Ayurveda as a system of medicine advocates a preventative approach to assessing ones’ own health.
Thus an Ayurvedic assessment begins with the assessment of Prakriti, the body type of an individual.
This means that an Ayurvedic approach to treatment or to the prevention of disease is unique to a single
individual. This may be by happenstance be known as genetics or as the ancient yogis pointed out
Prakriti – your body type.
Now the dos and don’ts of the daily lifestyle (Dincharya) and seasonal lifestyle (Ritucharya) may then be
guided according to your Prakriti. Diseases may be diagnosed or treated according to your Prakriti; yoga
poses may be prescribed according to what suits your body type and the same goes for food. Certain
foods can be consumed by certain body types at certain seasons and certain food may not be. The
combination thus formed is innumerable and thus an individual chooses a lifestyle that suits the body
type, palate,
A general guideline was posted in the first pages of Ayurveda, on what taste of food increases which
dosha and this guideline may then be followed to delineate the dietary dos and don’ts.
| Dosha (Prakriti) | Increased by (Taste) – Try to avoid | Pacified by (Taste) – Eats |
| Vata | Hot, Bitter, Astringent | Sweet, Sour, Salty |
| Pitta | Hot, Sour, Salty | Astringent, Sweet, Bitter |
| Kapha | Sweet, Sour, Salty | Hot, Bitter, Astringent |
Now which body type you are or which type of food you should eat depends on a self-assessment. Here
are few questions:
Are you more: Cold or Hot? Dry or Oily? Light or Heavy? Mobile or Static? Clear or Sticky? Rough or
Smooth?
Or you can get full Prakriti assessed. A detailed questionnaire can found at Nepal Yoga Home website.
Now the answer to these might be subjective
assessor of self, a benefactor or liability to self.
In order to maintain health, you have to recognize your own qualities, body type and know what works
for you. If you are dry (Vata people) adding in more dry food aggravates your Vata. This results in the dry
and parched skin along with conditions like constipation. So a drier food type is better suited for people
who are oily (Kapha people) as they are more able to process these food types and the body is suited
more towards consuming those type of food.
To balance each of the attributes there are specifics you should follow, this helps in defining your health.
Better health means a happier life.
| Vata (attributes) |
Food type | Pitta (attributes) |
Food type | Kapha (attributes) |
Food type |
| Cold | Warming food | Hot | Cooling, Refreshing food |
Cold | Warming food |
| Dry | Oily food | Oily | Drying, Astringent |
Oily | Drying, Astringent |
| Mobile | Heavy food | Mobile | Heavy food | Dense | Light and stimulating food |
| Rough | Creamy and soft food |
Sharp | Smooth food | Soft | Fibrous and rough |
Also, the way of cooking food should depend on your body type.
| Vata | Moist cooking, Boiling, Steaming |
| Pitta | Sauté, Steam |
| Kapha | Dry, Grill, Roast, Bake |
If you’re confused about what to eat, choose foods good for the Dosha where your imbalance lies. For
example, if you’re cold and bloated, go for the Vata guidelines. If you’re hot and acidic, go for the Pitta
guidelines. If you’re overweight and heavy, go for the Kapha guidelines. This approach to health and diet
is a good method for keeping your dosha in check and promoting