Know your prakriti. Then determine your Ayurvedic diet.

What is your prakriti? Ask your ayurvedic doctor.

Any qualified ayurvedic doctor can talk with you for an hour or two, and help you to know what your constitution – or your prakriti – is and the implications that it has on your body, your mind, your lifestyle and your food.

The constitution is described by three main doshas or forces: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha – loosely translated as Air, Fire, and Earth, respectively. Each person has all three doshas in his or her constitution, but in unique proportions. Based on the unique proportions, ayurveda believes that there are 7 kinds of constitutions. This is, all human beings can be divided into seven constitutions.

Let us now consider the implications of various constitutions on food choices. Ayurveda always believe that nothing is right for everyone, and everything is right for someone. Ayurveda is in favour of individually tailored food (Ayurvedic food) programmes to meet the needs of individuals, with a proper diet and lifestyle. Ayurveda’s goal is to help each person reach his or her maximum potential – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Read More: Ayurvedic Food on based your Prakriti

People of VAT Prakriti

• People who have a ‘Vata’ nature are thin, dry, often feel cold, need more grains, oils, salt and a little spice in their diet.
• Those who do not receive enough food are prone to anxiety, constipation and sleeplessness, among many other conditions.
• They need nourishing foods and often have difficulty maintaining a vegetarian diet.
• They should avoid too many salads and fruits as well as beans
• They should take more grains, dairy and nuts.

People of Pitta Prakriti

• They tend to be warm
• They have a more intense and highly focused nature
• They need more raw vegetables
• They need food which is only mildly spiced.
• Hot, spicy food leads to a greater incidence of skin rashes, liver weakness and anger
• Large salads are wonderful for them

People of Kapha Prakriti

• They tend to be overweight or stocky
• They often move and speak very slowly
• They benefit from lighter foods such as vegetables and salads
• They thrive on hot, spicy foods
• If sweet, heavy, oily foods are taken in too much quantity, it can lead to greater mucous accumulation as well as further weight gain and diabetes mellitus.
• They should avoid all sweets, dairy and nuts
• They should avoid most grains such as wheat and rice
• Grains such as quinoa and millet are good for them.

To summarise:

For Vata constitution: Cooked grains, butter, dairy, nuts, cooked vegetables are the best foods to maintain health without any vitamin deficiency.

Raw salads, fruits, beans should be avoided.

For Pitta constitution: Raw Salads, cooked grains, milk, seeds are the best foods to maintain health without any vitamin deficiency. Hot, Spicy foods, sour foods, deep-fried foods, fermented foods such as yogurt and vinegar should be avoided.

For Kaph constitution: Salads, cooked vegetables, spicy foods, quinoa, millet, corn flour and buckwheat are the best foods to maintain health without any vitamin deficiency. Dairy, meat, cheese, nuts, wheat and rice should be avoided.

SEEING OFF:

Dr. Avani Pandya is an Ayurvedic doctor and a certified yoga teacher. She has diverse experience in the field of food therapy and patients receive a special Ayurvedic food list and Ayurvedic food diet schedule suitable for their specific constitution and specific ailments.

Food Therapy is part of the treatments that patients receive while staying at Maharshi Atreya Health Centre, Undera – one of the renowned Panchakarma Centre in Vadodara. The concept of Ayurvedic food and Ayurvedic food combinations is a part of the holistic approach taken by Ayurveda while treating diseases and also maintaining good health to prevent diseases.