A Vata Diet to Balance Your Dosha

In following a Vata Diet, you would consume foods that have the salty, sour and sweet tastes. Avoid the tastes that increase the Vata Dosha such as astringent, bitter and Pungent.

The Vata should favor food that is warm, with moderately heavy textures. Use foods such as: warm milk, cream, butter, warm soups, stews, hot cereals, fresh baked bread. Also favored for the Vata are spicy Western, Indian and Chinese. Foods cooked in oil are OK. Avoid cold foods such as cold salads, iced drinks, raw vegetables, cabbage and greens.

For breakfast favor hot cereals such as cream of wheat, cooked oatmeal or cooked rice. Avoid drinks with caffeine.

Sweet fruits, salted nuts, drinks of warm/hot nature are all good choices.

These Vata diet lists will help guide you in selecting your daily foods.

Meats

Chicken (dark meat), duck eggs, fish, salmon, sardines, shrimp and turkey (dark meat).

Vegetables

Asparagus, beets, carrots, cilantro, cucumber, garlic, green beans, green chillies, leeks, okra, black olives, cooked onions, cooked peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, rutabaga, spaghetti squash, squash squash, winter squash, watercress, zucchini.

Dairy

Butter, buttermilk, cheese, cottage cheese, ghee, milk, ice cream, sour cream, yogurt.

Fruits

Apples, applesauce, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, cherries, coconut, dates, fresh figs, grapefruit, grapes, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mangoes, sweet melons, oranges, papaya, peaches, pineapple, plums, prunes, raisins, rhubarb, strawberries.

Grains

Amaranth, durham flour, oats, cooked oats, pancakes, quinoa, rice, sprouted wheat bread, wheat.

Legumes

Aduki Beans, black Lentils, mung beans.

Seeds

Chia, flax, halva, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, tahini.

Oils

Ghee, olive, sesame.

Spices

Allspice, almond extract, anise, basil, bay leaf, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, curry leaves, dill, garlic, ginger, mace, marjoram, mint, mustard seed, nutmeg, orange peel, oregano, paprika, parsley, peppermint, poppy seeds, rosemary, saffron, salt, savory, spearmint, tarragon, thyme, turmeric, vanilla, wintergreen.

Drinks

Almond milk, apricot juice, berry juice, carrot juice, chai, grape juice, grapefruit juice, lemonade, mango juice, orange juice, papaya juice, peach nectar, pineapple juice, rice milk, soya milk.

Condiments

Black pepper, chutney, coriander leaves, ketchup, lemon, lime, mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, salt, scallions, seaweed, soy sauce, tamari, vinegar.

Sweetners

Barley malt, fruit juice concentrates, honey, molasses, rice syrup.

Vata Doshas need to maintain regular habits such as eating and sleeping at regular times. Establishing a regular routine is very important, as is following a specific Vata diet. Exercise should be gentle and regular such as hatha yoga, walking, swimming and t'ai chi. Also of help to maintain balance, is to meditate each day for deep relaxation.

It's your Dosha, learn how to balance it so you can lead a harmonious life.

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