Eating For Your Body Type or Dosha

“If I had known about the Elemental Cleanse last year, I would have actually reached my goal weight for my wedding. I would hit the gym 5 days a week, count calories, and eat “healthy.” With the dietary changes I have made during this process, I have watched as those extra stubborn pounds melted away. I continue to look at the scale in disbelief. For me, this weight loss is an added bonus, as my intention for the Cleanse was to develop a deeper spiritual practice. It has truly been an all around life altering experience.” -Alicia

“I now have the tools necessary to make these Ayurvedic practices a part of my everyday life. I can do it all with my own two hands.”

Alicia Sweeney is a Teacher in Training at the Elemental Om

School. She hopes to facilitate the healing of others through yoga,

meditation, and Ayurveda. Find her on Facebook @ Alicia Anne for

inspiration, delicious recipes, and other fun information!

Eating for your Element

• There is nothing you can’t eat.

• It is all about proportional eating for your body’s element or for your body’s balance.

• Like increases Like

• Tastes and colors

RasaRa means “to relish, praise, or taste”

Rasa is the taste associated with secretions in the mouth. The first experience of food is Rasa.

TasteMelody

ExperienceComprehension

InterestEnthusiasmAppreciation

EmotionJuice

PlasmaSemenEssence

• Grounding, builds tissues• Lubricating, calms nerves• Increases Earth element• Increases Ojas• Promotes growth of plasma, blood,

muscles, fat, bones, marrow, and reproductive fluids.

• Gives strength and longevity• Relieves thirst• Improves skin and complexion

Found in:MeatDairyGrainsBreadsPastaFruitsNutsOilsSweetenersStarchy Veggies

Heavy, Moist and Cooling…sensation of love

Sweet or Madhura (madhura means pleasant, charming, beautiful, agreeable)

• Aggravate Kapha• Cause cold, cough, & congestion• Increase heaviness• Loss of appetite• laziness & obesity• Lymphatic congestion• Tumors, edema, & diabetes• Sleepiness & sluggishness• Impaired immunity• Hard on heart, brain, kidneys & pancreas• High cholesterol

Found in:MeatDairyGrainsBreadsPastaFruitsNutsOilsSweetenersStarchy Veggies

IN EXCESS…….Sweet or Madhura

A little bit of treat on occasion is okay

Sour or amla (amla means sour, acidic, and that which easily ferments)

• Stimulates Digestion• Increases salivary secretions• Anti-flatulence• Rajistic• Increases your Fire• Lubricates• Increases the Earth

Citrus FruitsLemonsLimesGrapefruitGreen grapesTomatoesYogurtSour CreamCheesePickleVinegarAlcohol

Take a small amount of apple cider

vinegar daily

Hot, light & moistCauses giddiness, anger & impatience

IN Excess….Sour or amla

• Sensitive teeth• Excessive thirst• Hyperacidity• Heartburn• Acid indigestion• Gastritis• Ulcerative colitis• Ulcers• Dermatitis• Acne• Rashes• Eczema• Boils• Psoriasis

Citrus FruitsLemonsLimesGrapefruitGreen grapesTomatoesYogurtSour CreamCheesePickleVinegarAlcohol

Salty or lavana

• Stimulates Digestion• Laxative• Stimulate Salivation• Aids absorption• Rajistic• Increases Fire• Lubricates• Increases the Earth

Found in:Table SaltSea SaltRock SaltSea weedTamariSaucesSeafoodMeat

Hot, Heavy & Moist

Mineral Rock Salt

is preferred

IN EXCESS….Salty or lavana• Sodium retention• Aggravates fire and earth• Thickens blood• High Blood Pressure (HBP)• Water retention• Edema & swelling• Fainting• Wrinkles• Ulcers• Bleeding • Hyperacidity• Hair loss• vomiting

Found in:Table SaltSea SaltRock SaltSea weedTamariSaucesSeafoodMeat

Hot, Heavy & Moist

Salt is addictive

to the mind

craving a sharper mind.

Spicy (Pungent) or Katu

• Stimulates Digestion• Rajistic• Increases Fire (Agni)• Creates Lightness• Increases the Wind• Aids circulation• Breaks up clots• Removes fat from the body• Blood thinner• Antispasmodic• Anti-parasitic

Found in:Spicy SpicesHot PeppersGingerCayenne pepperChili pepperBlack pepperMustardOnionRadishgarlic

Hot, Dry & Light

IN Excess…Spicy (Pungent) or Katu

• Kill sperm and ova• Sexual debility• Burning• Choking• Fainting• Hiccoughs• Fatigue with thirst• Diarrhea• Heartburn• Nausea

• Tremors• Insomnia• Muscle pain• Peptic ulcers • Colitis

Found IN:Spicy SpicesHot PeppersGingerCayenne pepperChili pepperBlack pepperMustardOnionRadishgarlic

Hot, Dry & Light

Bitter or Tikta• Creates Lightness, cooling and

dry• Increases the Wind• Detoxifies• Anti-toxic killing germs• Relieve burning sensations• Relive itching• Relieve skin disorders• Anti-inflammatory• Fear reducing• Laxative• Cleansing to liver• Relieves gas• Reduces fat• Great for the pancreas (high

blood sugar)

Found in:Bitter melonTurmeric RootDandelion rootAloe veraFenugreekSandalwoodNeemCoffee & TeaLittle bit of bitter in most veggies.

Astringent or Kashaya

• A Sensation• Increases Lightness• Increases the Wind• Dry, cooling and heavy• Diarrhea• Anti-inflammatory• Decongestant• Heals ulcers

Unripe bananaPomegranateChickpeasGreen beansOkraTurmericMost Raw Veggies

Anxiety, fear and worry

IN EXCESS…Astringent or Kashaya

• Spasms• Griping sensations in the

intestines• Constipation• Coagulation and clotting• Dryness in mouth• Difficulty in speech• Distention• emaciation

Unripe bananaPomegranateChickpeasGreen beansOkraTurmericMost Raw Veggies

Anxiety, fear and worry

The Wind in your Body

EMBRACE• Astringent• Bitter• Spicy• Cool, light, dry

Leafy greens, beans, spicy spices, raw food, cold food and drink, dried fruit

AVOID• Sweet• Sour• Salty• Warm, oily, heavy

Meat (3 servings/week), dairy, grains, pasta, soup, hot drinks, rice (with oil & ghee), heavy & dense fruit (eaten separate)

Ground the energy of your food by cooking, adding oil, ghee, and a

little bit of salt

The Wind (Vata) Why??

EMBRACE• Dried Fruits• Cranberries• Pomegranate• Pears

AVOID• Bananas• Avocados• Coconut• Dates

HeavyDenseMoistSweet

AstringentLightCool

The Wind Why??

EMBRACE• Frozen & Dried• Raw Veggies• Broccoli• Lettuce

AVOID• Cooked Veggies• Squash• Olives• Potato

The Fire in your Body

EMBRACE• Spicy• Salty• Sour• Warm, oily, heavy

Smaller Portions:Spicy spices, salt,

condiments, citrus fruits, tomatoes, yogurt, alcohol, caffeine, fried food, red meat, excess oil, garlic

AVOID• Sweet• Bitter• Astringent• Cool, liquids

Larger Portions:Grains, beans, pasta,

fruit, leafy greens, veggies, milk, cottage cheese (soft cheese)

Cumin, coriander, saffron, dill, fennel, mint, parsley, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric…..these are all COOLING spices.

The Fire Why????

EMBRACE• Lemons• Limes• Cherries• Kiwi

AVOID• Berries• Coconut• Mango• Plums

)

Sour

The Fire Why????

EMBRACE• Beets’• Carrots• Garlic• Leeks• Onions

AVOID• Asparagus• Brussels Sprouts• Cabbage• Cauliflower

HOT

The Earth in your Body

EMBRACE• Sweet• Sour• Salt• Oily, heavy, liquids

• AVOID: DAIRY & MEAT

Smaller Portions:Meat, grains, fruits, yogurt,

dairy, salt, fermented, fat, fried foods, sweets, iced foods

AVOID• Bitter• Astringent• Spicy• Light, dry, warm

Larger Portions:Beans, leafy greens,

veggies, spice

The Earth Why?????

EMBRACE• Avocado• Bananas• Coconut• Figs

AVOID• Apples• Berries• Cranberries• Pomegranate

The Earth Why?????

EMBRACE• Squash• Olives• Potatoes• Pumpkin

AVOID• Asparagus• Greens• Leeks• Peppers• Peas

Getting enough fat

• Saturated fats are found in meat & dairy. Saturated fats increase cholesterol and raise the risk of heart disease and cancer.

• Unsaturated fats :Monounsaturated found in nuts, avocados and olive oil & Polyunsaturated found in fish and vegetable oils. These fats are good for you and provide omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that the body cannot make on its own. Essential for controlling many functions in the body and are good for you.

• Trans fats are artificially produced and the worst fats. They are found in hydrogenated vegetable oils and margarine including reduced -fat spreads. They are thought to cause cancer. Do not eat them.

Meat as a source of protein

Pros: Meat contains “complete” proteins and is therefore easier to absorb than the “incomplete” proteins found in nonmeat sources. A "complete" protein is a protein that contains the necessary amino acids to break down the protein source to facilitate absorption in the body.

• Cons: Along with absorption of protein, you are also absorbing fat. Meat is hard to digest and slows Agni (digestive fire)

As a nation we are

overconsuming protein

Meat by DoshaVata

Beef (sometimes)Chicken (white)Turkey (white)

EggsAll Fish

PittaChicken (white)Turkey (White)

Egg WhitesFreshwater Fish

Rabbit

KaphaChicken (dark)Turkey (dark)

Eggs (no frying or scrambling with fat)

Rabbit

OrganicHealtyHappy

AnimalsHumaneEAT LESS

LOVE MORE

Non Meat Sources of ProteinExamples: vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts, fruits, whole grains and dairy including cheese, milk and yogurt

• Pros: Is there anything bad to say about whole wheat products and veggies? Easy to digest, contains tons of other nutrients!

• Cons: You must eat a variety of nonmeat sources to create a “complete” protein. This requires thought and planning. Luckily, your combining of proteins need not take place all in the same meal, but throughout the day.

WATER

Room temperatureDrink for your element

Vata = 7 – 8 servings

Pitta = 6 – 7Kapha = 4 -

6

Vata (The Wind) imbalance• Anguished or anxious• Nervousness• Causeless fear• Fear of the unknown• Insomnia• Tingling• Numbness• Muscle twitching• Nervous twitching• Cold hands and feet• Unclear perception and dizziness• Rigidity in muscles OR flaccidity• Poor coordination• Schizophrenia• Hallucinations (auditory or olfactory)• Hyperactivity• Nightmares• Indecision• insecurity

Functions of VataMovementMaintains lifeCommunicationGoverns the mind, sensory perception, motor functionMovement of thoughts, feelings, and nerve impulsesBreathingHeart FunctionCirculation

IngestionAssimilation and absorptionElimination of waste including menstruationOrgasmCellular divisionHearingTouchClarityCreativityJoy

Balanced…Happiness

JoyCreativityFlexibility

Balanced…knowledge,

comprehension, appreciation, right

judgment, recognition, total

understanding

The Fire or Pitta Imbalance• Burning hands and feet• Inflammation of the nerves (pain in nerves)• Sciatica• Shingles• Mononucleosis• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome• Epstein Barr• AIDS• Cerebral hemorrhage• Hypertension• Stroke• Sickle Cell Anemia• Wrong judgment• Prejudice• Manipulation• Anger• Hate• Envy• Chemical depression and suicidal thoughts

Functions:MetabolismDigestion, absorption, assimilation of foodBody temperatureAppetiteThirstTasteColorLuster of yes, hair, skin, bodySensitivity in bodyIntelligence, understanding, comprehension, knowledge, CourageAmbitionTransformationVision perception

Kapha or The Earth Imbalance

• Respiratory illness• Colds with deep cough• Flu• Asthma• Bronchitis• Swollen glands• Obesity• Diabetes• Depression• Cysts• Arthritis• Cancer• Cataracts

Functions:LubricationNourishmentSupport & StabilityGroundednessGrowthGaseous exchange in lungsGastric secretionsWater electrolyte balanceFat regulationStrength & StaminaEnergySleepRepair and regenerationMemory RetentionContentmentForgivenessCompassionTaste PerceptionSmell