Your Dominant Ayurvedic Dosha

Discovering which Ayurvedic dosha is more dominant in you is not an easy feat. However, we are here to help you made the closest guess possible.

Quick Recap: What is an Ayurvedic Dosha?

If you have not yet read our Crash Course of Ayurveda, then you might not know what a dosha actually is. Let me enlighten you. They are metabolic types. According to the Ayurveda teachings, there are three kinds of doshas living in every person, they are kind of like the five elements. In fact, the concept is easy. Each human has one or two doshas that are more leading. These are the ones that you will base your diet on.

They also determine your physical, mental and emotional essence. You’ll find that because of your dosha, you might be able to tolerate some things that others do not, or the other way around. This is completely normal. If you live according to what is recommended for your dosha, you’ll be healthy and well-balanced. On the flip side, if you defer too much from the recommendations, you might be more prone to sickness. It is all about the balance of food, exercise and lifestyle. And yes, yoga exercises are definitely included in this list!

The Vata Dosha

This one is said to be the combination of space and air. The people who are predominantly Vata Dosha are usually skinnier when it comes to body type. Furthermore, they are creative people, who are also moody and impulsive. They like to express themselves and can get very enthusiastic. Some attributes: dry, cold, rough, light. This dosha is associated most with the pelvis, bones, ears, large intestines, skin and thighs.

Some foods to eat:

Sweet fruits: apricot, avocado, melons, cherries, mango, orange etc.
Cooked veggies: asparagus, beets, cabbage, garlic, onions, peas, potatoes, pumpkin etc.
Meat: beef, buffalo, duck, chicken, shrimp, tuna, salmon, sardines etc.

Foods to avoid:

Mostly dry fruits: Dry dates and figs, pears, Cranberries, Watermelon etc.
Raw veggies: broccoli, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, peas, tomatoes etc.
Meat: lamb, pork, rabbit, venison, turkey etc.

The Pitta Dosha

A healthy combo of fire and water, the Pitta Dosha is probably right in the middle. These type of people are more medium in build, they have no problems with their weight. Consequently, they have a stable amount of kilos, the yo-yo effect for them is practically nonexistent. (Aren’t some people lucky?) Their proportions are close to perfection, with nothing too big or too small. Everything is in its right place. They are often characterised as highly intelligent and happy, with a lot of drive. Some of their aspects include hot, liquid, sharp and ever-moving. This dosha is attributed with the stomach, the small intestine, the blood, the eyes and the skin.

Some foods to eat:

Sweet fruits (similarly to the Vata dosha type): coconut, avocado, melon, plums, orange etc.
Sweet and bitter veggies: asparagus, celery, cilantro, cucumber, mushrooms, lettuce etc.
Meat: buffalo, chicken, shrimp, rabbit, turkey, venison, fish (freshwater) etc.

Foods to avoid:

Sour fruits: apples, grapefruit, kiwi, lemons, rhubarb etc.
Pungent veggies: raw beets, green olives, mustard greens, hot peppers, tomatoes, turnips etc.
Meat: beef, duck, lamb, pork, sardines, tuna, fish (seawater) etc.

The Kapha Dosha

Our final dosha is the Kapha dosha. A mix of water and earth, people of this type are described as more heavy and strong. Also, they have to pay attention to their weight, because if not, they gain kilos fast. When it comes to personality, Kaphas are more prone to be calm, sometimes even downright solemn. They are said to be incredibly loving people. They are best portrayed with the following phrases: heavy, moist, static and soft. Their attributes include the chest, the spinal fluids and the lungs.

Some foods to eat:

Astringent fruits: berries, cherries, grapes, cranberries, figs, raisins, prunes etc.
Pungent and bitter veggies: cauliflower, corn, turnips, broccoli, carrots, eggplant etc.
Meat: fish (freshwater), chicken, rabbit, shrimp, turkey, venison etc.

Foods to avoid:

Sweet and sour fruits: avocado, bananas, coconut, dates, grapefruit, kiwi, mangoes etc.
Sweet and juicy veggies: cucumber, black or green olives, sweet potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, zucchini etc.
Meat: beef, buffalo, duck, fish (seawater), sardines, tuna etc.

So, now that you know all this info, why not try changing your eating habits, see what happens? If you do decide to attempt and give it a go, share you experience with us! We’d love to hear it.

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