The Blue Planet For The Home Sweet Homers
Is the grass greener on the other side? I packed my bags and hit the road. Journal of a travelling Scuba Instructor.
Ever heard of Vata, Pitta and Kapha?
Acording to Ayurveda, a dosha, is one of 3 substances that are present in the body of a person. Also called the 3-dosha theory, it discribes how the quantity of these three substances fluctuate in the body, according to our actions, thoughts, emotions, the time of day, the seasons, the foods we eat and any other imputs that feed our mind and body. Identifying and eating in accordance with your doshas will help keep your body and mind in balance.
These biological energies found throughout the human body and mind, derive from the Fire Elements and their related properties.
One dosha predominates in most individuals, a second dosha typically has a strong influence.
The secret to keeping your mind and body balanced is identifying your predominant dosha and potential imbalances with an ayurvedic doctor. When any of the doshas become aggravated or imbalanced, mind- body health and harmony may be challenged. Our naturally dominant dosha signifies who we are in our most healthy, balanced state.
These imbalances are repaired in Ayurveda with herbal remedies, yoga, warm oil massages, and lifestyle changes, particularly diet.
There’re 6 tastes identified in Ayurvedic diet: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Each taste has different energetic effects on the mind and body, aggravating or pacyfying particular doshas.
Balanced Vata:
Keywords: Grounding, warming, Routine.
- Eat Vata- balancing diet
- Eat in a peaceful environment
- Engage in wholesome and contemplative activities (like spending time in nature)
- Follow a regular daily routine
- Go to bed early
- Meditate daily
- Do gentle physical exercices like yoga, tai chi, swimming, or walking
imbalances Vata :
- Eating Vata- aggravated foods
- Eating while aggravated or depressed
- Eating on the run
- Drinking alcohol, coffee, or black tea
- Smiking sigarettes
- Following an irregular daily routine
- Going to bed late at night
“When vata is aggravated, the system becomes irregular and depleted, which affects weak organs and tissues”
Additional signs of vata imbalance:
• Constipation
• Dehydration
• Anxious
• Craving warmth
• Frequent viral infection
• Weight loss
• Disturbed sleep
Excessive consumption of bitter, astringent and spicy tastes contribute to vata imbalance. Pacify with sweet, sour and salty tastes and warm, moist, easily digestible foods like:
• Boiled or steamed starchy vegetables (moderate broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and leafy vegetables)
• Ripe fruits
• Warm milk (moderate dairy)
• Soupy grains: rice, wheat
• Mild spices: cumin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, coriander, salt, cloves, mustard, black pepper
• Tea: camomile, fennel, ginger, liquorice, lemon
“Nourishing soups, casseroles and dahls are great for balancing vata, particular during winter”
Balanced Pitta:
Keywords: Cooling, calming, moderation.
- Eat Pitta- balancing diet
- Eat in peaceful environment
- Avoid artificial stimulants
- Engage in calming activities, like spending time in nature
- Meditate daily
- Do calming phisical exercices like yoga, swimming, tai chi, or walking
Imbalances Pitta:
- Eating Pitta aggravating food
- Eating while angry
- Drinking coffee, black tea or alcohol
- Smoking sigarettes
- Over- working
- Being overly competitive
“When pitta is unbalanced, you can become aggressive and irritable. Internalising that fire can increase your self-critic, resulting in perfectionism”
Additional signs of imbalance:
• Diarrhoea
• Over-heating, profuse sweating
• Colourful, violent dreams
• Excessive hunger
• Frequent bacterial infections
• Heartburn
Pitta imbalance may result from excessive alcohol or hot, spicy, oily, fried, salty, fermented foods. Rebalance with sweet, bitter and astringent tastes and cool, heavy foods including:
• Boiled, steamed, raw vegetables
• Sweet fruits
• Moderate amounts of dairy
• Soupy grains: rice, wheat, barley, oats
• Mild, cooling spices: coriander, cardamom, cloves, turmeric, cumin, curry leaves, mint
• Tea: fennel, camomile, peppermint, spearmint, liquorice, red clover
Epic link for dosha diet:
http://www.zanduayurveda.com/ayurveda-and-you/diet.php
Sources:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dosha
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The Blue Planet For The Home Sweet Homers 