DIET PLANNING IN AYURVEDA WITH DETAILS

Diet Planning

Choice of Food

In planning the diet it is necessary to know which food to have or avoid based on ones personal doshic constitution or imbalance. For easy reference therefore some of the acceptable and avoidable items for each doshic type has been listed below:

Fruits

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

apples

Avocades

apples(sour)

apples(sweet)

bananas

apples

dates

grapes

berries(sour)

berries(sweet)

dates

berries

figs (dry)

lemons

cranberries

coconuts

grapes

cranberries

pomegranate

bananas

strawberries

dates

water melons

pomegranates

raisin

sweet oranges

banana

figs

sweetners

dried fruits

pears

Plum

lemon

avocados

melons

strawberries in small amounts

figs (fresh)

peaches

sweet melons

mango

mango

plums

coconut

pomegranates

Dairy

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

cheese

dairy

yogurt

fresh ghee

milk

just a little dairy

cow’s milk

Fresh, whole

sour cream

fresh whole un-homogenized milk

clarified butter cheese

goat milk and ghee in moderation

powdered

un-homogenized milk

yogurt

Ghee

little butter

white meat (chicken, fish or turkey – baked or broiled)

chicken broth

Grains

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Barley

white or brown basmati rice

Corn

white or brown basmati rice, wheat

Bread(with yeast)

barley buckwheat cousous millet

corn

wheat

millet

barley

oat(cooked)

muesli

cereals

Oats

oat(dry)

oat bran

wheat

oats

granola

quinoa

quinoa

oats

white rice

oat bran

millet

polenta

wheat or wheat bran

cane

small amount of wheat

tapioca

Meat

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

turkey

white meat (chicken, fish and turkey - baked or broiled)

meat

baked or broiled chicken, turkey or white fish in moderate amounts

beef

fresh water fish

rabbit

chicken broth

chicken

buffalo

shrimp

pork

ducks

chicken

rabbit

lamb

eggs

duck

venison

pork

small amount of white meat

salmon

sardines

Vegetables

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Cabbage(raw)

beets

Beet

asparagus

Cucumber

asparagus

Cauliflower(raw)

cauliflower(cooked)

greens

broccoli

Olives

beets

Peas

Leeks

Carrots

cabbage

Potato

bitter

Potatoes

carrots

Garlic

cucumber

Pumpkin

melons

Spinach

asparagus

Green Chillies

cooked onions

Spaghetti

broccoli

Eggplant

cilantro

Onion

sweet

Squash

beet greens

Mushroom

fennel and a little bit of garlic

Peppers

potatoes

Tomato(raw)

cabbage

Raddish(raw)

green beans

Prickly pear

sprouts

garlic

Spinach

greens chillies

Radishes

squash and a small amount of okra and cauliflower

fennel

Tomatoes(raw)

Okra

Spinach

carrot

parsnips

Turnips

horseradish

pumpkins

leafy greens

radishes( preferably cooked)

leeks

lettuce

okra

cooked onions

spinach

sprouts

squash

turnip and a small amount of artichoke, burdock root and brussels sprouts

Spices

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Carawas

Ajwan

Ajwan

Black pepper

Salt

chillies,

Almond extract

Anise

cardamom

ginger, cinnamon, clove, fenugreek and bay leaves

Aruise

Asafoctida

coriander

Ajawan

Basil

Basil

seeds

Arvise

Bay leaf

Bay leaf

cinnamon

Asafoetida

Black pepper

Garlic

cilantro

Bay leaf

All spices are good.

Ginger

fennel seeds

Caraway

cilantro, cummin, corriander and fennel seeds, turmeric and asafoetida(hing)

Mace

fresh basil

Cinnamon

Pippai

dill

Dill

Mustard

turmeric and a small amount of cumin and fresh ginger

Mace

Seeds

Nutmeg

Saffron

Nuts

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

None

small amount of almonds

Almonds

sunflower seeds and almonds in moderate amount

Almonds

small amount of almonds ,

pecans and sesame seeds

Cashew

Black Walnuts

charole

Peanuts

Brazil nuts

Pinenuts

Filberts

Hazelnuts

Peanuts

Pine nuts

Walnuts

Uneasy Combinations for all body types The next important factor requiring attention in the planning of diet is the incompatibility of certain combinations of food that disturb the normal functioning of gastric fire and interfere with the equilibrium of the three doshas, thereby creating toxins (ama) – the root cause of all ailments. A list of the same is indicated below : Table 20 Milk with fish, meat, curd, sour fruits, bread containing yeast, cherries, yogurt Melons with grains, starch, fried foods, dairy products Starches with eggs, tea, dairy, bananas, dates, most fruits Honey with when mixed with an equal amount of clarified butter, boiled or cooked honey Radishes with milk, bananas, raisins Nightshades with potato, yogurt, milk, melon, cucumber, tomato, eggplant Yogurt with milk, sour fruits, melons, hot drinks, meat, fish, mangos, starch, cheese Eggs with milk, meat, yogurt, melons, cheese, fish, bananas Fruit with with any other food Corn with dates, raisins, bananas Lemon with yogurt, milk, cucumbers, tomatoes