Nutrition is one of the most essential aspects of a creature’s life, and yet we humans have managed to manipulate it by introducing fast foods, microwave food and quick fixes – all in the name of convenience. This can often have a poor impact on one’s well-being. Thankfully for us, Ayurveda is an ancient science of life, which emphasises the role of food in helping us lead a long and healthy life!
The Three Doshas
Samkhya, the philosophical foundation of Ayurveda, dictates that there are 5 elements that are quintessential to the creation of the universe – Vayu (air), Jala (water), Akash (space), Teja (fire), and Prithvi (earth). The manifestation of these elements within the human body takes place via three governing principles also known as Doshas, namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha. While every individual has all three doshas, in a vast majority of cases one dosha is more predominant than the other two. When these doshas are well-balanced, the individual leads a long and healthy life. However, in most cases, the doshas become imbalanced as a direct result of emotional and physical stress, trauma, improper food combination and choices, combined with seasonal changes. Such an imbalance might result in mental, emotional and physical ailments
Each dosha facilitates some specific physiological functions, such as the Kapha Dosha enables the joint function, the Pitta Dosha governs hunger and thirst and the Vata Dosha is responsible for electrolyte balance within the body.
Vata Dosha
Vata Dosha is known to administer body movement, waste excretion, cognition, as well as nervous system activities. In individuals where Vata Dosha is prominent, dry skin, sensitive digestion and cold hands are fairly common. Besides, such people are highly creative, energetic, and are quick to adapt.
Ayurvedic Nutrition for Vata Dosha
If you have a Vata Dosha Prominence then warm nourishing foods, complete with good essential fats are key to your health and well-being. To this end, some of the most favourable food choices for you include –
Salty, sour, sweet-tasting foods
Dairy products like warm milk, cream, and butter
Cooked cereals
Over-ripe fruits
Raw nuts
Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger, cloves, and garlic.
Raw salads, caffeine, and unripe foods are often not favourable for people with Vata Dosha prominence. Besides, you should also avoid foods that are light in weight such as Makhana (fox nuts), Soya Chunks, etc.
Some of the most recommended foods for you include -
Cereals like cooked rice, cooked quinoa, oats, and cooked whole grains millets. You should consume wheat, barley, and corn in moderation.
Cooked vegetables like asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, green beans, garlic, sweet potatoes, turnips and radish can be consumed in abundance.
On the other hand, vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, raw green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, peas, bell pepper, raw sprouts, tomatoes, zucchini should be eaten in moderation.
We hope that you now have a fair idea of how the Doshas work, and what should be the nutritional choices for Vata Dosha. If you need any further assistance on understanding and acting upon your body composition, feel free to make an appointment with our star nutritionist, Ankita Vaidya and Stay tuned to Nth Sense for more tasty and healthy tips from Ankita Vaidya.
Ankita Vaidya
Nutritionist, Post-Graduation in FOOD SCIENCE and DIETETICS
