The Three Energies of Ayurveda

Ayurveda recommends foods for people according to their primary body type. This is because it is believed that foods can be both healing and the source of imbalance. By eating foods according to our Ayurvedic body type, the belief is that we will accumulate less Ama, or waste, in the body.

Ayurvedic medicine is based on the theory that there are three doshas (or energies): Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Another core belief of Ayurveda is that disease and illness originate from an imbalance in the three energies and a disconnect from nature. Your Ayurvedic body type depends on things such as your body composition, metabolism, digestion and other factors.

In Ayurveda, people are classified according to the three energies, vata, kapha, and pitta. It is important to understand that although we may be dominant in one energy, we actually have all three present in our body. Most people will actually be predominant in one or two of these energies, with the third only playing a minor role. As everyone contains all three, any of them can get out of balance.

Pitta

Characteristics

The characteristics of people who have Pitta dominant body types include

  • Determination
  • strong willed
  • good digestion
  • initiative
  • energetic
  • passionate about many things

Diet

Dietary advice for Pitta body types includes:

  • Ayurveda’s Pitta constitution is calmed by cooling foods, such as:
    • fresh fruit and vegetables.
    • Bitter green vegetables such as watercress, parsley, collards and most greens suit pitta.
    • Fruits that suit pitta body types include sweet berries, sweet apples, apricots, coconut, figs, mango, sweet oranges, pineapples, plums, watermelon, pomegranates, and prunes.
    • Other cooling foods include most dairy products, though sour cream, hard cheeses, and yoghurt don’t really suit pitta as they are too high in fat, salt, or sour. But dairy that suits pitta includes milk, cottage cheese, soft cheeses, and ice cream!
  • Grains that suit pitta body types include barley, basmati rice, and wheat (unless you are allergic or gluten sensitive).
  • Pitta body types generally like a lot of protein, and usually need a little more than the other Ayurvedic body types.
  • Spices that are cooling in nature are also important. These include coriander, cumin, mint, parsley, dill and fennel.
  • Garlic should be avoided though as it is too heating.
  • In terms of sweets, use maple syrup, barley malt, brown rice syrup and honey that is 6 months old or less 9preferably raw).

Causes of Imbalances

Pitta body types can be unbalanced by:

  • excess heat, hot climates, and hot times of day
  • humidity
  • vacations and times when there is increased mobility
  • excess oil in the diet
  • too many hot foods, including spicy foods. But this can also mean too many cooked meals
  • excess caffeine, salt, red meat and alcohol

Vata

Characteristics

The characteristics of people with a dominant Vata body type include:

  • flexibility
  • quick mind
  • creative
  • always on the go – mentally and physically

Dietary choices that support vata aim at grounding this energy-in-motion. Routine is also very helpful, though not naturally something vata body type people will create! Vata people benefit from meditation, warmth, soothing music, taking breaks, and resting (again, not a natural vata inclination!).

Diet

Dietary advice for Vata body types includes:

  • include warming spices, such as ginger, cloves, anise, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, horseradish, caraway, mint, mustard seeds, parsley, cooked onion, paprika, rose water, vanilla, tarragon, thyme and rosemary.
  • minimise raw food, including salad, though salads should not be eliminated completely as they provide valuable nutrients. The salad should be grounded with a dressing made from vinegar and oil, and be aware of the weather at the time of eating it. Being more sensitive to cold, vata’s should have salads on warmer days.
  • Icy cold drinks are not balancing for vata – in fact quite the opposite.
  • Sugar also throws vata types off balance, though vata are lucky in that they can enjoy other sweets.
  • Vata generally love fruit, and it suits their ayurvedic constitution. The exceptions are apples, pears, cranberries, watermelon and dried fruit. Vata types should go for sweet and moist fruit, like mangoes, nectarines, bananas, coconut, fresh figs, peaches, and strawberries.
  • Cooked grains such as oatmeal, basmati rice, and brown rice, are very grounding for the vata ayurvedic constitution. Beans (legumes) on the other hand, are not! Beans are cold, dry, and heavy – not the attributes that support vata.

Causes of Imbalance

Vata body types can be unbalanced by:

  • lots of travel, especially by plane
  • loud noises
  • constant stimulation
  • drugs, sugar and alcohol
  • cold climates (especially extremely cold ones) and cold food
  • frozen and dried food

Kapha

Characteristics

The characteristics of people with a kapha dominant body type include:

  • strength
  • stamina
  • endurance
  • grounded
  • calm
  • fluid

Diet

Dietary advice for Kapha body types includes:

  • Avoid high protein diets such as the Atkins diet. As well as avoiding excessive heavy protein, they should also avoid too much fat.
  • Kapha should have light and low-fat proteins. Beans, with the exception of soy and soy products, are great for kapha. Soy milk is preferable to dairy though. Beans help move kapha’s energy, and digestive system. Barley is also excellent.
  • Meat in the form of chicken and turkey is advised.
  • Eat plenty of vegetables, including bitter vegetables, peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, corn cobs, peas, beets, and celery.
  • Dairy is heavy and cooling, and does not suit the Kapha ayurvedic body type.
  • Light and crispy food, such as corn tortillas and popcorn, suit kapha.
  • Kapha people should make sure they have variety in their diet, as kapha body types have a danger of falling into a rut more than others.
  • Asian and Latin American style meals are great for kapha. They are spicy and light, free of dairy, and have plenty of vegetables in them.

Causes of Imbalance

Kapha body types can be unbalanced by:

  • inertia
  • too much fat in the diet, including oil we cook with!
  • dairy products
  • not enough stimulation and challenge
  • insufficient variety
  • not enough exercise
  • too much bread, iced foods and drinks, and sweets

References:

Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai, The Ayurvedic Cookbook