Ayurveda is an ancient system of healing in India and is now so well known that there are Ayurvedic practitioners in many countries outside India, including North America. Basically, from an Ayurveda standpoint, your health depends on your food and your lifestyle and food is also used as medicine to balance you.
There are three main body types – called doshas - and you can be one type or a combination of two or even all three types – though the latter is rare.
Vata means the energy of movement and activity and if you are a vata type, you are probably slim with light bones, cold hands and feet, which also means that you love warmth. Vata are restless types, who often walk fast and even think fast. They often love more fatty food, mushy soups and like sweet tastes as well as sour and salty food. In our society, they would probably be fast food fans! So in order to become balanced, Vata types need to keep warm, eat warm and even spicy foods. They also need to keep calm so getting plenty of rest as well as adhering to a regular routine help a lot. Naturally they should avoid raw, cold or frozen food as well as extreme cold temperatures.
Pitta types represent the fire principle so everything needs to be digested and assimilated. These people tend to have a good appetite and their body temperature is higher so they like things cool and fresh. They have a good digestive system, an excellent memory and ask a lot of questions. They may be sensitive to fried food. They tend to urinate a lot as well as sweat profusely. They like cold drinks and sweet foods, tend to have oily skin and a light to medium body frame. They are really good at learning and concentrating and can be highly disciplined. They are stubborn though. Pitta types should avoid extreme heat and eat cooling foods and avoid lots of oil. They should exercise when it is cooler in the day and limit their salt intake so they won’t sweat so much.
Kapha represents the energy of structure and lubrication and such people tend to be a bit overweight with heavy bones and a large compact frame. They have a steady appetite but their digestion is often slow and they walk and talk slowly. This means they can be overweight and it’s difficult for them to lose it. They love spending their day sleeping or just sitting around and they might need coffee to get them going in the morning. Kaphas need exercise for balance. They should also avoid fatty and heavy foods as well as dairy, eating light meals. Iced foods and drinks should also be avoided as well as napping during the day.
So you can see that what is good for a Vata type (warmth) is no good for Pitta types who need to cool down!
You can get advice from Ayurvedic centers, ayurvedic practitioners and doctors.
Mail this post 
