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Health and happiness are the tantalizing dreams of all people. Most people, however, don’t know the routes to realize those dreams and walk into the traps of diseases.

A healthy daily regimen, especially the intake of right food, is the key to a healthy life, minus diseases. Ayurveda says that food is one of the three pillars of health (thrayopasthambha); the other two being sleep and controlled sex. Food has a significant role in pathya and apathya – (dos and don’ts) explained for all types of treatment since food alone can be a causative factor for diseases.

Maintaining the equilibrium of Vata, Pitta and Kapha (tridoshas) is the key to wellness and their imbalance can lead to illness. A diet according to the body constitution will help counter the onset of disease at an early age.

Vata type

People with Vata dosha should include in their daily diet foods that are liquid or unctuous to balance dryness. The three tastes that help balance Vata are sweet, sour and salty. Minimize foods that are pungent, bitter, or astringent. Milk, citrus fruits, dried fruit or salted, toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds make good snacks for these people.

Include more vegetables in diet. Carrots, asparagus, tender leafy greens, beets, sweet potatoes and summer squashes such as zucchini and lauki are the best.

Rice and wheat are the best grain for balancing Vata. Basmati rice is ideal. Cook it with a little salt and ghee for added flavor. Reduce the amount of barley, corn, millet, buckwheat, and rye. Take a hot or herbal tea with snacks in the late afternoon. Avoid drinks with high caffeine as they aggravate Vata. Nuts are Vata-pacifiers. Soak ten almonds overnight. Blanch and eat them early morning for a healthy burst of energy. Walnuts, hazelnuts and cashews are also good. There are many food items that aggravate Vata, such as Bengal gram, green peas, green gram and bitter gourd.

Pitta

The lifestyle recommendation for balancing Pitta is to stay cool both physically and emotionally. For that, have cool food items. Sweet, bitter and astringent are the right tastes for this condition. Milk, sweet rice pudding, coconut and coconut juice, milkshakes made with ripe mangoes and almonds or dates are the best options.

Protect yourself from heat. Stay cool in warm weather by wearing loose cotton clothing. Wear a widebrimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes when you go out.

Include asparagus, tender and bitter greens, bitter gourd, carrots, fennel, peas, green beans, cauliflower, beets and sweet potatoes in your diet.

Drink lassi with lunch. It will help improve digestion and cool the body.

Kapha

The lifestyle recommendation here is to get moving. Physically, do some exercises daily. To improve mental power, learn a new skill, solve some puzzles or take a class.

Protect yourself from damp and cold. Drink lots of warm water infused with warming spices such as turmeric, dried ginger and black pepper.

Vegetable soups with beans and diced vegetables, and stews are good dishes for pacifying Kapha dosha.

In vegetables, try to include more carrots, asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower.

Honey is very good to pacify Kapha. Take a tablespoon or two (not more) of raw honey every day. It will help release excess Kapha. But do not cook with honey.

Favor lighter fruits such as apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, and apricots. And reduce heavier fruits such as bananas, avocados, pineapples, oranges, peaches, coconuts, melons, dates, and figs.

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