eating for balance, the six tastes of ayurveda and what to eat for your dosha
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Eating for Balance, The Six Tastes of Ayurveda and What to Eat for Your DoshaTRANSCRIPT
Eating For Your Body Type or Dosha
“If I had known about the Elemental Cleanse last year, I would have actually reached my goal weight for my wedding. I would hit the gym 5 days a week, count calories, and eat “healthy.” With the dietary changes I have made during this process, I have watched as those extra stubborn pounds melted away. I continue to look at the scale in disbelief. For me, this weight loss is an added bonus, as my intention for the Cleanse was to develop a deeper spiritual practice. It has truly been an all around life altering experience.” -Alicia
“I now have the tools necessary to make these Ayurvedic practices a part of my everyday life. I can do it all with my own two hands.”
Alicia Sweeney is a Teacher in Training at the Elemental Om
School. She hopes to facilitate the healing of others through yoga,
meditation, and Ayurveda. Find her on Facebook @ Alicia Anne for
inspiration, delicious recipes, and other fun information!
Eating for your Element
• There is nothing you can’t eat.
• It is all about proportional eating for your body’s element or for your body’s balance.
• Like increases Like
• Tastes and colors
RasaRa means “to relish, praise, or taste”
Rasa is the taste associated with secretions in the mouth. The first experience of food is Rasa.
TasteMelody
ExperienceComprehension
InterestEnthusiasmAppreciation
EmotionJuice
PlasmaSemenEssence
• Grounding, builds tissues• Lubricating, calms nerves• Increases Earth element• Increases Ojas• Promotes growth of plasma, blood,
muscles, fat, bones, marrow, and reproductive fluids.
• Gives strength and longevity• Relieves thirst• Improves skin and complexion
Found in:MeatDairyGrainsBreadsPastaFruitsNutsOilsSweetenersStarchy Veggies
Heavy, Moist and Cooling…sensation of love
Sweet or Madhura (madhura means pleasant, charming, beautiful, agreeable)
• Aggravate Kapha• Cause cold, cough, & congestion• Increase heaviness• Loss of appetite• laziness & obesity• Lymphatic congestion• Tumors, edema, & diabetes• Sleepiness & sluggishness• Impaired immunity• Hard on heart, brain, kidneys & pancreas• High cholesterol
Found in:MeatDairyGrainsBreadsPastaFruitsNutsOilsSweetenersStarchy Veggies
IN EXCESS…….Sweet or Madhura
A little bit of treat on occasion is okay
Sour or amla (amla means sour, acidic, and that which easily ferments)
• Stimulates Digestion• Increases salivary secretions• Anti-flatulence• Rajistic• Increases your Fire• Lubricates• Increases the Earth
Citrus FruitsLemonsLimesGrapefruitGreen grapesTomatoesYogurtSour CreamCheesePickleVinegarAlcohol
Take a small amount of apple cider
vinegar daily
Hot, light & moistCauses giddiness, anger & impatience
IN Excess….Sour or amla
• Sensitive teeth• Excessive thirst• Hyperacidity• Heartburn• Acid indigestion• Gastritis• Ulcerative colitis• Ulcers• Dermatitis• Acne• Rashes• Eczema• Boils• Psoriasis
Citrus FruitsLemonsLimesGrapefruitGreen grapesTomatoesYogurtSour CreamCheesePickleVinegarAlcohol
Salty or lavana
• Stimulates Digestion• Laxative• Stimulate Salivation• Aids absorption• Rajistic• Increases Fire• Lubricates• Increases the Earth
Found in:Table SaltSea SaltRock SaltSea weedTamariSaucesSeafoodMeat
Hot, Heavy & Moist
Mineral Rock Salt
is preferred
IN EXCESS….Salty or lavana• Sodium retention• Aggravates fire and earth• Thickens blood• High Blood Pressure (HBP)• Water retention• Edema & swelling• Fainting• Wrinkles• Ulcers• Bleeding • Hyperacidity• Hair loss• vomiting
Found in:Table SaltSea SaltRock SaltSea weedTamariSaucesSeafoodMeat
Hot, Heavy & Moist
Salt is addictive
to the mind
craving a sharper mind.
Spicy (Pungent) or Katu
• Stimulates Digestion• Rajistic• Increases Fire (Agni)• Creates Lightness• Increases the Wind• Aids circulation• Breaks up clots• Removes fat from the body• Blood thinner• Antispasmodic• Anti-parasitic
Found in:Spicy SpicesHot PeppersGingerCayenne pepperChili pepperBlack pepperMustardOnionRadishgarlic
Hot, Dry & Light
IN Excess…Spicy (Pungent) or Katu
• Kill sperm and ova• Sexual debility• Burning• Choking• Fainting• Hiccoughs• Fatigue with thirst• Diarrhea• Heartburn• Nausea
• Tremors• Insomnia• Muscle pain• Peptic ulcers • Colitis
Found IN:Spicy SpicesHot PeppersGingerCayenne pepperChili pepperBlack pepperMustardOnionRadishgarlic
Hot, Dry & Light
Bitter or Tikta• Creates Lightness, cooling and
dry• Increases the Wind• Detoxifies• Anti-toxic killing germs• Relieve burning sensations• Relive itching• Relieve skin disorders• Anti-inflammatory• Fear reducing• Laxative• Cleansing to liver• Relieves gas• Reduces fat• Great for the pancreas (high
blood sugar)
Found in:Bitter melonTurmeric RootDandelion rootAloe veraFenugreekSandalwoodNeemCoffee & TeaLittle bit of bitter in most veggies.
Astringent or Kashaya
• A Sensation• Increases Lightness• Increases the Wind• Dry, cooling and heavy• Diarrhea• Anti-inflammatory• Decongestant• Heals ulcers
Unripe bananaPomegranateChickpeasGreen beansOkraTurmericMost Raw Veggies
Anxiety, fear and worry
IN EXCESS…Astringent or Kashaya
• Spasms• Griping sensations in the
intestines• Constipation• Coagulation and clotting• Dryness in mouth• Difficulty in speech• Distention• emaciation
Unripe bananaPomegranateChickpeasGreen beansOkraTurmericMost Raw Veggies
Anxiety, fear and worry
The Wind in your Body
EMBRACE• Astringent• Bitter• Spicy• Cool, light, dry
Leafy greens, beans, spicy spices, raw food, cold food and drink, dried fruit
AVOID• Sweet• Sour• Salty• Warm, oily, heavy
Meat (3 servings/week), dairy, grains, pasta, soup, hot drinks, rice (with oil & ghee), heavy & dense fruit (eaten separate)
Ground the energy of your food by cooking, adding oil, ghee, and a
little bit of salt
The Wind (Vata) Why??
EMBRACE• Dried Fruits• Cranberries• Pomegranate• Pears
AVOID• Bananas• Avocados• Coconut• Dates
HeavyDenseMoistSweet
AstringentLightCool
The Wind Why??
EMBRACE• Frozen & Dried• Raw Veggies• Broccoli• Lettuce
AVOID• Cooked Veggies• Squash• Olives• Potato
The Fire in your Body
EMBRACE• Spicy• Salty• Sour• Warm, oily, heavy
Smaller Portions:Spicy spices, salt,
condiments, citrus fruits, tomatoes, yogurt, alcohol, caffeine, fried food, red meat, excess oil, garlic
AVOID• Sweet• Bitter• Astringent• Cool, liquids
Larger Portions:Grains, beans, pasta,
fruit, leafy greens, veggies, milk, cottage cheese (soft cheese)
Cumin, coriander, saffron, dill, fennel, mint, parsley, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric…..these are all COOLING spices.
The Fire Why????
EMBRACE• Lemons• Limes• Cherries• Kiwi
AVOID• Berries• Coconut• Mango• Plums
)
Sour
The Fire Why????
EMBRACE• Beets’• Carrots• Garlic• Leeks• Onions
AVOID• Asparagus• Brussels Sprouts• Cabbage• Cauliflower
HOT
The Earth in your Body
EMBRACE• Sweet• Sour• Salt• Oily, heavy, liquids
• AVOID: DAIRY & MEAT
Smaller Portions:Meat, grains, fruits, yogurt,
dairy, salt, fermented, fat, fried foods, sweets, iced foods
AVOID• Bitter• Astringent• Spicy• Light, dry, warm
Larger Portions:Beans, leafy greens,
veggies, spice
The Earth Why?????
EMBRACE• Avocado• Bananas• Coconut• Figs
AVOID• Apples• Berries• Cranberries• Pomegranate
The Earth Why?????
EMBRACE• Squash• Olives• Potatoes• Pumpkin
AVOID• Asparagus• Greens• Leeks• Peppers• Peas
Getting enough fat
• Saturated fats are found in meat & dairy. Saturated fats increase cholesterol and raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.
• Unsaturated fats :Monounsaturated found in nuts, avocados and olive oil & Polyunsaturated found in fish and vegetable oils. These fats are good for you and provide omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that the body cannot make on its own. Essential for controlling many functions in the body and are good for you.
• Trans fats are artificially produced and the worst fats. They are found in hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarine including reduced -fat spreads. They are thought to cause cancer. Do not eat them.
Meat as a source of protein
Pros: Meat contains “complete” proteins and is therefore easier to absorb than the “incomplete” proteins found in nonmeat sources. A "complete" protein is a protein that contains the necessary amino acids to break down the protein source to facilitate absorption in the body.
• Cons: Along with absorption of protein, you are also absorbing fat. Meat is hard to digest and slows Agni (digestive fire)
As a nation we are
overconsuming protein
Meat by DoshaVata
Beef (sometimes)Chicken (white)Turkey (white)
EggsAll Fish
PittaChicken (white)Turkey (White)
Egg WhitesFreshwater Fish
Rabbit
KaphaChicken (dark)Turkey (dark)
Eggs (no frying or scrambling with fat)
Rabbit
OrganicHealtyHappy
AnimalsHumaneEAT LESS
LOVE MORE
Non Meat Sources of ProteinExamples: vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts, fruits, whole grains and dairy including cheese, milk and yogurt
• Pros: Is there anything bad to say about whole wheat products and veggies? Easy to digest, contains tons of other nutrients!
• Cons: You must eat a variety of nonmeat sources to create a “complete” protein. This requires thought and planning. Luckily, your combining of proteins need not take place all in the same meal, but throughout the day.
WATER
Room temperatureDrink for your element
Vata = 7 – 8 servings
Pitta = 6 – 7Kapha = 4 -
6
Vata (The Wind) imbalance• Anguished or anxious• Nervousness• Causeless fear• Fear of the unknown• Insomnia• Tingling• Numbness• Muscle twitching• Nervous twitching• Cold hands and feet• Unclear perception and dizziness• Rigidity in muscles OR flaccidity• Poor coordination• Schizophrenia• Hallucinations (auditory or olfactory)• Hyperactivity• Nightmares• Indecision• insecurity
Functions of VataMovementMaintains lifeCommunicationGoverns the mind, sensory perception, motor functionMovement of thoughts, feelings, and nerve impulsesBreathingHeart FunctionCirculation
IngestionAssimilation and absorptionElimination of waste including menstruationOrgasmCellular divisionHearingTouchClarityCreativityJoy
Balanced…Happiness
JoyCreativityFlexibility
Balanced…knowledge,
comprehension, appreciation, right
judgment, recognition, total
understanding
The Fire or Pitta Imbalance• Burning hands and feet• Inflammation of the nerves (pain in nerves)• Sciatica• Shingles• Mononucleosis• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome• Epstein Barr• AIDS• Cerebral hemorrhage• Hypertension• Stroke• Sickle Cell Anemia• Wrong judgment• Prejudice• Manipulation• Anger• Hate• Envy• Chemical depression and suicidal thoughts
Functions:MetabolismDigestion, absorption, assimilation of foodBody temperatureAppetiteThirstTasteColorLuster of yes, hair, skin, bodySensitivity in bodyIntelligence, understanding, comprehension, knowledge, CourageAmbitionTransformationVision perception
Kapha or The Earth Imbalance
• Respiratory illness• Colds with deep cough• Flu• Asthma• Bronchitis• Swollen glands• Obesity• Diabetes• Depression• Cysts• Arthritis• Cancer• Cataracts
Functions:LubricationNourishmentSupport & StabilityGroundednessGrowthGaseous exchange in lungsGastric secretionsWater electrolyte balanceFat regulationStrength & StaminaEnergySleepRepair and regenerationMemory RetentionContentmentForgivenessCompassionTaste PerceptionSmell