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Balanced Food

Balanced Food

By Shyam Mehta


Every person has a basic constitution that does not change from birth to death. From time to time he or she has illnesses or other disturbances.

This constitution is characterized by his or her Ayurvedic tri-dosha balance [x% kapha, y% pitta, 1-x%-y% vatta].

The food that you eat should optimally correspond to your tri-dosha balance. Over time, as your yoga practice develops, you become much more sensitive to what you eat and you prefer vegetarian, fresh, light food.

Your diet also needs to change if you want to become fit, or want to reduce weight.

Here is a list of how various foods help or harm your tri-dosha balance to move towards harmony [1/3/1/3/1/3]. A "-1" implies that this food is bad for a person with this excess, a "1" is good for you (in moderation). For example, unsalted butter in moderation is good for someone with an excess of pitta energy in their system (that is, their pitta proportion exceeds 33.3%). It is also good if he or she also has an excess of kapha, but not so good if there is an excess of vata.
 

 

 

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

Dairy

 

Butter salted

1

-1

-1

 

Butter unsalted

-1

1

1

 

Buttermilk

1

-1

-1

 

Cheese hard

-1

-1

-1

 

Cheese soft

1

-1

-1

 

Cheese soft, not aged, unsalted

1

1

-1

 

Cottage cheese

1

1

-1

 

Cottage cheese, fr skimmed goat's milk

1

1

1

 

Cow's milk

1

1

-1

 

Cow's milk powdered

-1

-1

-1

 

Cow's Milk Semi Skimmed

1

1

1

 

Cream Cheese

1

1

-1

 

Cream sour

1

-1

-1

 

Egg White

1

-1

-1

 

Egg Yolk

1

-1

1

 

Ensure

1

-1

1

 

Ghee

1

1

1

 

Goat's cheese unsalted, not aged

1

-1

1

 

Goat's cheese, soft, unsalted

1

1

-1

 

Goat's milk

1

1

-1

 

Goat's milk powdered

-1

1

-1

 

Goat's milk, skimmed only

1

1

1

 

Margerine

-1

-1

-1

 

Soya Milk (hot)

1

1

1

 

Tofu

1

1

-1

 

Yeast

-1

1

1

 

Yoghurt diluted

1

1

1

 

Yoghurt diluted & Spiced

1

-1

-1

 

Yoghurt plain/frozen/with fruit

-1

-1

-1

 

Yoghurt, freshly made & diluted

-1

1

-1

Seeds

 

Black sesame seeds

1

1

1

 

Sunflower seeds

1

1

1

 

Pumpkin seeds

1

1

-1

 

White sesame seeds

1

1

1

 

Watermelon seeds

1

1

1

 

Lotus seeds

1

1

-1

Nuts

 

Almonds

1

-1

1

 

Chestnuts

1

-1

-1

 

Chinese almond

1

1

1

 

Coconut

1

1

-1

 

Hazelnuts

1

1

-1

 

Macadamia

1

1

1

 

Mixed nuts x walnuts

1

-1

-1

 

Peanuts

1

1

1

 

Pecan

1

-1

-1

 

Pine nuts

1

1

-1

 

Pistaschio

1

-1

1

 

Walnuts

1

1

-1

Pulses, beans, legumes

 

Aduki beans

-1

1

1

 

Beans White

-1

1

1

 

Bitter Gourd (alt to lentils)

-1

1

1

 

Black (Eyed) Beans

-1

1

1

 

Brown (Puy/Massoor) lentils

-1

1

1

 

Butter beans

1

1

1

 

Chick peas Garbanzos

-1

1

1

 

Kidney beans

-1

-1

-1

 

Lima Beans

-1

1

1

 

Miso

1

-1

1

 

Moong Dahl Yellow

1

1

-1

 

Mung beans/Split mung with husk

1

1

-1

 

Mung Whole

-1

1

1

 

Navy beans

-1

1

1

 

Peas dried

-1

1

1

 

Pinto Beans

-1

1

1

 

Red split lentils/beans

1

1

1

 

Soy beans

-1

1

-1

 

Soy cheese

1

1

-1

 

Soy Flour

-1

1

-1

 

Soy milk

1

1

1

 

Soy Powder

-1

-1

-1

 

Soy Sauce

1

-1

-1

 

Soy sausages

1

1

1

 

Soya

-1

1

-1

 

Split peas

-1

1

1

 

Tempeh

-1

1

1

  

Tofu

-1

1

1

 

Tofu cold

-1

1

-1

 

Toor Dahl

-1

-1

1

 

Urud

-1

-1

-1

Vegetables- Leafy

 

A Most Cooked

1

-1

1

 

A Most Frozen, dried

-1

1

1

 

A Most Pungent

1

-1

-1

 

A Most Pungent & Bitter

-1

1

1

 

A Most Sweet, bitter

1

1

1

 

A Most Sweet, juicy

1

1

-1

 

Artichoke

-1

1

1

 

Artichoke Jerusalem

-1

1

1

 

Beet greens

-1

-1

1

  

Broccoli

-1

1

1

 

Brussel sprouts

-1

1

1

 

Cabbage

1

1

1

 

Cabbage, Green

1

1

1

 

Cauliflower

1

1

1

 

Chinese broccoli

1

1

1

 

Chinese green

1

1

-1

 

Choy sum

-1

-1

1

 

Dandelion greens

-1

1

1

 

Green leafy veg

-1

1

1

 

Leeks

1

1

1

 

Lettuce

-1

1

1

 

Lettuce Gem

-1

1

-1

 

Mustard greens

1

-1

1

 

Ong Choy

-1

-1

1

 

Pak choy

-1

1

1

 

Parsley

-1

1

1

 

Spinach

1

1

1

 

Watercress

1

1

1

 

Wheat grass sprouts

-1

1

1

Vegetables-Salads, Raw

 

A Most vegetables

-1

1

-1

 

Beets

1

-1

1

 

Cabbage

-1

1

1

 

Carrot

1

-1

1

 

Cauliflower

-1

1

1

 

Corn fresh

-1

-1

1

 

Cucumber

1

1

-1

 

Leeks

1

-1

1

 

Lettuce

-1

1

1

 

Onions

-1

-1

1

 

Parsley

-1

1

1

 

Peas

-1

1

1

 

Radish

-1

-1

1

 

Spinach

-1

-1

1

 

Tomato

-1

-1

-1

Vegetables- Non Leafy

 

A Most Cooked

1

-1

1

 

A Most Frozen, dried

-1

1

-1

 

A Most Pungent

-1

-1

1

 

A Most Pungent & Bitter

-1

1

1

 

A Most Sweet, bitter

1

1

1

 

A Most Sweet, juicy

1

-1

-1

 

Asparagus

1

1

1

 

Aubergine/eggplant

-1

-1

1

 

Bean sprouts

1

1

-1

 

Beetroot/beets

1

1

1

 

Bitter Melon

-1

1

1

 

Broad beans

1

1

1

 

Burdock root

-1

-1

1

 

Carrot

1

1

1

 

Carrot White

1

1

1

 

Celery

-1

1

1

 

Chick peas

-1

-1

-1

 

Chilli green

1

-1

1

 

Cilantro

1

1

1

 

Corn on cob

-1

-1

1

 

Courgette

1

1

1

 

Cucumber

1

1

-1

 

Dried mushroom

-1

1

1

 

Fennel/ Anise

1

1

1

 

Fresh mushroom

-1

1

1

 

Garlic

1

-1

1

 

Green beans

1

1

1

 

Horse radish

1

-1

1

 

Kale

-1

1

1

 

Kohlrabi

-1

-1

1

 

Lemon

1

1

-1

 

Lotus root

-1

1

1

 

Marrow

1

1

-1

 

Olives black

1

1

-1

 

Olives green

-1

-1

-1

 

Onions

1

1

1

 

Parsnip

1

1

-1

 

Peas

1

1

1

 

Peppers Hot

-1

-1

1

 

Peppers, sweet

-1

1

1

 

Potato Sweet

1

-1

1

 

Potatoes sweet

1

1

-1

 

Potatoes white

-1

1

1

 

Prickly pear, Fruit

-1

-1

1

 

Prickly pear, Leaves

-1

1

1

 

Pumpkin

1

1

-1

 

Radish

1

1

1

 

Radish Daikon

1

-1

1

 

Runner beans

-1

1

1

 

Rutabaga

1

1

1

 

Spaghetti squash

-1

1

-1

 

Spring onion

1

1

1

 

Sprouts not spicy

-1

1

1

 

Sprouts spicy

-1

-1

1

 

Squash summer

1

1

1

 

Squash winter

1

1

-1

 

String beans

-1

-1

-1

 

Suede

-1

1

-1

 

Taro root

1

1

-1

 

Tomato

1

-1

1

 

Turnip greens

-1

-1

1

 

Turnips

-1

-1

1

 

Yam

1

-1

1

 

Zucchini

1

1

-1

Beverages-Non Alcoholic

 

Coconut milk

1

1

1

 

Fresh vegetable juice

1

1

1

 

Black coffee (fresh beans)

-1

1

1

 

Lactose

1

1

1

 

Fruit juice

-1

1

1

 

Black tea

1

1

-1

 

Cocoa

1

1

1

 

White coffee

-1

1

1

 

Indian tea

1

1

-1

 

Glutamate

-1

-1

1

 

Horlicks

1

1

-1

Beverages - Alcoholic

 

Beer

1

1

1

 

Red Wine

-1

-1

1

 

White Wine

1

1

-1

Herbal Teas

 

Nettle tea

1

1

1

 

Mint tea

1

1

1

 

Camomile

1

-1

1

 

China tea

-1

-1

1

 

Green tea

1

1

-1

 

Chrysanthumum tea

1

-1

-1

Fruit

 

Most astringent fruits

1

1

1

 

Most sour fruits

-1

-1

1

 

Most sweet & sour fruits

-1

1

-1

 

Most sweet fruits

1

1

1

 

Apple sauce

1

1

1

 

Apples cooked

1

1

1

 

Apples sour

-1

-1

1

 

Apples sweet

-1

1

1

 

Apricot

1

-1

1

 

Apricots sour

1

-1

1

 

Avocado

1

1

-1

 

Banana

1

-1

-1

 

Berries Sour

1

-1

1

 

Berries sweet

1

1

1

 

Cherries sour

1

-1

1

 

Cherries sweet

1

1

1

 

Chinese pear

1

-1

-1

 

Cranberries

-1

-1

1

 

Dates, fresh

1

1

-1

 

Figs

1

1

-1

 

Gooseberries

-1

-1

-1

 

Grapefruit

1

-1

-1

 

Grapes green/white

1

-1

-1

 

Grapes red& purple

1

1

-1

 

Guava

1

-1

-1

 

Kiwi

1

-1

-1

 

Lemon

1

-1

-1

 

Lime

1

1

-1

 

Lychee

1

1

1

 

Mangoes green

1

-1

-1

 

Mangoes ripe

1

1

-1

 

Melon

1

1

-1

 

Oranges sour

1

-1

-1

 

Oranges sweet

1

1

-1

 

Papaya

1

-1

-1

 

Passion fruit

1

1

1

 

Peach

1

-1

1

 

Pears

-1

1

1

 

Persimmon

-1

-1

1

 

Pineapple sour

1

-1

-1

 

Pineapple sweet

1

1

-1

 

Plums sour

1

-1

-1

 

Plums sweet

1

1

-1

 

Pomegranite

-1

1

1

 

Prunes soaked

1

1

1

 

Raisins soaked

1

1

1

 

Rhubarb

1

-1

-1

 

Strawberries

1

-1

1

 

Tamarind

1

-1

-1

 

Tangerine

-1

1

1

 

Water melon

-1

1

-1

Dry Fruit

 

A Most dry fruit

-1

1

-1

 

Sultana

1

1

1

 

Figs

-1

1

1

 

Prunes

-1

1

1

 

Currants

1

1

-1

 

Dates

-1

-1

-1

 

Raisins

-1

1

1

Oils

 

Olive oil

1

1

1

 

Sunflower oil

1

1

1

 

Humuus

1

1

1

 

Tahini

1

1

-1

 

Palm oil

1

1

-1

 

Corn oil

1

1

1

 

Silfa flower

1

-1

-1

 

Sesame oil (ext)

1

1

1

 

Saaflower oil

1

-1

1

Grains

 

Rice

-1

1

1

 

Sago

-1

-1

-1

 

Millet

-1

1

1

 

Basmati rice

-1

-1

1

 

Oatmeal

-1

1

-1

 

Corn meal

-1

-1

1

 

Rye

-1

1

-1

 

Wheat bran

-1

1

-1

 

Tapioca

-1

-1

1

 

Semolina

-1

1

1

 

Barley flour

-1

1

-1

 

Oats

-1

-1

1

 

Wheat flour

-1

1

-1

 

Soya

-1

-1

1

Breads,etc

 

Rice cakes

1

1

1

 

Ryvita

-1

1

-1

 

Puri

1

-1

1

 

Pitta bread

-1

1

-1

 

Fresh bread

1

-1

1

 

Chappati

1

1

-1

 

Pasta

-1

-1

1

Cereals

 

Sugar puffs

-1

1

1

 

Cornflakes

-1

1

-1

Sweetners

 

Barley malt

1

1

-1

 

Fructose

1

1

-1

 

Fruit juice concentrate

1

1

1

 

Honey raw, not processed

1

-1

1

 

Molasses

1

-1

-1

 

Sugar white

-1

1

-1

 

Honey raw, other

1

-1

-1

 

Jaggery

1

-1

-1

 

Maple syrup

1

1

-1

 

Rice Syrup

1

1

-1

 

Sucanat

1

1

-1

 

Turbinado

1

1

-1

Sweets

 

Blancmange

-1

1

1

 

Halva

1

-1

1

 

Chocolate

1

1

-1

 

Sweet biscuits

-1

-1

1

 

Indian sweets

1

-1

-1

 

Cakes

-1

1

1

 

Icecream

1

1

-1

 

Sponges

1

1

-1

 

Water lolly..

-1

1

1

Spices, Herbs, Condiments

 

Basil

1

-1

1

 

Bee pollen

-1

1

1

 

Cardamon

1

1

-1

 

Corriander

1

1

1

 

Curry leaf

1

-1

1

 

Ginger

-1

-1

1

 

Lemon grass

1

-1

-1

 

Mint

-1

1

1

 

Nutmeg

1

-1

-1

 

Pepper, black

1

1

1

 

Tamarind

1

1

1

 

Tumeric

-1

-1

1

 

Mango chutney sweet

1

1

-1

 

Mango pickle

1

-1

-1

 

Dulse

1

-1

-1

 

Gomasso

1

-1

-1

 

Hijiki

1

1

-1

 

Kelp

1

-1

-1

 

Tomato Ketchup

1

-1

-1

 

Kombu

1

1

1

 

Lime Pickle

1

-1

-1

 

Mayonnaise

1

-1

-1

 

Mustard

1

-1

-1

 

Pickles

1

-1

-1

 

Scallions

1

-1

1

 

Seaweed

1

-1

-1

 

Tamari

1

-1

-1

 

Vinegar

1

-1

-1

 

Mustard no vinegar

1

-1

1

 

Salt

1

1

1

 

Mustard

-1

-1

-1

Miscellaneous

 

Soya sauce

1

1

1

 

Marmite

1

1

1

 

Seaweed

1

-1

-1

 

Deep fried

1

1

1

 

Chinese fungus

1

1

1

Meat

 

Beef

1

-1

-1

 

Chicken dark

1

-1

-1

 

Duck

1

-1

-1

 

Lamb

-1

-1

-1

 

Pork

-1

-1

-1

 

Turkey dark

1

-1

-1

 

Veal

1

1

1

 

Chicken white

-1

1

1

 

Rabbit

-1

1

1

 

Venison

-1

1

1

 

Turkey white

-1

1

1

 

Buffalo

1

1

-1

Fish

 

Cod

1

1

1

 

Halibut

-1

1

-1

 

Herring

1

-1

1

 

Plaice

1

-1

1

 

Salmon

1

-1

-1

 

Sardine

1

-1

-1

 

Sole

-1

1

1

 

Trout

1

1

-1

 

Tuna

1

-1

-1

 

A Freshwater

1

1

1

 

A Sea

1

-1

-1

Seafood

 

Lobster

1

1

1

 

Oysters

-1

-1

1

 

Mussels

1

1

-1

 

A General

1

-1

-1

 

Shrimp

1

1

1

 


Shyam has been practicing yoga for 47 years and teaching it for 32 years. Shyam is with The Loving Heart Centre and you may visit his website at
http://www.lovingheartcentre.net

 

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