.
TRAINING SUCCESSFUL PRACTITIONERS

Eating According to Ayurveda

By Naturopathic Nutritionist Pamela Ryan, for the College of Naturopathic Medicine.

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of healing meaning ‘science of life’, has guided people in their pursuit of health for thousands of years. According to Ayurveda the energy of the world is in constant flux, shifting with the seasons. Similarly our bodies are constantly changing, and have an innate desire for health and homeostasis (balance). Imbalances can lead to illness, and the goal of Ayurveda is to prevent illness, looking to the root cause and providing the tools required to restore health.

Ayurveda names three energetic groups known as doshas. Together they are responsible for everything that happens in our bodies. We each contain all three doshas but in varying degrees of intensity. Your dominant dosha is your ‘Prakruti’ (nature). Once you understand your Prakruti you can recognize symptoms of imbalance and implement changes to your nutrition and lifestyle to restore balance and prevent illness. Take a minute to discover your dosha using the chart below.

DISCOVER YOUR DOSHA

For each heading circle the answer which most applies to you. If none apply, leave blank, if two apply, circle both. The highest number of answers in a particular column indicates your dominant dosha whilst the second most frequent answers indicate that you have qualities of one or both of the other doshas.

Vata Dosha Pitta Dosha Kapha Dosha
Weight Thin. Does not gain weight easily Medium. Stable Heavy. Gains weight easily.
Build Lean. Low body fat. Good muscle definition. Athletic. Bulky. Higher % body fat to muscle.
Hair Dry. Coarse. Normal. Oily. Luscious.
Skin Dry. Rough. Soft. Warm. Oily. Moist. Cool.
Mental activity Restless. Quick. Sharp. Focused. Steady. Stable. Calm.
Sleep Light. Wakes often. Insomnia. Sound. Consistent. Deep. Long. Rarely wakes.
Appetite Irregular. Tends to graze. Fierce. Does not skip meals. Stable. Slow digestion. Can easily skip meals.
Weather Dislikes cold and wind. Dislikes excessive heat. Dislikes cool, damp weather.
Emotions Anxiety. Fear. Denial. Irritability. Impatience. Depression. Laziness.

 

 

SUMMER: PITTA SEASON

In Ayurveda, the summer months represent the pitta dosha, which is characterized by heat and fire. From a diet perspective, our bodies are naturally encouraged to replace heavy, large meals with smaller, light and cooling foods such as salads and smoothies. That being said, raw vegetables and ice cold drinks are not necessarily suitable for everyone.  For example, iced water, cold smoothies and raw vegetables can increase vata which in excess can manifest as digestive discomfort (gas, bloating, IBS), dryness (skin, hair, scalp) or joint pain. Conversely salad greens and spending time in the sunshine are excellent for balancing kapha.

Summer is the ideal time to consume salads. And while its cooling effects and summer heat might seem the perfect marriage, it is important to choose ingredients which nourish and balance your individual constitution.

 

A SUMMER SALAD FOR YOUR DOSHA

For each salad, combine the ingredients in a serving bowl and drizzle with the Tri-Doshic salad dressing.

 

Kapha: Earthy in nature, you move slowly and steadily always remaining calm and grounded. Slow metabolism, and weight gain can be a symptom of kapha imbalance which is rectified by enjoying peppery, spicy, raw foods. You do well on a mostly plant-based diet, with small portions of white meat or fish and strong, energetic forms of exercise.

 

KAPHA-CALMING SALAD

3oz grilled organic free-range skinless chicken breast -chopped

2 big handfuls of watercress

1 pink radish -finely sliced

1 cup green beans -lightly steamed

1 handful flat-leaf parsley -finely chopped

1/2 tbsp. Tri-Doshic Salad Dressing

 

Pitta: Fiery in nature, you are competitive and goal oriented. You have a strong metabolism and experience intense hunger. A pitta imbalance can manifest as inflammation, caused by excess heat in the body.  A pitta pacifying diet will cool and calm inflammation. Sweet and cooling foods are best, and try not to overdo the hot yoga!

 

PITTA-PACIFYING SALAD

3oz grilled organic free-range skinless chicken breast -chopped

2 celery stalks -finely sliced

½ fennel bulb –shredded finely

½ medium green apple, -cored and finely sliced

1 tbsp. pumpkin seeds

1 Tbsp. Tri-Doshic Salad Dressing

 

Vata: Light and airy vatas tend to be flighty and restless.  You graze during the day and tend not to sit down for scheduled meals. Imbalances manifest as anxiety, insomnia, dry skin and scalp. Rebalance vata with warm, nourishing foods rich in essential fatty acids, and sweet fruits or starchy carbohydrates like figs, melons, cooked grains, and root vegetables.

 

NOURISHING VATA-SALAD

3oz grilled organic free-range skinless chicken breast -served warm and chopped

1 handful green beans -lightly steamed

1 handful rocket leaves

1 fresh fig -quartered

1oz. whole almonds or walnuts -soaked in water overnight & drained

½ tbsp. Tri-Doshic Salad Dressing

 

TRI-DOSHIC SALAD DRESSING -A perfect balance for all 3 doshas!

½ cup light tahini

½ cup filtered water

Juice of ½ lemon

1 clove garlic –very finely chopped

¼ tsp. sea salt

½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Method: Whisk all ingredients until well-combined, smooth and creamy. Store in an airtight jar and refrigerate for up to 7 days.

Author reference:

Pamela Ryan

www.thehealthonist.com

Enquiry Form