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YOUR MEDICINE IS IN YOUR PLATE
Eating foods that possess these same characteristics of fire (hot, spreading, oily, sharp, light, and liquid) lead to a further increase and imbalance in fire humor levels, which results in more further fire energy (Pitta dosha) related symptoms and their respective severity.
The goal of a fire-pacifying lifestyle is to reduce your fire energy levels doing things that possess opposite qualities to fire humor : including more coolness, heaviness, dryness, and grounding in your daily living.
Stick to your Ayurveda doctor’s recommendations in case of any discrepancies as they address your immediate balance requirements.
FAVOR
Cool, heavy, grounding, drying foods
PREFERRED TASTES
Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes in everything you eat and drink
Reduce spicy, salty, and sour tastes or avoid completely if possible
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO BALANCE FIRE THROUGH FOOD
SALADS & RAW FRUITS LIKE APPLES
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Usually light by nature, so eating more of these will increase your Pitta levels and related discomforts like agitation, acidity, and inflammations
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Reduce or avoid completely in your daily diet
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Apply heavy and oily garnish like ghee or coconut oil
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Always cook or steam and add turmeric and fresh grated ginger to aid digestion
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Switch them to heavier foods like cooked carrots or beetroots
COFFEE, CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL & STIMULANTS
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Drying by nature and increase your body heat, so will always increase your fire energy levels and symptoms like anger, skin disorders, and sweating
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Gradually moderate and reduce their consumption. Avoid completely in your daily diet
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Keep consumption for social activities and occasions, not in your house
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Add milk to your coffee and tea always: latte over americano
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Have coffee after meals or dates - never on empty stomach
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Switch coffee to better alternatives: green tea with cardamom
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Replace with healthier drinks and snacks like coriander water or cooked bananas
GENERAL DIET RECOMMENDATIONS
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Boil coriander seeds (1 large spoon with 1 liter) for 5 minutes, let sit for 5, strain, and drink first thing in the morning (before any water), throughout the day and along with meals.
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Establish meal regularity and have perfectly timed meals - eat at the same time everyday.
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Best diet structure is to have 3 main meals and 2 snacks in between (to keep your fire busy with something rather than burning you from the inside).
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Do not fast – fasting disturbs and aggravates the fire within you
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Make sure you address acidity, inflammations and skin problems as soon as they arise by eating more alkaline, cooling things (turmeric, cucumber juice, spinach, dates) and less heat-inducing, acidic foods (tahini, spicy foods, condiments, pickles, vinegar, soda, and breads.).
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Always soak your beans and lentils overnight before cooking.
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Eat more pre-soaked and cooked vegetarian proteins (lentils, chickpeas…) along with steamed salads and vegetables.
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Eat salads or marinated meats (olive oil, garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, black pepper) alone as a meal for lunch time only.
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Always favor freshly cooked meals over cold or reheated or packaged meals.
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Add cooling alkaline spices always to your cooking, garnish and meals like coriander seeds, cardamom, and dry mint.
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Incorporate turmeric into your meals regularly, as it is an excellent anti-inflammatory.
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Use ghee and coconut oil as your primary cooking oils.
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Favor warm water and drinks always. Reduce iced and cold drinks to a minimum.
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Reduce coffee, black and green tea and drink more cooling and calming teas like chamomile, rose, mint, cardamom and valerian.
FOOD ITEMS TO PREFER OR AVOID
VEGETABLES
Favor: Cooked Better Always - Avocado, Artichoke, Asparagus, Beets (cooked), Bell Peppers, Bitter Melon, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock Root, Cabbage, Carrots (cooked), Cauliflower, Celery, Cilantro, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Dandelion Greens, Green Beans, Kale, Leafy Greens, Leeks (cooked), Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Olives (black), Onions (cooked), Parsley, Parsnips, Peas, Peppers (sweet), Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radishes (cooked), Rutabaga, Squash, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Watercress, Wheat Grass, Zucchini
Avoid and Reduce: Beets (raw), Corn (fresh), Eggplant, Garlic, Green Chilies, Horseradish, Leeks (raw), Mustard Greens, Green Olives, Onions (raw), Peppers (hot), Radishes (raw), Tomatoes, Turnips
FRUITS
Favor: Apples (sweet), Apricots (sweet), Berries (sweet), Cherries (sweet), Coconut, Dates, Figs, Grapes (red, purple, black), Limes, Mangos (ripe), Melons, Oranges (sweet), Papaya, Pears, Pineapple (sweet), Plums (sweet), Pomegranates, Prunes, Raisins, Strawberries, Watermelon
Avoid and Reduce: Apples (sour), Apricots (sour), Bananas, Berries (sour), Cherries (sour), Cranberries, Grapefruit, Grapes (green), Kiwi, Lemons, Mangos (green), Oranges (sour), Peaches, Persimmons, Pineapple (sour), Plums (sour), Tamarind
OILS
Favor: Coconut Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Ghee, Primrose Oil, Sunflower Oil, Soy Oil, Walnut Oil
Avoid and Reduce: Almond Oil, Olive Oil, Apricot Oil, Corn Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Oil
GRAINS
Favor: Amaranth, Barley, Cereal (dry), Couscous, Crackers, Durham Flour, Granola, Oat Bran, Oats, Pancakes, Pasta, Quinoa, Rice (basmati, white, wild), Rice Cakes, Spelt, Sprouted Wheat Bread, Tapioca, Wheat, Wheat Brans
Avoid and Reduce: Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Muesli, Brown Rice, Rye, Yeasted Bread
LEGUMES
Favor: Adzuki Beans, Black Beans, Black-Eyed Peas, Chickpeas, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans, Mung Beans, Mung Dal, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Soy Beans, Soy Cheese, Soy Flour, Soy Milk, Soy Powder, Tempeh, Tofu, White Beans
Avoid and Reduce: Miso, Soy Meats, Soy Sauce, Urad Dal
NUTS & SEEDS
Favor: Almonds (soaked and peeled), Charoli Nuts, Coconut, Flax Seeds, Halva, Popcorn (buttered, without salt), Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds
Avoid and Reduce: Almonds (with skin), Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Chia Seeds, Filberts, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Sesame Seeds, Tahini, Walnut
ANIMAL PRODUCTS & DRINKS
Favor: White Fish, Lamb, Freshwater Fish, Fresh Sardines, Herrings, Anchovies, Turkey, Ghee, Butter (unsalted), Cheese (soft, unsalted, not aged), Cottage Cheese, Cow’s Milk, Goat’s Milk, Goat’s Cheese (soft, unsalted), Ice Cream
Avoid and Reduce: Beef, Chicken, Duck, Eggs (yolk), Fish (saltwater), Pork, Salmon, Sardines, Seafood, Tuna Fish, Turkey, (Salted Butter, Yogurt, Hard Cheese, Sour Cream
SPICES
Favor: Basil (fresh), Black Pepper (small amounts), Cardamom, Cinnamon (small amounts), Coriander (seeds or powder), Cumin (seeds or powder), Dill, Fennel, Ginger (fresh), Mint, Neem Leaves, Orange Peel, Parsley, Peppermint, Saffron, Spearmint, Tarragon, Turmeric, Vanilla, Wintergreen
Avoid and Reduce: Ajwain, Allspice, Anise, Basil (dry), Bay Leaf, Caraway, Cayenne, Cloves, Fenugreek, Garlic, Dry Ginger, , Hing (Asafoetida), Mace, Marjoram, Mustard Seeds, Nutmeg, Oregano, Paprika, Poppy Seeds, Rosemary, Sage, Salt, Thyme
SWEETENER
Favor: Date Sugar or Molasses, Maple Syrup, Natural Stevia Leaves
Avoid and Reduce: Honey, Jaggary, Molasses, White Sugar
Need more help with starting a Fire-Energy Balancing Diet and Lifestyle?
Book an online Ayurveda consultation with one of our specialist doctors in India to properly diagnose your mind-body type and natural healing needs and design a plan that works for your specific health circumstances.