“Food is Medicine and Medicine is Food”
The primary consideration in Ayurveda when selecting food and herbs is in recognising taste. There are six tastes; three of which reduce a Dosha, and three of which increase that same Dosha. Tastes which increase Kapha are sweet, salty, and sour. Tastes which reduce Kapha are pungent (spicy), astringent, and bitter. Eat herbs and food that contain more of these three tastes. Food items on the list below have been pre-selected with this primary consideration in mind. Please make sure you select food items from the list. What is not on the list you should avoid eating.
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Ideal cooking styles for Kapha people include Indian (spicy, avoid creamy dishes and breads), and Chinese (spicy) or Western dishes cooked with more spices. Thai dishes can be suitable but avoid adding oil, sugar, and salt (fish sauce), eat with less rice and more vegetables.
Kapha people should take food that is light, dry, and warm. Water should be taken hot and in reduced amounts. They must reduce sweet foods (including rice, noodles, and bread), use only minimal amounts of oil or butter. Meals should not be consumed when emotionally unstable or lazy. Remember the golden rules in regard to food; eat only when hungry; eat small meals; eat your last meal at least four hours before bedtime; and eat food chosen from the food list. If you are hungry before bed then take suitable fruits only.
* Food items marked with an asterix should be taken occasionally or not at all
FRUITS
Generally most astringent fruits and not too sweet or juice
Apples
Applesauce
Apricots
Berries
Cherries
Cranberries
Figs (Dry)*
Grapes*
Guava
Jackfruit* (seasonal)
Lemons*
Limes*
Longan* (seasonal)
Lychees*
Peaches
Pears
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Prunes
Raisins
Rambutan* (seasonal)
Strawberries*
GRAINS
Amaranth*
Barley
Buckwheat
Cereal (cold, Dry Or Puffed)
Corn
Couscous
Crackers
Durham Flour
Granola
Millet
Muesli
Oat Bran
Oats (dry)
Polenta
Quinoa*
Rice( Basmathi, Wild)*
Rye
Sago
Seitan (Wheat Meat)
Sprouted Wheat Bread (essene)
Tapioca
Wheat Bran
VEGETABLES
In General Most Pungent & Bitter Vegetables
Artichoke
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Beets
Bitter Melon
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cilantro
Corn
Daikon Radish
Dandelion Greens
Eggplant
Fennel(anise)
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Chillies
Horseradish
Jerusalem Artichoke
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leafy Greens
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Okra
Onions
Parsley
Peas
Peppers, Sweat & Hot
Prickly Pears
Radishes
Rutabaga
Spaghetti
Squash*
Spinach Sprouts
Squash(summer)
Tomatoes (yellowish and cooked)
Turnip Greens
Turnips
Watercress
Wheatgrass Sprouts
LEGUMES
Adzuki Beans
Black Beans
Black-eyed Peas
Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas)
Lentils (Red & Brown)
Lima Beans
Mung Beans/Dhal
Tur Dhal
Navy Beans
Peas (Dried)
Pinto Beans
Soy Sausages
Split Peas
Tempeh
Tofu (Hot)*
White Bean
DAIRY
Buttermilk*
Cottage Cheese (Skimmed Or Goats Milk)
Ghee*
Goats Cheese (unsalted & Not Aged)*
Goats Milk, Skim
Yogurt (Goat milk)
ANIMAL FOOD
Chicken (White)
Eggs
Fish (Freshwater)
Rabbit
Shrimps
Turkey (White)
Venison
NUTS
Charole
SEEDS
Chia
Flax*
Popcorn (no Salt Or Butter)
SWEETENERS
Fruit Juice Concentrates
Honey (Raw & Not Processed)
OILS
Almond
Canola
Corn
Ghee
Sesame
Sunflower
CONDIMENTS
Black Pepper
Chilly Pepper
Chutney, Mango (Spicy)
Coriander Leaves
Horseradish
Lemon*
Mustard (Without Vinegar)
Scallions
Seaweed*
Sprouts
BEVERAGES
Alcohol(dry Wine, Red Or White)
Aloe Vera Juice
Apple Cider*
Apple Juice*
Apricot Juice
Black Tea (Spiced)
Carob
Carrot Juice
Chai (hot tea, Spiced Goat or Soya Milk)*
Cranberry Juice
Grain Coffee
Grape Juice
Peach Nectar
Pear Juice
Pineapple Juice*
Pomegranate Juice
Prune Juice
Soy Milk (hot & Well Spiced)
SPICES
*All Spices Are Good
Ajwan
Allspice
Almond Extract
Anise
Asafoetida
Basil
Bay Leaf
Black Pepper
Caraway
Cardamom
Cayenne
Cloves
Cinnamon
Coriander
Cumin
Curry Leaves
Dill
Fennel*
Fenugreek
Garlic
Ginger
Mace
Marjoram
Mint
Mustard Seeds
Neem Leaves
Nutmeg
Orange Peel
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Peppermint
Pippali
Poppy Seeds
Rosemary
Saffron
Sage
Savory
Spearmint
Star Anise
Tarragon
Thyme
Turmeric
Vanilla*
Wintergreen
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