How This Helps
In Ayurveda, there is a lot of emphases placed on the diet. What you eat is considered to be the best therapeutic and preventative health measure for ensuring your overall health. Ayurveda views body constitution as part of three primary doshas, or life forces, in each human being. These are termed Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. These three doshas determine the individual contribution of every person, and all Ayurvedic recommendations for diet and medications are based on this dosha system.[1]
Understanding Kapha Dosha
Kapha dosha in the body is responsible for all solid structures in the body as well as the right amount of body fluids. The Kapha dosha governs all of the structure and lubrication in the body and mind. It regulates your weight, growth, lubrication of the lungs and joints, and also the formation of all the seven tissues of the body. These include blood, fat, muscles, nutritive fluids, marrow, and reproductive tissues.[2]
If the Kapha dosha of the body goes into an aggravated state, then following a Kapha diet is required for balancing the Kapha dosha again. An Ayurveda Kapha diet helps calm the Kapha dosha by opening the requisite channels of the body. The oily nature of the Kapha dosha can be brought back into balance by including dry foods into your daily Kapha pacifying diet. Let us take a look at what an Ayurveda Kapha pacifying diet is all about and what Kapha foods you can include in your diet and what you should be avoiding.
See: Ayurvedic treatment for frozen shoulder pain & alignment
A Kapha Pacifying Diet
Kapha in dosha in the body gets balanced when you eat a Kapha pacifying diet of freshly cooked and dry whole foods, light, warming, well-spiced, and easy to digest. These Kapha foods should ideally be served warm or hot since they calm Kapha by balancing the mucus production in the body, regulating moisture levels, supporting proper digestion, maintaining sufficient heat, and eliminating wastes properly from the body.
An Ayurvedic Kapha diet focuses on foods that are hot in property and temperature, light, rough, dry, and clear. These foods typically have a bitter, astringent, or pungent tastes. This balances the excess Kapha in the body.
If you want to increase the Kapha dosha in the body, however, then favoring foods with properties similar to Kapha should be included in the diet until the dosha is balanced again.
See: Ayurvedic treatment modalities for depresssion and mental disorders
Ayurvedic Kapha Diet & Foods
Ayurvedic Diet Kapha Foods
Kapha foods help bring back balance to the body by eating the right foods. Here are some foods you should be eating to pacify the Kapha dosha.
1. Fruits
In a Kapha pacifying diet, you should include fruits that are somewhat astringent and taste only mildly sweet. Dried fruits are also allowed, but only sometimes, as these should only be had in small quantities since they are concentrated and dense.
Fruits to include:
● Apples
● Apricots
● Berries
● Cherries
● Cranberries
● Grapes (only red, black, purple)
● Lemons
● Limes
● Mango
● Pears
● Peaches
● Pomegranates
● Raisins
● Strawberries
● Persimmons
[3,4,5]
Fruits to avoid:
● Coconut
● Dates
● Grapes (green)
● Oranges
● Pineapple
● Papaya
● Plums
● Watermelon
● Grapefruit
2. Vegetables
Vegetables that pacify Kapha dosha are going to be bitter, astringent, and pungent. Most of them will include a combination of these tastes. Vegetables are an essential part of any Kapha pacifying diet. For balancing Kapha, prefer to have cooked vegetables instead of raw ones as they are easier to digest.
Veggies to include:
● Beets
● Bell Peppers
● Broccoli
● Brussels sprouts
● Cabbage
● Carrots
● Cauliflower
● Celery
● Chilies
● Cilantro
● Eggplant
● Garlic
● Kale
● Leafy greens
● Lettuce
● Leeks
● Corn
● Onions
● Peas
● White potatoes
● Spinach
● Sprouts
● Tomatoes (but only cooked)
● Turnips
● Wheatgrass
[6,7]
Veggies to avoid:
● Avocado
● Cucumber
● Olives
● Pumpkin
● Sweet potatoes
● Raw tomatoes
● Zucchini
See: Ayurvedic Treatments For Heart Health
3. Grains
Light, dry, and rough grains are ideal for pacifying Kapha. Reducing grain consumption is going to be beneficial when it comes to balancing Kapha dosha.
Grains to include:
● Barley
● Amaranth
● Buckwheat
● Millet
● Granola
● Muesli
● Oat bran
● Quinoa
● Polenta
● Rye
● Basmati or wild rice
● Tapioca
● Wheat bran
[8]
Grains to avoid:
● Cooked oats
● Pancakes
● Pasta
● Brown or white rice
● Wheat
4. Other Kapha Foods to have
Apart from all this, you can also consume legumes such as black beans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, split peas, and chickpeas. Kidney beans, cold tofu, soybeans, and miso, are some examples of legumes that should be avoided.
When it comes to dairy products, it is best to minimize the intake of dairy products because they increase mucus production in the body. You can drink milk, but make sure that you take it at least one hour before or after having some other food. Try to take boiled milk that is served hot with a pinch of ginger or turmeric powder to make it less congesting and easily digestible.[9]
Nuts and seeds are also not terrific for balancing Kapha dosha. [10] However, some nuts and seeds can be enjoyed in small quantities. Some nuts and seeds you can include in your Kapha pacifying diet are almonds (soaked and peeled), chia seeds, popcorn (without butter or salt), pumpkin, and sunflower seeds. Avoid having cashews, coconut, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pine nuts, sesame seeds, etc.
For people who prefer to have non-vegetarian foods, having organic and light meats such as eggs, chicken, turkey, and other variety of seafood is recommended instead of having pork, beef, or lamb.
See: Ayurvedic treatment modalities for depresssion and mental disorders
Summary
The ideal Kapha pacifying diet is one that makes you feel full of energy and vigor. If you want to balance Kapha dosha, then remember that the key lies in eating food at specific times in the day and following the routine every day. Eat healthy and in moderation. An ideal Kapha diet should consist of at least three meals a day, with the most substantial meal being taken in the morning, followed by a hearty lunch and then a light dinner.
To balance Kapha dosha, allow at least 3 hours of rest to your stomach between each meal. Avoid going to bed immediately after having any meal and also try to include some amount of physical activity in your daily routine. Following all these guidelines will help you not just balance Kapha dosha, but also live an overall healthy life.
