Vata

Tri-Dosha Dietary Considerations:  Vata

A vata imbalance is in excess of air and needs grounding techniques to reconnect to the earth. All relaxation activities are recommended, such as easy balancing asanas, meditation, massage, establishment of daily routines (regular times for waking, eating, working and sleeping), as well as relaxing music or aromatherapy.

As vata is a dosha associated with coldness and dryness, it is best to consume warming, moist, comforting foods. Sweet, sour, salty and satisfying foods are favourable to cold, uncooked, and dry foods. A hot breakfast is recommended, although heavily caffeinated beverages are not. Herbal tea may be comforting in the late afternoon.

If your basic constitution is mixed (vata-pitta or vata-kapha), include portions for the second influential dosha. Vata dosha is aggravated and increased during autumn and early winter. During these seasons all mind-body types can include some of the above foods, and decrease or omit others. Mental and emotional peace and constructive lifestyle routines are important to restoring and maintaining balance.

Vata imbalances may find the dietary recommendations in the tables on the following pages beneficial for increasing digestive power (agni) and rendering the body fit to receive optimal nutritive benefits from all aspects of our environment.

Vegetable and Fruit Recommendations

Consume Regularly	Reduce or Avoid
Cooked vegetables Turnips Leafy greens Cucumber Asparagus Garlic Beets Onions Carrots (cooked) Turnips Green beans Sweet potato Radishes	Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage (raw) Cauliflower Celery Eggplant Leafy greens Mushrooms Peas Peppers Potatoes Sprouts (raw) Tomatoes Zucchini
Apricots Avocados Bananas Berries Cherries Coconut Fresh figs Grapefruit Lemons Grapes Mangos Sweet melons Sour oranges Papaya Pineapple Peaches Plums Sour fruits Stewed fruits Sweet, well-ripened fruit in general	Apples Cranberries Pears Pomegranates Unripe bananas The above fruits should be consumed cooked Avoid dried and unripe fruit

Grains

Oats(as cooked oatmeal cereal, not dry) Cooked rice Wheat

Barley Buckwheat Corn Dry oats Millet Rye

Dairy

All dairy is acceptable

Meat

Chicken Seafood, in general Turkey All meats should be consumed in small quantity

Avoid red meat

Beans

Chickpeas Mung beans Pink lentils Tofu (small amounts)

All accept as noted

Oils

All oils are acceptable Sesame oil and olive oil are especially good.

Sweeteners

All sweeteners are acceptable

Nuts and Seeds

All are acceptable in small amounts. Almonds are best

Herbs and Spices

Almost all, in moderation. Focus on sweet and/or heating herbs and spices.   Allspice Anise Asafoetida Basil Bay leaf Black pepper Caraway Cardamom Cilantro Cinnamon Clove Cumin Fennel Ginger Juniper berries Liquorice root Mace Marjoram Mustard Nutmeg Oregano Sage Tarragon  Thyme

Spices should be used in moderation. Avoid:   Coriander seed Fenugreek Parsley Saffron Turmeric