please visit
dr shahs panchkarma ayurveda clinic
Prakriti
Tri-doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha) govern
creation, maintenance and destruction of bodily tissues as well as the
assimilation and elimination. Each person is born with a unique combination of
these doshas which decides their basic/genetic constitution called Prakriti.
The term Prakriti is a Sanskrit word that means, "Nature,"
"creativity," or "the first creation."
Importance of knowledge of one’s own prakriti
ü Understanding
of each person's Prakriti is important for deciding their personal diet and
exercise pattern, supplements and medicinal herbs.
ü Recognizing,
the cleansing and rebuilding, therapies of Panchkarma that is right for them as
these are among the chief methods which ayurveda employs for the maintenance
and restoration of health.
ü It
recognizes the unique constitutional differences of all individuals and
therefore recommends different regimens for different types of people. Although
two people may appear to have the same outward symptoms, but their Prakriti may
be very different and therefore call for very different remedies.
ü Prakriti can be used to understand human
life and on the basis of this, an individual is able to understand him/herself
better and able to live according to his/her ‘nature, thus carving out a more
appropriate life for him/herself.
ü To choose the perfect partner in marital
affairs
ü To
choose an appropriate profession / occupation
ü Disease susceptibility and Prakriti - a person
can be more prone to diseases that are caused by the very same dosha of his
prakriti. It is also described in ayurveda that vata prakriti persons are more
prone to diseases
Concept of Prakriti
and Vikriti
According to Ayurveda, your basic constitution is determined at the time
of conception. This constitution is called Prakriti. One of the very important concepts
of Ayurveda is that one's basic constitution is fixed throughout his lifetime.
The combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that was present in the individual at
the time of conception is maintained throughout his lifetime. This is your base
point. Notice that different persons can have different combination of Vata,
Pitta and kapha as their basic constitution or Prakriti. This is how Ayurveda
can explain the subtle differences between individuals and explains why
everyone is unique and that two persons can react very differently when exposed
to the same environment or stimuli. Your Prakriti is unique to you just as your
fingerprint and DNA. Thus, in order to understand a person, it is necessary to
determine his or her Prakriti.
Ideally, your constitution remains fixed throughout your life.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Every person is subjected to the constant
interaction with his or her environment which will affect the person's
constitution at any time. The body will try to maintain a dynamic equilibrium
or balance with the environment. Your current condition is called your Vikriti.
Although it reflects your ability to adjust to life's influences and is always
changing, it should match your Prakriti, or inborn constitution, as closely as
possible. If the current proportion of your doshas differs significantly from
your constitutional proportion, it indicates imbalances, which in turn can lead
to illness. Farther your Vikriti is from your Prakriti, more ill you are.
Ayurveda teaches that your Vikriti can be changed by means of diet, meditation
and exercise so as to approach your Prakriti or the state where you have
perfect health.
The concept of Prakriti and Vikriti can be illustrated by reference to
our body temperature. When healthy, we maintain an average body temperature of
about 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Although, different persons can have different
base temperatures, it does not change much so long as the person is healthy.
When we go outside on a winter day, our body temperature may go down slightly;
but will pick right back up to the normal if we are healthy. Similarly, jogging
on a hot day can temporarily raise our body temperature. When we are sick, or
catch a cold, our body temperature will go up. This indicates that we are sick
or outside our normal base condition. We may take medicine to bring the body
temperature back to the normal range. In analogy to Ayurveda, our present
temperature may be considered as Vikriti and the difference between the Prakriti
(our normal temperature) and Vikriti (our present temperature) can determine
whether any medical intervention is required. Just like an allopathic doctor
will take your temperature and blood pressure routinely as the first step in
diagnosing your condition, Ayurvedic practitioners will determine your Prakriti
and Vikriti as the first step in diagnosing your condition.
Hence prior to embarking on a journey to perfect health and longevity,
it is important that you understand your Prakriti and Vikriti and determine how
far separated these are. Armed with this knowledge, we can map a treatment
strategy. This is the basic premise of Ayurveda.
Factors responsible for prakriti formation
Ø Predominance of doshas at the time of union of male and
female gamete forms the prakriti.
Ø Nature of
the season.
Ø Condition
inside the uterus.
Ø Food of
mother during pregnancy.
Ø Other
regimens adopted by mother during pregnancy
Know your
Constitution (Prakriti)
To know more about self, attempt the following
questionnaire and know the results of your body constitution which is termed as
"PRAKRITI" in Ayurveda.
Base your answers according to your total life
experiences, and not just how you feel these past few days.
Every individual has a unique combination of these three doshas.
This questionnaire explains your body constitution physically and mentally
both.
Distinctive
Features of Vata people
Physical
·
Body frame – People with Vata prakriti has light
body frame and are usually physically underdeveloped. They may be short or tall
but thin and slender. Their chests are flat and their veins and muscle tendons
are visible.
·
Skin
& Hair Type – The vata people usually have brown complexion with dry, rough,
cold and cracked skin. They have average to thin hair that is usually dark and
dry and may be curly.
·
Eyes –
Vata people usually have dark brown or grey colored eyes with thin eyelashes
and fewer lusters. The eyes may be sunken, small, dry, and active.
·
Other –
Vata people have rough and brittle nails, crooked, large or protruding teeth,
and bent and turned-up nose.
Physiological
Vata people generally have irregular daily routine. The Vata individual is
quick moving both physically and in talking. They have variable appetite
and digestive efficiency and like sweet, sour and salty tastes and hot drinks.
They usually have irregular appetite and thirst; hence experience digestive and
mal absorption problems. Vata people have tendency to cold hands and feet
and moderate sweating. The urine production is also scarce and the feces
are dry, hard and small in quantity. Their sleep is light, interrupted,
and fitful and they usually sleep less than the other types. They show
dislike for cold climate. They spend high energy in short bursts thus tend
to tire easily and to overexert. Sexually such people are easily excitable
but quickly satisfied. Vata types tend to be delicate in health, so they
may have few or no children.
Behavioral or Psychological
Positive
·
Highly
imaginative, Creative and filled with ideas.
·
Mental
quickness means they quick in learning and grasping new knowledge.
·
They have
excitable, lively, fun personality with tendency for swing able moods. When in
balance they are full of joy and enthusiastic.
·
They do
not like sitting idle, and seek constant action.
Negative
·
They have
little willpower and possess little tolerance, confidence or boldness.
·
Their
reasoning power is weak. They have a tendency to act on impulse.
·
These
people are fearful, anxious, and insecure. Fears of darkness, heights and
enclosed spaces are common with them.
·
Their
memory is not very good and they are quick to forget the learned knowledge.
·
These
people are restless and often have disjointed thoughts.
·
When out
of balance they respond to stress with fear, worry, and anxiety.
·
They have
a tendency to change and may often move furniture or residence to keep from
feeling bored.
·
They are
quick to earn money but spend it on trifles and have difficulty saving.
Probable health
problems for vata prakriti
Vata
regulates some of the basic functions of human body. Hence the imbalance in
vata can cause several minor or major health problems including headaches,
hypertension, dry coughs, sore throats, earaches, anxiety, irregular heart
rhythms, muscle spasms, lower back pain, constipation, abdominal gas, diarrhea,
nervous stomach, menstrual cramps, premature ejaculation and other sexual
dys-functions, arthritis. Most neurological disorders are related to Vata
imbalance.
General
Tips on Health and Wellness for Vata Types
When in
balance, vata promotes creativity and flexibility and general well being of
body and mind, when run out of balance; vata produces fear and anxiety along
with several health ailments. To keep vata in balance one should be acquainted
with the causes and factors that can influence vata dosha and also the ways to
regulate them.
The Vata
people usually have irregular habits of eating and sleeping but this is the
most important thing for them to do. When Vata is out of balance this may feel
almost impossible, but all the people with a Vata body type should make an
effort to establish a regular routine.
You
should include relaxed and moderate kind of exercises in their routine. Yoga,
meditation, walking, swimming are good for them. But you should avoid
exhausting, competitive and frantic activities.
To
maintain vata balance one should rest sufficiently, and choose foods,
behaviors, personal relationships, and environmental circumstances that can set
positive influences on vata. It is also important to regulate mental and
physical impulses and to modify mental attitudes, emotional states, and
behaviors in supportive ways. Try to associate with people who are calmly
purposeful.
Vata
people need to keep warm thus they should avoid staying out in cold weather and
having cold food. Steam baths, humidifiers and moisture in general are
beneficial for them. Daily oil massage before the shower or bath is also
advisable.
Vata
prakriti people should consume warm, moist, slightly oily and heavy food and
should avoid cold and raw food. Optimum meal times for vata people are:
breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch at noon, a snack at 4 p.m. and a full dinner at 6
p.m.
Vata people should go to bed by 10 p.m. since they need more rest than the
other types.
The colors
that correspond well with the Vata dosha are warm and gentle such as yellow,
ochre, and brown. So vata people should include these colors in their wardrobes
and homes as well.
People
having vata constitution should wear Amethyst as this stone associate well with
Vata dosha and drive positive influences.
If your
basic constitution is mixed like vata-pitta or vata-kapha, then you should
include portion for the second influential dosha.
A Food Plan to Balance Vata Dosha
Since vata is a cold dry dosha; warm, nourishing foods are good to balance
Vata. You should include in your diet the food that is warm, moderately heavy,
slightly oily (garnished with butter and fat), sweet, soothing and satisfying.
All such foods are good for settling disturbed Vata. Food items such as warm
milk, cream, butter, warm soups, stews, hot cereals, fresh baked bread, ripe
fruits, and salted nuts are good for vata. Breakfast is very important for vata
people. You can add hot cereals such as cream of rice or wheat, any warm,
milky, and sweet food item in your breakfast. Vata person should avoid high
caffeine drinks instead of them they can opt herbal teas. Spicy, Mexican or
Indian foods that are cooked in oil also good for vata people. On the other
hand cold foods such as cold salads, iced drinks, raw vegetables and greens are
not very good for persons with vata imbalance. They should avoid eating
candies, dry fruits, and unripe fruits.
List of Favorable Food Items for Vata Prakriti
|
Vegetables
|
Fruits
|
Grains
|
Dairy
|
Meat
|
Oil
|
Beverages
|
Nuts
Seeds
|
Herbs
Spices
|
Asparagus
beets
carrots
cucumber
garlic
green beans
onions, cooked
onions, cooked
sweet potato
radishes
turnips
leafy greens in moderation
|
Sweet fruits
apricots
avocados
bananas
berries
cherries
coconut
fresh figs
grapefruit
lemons
grapes
mangos
sweet melons
sour oranges
papaya
pineapple
peaches
plums
sour fruits
Stewed fruits
Sweet, well-ripened fruit in general
|
Rice, wheat, quinoa, oats, amaranth, all cooked
until tender
|
Whole milk, cream, butter, fresh yogurt (cooked
into foods), lassi, cottage cheese, fresh paneer cheese
|
Chicken
seafood, in general
turkey
All in small quantity
|
All oils are acceptable
Ghee, olive oil, sesame oil, cold-pressed nut oils such as walnut
|
Almond Milk
Apple Cider
Apricot Juice
Berry Juice (except for cranberry)
Carob
Carrot Juice
Chai (hot spiced milk)
Cherry Juice
Grapefruit Juice
Lemonade
Mango Juice
Orange Juice
Papaya Juice
Peach Nectar
Pineapple Juice
Rice Milk
Sour Juices
Soy Milk (hot & well-spiced)
|
Almonds (soaked and blanched), cashews, walnuts
(soaked), pistachios, hazelnuts, pecans (soaked), pine nuts, sesame seeds,
sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds.
|
Ajwain, dried ginger, asafetida (hing) in small
quantities, fenugreek, turmeric, cumin, clove, cardamom, coriander, fennel,
black pepper, basil, Chinese cinnamon, nutmeg, mustard seed, mint, rosemary,
thyme, lemon and orange zest, oregano, rock salt or sea salt, black salt,
dried mango powder, pomegranate seeds or powder
|
|
List of Unfavorable Food Items for Vata Prakriti
|
Vegetables
|
Fruits
|
Grains
|
Dairy
|
Meat
|
Oil
|
Beverages
|
Nuts
&
Seeds
|
Herbs
&
Spices
|
Broccoli
Brusselssprouts
cabbage
cauliflower
celery
eggplant
leafy green vegetables
mushrooms
peas
peppers
potatoes
sprouts
tomatoes
zucchini
|
Apples (raw)
Cranberries
Dates (dry)
Figs (dry)
Pomegranates
Prunes (dry)
Raisins (dry)
Watermelon
Unripe fruits, especially bananas.
|
Barley
buckwheat
corn
dry oats
millet
rye
Couscous
Crackers
Granola
Muesli
Pasta
Polenta
Rice Cakes
Rye
Sago
Spelt
Tapioca
Wheat Bran
|
Cow’s Milk (powdered)
Goat’s Milk (powdered)
Yogurt (plain, frozen or with fruits)
|
Red meat
|
Flaxseed
|
Apple Juice
Black Tea
Caffeinated Beverages
Carbonated Drinks
Chocolate Milk
Coffee
Cold Dairy Drinks
Cranberry Juice
Ice Cold Drinks
Mixed Vegetable juice
Pear Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Prune Juice
Soy Milk (cold)
Tomato Juice
|
No restriction.
|
Caraway
|
Distinctive Features of Pitta people
Physical
·
Body Frame – Pitta prakriti people have light to medium
body frame with well-built physique and medium height. Their chests are not
very flat and they show a medium prominence of veins and muscle tendons.
·
Skin & Hair Type – The pitta person may have coppery,
yellowish, reddish or fair complexion with fair or reddish, fine, soft, shiny,
warm skin. The hair may be fine red, fair or dark brown in color and straight
or thinning, shiny, fine and silky in texture.
·
Eyes – Pitta people have distinct, bright eyes that are usually blue,
grey or hazel in colour.
·
Teeth – Pitta people may have sharp but yellowish
teeth with soft and, at times, bleeding gums.
·
Other – Pitta person has heart-shaped face with
tapering chin and pointed nose that is sharp and tends to be reddish at tip.
The nails are usually soft.
Physiological
Pitta
people usually have a sensitive and reactive body with a medium frame and
weight. They usually keep in shape as they rarely gain or lose much
weight.
Pitta constituent people usually have strong metabolism, good digestive fire
and strong appetites. Thus they usually take large quantities of food and
liquid at a time and often get irritated if they have to miss or wait for a
meal.
Pitta type people have a natural longing for sweet, bitter and astringent
tastes and enjoy cold drinks.
Pitta people usually have average or medium sleep but keep fresh and active, as
their sleep is sound and uninterrupted.
Pitta is a fire element, thus people with pitta constitution tend to have
higher body temperature with warm hands and feet. They do not feel comfortable
in sunlight heat or hot weather as heat makes them tired.
Pitta people do not like hard work as well as they also have a tendency toward
excessive perspiration.
Pitta people produce a large volume of urine and the feces are yellowish,
liquid, soft and plentiful.
These people also show tendency toward grey hair with thinning hairline or
baldness.
Pitta prakriti people are passionate and romantic and sexually have more vigor
and endurance than Vatas, but less than Kaphas.
Behavioral
or Psychological
Positive
·
Pitta
people have sharp mind and superior memory hence they boast outstanding
learning, understanding and concentrating powers.
·
These
people are orderly, focused, assertive and entrepreneurial by nature.
·
Pitta
people have inborn leadership skills with good comprehension power, focused
vision and blessed wisdom. They are usually good public speakers and also
capable of sharp, sarcastic, cutting speech. They have a desire to spread their
name and fame all over.
·
They have
natural fondness for noble professions and often make large amounts of
money. They like to spend on luxurious items like perfume and
jewelry.
·
Pitta
people appreciate material prosperity and they tend to be moderately well off
financially. They enjoy exhibiting their wealth and luxurious possessions and
like to surround themselves with beautiful objects.
Negative
·
Pitta
person is often stubborn, pushy, prejudiced, and authoritarian.
·
They have
emotional tendencies toward hate, anger and jealousy.
·
Pitta
people become commanding, irritated, angry, aggressive, demanding,
assertive when out of balance.
·
Pitta
people usually show extremist behavior and never yield an inch from their
principles.
·
They can
be judgmental, critical and perfectionist, and tend to become angry
easily.
·
Pitta
person is subject to temper tantrums, impatience, and anger.
Probable Health Problems for
pitta prakriti
Pitta is
an element of fire hence any imbalance in pitta usually causes fevers,
inflammatory diseases, acidity, ulcers, rashes, digestive problem etc. It can
also cause loss of strength, heart problems, skin problems, jaundice and hair
problems.
Some
distinctive physical problems faced by pitta people include rashes or
inflammations of the skin, sunburns, acne, boils, skin cancer, sensitive and
burning eyes, hair loss, premature graying of hair and baldness.
General
Tips on Health and Wellness for Pitta
When in
balance, pitta promotes intelligence and understanding but when disturbed or
imbalanced it produces anger and jealousy. To ensure sound and healthy living
one should be aware with the causes and factors that can influence pitta dosha
and also the ways to regulate them.
It is
very important for Pitta people that they lead a pure and moderate life and try
to keep cool. Pitta is a fire element; hence to balance it one should avoid
excessive heat, oily, steamy and salty food, rigorous exercises that increase
body heat, etc. Such people should opt for foods, attitudes, behaviors,
personal relationships, and environmental conditions that can be instrumental
in balancing pitta.
They
should take food that is sweet, bitter, and astringent because these tastes
decrease pitta influences, do exercise during the cooler part of the day, and
do things that cool the mind, avoid conflicts and choose cool climates. On
behavioral front developing the virtues of honesty, morality, kindness,
generosity, and self-control also help in balancing pitta dosha.
Pitta prakriti people should do meditation as it helps to control negative
thoughts and calm mind and body. Optimum meal times for pitta people are:
breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch at noon, a snack at 3 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.
The pitta
people should use colors that are cool and calm, for example, blues and greens.
These colors provide a soothing effect and help to control pitta. The stone
should be worn by pitta people is Moonstone as this stone associate well with
pitta dosha and drive positive influences.
A Food
Plan to Balance Pitta Dosha
Pitta is
related with fire and control digestion and metabolism, body temperature, and
biological transformations in the body. Usually Pitta people have strong
efficient digestion, they can generally eat just about everything but they
should include cool or warm food in their diet with less butter and
added fat. Excessive use of salt, overuse of sour and spicy food and overeating
are the main causes that trouble pitta so such food items should be reduced,
instead starchy foods such as vegetables, grains and beans, salad, milk and ice
cream should be included in the diet.
Alcoholic
and fermented foods should also be avoided. Pitta person should not take coffee
also as the acid in the coffee is also pitta aggravating, instead they can have
herb teas like mint, licorice root or other that pacify pitta.
If your basic constitution is mixed like pitta-vata or pitta-kapha, then
you should include portion for the second influential dosha.
List of favorable food items for Pitta Prakriti
|
Vegetables
|
Fruits
|
Grains
|
Dairy
|
Meat
|
Oil
|
Beverages
|
Nuts
&
Seeds
|
Herbs
&
Spices
|
Asparagus
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Green beans
Green (sweet) peppers
Leafy green vegetables
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Okra
Parsley
Peas
Potatoes
Sprouts
Squash
Sweet potatoes
Zucchini
|
Apples
Avocados
Cherries
Coconut
Figs
Dark grapes
Mangoes
Melons
Oranges
Pears
Pineapples
Plums
Prunes
Raisins
|
Barley
Oats
Wheat
White rice (prefer basmati rice)
|
Butter
Egg whites
Ghee (clarified butter )- unless you are watching cholesterol
Ice cream
Milk
|
Chicken
Shrimp
Turkey
(All in small amounts)
|
Coconut
Olive
Soy
Sunflower
|
Almond milk
aloe vera juice
apple juice apricot juice berry juice (sweet) black tea carob
chai (hot, spiced milk)* cherry juice (sweet)
cool dairy drinks
grain "coffee" grape juice
mango juice mixed veg. juice orange juice
peach nectar pomegranate juice prune juice pear juice rice milk soy milk
vegetable bouillon
|
Coconut
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
|
Spices are generally avoided as too heating. In
small amounts, the following sweet and astringent spices are OK
Cardamom
Cilantro(green coriander)
Cinnamon
Coriander seed
Dill
Fennel
Mint
Saffron
Turmeric
Plus small amounts of cumin and black pepper
|
|
List of unfavorable food items for Pitta Prakriti
|
Vegetables
|
Fruits
|
Grains
|
Dairy
|
Meat
|
Oil
|
Beverages
|
Nuts
&
Seeds
|
Herbs
&
Spices
|
Beets
Carrots
Eggplant
Garlic
Hot peppers
Onions
Radishes
Spinach
Tomatoes
|
Apricots
Bananas
Berries
Cherries (sour)
Cranberries
Grapefruit
Papayas
Peaches
Persimmons
|
Brown rice
Corn
Millet
Rye
|
Buttermilk
Cheese
Egg yolks
Sour cream
Yogurt
|
Red meat and sea food in general )
|
Almond
Corn
Safflower
Sesame
|
Apple cider berry juice (sour) caffeinated
beverages carbonated drinks carrot juice cherry juice (sour) chocolate milk
coffee cranberry juice grapefruit juice
iced tea
iced drinks lemonade papaya juice tomato juice sour juices
|
All, except mentioned above
|
All pungent herbs and spices, except as noted.
Take only the minimal amounts of the following:
Barbecue sauce
Catsup
Mustard
Pickles
Salt
Sour salad dressings
Spicy condiments
Vinegar
|
Distinctive Features of Kapha people
Physical
·
Body Frame – Kapha prakriti people usually
have strong and large body frame with heavy bones and muscles. Their chests are
expanded and broad. Their veins and tendons are not obvious because of their
thick skin but the muscle development is good. The bones are not prominent.
·
Skin & Hair Type - Kapha people generally have fair and bright
complexion with lustrous, oily and smooth skin that can be cold and pale. Their
hair can be thick, dark, soft, curly or wavy.
·
Eyes - Eyes are prominent feature of kapha people. They usually have
large and attractive eyes. The eyes are dense and black or blue in
color and the white of the eye is generally very white and beautiful.
·
Teeth – Kapha people generally have strong and
white teeth.
Physiological
When in
balance kapha people enjoy excellent health with strong immune system. Kapha
people have the most energy of all constitutions, but it is steady and
enduring, non explosive.
Kapha people have a tendency to gain weight as they have slow digestion and
metabolism. They also face great difficulty in shedding weight because they are
slow movers. They walk and talk slowly, have steady appetite and thirst with
slow metabolism and digestion.
Kapha people enjoy sound and prolonged sleep. They feel cloudy and foggy in the
morning and often desire tea/coffee as a stimulant to start the day.
Their perspiration is moderate.
Kapha people have dislike for cold and damp weather as they are more prone to
colds, congestion and cough problem. Kapha people are also sluggish and
loves sitting, sleeping and doing nothing.
Such people are usually slow to anger; strive to maintain harmony and peace in
their surroundings. They have soft pleasing look with attributes such as love,
care, compassion, kindness and forgiveness.
Kapha people have craving for sweets and sweet taste helps them to stimulate
sperm formation and increase the quantity of semen.
Sexually Kaphas are the slowest to be aroused, but they also have the most
endurance.
Behavioral
or Psychological
Positive
·
Kapha
people hold exceptional long-term memory.
·
Kapha
people have many behavioral virtues like they are easygoing, relaxed,
slow-paced, stable, reliable, affectionate and loving, forgiving,
compassionate, faithful, gentle and calm.
·
They
usually have calm, steady mind thus do not loss their temper easily.
·
Kapha
people love to hug and are deeply attached in love and relationships.
·
They have
a deep melodious voice and a monotonous pattern of speech.
·
Kapha
people tend to be wealthy as they are good at earning as well as saving the
money.
Negative
·
Kapha people
are slow learner.
·
They
usually have nonjudgmental nature.
·
They are
also slow at comprehension.
·
If in
imbalanced condition kapha people suffer from greed, attachment,
possessiveness, and laziness.
Probable
Health Problems for Kapha prakriti
Kapha people
have a tendency to have diseases related to the water principle. When
imbalanced the kapha can cause many minor or major ailments such as the flu,
sinus congestion, respiratory problems (including asthma and wheezing),
gallbladder problem, hay fever, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries),
sluggishness, excess weight, diabetes, water retention, and allergies.
The main
health ailments associated with kapha dosha include diabetes, gallbladder
problems, stomach ulcers, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
General
Tips on Health and Wellness for Kapha Types
When in
balanced kapha individual enjoys immense physical strength, sound health, and
strong immunity with calm and steady mind. Out of balance, kapha produces greed
and envy and many health disorders. To keep kapha in balance one need to know
the causes and factors (both positive and negative) that can influence it.
Kapha prakriti people have more risk to lethargy, sluggishness, depression, and
overweight because their metabolism is slow. To keep oneself fit and healthy
kapha person need activity and stimulation.
Daily exercise is more important for them than for any other type. As they are
fast to gain weight but slow to reduce, they need rigorous kind of physical
exercises to keep their body weight under control.
Meditation can be more intensive for kapha constitutions than for vata or pitta
constitutions. They should perform prayer and meditation every day.
Kapha people should avoid heavy, oily foods, dairy and iced drinks; instead
they need to include pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes that decrease kapha
influences. Food items such as spices, green leafy vegetables, chilies, beans
etc. should be included in diet.
Opting foods, mental attitudes, behaviors, exercise routines, relationships and
environmental surroundings, which can be instrumental in balancing kapha
characteristics, help to stay healthy.
Kapha person should be receptive to useful change and deliberate to implement
life-enhancing actions. Indulging in new experiences and activities is also
beneficial for them.
Kapha people should avoid daytime naps. Going to bed early and rising early is
always beneficial for them.
The corresponding colors of Kapha dosha are bright colors such as red and
orange and the favorable stone is Lapis.
A Food
Plan to Balance kapha Dosha
Kapha is
mainly water element thus influences the heavy, moist aspects of the body. To
keep kapha under balance warm, dry, light food cooked with less water and
minimum of fat is needed. One should increase the use of pungent, bitter, and
astringent tastes. Kapha people should consume limited amount of sugar, oil and
salt as well. Lightly cooked vegetables and raw fruits and vegetables are more
beneficial for kaphas.
Kapha people usually have a tendency to overeating that should be controlled
because it lead to weight gain due to slow digestion.
Any food that is spicy is good for kaphas such as very hot Mexican or Indian
food, especially in winter.
For kapha types, breakfast is optional that means you can skip it if you like.
If you take breakfast it should be very light. You can have foods such as
hot-spiced cider, buckwheat pancakes with apple butter, corn muffins, and
bitter cocoa made with skim milk and a touch of honey. The main meal should be
at the middle of the day, and only a light, dry meal in the evening is
advisable.
To energize yourself in the morning, you can take honey, hot water, lemon juice
and ginger. Ginger tea can also be taken.
List of favorable food items
for Kapha prakriti
Vegetables
|
Fruits
|
Grains
|
Dairy
|
Meat
|
Oil
|
Beverages
|
Nuts
&
Seeds
|
Herbs
&
Spices
|
Asparagus
beets
broccoli
Brussels sprouts
cabbage
carrots
cauliflower
celery
eggplant
garlic
leafy green vegetables
lettuce
mushrooms
okra
onions
peas
peppers
potatoes
radishes
spinach
sprouts
|
Apples
apricots
berries
cherries
cranberries
figs
mangoes
peaches
pears
prunes
pomegranates
Dried fruits in general are
good for kapha. (apricots, figs, prunes, raisins)
|
Barley
buckwheat
corn
millet
oats, dry
rye
basmati rice
|
Warm skim milk
small amounts of whole milk and eggs (not fried of cooked with butter)
|
Chicken
shrimp
turkey
(All in small amounts)
|
Almond
corn
safflower
sunflower
(All in small quantities)
|
Aloe Vera juice
apple cider apple juice apricot juice berry juice black tea (spiced) carob
carrot juice chai (hot spiced milk) cherry juice (sweet) cranberry juice
grain "coffee" grape juice mango juice peach nectar pear juice
pinapple juice
pomegranate juice
prune juice soy milk
(hot & well-spiced)
|
Sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
|
All are good. Ginger is
especially good for improving digestion
|
|
List
of unfavorable Food Items for Kapha Prakriti
|
Vegetables
|
Fruits
|
Grains
|
Dairy
|
Meat
|
Oil
|
Beverages
|
Nuts
&
Seeds
|
Herbs
&
Spices
|
Sweet and juicy vegetables,
such as:
cucumbers
sweet potatoes
tomatoes
zucchini
|
Avocados
bananas
coconut
dates
fresh figs
grapefruit
grapes
melons
oranges
papayas
pineapples
plums
Avoid sweet, sour, or very
juicy fruits, in general.
|
Oats
rice
wheat, except in small amounts
Avoid hot cereals and steamed
grains, in general, as they are too moist and heavy for kapha.
|
All, except mentioned
above.
|
Red meat
seafood in general
|
AAll, except mentioned
above.
|
Almond milk caffeinated
beverages carbonated drinks cherry juice (sour) chocolate milk
coffee
cold dairy drinks grapefruit juice
iced tea
icy cold drinks lemonade orange juice
papaya juice rice milk
sour juices soy milk (cold)
tomato juice
|
All, except sunflower seeds and
pumpkin seeds
|
salt
|