“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