starvation

People with a predominance of Kapha dosha in their constitution benefit from strict vegetarianism (without animal products) like no other. Once a week it is advisable to arrange fasting days without food or vegetable juices, raw vegetables and fruits, herbal decoctions, ginger tea. They can also withstand long (a week or more) fasting; they will also benefit from observing Christian fasts, because This not only allows the body to cleanse itself, but also develops willpower. You can fast for 5,10,15 days depending on your feelings. Some can try more long-term abstinence from food, but always under the supervision of a doctor. It is important to remember that fasting can be very harmful to weakened, seriously ill people, young children and the elderly.

Based on materials from the book “Yoga from A to Z” by David Frawley