Kapha

Kapha dosha originates from water. Kapha provides nutrition to the body and regulates the other two doshas, pitta and vayu.

Kapha makes the organs of the body moist and lubricates joints, increases strength, enthusiasm, heals wounds, strengthens the immunity, provides energy, promotions patience, knowledge and wisdom, regulates mental balance and also protects the tisues from wear and tear.

Kapha is the primary reason for lethargy and inertia. If kapha decreases, pitta and vayu increases and damage the dhatus, jionts, heart and body parts.

General Description

Kapha types are blessed with strength, endurance and stamina. In balance, they tend to have sweet, loving dispositions and be stable and grounded. Their skin is oily and smooth. Physically, kapha people may gain weight easily and have a slow metabolism. They tend to shun exercise. They have thick skin and their bodies and muscles are well developed. Their eyes are large and attractive with thick, long lashes and brows. Kaphapeople evacuate slowly and feces tend to be soft, pale and oily. Perspiration is moderate. Sleep is deep and prolonged. Kapha types are attracted to sweet, salty and oily foods, but their constitutions are most balanced by bitter, astringent and pungent tastes.

General guidelines for balancing kapha

• Get plenty of exercise
• Avoid heavy foods Keep active
• Avoid dairy
• Avoid iced food or drinks
• Vary your routine
• Avoid fatty, oily foods
• Eat light, dry food No daytime naps

Foods to be favoured

• Food which are light, hot, dry, pungent in properties are beneficial to Kapha Prakriti.

• Cereals such barley, corn
• Pulses such as masur, horse gram, green gram.
• Oil such as mustard oil, sesame oil.
• Vegetables such as bitter gourd, drumstick, snake gourd, onions.
• Fruits such as pomegranates, lemon, apricots, amra (mango), almonds, walnut, apples,pear, water chestnut, water melon
• Spices such as dry ginger, black cumin seeds, garlic, pepper.
• Old wine and substances such as honey.

Foods to be reduced

• Food which are sweet, cold, heavy in property are not beneficial to Kapha Prakriti.

• Cereals such as fresh rice.
• Pulses such as black gram.
• Buffalo’s milk, curd, ghee, butter.
• Oils from animal fat.
• Vegetables such as sweet potato, cabbage, yam, Indian spinach
• Fruits such as banana, guava, grapes, coconut, jackfruit.
• Mutton, egg, freshwater fish.
• Sugarcane juice, jaggery.
• Freshly prepared beverages.
• Spices such as coriander.