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TRAINING SUCCESSFUL PRACTITIONERS

Eat for your body type

By CNM Nutritional Therapist, Atiya Khan

One size does not fit all. We can see this very clearly with food; for example, one person loses weight or gets clear skin by following a diet, exercise or routine but, annoyingly, it doesn’t work for you. There can be many reasons for this, including that you are not eating what foods are right for you.

Naturopathic Nutritional therapy adopts ancient traditions alongside modern nutritional science. We take a personalised approach, by thorough case taking, asking about family history and getting to know you – all with the aim of finding the root cause of the imbalance or issue.

Ayurveda, known as ‘the science of life’ from India, recognises that each person is an individual, while classifying people broadly into three constitutions, or ‘doshas’, based on physical, psychological and emotional disposition. There is a lot more to this than outlined in this article, so I would recommend seeing a practitioner for detailed advice.

As a starting point, there are three main ‘doshas’: Vata, Pita and Kapha.

Vata

Vata types tend to have:

  • A small slender frame
  • Dry skin, hair and nails
  • Irregular appetite and digestion, tending towards constipation
  • A tendency to be very active physically and mentally
  • An anxious, fearful and uncertain outlook
  • Restless sleep

Ideal foods to balance:

  • Warm, cooked foods and spices with regular routine
  • Include cooked apples, most juicy fruits, not dried
  • Cooked vegetables rather than raw
  • Avoid dried foods such as muesli, rice cakes and crackers
  • Include all lentils
  • Olive oil is particularly beneficial
  • Plenty of spices
  • Avoid coffee but include grain chai (hot spiced milk, which can be made with almond/oat milk)

Pitta

Pitta types tend to have:

  • Medium frame
  • Warm rosy skin, with oily hair and skin, healthy nails
  • Strong appetite and quick digestion, with a tendency towards loose bowels
  • Moderately active lifestyle, physically and mentally
  • A jealous and quick to anger disposition
  • Short but decent sleep
  • Ideal foods to balance:
  • Avoid heat, oils and salt
  • Eat cooling, non-spicy foods and drinks
  • Sweet fruits such as apples, berries, grapes, tropical fruits
  • Sweet and bitter vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, celery, herbs, cucumber
  • Avoid dry oats and muesli
  • Include all beans
  • Coconut oil is particularly beneficial
  • Avoid dry ginger and chilli but include fresh ginger and mint
  • Avoid coffee but black tea is ok in moderation

Kapha

Kapha types tend to have:

  • A larger frame, tending to more overweight
  • Thick oily skin, with thick curly hair and strong nails
  • Slow and steady appetite with slow, sluggish digestion
  • Tend to be more sedentary and slow mentally
  • A calm disposition, yet be attached to things
  • A deep and long sleep
  • Ideal foods to balance:
  • Eat light, dry foods, avoid heavy foods
  • Exercise and be active
  • Fruit such as berries, grapes, peaches
  • Pungent and bitter vegetables like broccoli, carrots, herbs, greens, onions, peppers
  • Avoid cooked oats
  • Include all beans and dahls, minimal soy
  • Flax oil particularly beneficial
  • Avoid salt but include all other spices
  • Avoid orange juice but include spiced black tea

You may find that you sit between one or more types – this is normal. The important aim is not to find the ‘right’ classification, but to find a way of eating that suits you as an individual – and to be able to adapt this for different times of day, seasons and changes in order to allow you to live your life more fully. Always seek advice from a qualified nutritional therapist.

To find out more about how you can train to be a Nutritional Therapist, attend one of our Open Evenings.

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