Vata Pitta Diet: Principles, Food List and Meal Plan | Yoga Yukta https://yogayukta.com The balanced life with yoga and more... Sun, 29 Apr 2018 16:30:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.14 Vata Pitta Diet: Principles, Food List and Meal Plan https://yogayukta.com/1199/vata-pitta-dosha-diet/ https://yogayukta.com/1199/vata-pitta-dosha-diet/#respond Sun, 29 Apr 2018 16:21:59 +0000 https://yogayukta.com/?p=1199 The interesting thing about managing such dual dosha types (and dual doshas are very common) is that the foods, which pacify the one, may aggravate the other, and this was […]

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The interesting thing about managing such dual dosha types (and dual doshas are very common) is that the foods, which pacify the one, may aggravate the other, and this was already mentioned in the post about Vata Kapha diet.

vata pitta diet

So, here we have Vata, which is cold, so it requires hot foods, and we have Pitta, which is, in contrast, a hot dosha, and consequently needs some cooling meals.

When the Vata is in balance, its digestion will be more or less fine, because it will be supported by this dosha just like the fire is fed by the inflow of air.

But when the air blows unevenly, the same happens to the fire – so when there is Vata dosha imbalance, the digestion goes haywire (it doesn’t become strong usually, but rather weak or irregular).

Pitta will naturally support the digestive fire (Agni), when it’s balanced; but imbalanced Pitta will give your either strong uncontrolled hunger or indigestion (because it is a combination of fire and water, so there can be too much of fire, or too much of water element, when the Pitta is aggravated).

Now, if I’m a Vata Pitta person, what should I do with all this?

The art here is to eat in such a way so that you won’t aggravate any of the two. But it’s easier said than done, since there are no such foods that fit both doshas equally well.

The main thing here is to learn to listen to your body – this will give you the ability to know when and which of the two doshas became imbalanced, and which foods are the best to consume to bring it back to a peaceful state.

How to learn to listen to my body?

vata pitta dosha diet

1. Be conscious of your eating process: don’t be distracted to various stimuli while eating, but rather put all your attention to your meals and how you consume them, what is the taste, smell, etc.

It takes some time and practice, but in the end, you will be able to better understand what’s going on within your body when you eat some certain type of food, how various products are combined (or should not be combined), etc.

2. The second way that nicely worked in my case (and in the case of other people, who did it) is the regular yoga practice.

What has yoga to do with all this? Firstly yoga and ayurveda are called sisters, because they complement each other.

Secondly, a regular practice of yoga poses brings harmony to your body and mind, which results in your better understanding of the both, including the internal processes within them, and the food influence on these two as well.

In short, it means, that when you start doing yoga on a regular basis, after some time you will be able to feel what to eat and when to eat naturally.

OK, now let’s see, what are the best foods for Vata Pitta dosha.

Pitta Vata Food List

By the way, the following products are suitable for both combinations: VP or PV, hence the Pitta was placed first in the subtitle above – simply for a change. 🙂 So, we could also say ‘Vata Pitta food list’ and still you will get the same enumeration of foods. The only thing to keep in mind is that if one of these two doshas is more prominent, you need to consider its qualities more over the other one when preparing your meals.

vata pitta food list

Below are important notes that were used in Vata dosha food list article. Please, keep an eye on the asterisks (will be right after the certain foods).

Cereals

Whole grains are the best, and should be cooked; bread is better un-yeasted.

Best: cooked oats, wheat (can be whole wheat and wheat porridge), white long grain rice (Basmati is the best).

Small amounts: amaranth, barley, quinoa, millet, short-grain rice, brown rice, rye.

Minimize: corn, buckwheat.

Vata Pitta Fruits

The best fruits are those that are sweet and ripe; but since they are considered to be light food, consume them in moderation.

Best: avocado, apricots, blackberries, ripe bananas, cantaloupe, blueberries, figs, dates, coconuts, sweet mango, nectarines, sweet oranges, peaches, sweet papaya, sweet plums, raisins, prunes, strawberries, raspberries.

Small amounts: grapes, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, apples, bananas, cherries, limes, grapefruit, cranberries, pineapple, watermelon (better with little salt and black pepper), tangerines.

Minimize: oranges, dry fruits, sour fruits.

Vata Pitta Vegetables

vata pitta foods

Cooked vegetables are the best, because they are easier to digest. Do not indulge in eating raw veggies too much, since they aggravate Vata dosha.

If your digestion is strong enough, you can eat raw salads and leafy greens during summer. But reduce the amount of these foods if you experience gas or constipation.

Best: cilantro, bottle gourd, okra (cooked in oil), pumpkin, squash (winter squash, zucchini, etc.), sweet potato.

Small amounts: potato, seaweed, carrot, beets, asparagus, bean sprouts (steamed or sautéed, but not raw), bell pepper (yellow and red), bitter melon, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, celery, eggplant, cucumber, kale, raw lettuce, mustard greens, parsley, spinach, sour tomato, turnip.

Minimize: green bell pepper, cabbage, artichoke, chilli, hot pepper, radishes, raw onion.

Legumes

The main problem is that the most legumes aggravate Vata. To make them work, one has to soak legumes in water for few hours or overnight before cooking, and cook them with coriander and cumin.

Best: mung beans.

Small amounts: black gram, navy beans, black lentils, adzuki beans, pinto beans, split peas, tofu, chickpeas.

Minimize: dried peas, soy beans, fava and kidney beans.

Nuts and Seeds

vata pitta menu

These are quite good for Vata Pitta, but are better digested, when soaked in water for 8 hours before consumption. Nut butter can also be eaten, but avoid or minimize peanut butter – it’s too heavy for this dosha combination.

Nuts and seeds can serve as great Vata Pitta snacks, if the digestion is generally strong enough. Pre-soaked dry fruits are also good for snacking.

Best: almonds, cashews, tender coconuts, pine nuts, and sunflower seeds.

Small amounts: Brazil nuts, macadamia, lotus seeds, pistachio, pecans, pumpkin seeds.

Minimize: peanuts.

Oils for Vata Pitta

Healthy oils in generous amounts are a must in your diet, especially, if you suffer from constipation and excessive skin dryness.

Best: ghee, sesame, olive, avocado, coconut, sunflower oil.

Small amounts: almond, castor, flax seed, corn, soy oil.

Minimize: canola, peanut, mustard, safflower, margarine.

Vata Pitta Spices and Balancing Herbs

vata pitta diet plan

Spices are generally good for this body type, but be careful with the hot ones, when your Pitta is out of balance.

Best: cardamom, caraway, catnip, cilantro, chamomile, cumin, coriander, fennel, lemongrass, saffron, rosemary, turmeric, spearmint.

Small amounts: dill, cinnamon, basil, anise, fenugreek, fresh ginger, nutmeg, marjoram, poppy seeds, oregano, sage, star anise, thyme, black pepper, salt.

Minimize: cayenne, asafoetida (hing), cloves, dry ginger, horseradish, raw garlic, hot mustards.

Drinks

All the drinks are the best taken at room temperature or warm, but never ice cold – it will destroy your digestion, and aggravate Vata quickly.

Best: chamomile and licorice tea, coriander and mint tea, mildly spiced teas, and water.

Small amounts: fruit juices (especially diluted) and juice beverages, buttermilk, naturally flavored soda, green tea, tomato juice.

Minimize: coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated) and alcohol (this one is better dropped completely), soft drinks, black tea, green vegetable juices.

So, if you consider these foods when planning your Vata Pitta dosha diet, your digestion will remain quite strong (at least as much as it is possible for this combination), you will experience less gas, bloating and constipation, and the elimination will become more regular.

An Example of Vata Pitta Meal Plan

vata pitta meal plan

It’s always difficult to give a sample Vata Pitta menu, because there are so many factors to be considered, including the availability of certain foods, and the current health condition of a person.

But anyway, let’s try to get at least some idea of what to refer to.

Vata Pitta Breakfast

Breakfast should be there for sure, but it should never be heavy, should never consist of only raw foods, leftovers from the yesterday’s meals, or very refined foods (like bakery products made from high-grade flour).

The best options would be cereal with milk or milk substitutes, like almond or coconut milk, or just cooked in water.

Some small amount of pre-soaked dry fruits or nuts can also be consumed, but not in large quantities.

Some hot herbal tea is also welcomed.

The whole idea of the breakfast for Vata Pitta is to give enough nourishment, but without overloading the digestion.

Vata Pitta Lunch

Lunch should be nutritious and grounding – it’s the largest meals of the day, and the best time to have it is between noon and 2 pm.

Rice, wheat, moong beans, (other pulses can be there too), cooked vegetables, a small amount of raw salad, cereals, sweet potato, soups, etc. – are the best choices for lunch.

As for the drinks, you can either have hot herbal tea, or simply plain, hot (boiled) water to sip while you eat.

Vata Pitta Dinner

For dinner you can have the same foods you had for lunch, but in smaller amounts. Have your dinner around 6-7 pm.

If you experience gases after eating beans and lentils, soak them before cooking and cook or eat with such spices as coriander, cumin and a little bit of lemon juice.

Don’t eat too much of beans and lentils at a single meal since they are difficult to digest; and always chew every bit of your food thoroughly (around 30 times each piece you put into your mouth).

To aid digestion, you may chew a teaspoon of a mixture, composed of slightly roasted fennel seeds and a little amount of sugar crystals.

If you feel the need to eat something before going to bed, you may have a glass of milk boiled with few raisins, and with a teaspoon of ghee or almond oil added to it. It will pacify your Vata and promote sound sleep.

So, this was just an example of Vata Pitta diet plan, you can try following; feel free to adjust it to your needs. When you learn to listen to your body, everything will become much easier in terms of what and when to it, and which foods to combine. There are many recipes available online, so you can try using them and see if they work well for you.

Tips for Vata Pitta Pacifying Diet

Vata Pitta Pacifying Diet

These tips will help you make your Vata Pitta food program more efficient. Some of them you may have already heard, but it will be a good reminder, nevertheless.

We mentioned already, then you need to see what dosha is more prominent right now, and choose your foods accordingly. But what to do, when the doshas are more or less equal?

Here the principle is this: follow the Vata dosha diet in the first place, which means eating warm, freshly cooked and easily digestible food. But to avoid disturbing your Pitta, this food should be low on sour and pungent tastes, low on spices, and should contain some ingredients with the cooling qualities – a plate of rice with cooked zucchini can serve as a good example (even if it is hot, still it won’t aggravate Pitta).

Another important point is to completely avoid frozen foods. Although they will cool the fiery Pitta, they will severely aggravate Vata. You need to warm the frozen stuff, but still it is not the best meal option for your Ayurvedic constitution.

Avoid eating too much of raw foods – certainly, they are essential and healthy, but they will disturb your Vata as well. So, eat them in smaller quantities, seasoned with suitable oils and spices.

Coconut water, sweet lemonade, sweet buttermilk, sherbets, and similar natural drinks that are sweet and cool, can be consumed during hot summer. But even in this case, these drinks should be served without ice or should not be icy cold. Smoothies are OK within certain limits.

The strategy for Pitta Vata eating plan is based on two principles: regular meals and small servings. These two will help maintain your appetite, digestion and elimination stable. And this stability in having meals and small quantities of food will also help to avoid or minimize a common problem – Vata Pitta constipation.

Constipation is a symptom of Vata dosha imbalance, but fighting it with laxatives, even with the natural ones is not a strategic decision, because the majority of laxatives tend to weaken the intestines, and after their use the constipation is often inevitable.

Of course, sometimes these remedies can be used, especially the mild ones, such as Triphala. But the best course of action is to regulate your food intake in such a way, so that your digestion and elimination will work like clockwork (well, maybe not literally, but close to it – at least that is what I can tell from my own experience, since I happen to be Vata Pitta dosha myself).

According to Ayurveda, how you eat is as important as what you eat. Eating slowly and in a peaceful atmosphere will greatly improve the digestion – and it is an observable fact.

But if you eat in haste, while walking, standing, talking or working, chances are you will get poor digestion, gasses and acidity.

Liquids are a tricky thing; they are definitely required, but you shouldn’t drink them just whenever you want. The best time for them is an hour before or an hour after meals to avoid the dilution of the digestive juices. But you can also sip some liquids during the meals – it works quite well for me.

The best spices to use are cumin, fennel, turmeric, coriander seeds and ginger (in smaller quantities, since it is hot in nature).

Lightly cooked foods are better that raw; you still need some raw foods but take them during lunch, preferably in the very beginning of your meals, and in smaller amounts.

Oil and ghee should be used in cooking or/and while eating to lubricate Vata. If you notice that you are gaining weight, limit oil consumption to 6-8 teaspoons per day, but don’t drop it completely. Ghee (clarified butter) is good for all doshas.

Eating yogurt is OK, but it’s better to have it plain and natural, and add some fruits in it. However, don’t eat yogurt everyday and never before going to bed.

Remember, that the best tastes for Vata dosha are sweet, sour and salty, and you need to minimize astringent, pungent and bitter taste. Vata can become aggravated quite easily, so we need to consider it in the first place.

Pungent, salty and sour tastes aggravate Pitta, and bitter and astringent pacify it, but give the preference to these tastes only if you feel that your Pitta is going out of balance; otherwise prefer those that fit Vata.

Sweet taste is fine for both doshas, but don’t use white refined sugar or sugar based sweets as a source for sweet taste, since sugar is not good for Vata dosha. The same thing is with high-grade white flour.

It doesn’t mean you need to avoid white sugar completely – just minimize it as much as possible.

The best alternatives are unrefined sugar, fruits and other natural sweets.

diet for vata pitta

Also, according to Ayurveda, the following foods also have sweet taste: rice, wheat, barley, zucchini, squash and tapioca. It may not be that obvious, since we so accustomed to concentrated sweets made of refined sugar, but when we start eating less of these, we become more sensitive to a subtle sweetness from natural foods, like rice, etc.

So, essentially, that’s all the main things about Vata Pitta diet and the food list for this dosha combination.

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Vata Pitta Dosha – Ayurvedic Body Type and Its Imbalance Symptoms https://yogayukta.com/1184/vata-pitta-dosha-type-and-imbalance/ https://yogayukta.com/1184/vata-pitta-dosha-type-and-imbalance/#respond Wed, 18 Apr 2018 15:37:37 +0000 https://yogayukta.com/?p=1184 Vata Pitta Meaning According to Ayurveda According to Ayurveda our bodily constitution is made of three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which determine our bodily and mental state, our emotions […]

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Vata Pitta Meaning According to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda our bodily constitution is made of three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which determine our bodily and mental state, our emotions and our vulnerabilities toward certain types of diseases when these doshas are out of balance.

People often have one or two doshas dominant in their body. In our case, Vata and Pitta dosha are quite strong which means their influence is greater than the one of Kapha.

vata pitta dosha

To identify what doshas are dominant in one’s particular case, one has to undergo an ayurvedic dosha test or quiz.

The most common situation when one has two strong doshas, like in our case, it is Vata and Pitta, and Kapha’s influence on the person is insignificant compared to these two.

Vata Pitta or Pitta Vata?

While both combinations have many similarities, the dosha which is mentioned first is usually more prominent among the two. So, Vata-Pitta means that Vata is more dominant than Pitta and vice versa in the second case.

Vata Pitta Dosha Personality

OK, now since we have Vata-Pitta mixed dosha, what are the qualities or characteristics this mixed body type has?

Our skeletal frame is slight and the limbs are probably quite long, our hips and joints are rather narrow; the joints look prominent.

Vata Pitta body has lean muscles; the weight is either steady or there is a tendency to be underweight.

Long face or/ and heart shaped, angular face features, eye are small or of a medium size.

Skin is usually thin, tends to be dry (or sometimes oily); the same for hair – it is thin and fine; often straight, but can be curly as well.

Vata-Pitta prefers warm climate, sunny weather, because due to the poor blood circulation, the extremities often become cold when the environment is also cold.

Mental and Emotional Characteristics

pitta vata personality type

Vata-Pitta personality is intense, ambitious, and intelligent, has lots of new ideas, creative and loves travel. These people love to learn, can have big plans, and are very insightful.

This may lead to over-commitments and the following exhaustion and stress, so it’s important for this dosha combination to know the limits, and to be able to find time for relaxation and rest.

With all the intensity you might have, you need to find time to enjoy what you get or achieve.

Unique Qualities of Each Dosha and Symptoms of Vata Pitta Imbalance

Both Pitta and Vata are light, which meant your body is rather slim, quick-moving, your mind is bright and alert; you are creative and may have spiritual tendencies.

When the lightness quality is out of balance (a person doesn’t feel themselves well grounded), it leads to insomnia, emotional security, headaches, baldness, inadequate nourishment and low blood sugar.

Pitta is spreading, and Vata is mobile, which can be manifested in a form of charm of charisma, influence on other people, recognition, fame, communication, and action.

When the spreading quality is aggravated, it may lead to toxic emotional environment, which surrounds the person.

When there is too much mobility, it produces restlessness in the mind or body, deprives person from internal peace, causes instability in life, inhibits the ability to concentrate, and triggers anxiety, fidgeting or tremors.

Cold and Hot

This is where these doshas are quite opposite. Hot quality makes your digestion strong and keeps your warm.

When in excess, it can lead to acne breakouts, skin rashes, inflammation, excess acidity, burning sensations, and fiery feelings such as anger and rage.

Coldness of Vata dosha makes you more susceptible to cold weather and environment, and your limbs are often cold as well.

When this quality is imbalanced, it results in weak digestive fire, brings the feeling of loneliness and isolation, and causes constriction in the body.

Oily and Dry

Another set of opposite characteristics. Pitta dosha is oily in nature and makes your skin soft and lubricated, your joints – smooth in movements; you can relax easier, and more willing to give and accept love.

But when this oily quality is out of balance (which means there is too much of it), it leads to excessive oil production on skin and hair (making your skin acne prone); you have more mucus in your body, and may act in a manipulative way.

Vata dosha is dry and rough, so in one sense this combination helps your organs and tissues absorb nutrients and eliminate wastes properly. But on the other hand, if these qualities are in excess in your body, it results in skin dryness, waste elimination becomes more difficult (constipation), joints move less smoothly, hair and nails become brittle; a person becomes more careless, and a characteristic rigidity is observed in the mind or body.

Pitta is sharp and liquid, which manifests in quick and penetrating mind, strong appetite, good digestive power, and sharp vision. Liquidity brings healthy digestive juices, proper salivation, normal sweating, and the normal movement of fluids throughout joints, blood and digestive tract.

Excess of sharpness leads to sharp words and hunger, short temper and harsh judgments of oneself and others.

Too much of liquidity dilutes digestive fire, triggers bleeding disorders and excessive sweating.

Vata is subtle, and this quality helps the substances go deep into the cells of the body. It also helps the emotions or ideas go deep into the consciousness and let a person to have a more meaningful life experience.

The aggravation of this subtlety leads to the feeling of aloofness, of being disconnected from reality.

Vata-Pitta’s Sleep, Energy and Stamina

vata pitta imbalance

You probably sleep lightly (usually around 7 hours or maybe even less), and may experience insomnia once in a while. The problem is that your body may require more sleep than you think it does, or just more rest, which you may deprive it of regularly.

Usually you wake up fresh and alert, even if your sleep wasn’t that good (but in this case your energy reserves will deplete much faster).

To improve Vata Pitta sleep, one should go to bed earlier to let the body and the nervous system rest nicely.

Pitta makes you a competitive person, while Vata gives your body lightness and mobility. It means you like quick movements, but your stamina may not be so long-lasting, which means you tend to overexert yourself.

Another point is that you often have difficulty in estimating your stamina and strength (as well as time), so you may find yourself not being able to say ‘no’ to things that are beyond your time and capabilities.

So, you need to learn how to properly estimate your own resources (be it time or stamina) and remember to have a rest to let yourself restore your energy.

More on Vata Pitta Imbalance Symptoms

The symptoms of Vata Pitta dosha imbalance will comprise the signs of each dosha, where one may be more prominent, so it may require more attention.

Initially we feel in our mind that something is wrong with us – it all starts from there, with the emotional side.

So, emotionally, Vata would feel as being overwhelmed, loosing focus, lacking energy, trying to escape.

Emotions of Pitta would be: I have so many things to do, I need to find the right solution to my problems, and I have to stop trying to escape, but do something.

These two “points of views” will be constantly switching between themselves, leading to hasty attempts to find the solution to the problems.

How to Balance Vata Pitta dosha?

How to Balance Vata Pitta dosha

The signs of such imbalance will be the combination of the imbalance symptoms of the particular dosha, so in the first place you need to know what to expect from Vata or Pitta when they are out of balance.

The second step is to identify at least three ways, how your dosha combination manifests in your daily life. For this you need to pay a closer attention to your food, routine, emotions, work, relationships, etc. For example, what type of food do you eat, or how hectic or planned your life is, or maybe you feel unsettled (Vata sign) because of some unresolved conflict (Pitta sign).

The third step of the treatment is to find ways to pacify the aggravated dosha(s). The first thing to look into is your food. Taking meals prepared from the suitable foods is the easiest way to bring your doshas to a balanced state. For more details, read about Vata Pitta diet.

Peaceful environment is another important thing, because Vata is moving, and Pitta is expanding, so bringing calmness to your life will balance both of these qualities.

Warm water is also very effective for both doshas, so take a warm bath or steam sauna, but don’t overdo it to keep Pitta in a balanced state.

Other recommendations include using appropriate oils and completing what you planned or started, because the feeling of having completed the task is very pacifying for Pitta, and it relieves Vata from the burden of an unfinished work as well. But you need to do it in steps – to complete one thing at a time, because trying to do all at once will aggravate Vata.

So, the whole idea is to reduce the aggravated qualities by increasing the opposite ones of each dosha.

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Vata Kapha Balancing Diet: Tips, Food List and Sample Meal Plan https://yogayukta.com/1165/vata-kapha-balancing-diet/ https://yogayukta.com/1165/vata-kapha-balancing-diet/#comments Wed, 21 Feb 2018 16:25:14 +0000 https://yogayukta.com/?p=1165 Vata Kapha Dosha Characteristics First of all, there are two sides of this matter: one is a person of Vata Kapha dosha type, and the other is Kapha-Vata type. Doesn’t […]

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Vata Kapha Dosha Characteristics

First of all, there are two sides of this matter: one is a person of Vata Kapha dosha type, and the other is Kapha-Vata type. Doesn’t make sense? Well, when you have double dosha constitution, it means that the first dosha is more prominent, but the second one also has a significant influence on a person.

vata kapha diet

So, if you case is Vata-Kapha, then you are probably creative, enthusiastic and sensitive person, but at the same time you are emotionally stable, peaceful, compassionate, calm and sympathetic.

If you are Kapha-Vata, then Kapha is more manifested in your body, and Vata – in your mind. The person of this combination has a rather strong and stout body (or it can be of a normal size, but of a normal weight, not thin).

You are original, eager and compassionate; you understand people, have sympathy towards them; you are creative, but tend to be calm and quiet.

These descriptions are generalized; your personal traits may differ from these, and to know your dosha combination exactly, you need to take an ayurvedic dosha test.

Vata Kapha Type Diet

vata kapha type diet

Vata’s appetite and digestion are weak and unstable. Kapha’s appetite is stable, but also rather weak (though it can be stronger than the one of Vata dosha, but still weaker than what Pitta has).

So generally, your appetite will be erratic and/or weak (but not always). But even if you have a strong appetite, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your digestion and food assimilation will be strong as well.

So, the weakest point will be digestion, and your diet should aim at its increase.

Choosing the right food is usually one of the most effective ways to kindle the digestive fire, but the problem is that Vata and Kapha require foods of the opposite characteristics (Vata needs something grounding, and Kapha – light). So, what to do?

The simple approach is to deal with each dosha according to the circumstances; for example, when there are symptoms of Vata imbalance, prioritize foods that reduce it. If Kapha is aggravated, have meals suitable for this dosha.

Another thing to consider is the season and time of the day. If your doshas are more or less of an equal state at present moment, you can plan your meals so that you have separate dishes for each dosha to cater them both. Or you can adjust your recipes so that they include ingredients for both of your types.

Another (somewhat easier) way to manage your constitutional type and its meals is to consider tastes, suitable for each dosha.

Well, since Vata and Kapha are the opposite doshas, the tastes are… also opposite: sweet, sour and salty are good for Vata, but aggravate Kapha; pungent, bitter and astringent increase Vata, but pacify Kapha.

But everything is not really that difficult; you simply need to use those tastes that pacify the dosha, which is currently out of balance; or if the doshas are fine, then just favor the tastes you want. Actually, Ayurveda says that to be fully satisfied with your meals you need to experience all the 6 tastes during your meals. Of course, the proportion of these tastes should be according to the proportion of the doshas in your body.

There is one quality though, which is good for both doshas – it is warmness, since the both are cold. So make sure your meals are warm or even hot, then you make the both Vata and Kapha happy. 🙂

Vata Kapha Dosha Diet: Rules to Consider

vata-kapha balancing diet

Following these rules will help you maintain both doshas in balance.

– Warmth and energy is what lacking in both Kapha and Vata; since food is one of the primary energy sources, make sure your food is warm and freshly cooked. Avoid or minimize refrigerated meals, frozen or cold foodstuff (especially cold drinks), reheated leftovers from the previous day (they have little to no prana or energy in them).

– Eat in small quantities at regular intervals of time to make sure every bit of your food is properly digested. For your dosha combination eating a big meal at a single sitting is just ineffective, because due to the relatively weak digestive fire a huge lump of food will not be digested properly, leading to the accumulation of toxins and consequently to the increase in both doshas and the associated health and mental problems.

– Eat only when you feel real hunger. When you feel a healthy hunger, it means that your digestive fire has become strong enough to let the food be assimilated to the optimal degree.

How do I know whether my hunger or appetite is real or not? It’s easy: first of all, your desire for food is accompanied by some feeling of lightness in the stomach, and energy in the body (it may be subjective, but anyway). Secondly, your burp will be clear, without any smell or taste of previous meal.

– Chew every bit of your food thoroughly; according to Ayurvedic practitioners, almost half of the digestive process goes in the mouth while chewing, which brakes food into smaller pieces, making it easier for the stomach to digest the food.

– To be able to chew nicely, you need to take your meals in a calm environment, with a peaceful state of mind. If you try eating this way, you will be able to experience a dramatic positive change in your digestion, health and mood after a relatively short period of time. Of course, your meals should match your dosha, and be wholesome enough.

Avoid eating while walking, talking or doing some work, because it will distract your attention from meals to other things, you will chew poorly, and the result will be slow digestion, gas, the feeling of heaviness in the stomach, and some sort of irritation in the mind – the signs that your doshas became imbalanced.

– Never ever drink any liquid immediately before or after the meals. You can have some liquids at least one hour before or after your meals. You can also have some water while you are eating (boiled water usually is fine) to moisten your food, like few sips if your body demands it. I do it myself and find it helpful. I read that Swami Sivananda also recommended it.

You should also drink water throughout the day in moderate amounts.

– Your breakfast and dinner should be light; the biggest meal you have is during the lunch time. Some Ayurvedic practitioners recommend eating breakfast within 1-2 hours after waking up, but you can adjust that time according to your needs (I take shower and do my yoga routine, so for me it’s not always possible to eat within 2 hours after waking up, so I have my breakfast a bit later).

But your dinned should not be after 8 pm (having it before 6 pm is the best).

Vata Kapha Food List

vata kapha food list

– While raw food is fine for Kapha people, for Kapha Vata dosha indulging in raw foods is not a very good idea. So prefer lightly cooked food with appropriate spices (such as ginger, coriander, turmeric, fenugreek and caraway seeds).

– The best fats for your dosha type are olive, sesame and mustard oil, as well as ghee (clarified butter, which is actually good for every dosha).

– You can have up to 500ml of milk throughout the day; if you don’t like cow milk, you can opt for warm coconut milk with some turmeric; almond milk is another good choice for vegans.

– It’s better to avoid soy milk, since it aggravates Vata.

– You can also have some yogurt, but do it in the day time; taking it in the evening is possible only in summer (when the weather is warm). It’s better to avoid yogurt during the cold season.

– Butter is OK, when taken in small amounts, but ghee is much better.

– The best grains for you are brown and Basmati rice, wheat, oats, quinoa, amaranth, barley and buckwheat. Minimize or avoid using refined flour and dishes made with it, since it clogs your intestine like anything.

Whole cereals and whole meal flour are best options; but take cereals along with clarified butter (ghee) to moisten them. In case you feel that your Kapha dosha is imbalanced, prefer millets with some ghee or barley as main grains in your diet.

– Proteins. Since we have a vegetarian blog here, I won’t discuss any meat; but as for the protein sources, Mung (moong) Dahl and lentils can be good options. Soak these beans in water before cooking, and cook with such spices, as asafoetida, turmeric, ginger and cumin.

– All vegetables are good for you, but don’t go too much for raw and for those that contain lots of fiber (like cauliflower, jackfruit, artichoke, etc.), because they may cause Vata imbalance.

You don’t have to avoid them completely, but minimize, and cook them well before consuming.

The same refers to root vegetables (such as carrots) and starchy vegetables – you can eat them cooked and in small amounts.

– Almost all fruits are good, but minimize those that are too sour or too sweet. Cooked or baked fruits are usually digested easier.

– Nuts and seeds should be taken in moderation, and it’s better to have them lightly fried with ghee or olive oil, or roasted.

– Among the qualities of your foods sour, hot, pungent and salty should dominate (like in black pepper). Minimize these tastes: astringent, sweet and bitter. ‘To minimize’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘to avoid’; just use them in moderation. You still need all the six tastes to be present in your diet to maintain all the doshas in balance. Even if your Pitta is not very significant compared to other dosha, you still need to keep everything well-balanced.

– The stimulants like alcohol, and even tea and coffee should be better avoided completely.

Vata-Kapha Meal Plan

vata-kapha meal plan

Here is an example of Vata-Kapha food plan; you can refer to when making your own diet program.

Start your day with a glass of warm water; after that you can take some nuts, like almonds (you can add raisins to them too). But soak them night before, chew thoroughly.

2-3 times a day you can have an herbal tea of your choice, or use this recipe:

  • 1 tsp of roughly ground coriander seeds,
  • 2 basil leaves,
  • 5 mint leaves,
  • Half of one crushed peppercorn,
  • 1.5 glass of water.

Boil everything in water (it will evaporate by that extra half, so you’ll get one glass of tea).

Strain it and serve hot or lukewarm. You can add some maple syrup or raw sugar, but don’t add too much.

Breakfast

As we mentioned already, it should be light, so you can have a cereal, some fruits, herbal tea or milk with whole grain bread and butter.

Can I skip my breakfast? Well, there may be cases you may want to do so, but normally skipping the breakfast will aggravate Vata dosha, so it’s not the best idea. But eating heavy or refined meals at breakfast is just as bad as skipping it altogether, or even worse.

Lunch

You can drink something an hour before your lunch, like herbal tea or buttermilk.

For the lunch you can have cooked grains with ghee or other healthy fats, wholegrain bread, beans or lentils and cooked vegetables. In the most times use the appropriate spices for your dishes as they aid your digestion and provide a warming effect.

Dinner

You can use the same type of food for the dinner, but in smaller quantities; there can be soups as well. The best spices for soups are ginger and black pepper, as they have warming qualities.

So, thus ends the description of Vata-Kapha balancing diet according to Ayurveda.

Sources:
1. _www.planetayurveda.com/vata-kapha-prakriti-dos-and-donts.htm
2. _www.theholistichighway.com/vata-kapha/
3. _www.theayurvedaexperience.com/blog/vata-kapha-diet/

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How to Balance Vata Dosha https://yogayukta.com/1146/how-to-balance-vata-dosha/ https://yogayukta.com/1146/how-to-balance-vata-dosha/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 13:53:56 +0000 https://yogayukta.com/?p=1146 There are various ways to balance Vata dosha, and the more you combine the better. Vata is naturally light, cool, changeable, quick-moving and dry, so balancing it means minimizing these […]

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There are various ways to balance Vata dosha, and the more you combine the better.

Vata is naturally light, cool, changeable, quick-moving and dry, so balancing it means minimizing these qualities, which can be done through diet and lifestyle.

How to Balance Vata Dosha

I wrote before about the Vata dosha balancing lifestyle, food list and pacifying diet. So you can check them for reference.

And here we are going to have a summary of how to balance Vata dosha.

1. Vata’s Diet

The best foods for you are those that are freshly cooked, wholesome, not rough, not dry, warm and nourishing; there should be enough liquid and oil (butter) in your diet.

Always eat warm or hot food and drinks – such food will counteract the coldness of this dosha. The same principle is applicable for Vata Kapha diet.

Avoid cold drinks and food – these aggravate Vata. The common sign that you were affected by such foods is bloating and gases.

If you have leftovers from the previous day and you want to reheat them – think twice. While it may work once or twice, if you are going to regularly consume such reheated stuff, you’ll have hard time fighting your aggravated Vata dosha.

Your meals should be generally moist; dry food will increase the dosha, since it is its quality.

The same goes for raw vs. cooked foods: while there should be some raw dishes in your diet, do not give them the priority in your meals, since the majority of raw products increase Vata (the exception is made for juicy fruits and vegetables).

By the way, moist meals do not only mean ‘watery’ or ‘juicy’, but ‘oily’ as well. If there is lack or oil or butter in your dishes, you may have difficulties with timely elimination of wastes.

Smooth foods are better than rough, but do not think of ‘refined’ stuff as the most suitable here. Actually, the case is the opposite: refined foods are bad for Vata dosha, since they ‘clog’ the intestines, causing gases and problems with the evacuation of wastes. So stay clear of refined things!

Eat at the same time every day, have three nourishing meals, don’t skip your meals, and chew every bite thoroughly – this will help to keep your digestion fire burning well.

The best tastes for you are sweet, sour and salty. And you should minimize pungent, bitter and astringent.

This does not mean the exclusion of the less suitable tastes – just minimizing them.

But there are details as well. For example, white sugar is sweet, but it’s bad for Vata, because it is too refined.

Salt taste is good, but if you eat too much of it, it may reduce your energy and spoil digestion.

Bitter taste is not that good for this dosha, but it’s a healing and cleansing taste, so sometimes it is also required to maintain our health.

Therefore you need to know the general principles of balancing Vata dosha through diet, and use them according to time, place and circumstances, considering the response you get from your body along the way.

2. Balancing Vata through Lifestyle

Balance Vata Lifestyle

The dosha is quick in actions and thoughts, so you need to learn how to calm your mind. Stress is very bad for you, as it puts pressure on your mind, already overloaded with many thoughts.

The disturbed mind is one of the most common causes of underweight in Vata people.

So you need to adjust your lifestyle to make it more peaceful, less stressful, and more regular.

Routine – is the magic word for your dosha, believe me! If you can make your life fully regulated (especially when it comes to eating and sleeping), you will have more energy, better digestion, normal weight and good mood most of the time.

Physical exercises are essential for you, but they should not be too intensive and exhausting. The best are those that are grounding, slow, gentle and rhythmic. Consider Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Walking, Golf, Dance, Bicycling, etc.

Short travelling may be OK, but the prolonged one is not very good for Vata dosha, because it disrupts the routine, which grounds this dosha. Swimming and oily massage are also good.

The keys to balancing your lifestyle are stability, consistency, routine and rhythm. Vata always tends to ‘fly away’ (in Sanskrit Vata means ‘air’), so you need to ground it through these ‘keys’.

Why grounding my dosha, if it has such natural tendencies?

Because dosha in Sanskrit means ‘the flaw’ or ‘drawback’. It is not a ‘natural merit’, so you need to tame it to be healthier and happier.

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Vata Dosha Imbalance Symptoms https://yogayukta.com/1124/vata-dosha-imbalance-symptoms/ https://yogayukta.com/1124/vata-dosha-imbalance-symptoms/#respond Tue, 21 Nov 2017 14:02:21 +0000 http://yogayukta.com/?p=1124 The first point to consider here is that we may have Vata dosha as our dominant dosha, or as a secondary one. When we have Vata dosha imbalance, and Vata […]

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The first point to consider here is that we may have Vata dosha as our dominant dosha, or as a secondary one.

When we have Vata dosha imbalance, and Vata is our secondary dosha, it means that there will only be some signs or symptoms of the increase of this dosha.

When Vata is your dominant dosha (in our Prakriti), the effect of its imbalance will be felt much stronger.

Vata Imbalance Symptoms

Vata Characteristics

This dosha is light, dry, rough, cool, mobile and subtle, and these qualities manifest themselves through the body, mind and emotions.

Vata Dosha Imbalance Signs

In the Mind

When there is aggravation of this dosha, one may experience anxiety, fear, nervousness, feeling of insecurity, restlessness, hyperactivity, loneliness or confusion.

When Vata is increased in the mind, one may feel like they cannot calm down, or as if they are jumpy. There can be problems with falling asleep; the sleep itself can be interrupted. If you won’t balance it in the mind, it may lead to mental instability, insomnia, blackouts and severe depression.

Digestion and Elimination

Since the place of residence of Vata dosha is the digestive tract, the first symptoms of Vata imbalance are manifested there in a form of gases, bloating, and constipation; there can also be gurgling intestines, burps and hiccups, and one may feel too much thirsty.

Vata dosha normally has a weak appetite, but when it is increased in the body, the appetite becomes irregular, which often leads to mild weight loss; dryness in the mouth, dry feces, there may be hemorrhoids, diarrhea and pressure under the diaphragm. It is not that all these symptoms will occur simultaneously, but some of them are usually there.

If the aggravation of Vata remains for some extended period of time, one will have problems with elimination, constipation, and one’s stool will become dry and dark, will be small in amount and have a bullet-like shape.

Skin, Hair and Circulation

Excess of Vata dosha is often manifested through the skin dryness, cracking skin, heels and nails, split ends in hair, dandruff. Blood circulation is poor, skin is lusterless and pallor, there can be eczema or psoriasis in severe cases.

Hands and feet are often cold; a person does not sweat enough. The severe cases of Vata imbalance here include brittle hair and nails, nail deformation, skin discoloration, blood clots and varicose veins.

Muscle, Bones, Joints and Nerves

The signs of aggravated Vata in these areas include weakness, muscle fatigue, lack of coordination, tightness and stiffness, joint cracking, muscle pain, tremors, tingling and numbness, sciatica and nerve pain.

If you ignore the imbalance, it may turn into muscle rigidity and atrophy, joint dislocations, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, spontaneous bone fractures, incontinence, seizures, paralysis, fainting, changes in thyroid function, and even Parkinson’s disease.

Generalized Symptoms of Vata Dosha Imbalance

These will be the ones you can easily identify:

  • Constipation – digestive tract is the seat of this dosha.
  • Tingling or numbness – Vata is linked to nervous system.
  • Pain (especially low back pain, sciatica).
  • Malabsorption – to see if you have this, just stick out your tongue and look at it before a mirror. If you see teeth indentations along the sides of your tongue, then it can be an indicator of poor absorption of nutrients by your body. Another sign is the vertical ridges on your nail beds. These sings may take place even if your diet is healthy. Malabsorption means that you cannot digest and absorb the nutrients properly and you need to kindle your digestive fire to fix the problem.
  • Insomnia – a sign of restless mind.

Common Causes of Vata Imbalance

  • Eating too rapidly, or not eating enough food;
  • Eating food not very suitable for this dosha: old, dry, raw or cold;
  • Eating at different times;
  • Staying up late;
  • Overexertion;
  • Suppression of bodily urges, such as sneezing, passing gas, or elimination, which is not really good for any dosha and for Vata especially;
  • Overstimulation of the senses;
  • Excessive worry or fear;

These are the Vata imbalance symptoms; once you notice them, try to bring your dosha into a balanced state. The first thing to do is to follow a Vata dosha diet.

Sources:
1. www_banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/learning-ayurveda/balancing-vata
2. www_banyanbotanicals.com/info/blog-the-banyan-insight/details/signs-symptoms-of-vata-imbalance
3. www_debbyandersen.com/2013/11/5-signs-vata-imbalance

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Triphala Benefits for Hair, Skin and Eyes https://yogayukta.com/1076/triphala-benefits/ https://yogayukta.com/1076/triphala-benefits/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:32:00 +0000 http://yogayukta.com/?p=1076 Triphala benefits come from its components namely Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), and Vibhitaki (Terminalia belerica) – as they are called in Sanskrit. That is why it is known […]

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Triphala benefits come from its components namely Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), and Vibhitaki (Terminalia belerica) – as they are called in Sanskrit. That is why it is known as “Triphala” – ‘tri’ means ‘three’, and ‘phala’ means ‘fruit’.

While it has quite a good number of positive effects on our body, one of Triphala’s main goals is to restore the normal functioning of the whole digestive system, which in turn affects all the other systems and organs in our body.

Triphala Benefits for Hair, Skin and EyesIt removes toxins from our body with great efficiency without ruining your intestines’ ability to eliminate wastes properly at the same time. Why? Because it doesn’t act like the majority of laxatives, when your intestines get used to the “external help”, and the peristalsis become weaker.

This ability of Triphala to detox our body and to enhance the absorption of nutrients allows its benefits to cover much more, than you can generally imagine.

Triphala Benefits for Hair

The first thing to note is that the condition of your hair reflects how much nutrition your body gets as well as how many toxins are there inside of it. Triphala helps to solve both of the issues through the improvement of digestion and toxin cleansing.

Amalaki present in Triphala improves blood circulation and helps your body to absorb nutrients better, including minerals responsible for keeping your hair healthy and lustrous. It also boosts your immunity to prevent premature appearance of gray hair.

Another Triphala ingredient known as Vibhitaki contributes to stronger hair roots, minimizes hair fall and guards your hair from premature graying as well.

Triphala can also eliminate dandruff, which is quite a common cause of hair fall.

Ayurveda operates with three modes called Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha Dosha. Vata Dosha, when imbalanced or aggravated is usually responsible for the majority of hair diseases that lead to gray hair and premature baldness. Triphala is known for its ability to bring this Dosha back to the balanced state thus preventing or eliminating (at least to some extent) many hair problems.

Powder (Churna) or Tablets?

That’s up to you, of course. For many people tablets are easier to consume but in my experience, Triphala powder is more effective, especially if we talk about taking it internally for the cleansing purposes and other health benefits. The major drawback of the powder is that its taste is just awful. But I can manage so can you. 🙂

How to Use Triphala Powder for Hair

1. The first method, of course, is to take it internally – thus you will get rid of the substantial amounts of toxins that affect your hair health. The most common way to take Triphala internally is one teaspoon per cup of warm water in the morning, on empty stomach, and in the same way in the evening – either half an hour before the evening meals, or two hours after the meals (you need to allow the food to get digested at least to some extent, before taking Triphala Churna in). Keep doing it for one month then make a break. While it is said that Triphala is safe for consumption during longer periods, I personally noticed that one may develop some kind of intolerance to it, and your intestines may eliminate wastes less effectively relying on the support provided by the regular intake of the powder or pills of this quite potent Ayurvedic remedy.

Also, if the taste is above of what you can bear, then mix Triphala with a small amount of honey.

If you are a pregnant or nursing woman, or suffer from chronic diarrhea or other serious intestinal conditions, avoid using Triphala.

2. To prevent hair fall and eliminate dandruff (which is one of the baldness’ causes), you can make a simple pack with Triphala Churna: add 1 tablespoon of the powder to 2 cups of water, boil the water on a medium flame until the half of it evaporates. Let it cool down, make a pack of it, and apply on your scalp for 30 minutes. Wash the hair with a mild shampoo (one that contains
Shikakai or Acacia concinna is the best for this purpose). Repeat 1-2 times per week until you will see the noticeable results (the time required to achieve the desired effect may vary from person to person).

3. Making an herbal mask for your hair is another way to restore their normal and healthy condition. You need to mix 1 teaspoon of Triphala powder with 1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel and some amount of water to make a paste out of it. Apply the paste to your wet hair and scalp and leave for 20 minutes, then rinse. If you don’t have Aloe, then you can make a paste just with the powder and water (use warm water).

Triphala powder is good for hair growth, hair loss and other conditions; it’s natural and safe (in the most cases). Of course, it’s not a miraculous remedy, so don’t expect it to eliminate all your problems overnight. But with time and reasonable approach, your hair will become healthier, stronger and more beautiful.

Triphala Benefits for Skin

Triphala benefits for skin are deeply rooted in its ability to remove toxins from our body. It’s a well know fact that the skin’s complexion and its health is a kind of reflection of the health of the internal organs and systems, especially our liver, and how effective our waste elimination is.

To prove the statement above you simply need to do some effective cleansing procedure: it can be almost miraculous Shankh Prakshalana or a simple Triphala churna course – and you will be able to personally observe how much better your skin becomes. But Triphala not only cleanses it; it possesses the nourishing properties, contains antioxidants and enhances the food digestion, which of course has its own contribution to the skin health.

Triphala contains three fruits (phal): Amalaki, Vibhitaki and Haritaki. Amalaki or just Amla is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C, and this Vitamin plays an important role in collagen production (which is the one that keeps your skin tight and firm) and lets your body to better absorb nutrients (and helps your immune system too).

Amalaki removes toxins from liver, protects skin tissue from infection and cleanses it; it also acts as a good skin moisturizer and improves its luster.

The wonderful thing about Triphala powder is that it can benefit your skin in many ways – either you take it internally or apply externally in a form of masks and solutions.

Since this Ayurvedic medicine has antibacterial properties, it promotes faster wound healing and contributes to curing the skin diseases. Another Triphala ingredient called Haritaki is known in Ayurveda as Twagamayagni (“the destroyer of skin diseases”). It improves skin regeneration and cures ulcers. Haritaki is mentioned in ancient Ayurvedic texts such as Sushruta Samhita, where it is called Branya for its ability to heal wounds.

Triphala Skin Benefits for Different Doshas

For Vata Dosha

Vata dosha usually is the one who suffers the most from skin problems. Vata’s skin is prone to being too dry, having cracks and losing its tone. It can be sensitive too. Triphala helps Vata dosha’s skin from inside – by improving digestion, blood circulation and removing toxins that interfere with normal metabolism (the latter plays a huge role in how much moisture your skin tissue has).

The best solution for Vata’s skin is the daily regimen, which includes not only taking meals but the balanced work and rest as well. Since Vata is moving and changing, you need to bring more stability into your life to balance the dosha. Once pacified, it will be less expressed through your skin in a form of dryness, dullness and cracking.

For Pitta Dosha

Pitta skin requires protection since it is quite sensitive, especially to the sun exposure. The protection comes from Triphala in a form of its antioxidant properties, high Vitamin C, carotenoids and flavonoids content, and the said toxin removal ability.

Pitta’s skin is prone to inflammation and infection, and here comes Amla (one of Triphala ingredients), rich in Vitamin C and possessing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps your skin to improve its natural immunity and resistance to hypersensitivity including photosensitivity.

It’s interesting that Triphala is able to balance the fire element in the body, which is primal in Pitta dosha, which in turn reduces skin sensitivity to sun (which energy is obviously of a fiery nature). You have probably guessed already that too much fire is bad for Pitta since it’s a fiery dosha as well, and gets out of balance easily when exposed to fire in various forms, be it too much light or heat.

Although Amla is sour in its taste (and sour is a ‘fiery’ taste too), the sour gets neutralized when comes in contact with the saliva and digestive enzymes.

For Kapha Dosha

Kapha’s metabolism is a kind of slow one compared to other doshas. So the bane of this dosha is ama or toxins, or rather their timely elimination. Kapha is oily by its nature, so its skin attracts a lot of impurities, so the wastes tend to accumulate inside and outside of it.

Each of the Triphala components promotes body detox in various ways. Amalaki (or Amla) removes toxins from different tissues, including fat and blood, making skin stronger and more disease-resistant.

Vibhitaki (or Bibhitaki, Terminalia belerica) works with lipid levels, and prevents the clogging of the skin with toxins.

Haritaki (or Harada, Terminalia chebula) cleanses the colon, thus purifying the fat tissue. That benefits the skin in a form of cleaner sweat glands so the skin gets rid of toxins faster. Haritaki also helps to open up the micro-circulatory channels of the skin, which leads to the improvements of the skin’s natural ability to detoxify itself.

The important thing about cleansing with Triphala compared to other cleansers is that this Ayurvedic remedy is not harsh; it won’t flush nutrients from your skin along with toxins. Conversely, it rejuvenates the skin, and enhances the skin’s ability to utilize those nutrients.

To let your skin get the most benefit of using Triphala powder or tablets, you need to avoid eating unhealthy foods while taking Triphala (this refers to heavy, deep-fried foods, fatty desserts – these foods aggravate Kapha making the whole cleansing thing a lot less effective). Prefer light foodstuffs over heavy; your meals should be easy to digest, contain a lot of vegetables, and come in small to moderate amounts. Better eat more frequently but in smaller amounts than more abundantly.

Triphala and Acne Treatment

Since Triphala possesses antibacterial properties, it can be helpful to treat acne (though its efficiency may differ from person to person).

Mix Triphala churna with turmeric powder and raw honey until you get a thick paste (if you don’t have turmeric or/and honey at hand, just use clean filtered water instead). As for proportions, you can start 1/1/1, and then adjust to your needs.

Apply the paste on your face or other affected area and leave for 5-10 minutes. Patch testing is advised though. This procedure helps with acne, skin redness, and helps to hydrate your skin as well.

Triphala Face Mask

Take 1.5 tablespoon of Triphala Churna and 3 Tablespoons of Coconut oil. Melt the oil in a pan, add Triphala powder to it, and stir until you get a paste (but not thick). The ready mixture should be placed in an airtight container, and then in the fridge for around half an hour to make the Coconut oil become slightly firm. But don’t keep the mixture in the fridge for too long, because the oil will become too solid to apply it on your face easily.

Apply a thin layer of the paste on your face – do it slowly, gently rubbing the paste onto the skin. Thus you will achieve better blood circulation in the upper skin layers, and there will be good exfoliation as an additional bonus.

Leave the Triphala mask for 15 minutes, and then rinse the face with warm water without soap. You can use this treatment before taking shower or bath.

To clear blemishes and rejuvenate aging and dull skin, do this procedure three times per week.

Store the Triphala paste in a dark and cool place at room temperature; for longer storage a cooler place like the refrigerator may be required, though the coconut oil will get solidified, so you will have to melt the paste a bit before using it.

Health Benefits Of Triphala Juice

Actually, there different types of Triphala juice, and they are not equal in terms of their content. Some products may even have preservatives in them, like the one from Basic Ayurveda. It might be effective in terms of what the vendor claims, but personally I tend to avoid stuff with preservatives as much as possible.

In general, Triphala juice benefits include:

  • Cure for Diabetes
  • Lowering of blood pressure
  • Treatment of obesity
  • Treatment of acidity, hyperacidity, or acid reflux.
  • Problems of digestive system, including weak nutrients absorption and poor waste elimination, as well as constipation.
  • Liver disorders – Triphala is known to promote the liver secretion.
  • Colon cleansing – this one is actually related to the better toxin and waste elimination. Triphala also tones up the intestines and contributes to the improvement of peristaltic movements.

There are more benefits of Triphala juice that were not covered here, but I think that using a regular Triphala powder (churna) may be even better in terms of efficiency.

Triphala Benefits for Eyes

Triphala has a number of benefits for our eyes, and can be used both internally and externally to produce the positive effect. When taken internally, it improves the eye conditiong by removing toxins from the body and through strengthening the eye muscles.

How to Use Triphala For Eyes?

The simplest way is to put a tablespoon of Triphala Churna (powder) into a glass of warm water, stir well, and drink before breakfast and before dinner or two hours after the evening meals. From my experience I know that this relieves the eye tension and makes your eyes stronger.

When used externally – in a form of the Triphala churna eye wash – it reduces redness and tension. It also contributes significantly to the impaired vision treatment.

Triphala helps to relieve such ailments as glaucoma, cataract, conjunctivitis and progressive myopia; it also deals with chorioretinal inflammation, corneal dystrophies, loss of vision, various eye parts inflammation and the weakening of the eyes due to old age.

The main benefit of Triphala for eyes comes from one of its ingredients called Amalaki or Amla. In Ayurveda, the ancient medical science of India, Amalaki is known as chakshushya, which means “a remedy for making the eyes stronger”. In Ayurveda there are three doshas, called Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which govern different bodily and mental functions. Amalaki enhances two Pitta subdoshas: Ranjaka Pitta (responsible for the function of liver and blood plasma) and Alochaka Pitta (this one is in charge of the eyes and the vision ability). So you can see how one of Triphala components has a direct influence on our eyesight and the eye health.

Triphala Eye Wash

There are several ways to prepare an eye wash with Triphala powder. But before we proceed further, there should be a word of caution: the eyes are a very sensitive organ; you need to make sure not to bring any infection into them. It’s a good idea to consult a doctor before using Triphala eye wash to receive the recommendations on its safety and the best way to apply it on your eyes.

Ways to make and use the Triphala eye wash

1st Method. You need to get at least one small eye bath (and use it in rotation; or get two eye baths), which is usually available at the drugstore. You also need to get a muslin cloth or some other similar thing that can serve as a filter for the Triphala water.

The water should be distilled or at least filtered; don’t use a regular tap water for your eyes as we mentioned already, your eyes are very sensitive and you need to make sure your won’t bring any infectious bacteria into them.

The last but not the least (of course 🙂 ) is the Triphala powder itself.

The process. Place half a teaspoon of Triphala churna (churna is another name for powder) to a glass (or you can use a ceramic cup or even a metal glass, just make sure it’s really clean) and pour freshly boiled clean water into it halfway.

By the way, use metal or ceramic pot to boil your water, avoid aluminum one since it may release some harmful substances into the water, which then goes into your eyes.

Stir your mixture well, and leave it to cool down. Remove the spoon from the glass. The best way is to make all these preparations in the evening, and you’ll get your ready to use solution by the morning. Of course, you can do it vice versa, and make the mixture in the morning, leave it to settle, and use it in the evening – just follow the most convenient way for you. Your mixture should be of a room temperature.

Actually, one or two hours may be quite enough for the solution to get ready. So after that, or just before you start using it, strain it into a glass through the muslin cloth or your preferred filter. Fill your eye baths with the Triphala water to three quarters full, place them on a plate, prepare a clean towel, and proceed to the bedroom.

All you need to do is to sit on your bed, place a towel on your lap, take the eye baths, lean over the towel and put the baths over the eyes.

Once the eyes are in the baths, blink a few times to let them get used to the new environment. Open your eyes then into the Triphala water; if it’s difficult in the beginning, then just blink – it’s also beneficial.

Initially there may be (and usually there is) a stinging sensation in the eyes, which fades after 10 seconds or so. If the stinging is too uncomfortable and/or doesn’t go away, then you should stop the procedure, and wash your eyes with lukewarm water.

If everything OK, then let the procedure last for five minutes or so, then wash your eyes with warm and clean water and gently dry them with the towel you prepared before; lean back on your bed to lie and rest for a while.

Do not watch TV or sit in front of a computer screen for at least 30 minutes after having the Triphala eye wash done. It’s even better to avoid any screen exposure for 1-2 hours after the eye bath. Don’t read a book either, just close your eyes and let them rest nicely.

The remaining Triphala water can be used for drinking – it’s very beneficial for the body so don’t waste it.

2nd Method. The half of teaspoon of Triphala Churna (not heaped) is placed in a cup, and then poured over with 120 ml of hot, just boiled water. Then the infusion is left for cooling to the body temperature. Do not stir the infusion!

When the mixture is ready, use a sterile cotton pad to dip it into the infusion, then remove it, squeeze it but leave some liquid inside of it (just make sure it’s not dripping wet). You can use two pads for both eyes.

Lie on your back, place a towel under your head, so that the possible drops will not reach the bed linen, and put the pads over your eyes; blink. Leave the pads for 15-20 minutes (up to half an hour, which is the maximum time for the procedure). If you use a single pad, then simply use it in rotation.

The pad must have enough Triphala water to allow it to run into the eyes. There may be a burning sensation in the beginning, which should naturally subside after a couple of days. Usually it is said that if the eyes burn during such procedures it means they do require this kind of treatment. If the burning persists longer than 7 days, it’s uncommon and you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

This process can be repeated 2 times a day to relieve simple eye problems. If there is loss of vision because of aging or improper lifestyle, the procedure should be done once in a day, in the evening, before going to bed to let the eyes rest after it.

It’s interesting that the main taste of Triphala is astringent though it is usually said that this Ayurvedic remedy contains all the six tastes (or at least five of them). So, the astringent taste is considered to be a rejuvenator of bodily tissues, which is true for the eyes as well. The longer you do this kind of treatment the better results you will get in return. The recommended minimum period is one month with the maximum is up to 6 months. If you want to max it out, see your doctor before to get their advice.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Triphala Eye Wash?

Well, as mentioned before, the most common “side effect” is the stinging or burning sensation in the eyes that should go away in a short time. If it doesn’t, stop the treatment. If it returns with every procedure you perform, and persists until you stop it, then it is probably best to consult your doctor.

Triphala Ghrita for Your Eyes

Triphala Ghrit is an Ayurvedic medicine consisting of Triphala churna and Ghee (melted butter). It’s quite effective, and there are the observable results after 7 days of its use. It is especially useful for dry and sensitive eyes – the problem usually caused by the imbalance of Vata dosha and sometimes Pitta (if there is redness and irritation in the eyes). Because of the presence of ghee, the medicine stimulates Kapha dosha, thus naturally subduing the increased Vata and Pitta dosha.

How to use it? Take 1 or 2 teaspoons of Triphala Ghrita, mix with warm milk and consume internally on empty stomach. The remedy will nourish your body and eyes from inside.

These are the main benefits of Triphala for eyes and eyesight. And this wonderful Ayurvedic medicine is beneficial for other organs and the whole body as well.

Triphala Benefits For Men and Women

Our body contains all three doshas (namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha) in different proportions, which are determined with the formation of our body. Vata dosha, in particular ‘resides’ in lower abdomen, and connected with Apana vayu – pranic energy responsible for the elimination of wastes and the proper functioning of reproductive organs.

Since Triphala is capable of balancing Vata dosha in our body (which is true for both men and women), it positively affects our reproductive health by nurturing of the ovaries and sperm, regulating menstrual cycles and making the uterus stronger.

Amalaki or Amla (Gooseberry) – one of the three ingredients of Triphala, promotes healthier conception for women. It also nourishes the brain, improves mental clarity and functioning. Amalaki is also called Medhya herb in Ayurveda, which means it is beneficial for our brain (Medha means intelligence in Sanskrit), enhances our memory, sensory awareness, makes the intellect sharper and the mind stronger.

Triphala increases red blood cell count so that the cells can carry oxygen more efficiently. It is important for any man or woman who is strongly into the fitness, since the oxygen transfer affects the physical performance.

Amalaki contains Vitamin C, which enhances the nutrients absorption, which is, again, very important if you do some regular training and want to get lean muscles.

You ca take Triphala supplement on a daily basis; the common duration is one month, and the six months is the maximum period of such intake. Usually a month is enough, and you can repeat the whole process again after a few months or half a year.

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