For Air Energy (Vata Dosha) Balancing Lifestyle, click here.
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YOUR MEDICINE IS IN YOUR PLATE
Eating things that possess these same qualities of air mix (cold, rough, dry, moving) lead to a further increase and imbalance in air energy levels, which results in more further air nature (Vata dosha) related symptoms and their respective severity.
The goal of a Air-pacifying diet and lifestyle is to reduce your air energy levels by eating and doing things that possess opposite qualities to air energy: including more grounding, warm/hot temperature, heaviness, moist and oily, and smoothness in your daily living.
Stick to your Ayurveda doctor’s recommendations in case of any discrepancies as they address your immediate balance requirements.
FAVOR
Warm, moist, oily, smooth, grounding, nourishing and stabilizing
PREFERRED TASTES
Sweet, sour and salty tastes in everything you eat and drink
Reduce spicy, bitter and astringent tastes or avoid completely if possible
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO BALANCE AIR ENERGY THROUGH FOOD
SALADS, SPINACH, AND BROCCOLI
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Light and have a cooling and drying effect to your body by nature, so eating more of these will increase your Vata levels and related discomforts like stress, insomnia, constipation, joint pain or fatigue
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Reduce or avoid completely in your daily diet
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Apply heavy and oily garnish like with ghee or sesame oil or sunflower and pumpkin seeds
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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, oily foods like avocado or cooked carrots or beetroots
COFFEE, CHIPS, ICE CREAM, AND POPCORN
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Drying by nature (ever wondered why you usually drink water after enjoying them?) so will always increase your air energy levels and symptoms like back pain, restlessness, bloating or anxiety
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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 cinnamon or cardamom
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Replace with healthier snacks like cooked apple with cinnamon
GENERAL DIET RECOMMENDATIONS
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Move towards eating freshly cooked, warm meals within a regular diet plan and less raw, processed, and cold foods and random snacking
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Boil cumin 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 - eat at the same time everyday
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Eat more frequent, smaller meals and snacks (4-6 times per day)
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Make sure you address constipation as soon as it arises through eating more moisturizing foods (soups, purees) and staying away from drying ones (chips, biscuits, popcorn, raw vegetables, salads)
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Eat less light, hard to digest foods (salads, sandwiches) and more heavy, easy to digest foods (soups, steamed and cooked vegetables)
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Always favor freshly cooked warming meals over cold or reheated or packaged meals
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Add warming spices always to your cooking, garnish and meals
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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 calming teas like chamomile, rose, mint, and valerian
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Always soak your beans and lentils overnight before cooking
FOOD ITEMS TO PREFER OR AVOID
VEGETABLES
Favor - Cooked Always better: Asparagus, Avocado, Beets, Cooked Carrots, Cilantro,, Garlic, Green Beans, Green Chilies, Leeks, Mustard Greens, Okra, Black Olives, Onions, Peas, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Watercress, Zucchini
Avoid and Reduce: Artichokes, Beetroot, Bitter Melon, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Raw Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Fresh Corn, Dandelion Greens, Eggplant, Kale, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Green Olives, Raw Onions, Raw Peas, Hot Peppers, White Potatoes, Radishes, Raw Spinach, Sprouts, Tomatoes, Turnips
FRUITS
Favor: Cooked Apples (not fresh), Apricots, Ripe Bananas (not green), Berries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cooked Dates, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwi, Lemon, Lime, Mango, Melons, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Pineapple, Plums, Prunes (cooked), Raisins (cooked or soaked only),Tamarind
Avoid: Fresh Apples, Green Bananas, Cranberries, Dry Dates, Dried Fruits, Dry Figs, Pears, Pomegranate, Watermelon
OILS
Favor: Almond Oil, Corn Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Ghee, Sunflower Oil
Avoid: Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Primrose Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Soy Oil, Walnut Oil
GRAINS
Favor: Avocado, Castor, Ghee, Mustard Oil, Olive Oil, Peanut Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Oil, Sunflower Oil
Avoid: Canola, Corn, Flaxseed, Soy
LEGUMES
Favor: Amaranth, Durham Flour, Cooked Oats, Pancakes, Quinoa, Rice (all types), Seitan, Sprouted Wheat Bread, Wheat
Avoid: Barley, Buckwheat, Cereals (cold, dry, or puffed), Corn, Couscous, Crackers, Granola, Millet, Muesli, Oat Bran, Dry Oats, Wheat Pasta, Rice Cakes, Rye, Spelt, Tapioca, Wheat Bran, Yeasted Bread
NUTS & SEEDS
Favor: Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts
Avoid: Popcorn
ANIMAL PRODUCTS & DRINKS
Favor: Beef, Buffalo, Dark Chicken, Duck, Eggs, Fish (fresh and salt water), Salmon, Sardines, Tuna Fish, Dark Turkey, Butter, Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Cow’s milk, Ghee, Goat’s Milk, Ice Cream (in moderation), Yogurt (fresh)
Avoid: Powdered Milk, Lamb, Mutton, Pork, White Turkey
HERBS AND SPICES
Favor: Almost all warming spices: turmeric, dry ginger powder, fenugreek, star anise, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, sage, clove, vanilla, all spice, paprika, black pepper, rosemary, oregano, thyme, rock Himalayan salt, saffron, mustard seeds, fennel, cardamom
Avoid: coriander seeds, mint
SWEETENER
Favor: Barley Malt, Date Sugar, Fructose, Fruit Juice Concentrates, Honey (small quantity), Jaggary, Maple Syrup, Molasses, Rice Syrup
Avoid: White Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners, Heated or Cooked Honey
Need more help with starting an Air-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.