The Ayurvedic diet: What is it and why you should care

If you’ve been keeping up with our blogs on WAW LIFESTYLE, you have probably already seen the words ‘Ayurvedic Diet’ being mentioned. The Ayurvedic diet is a holistic eating pattern that’s been around for thousands of years. It’s based on the principles of Ayurvedic medicine with its main aim being balancing the different types of energy within our body, in order to improve our overall health. 

How is the Ayurvedic diet different from other diets?

There’s so many different diets that are offered to us on a daily basis, from plant-based, vegetarian to ketogenic diet or low-carbohydrate diet, it becomes difficult to distinguish between them or find the right diet fit for us. The key characteristic of an Ayurvedic Diet is that it provides you with personalised recommendations on which food to eat, based on your physical and psychological characteristics, known as Dosha. 

Here are some characteristics of the three Doshas, to help you determine which one is best fit for you:

• Vata: Vatas tend to be thin and can even have trouble putting on weight. They’re usually cold a lot, have busy minds, and can become anxious easily. When they’re not eating the right diet, they can become bloated and constipated.
• Kapha: Kaphas are usually the largest of the doshas. Naturally calm, grounded, and loyal. Those with a kapha dosha often have a sturdier frame and may have issues with weight gain, asthma, depression, or diabetes.
• Pitta:  Intelligent, hard-working, and decisive. This dosha generally has a medium physical build, short temper, and may suffer from conditions like indigestion, heart disease, or high blood pressure.

What food can I eat?

Now that you’ve established which Dosha you feel fits you best physically and psychologically, the next step is to familiarise yourself with the correct foods you should be eating. For example, the pitta dosha focuses on cooling, energising foods and limits spices, nuts, and seeds. Meanwhile, the Vata dosha favours warm, moist, and grounding foods while restricting dried fruits, bitter herbs, and raw veggies. Finally, the Kapha dosha limits heavy foods like nuts, seeds, and oils in favour of fruits, veggies, and legumes. Red meat, artificial sweeteners, and processed ingredients are limited for all three doshas. Instead, the Ayurvedic diet encourages eating healthy whole foods.

Curious to know more about Ayurveda and the Dosha types? More information is just around the corner. Stay tuned by following our socials and keeping an eye out for our weekly blogs!

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Written by: Jonas Leskevicius