How to Balance Pitta Dosha with Diet and Lifestyle

You must have heard from your elders since childhood that the world is made up of  five elements: these are space/ether (Akasha), air (Vayu), fire (Agni), water (Jal), and earth (Prithivi). These five elements combine to form three doshas --- Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth).

We shall discuss pitta here.

THE TYPES OF PITTA AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

The pitta can become out of order by too much anger, too much temperature, and excessive consumption of alcohol, sugar, and white flour. The result is there is the problem of upset stomachs, heartburn, and diarrhea. Their metabolism becomes hyper acidic and such people are emotionally sensitive.  These all are strong indications of the fact that bio-elements in the internal body have become imbalanced. 

Causes of Pitta Imbalance

               Foods that cause Pitta

·        Excessive use of sour, salty and pungent taste.

·        Oily and fermented foods that are hot and very dry.

·        Foods those are stimulating or acidic.

·        Too much consumption of meat and oily fish.

·        Too much consumption of raw salads, nuts, and seeds.

·        Alcoholic drinks and vinegar.

·        Almost all the dairy products.

Environmental Factors

·        Hot and dry environments.

·        Long exposure to the sun.

·        Eating while angry.

·        Sleeping daytime or lack of sleep.

Diet to Balance Pitta

Pitta can be pacified by consuming fresh, grounding, and carbohydrate-rich foods.  Following foods are recommended to balance pitta in one’s body:

1.     Fruits beneficial to remove pitta from the body: Apples, apricots, berries, cherries, coconut, dates, pear, mango, plums, papaya, pear, figs, watermelon, strawberries, and grapes.

2.     Vegetables beneficial for pitta imbalance: Avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, coriander, peas, radishes, cabbage, pumpkin, sweet potato, spinach, lettuce, okra, leafy vegetables, and mushrooms, etc.

3.     Grains That are Good for Pitta Diet: Barley, oats, granola, wheat, tapioca, wheat bran, couscous, pancakes, etc.

Avoid corn, buckwheat, millet, muesli, rye, yeasted bread, brown rice.

4.     Legumes that Balance Pitta: Legumes like black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, soya beans spilt beans, Moog kii daal and black-eyed peas are very useful to balance pitta. Almost all the legumes help in pacifying pitta because of their astringent nature. However, soy meat, urad dal, soy sauce should be avoided because they have high salt content and can aggravate pitta.

5.     Dairy Products to Balance Pitta: Unsalted butter, milk of cow and goat, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc.

Avoid: Salted butter, buttermilk, frozen yogurt, sour cream, hard cheese, etc.

6.     Nuts and Seeds that Balance Pitta: Nuts and seeds that have high oil content, therefore they should be avoided. But some nuts and seeds can be eaten but in moderation. They can reduce the pitta from the body in a healthy manner. These nuts and seeds are almonds (peeled and soaked), flaxseeds, coconuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and popcorns.

Avoid Cashew nuts, almonds with skin, pine nuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and peanuts.

7.     Meats: In case you are a non-vegetarian then it is a good diet for reducing pitta. The meats of chicken, shrimp, rabbit, fish (freshwater fish), eggs, etc.

Avoid: Egg yolk, duck, pork, salmon, seafood, sardines, lamb, tuna fish and turkey.

8.     Oils: Coconut oil, flaxseed seed, olive oil, sunflower oil, ghee, walnut oil.

Avoid:  Almond oil, sesame oil, corn oil, and apricot oil.

 

Lifestylefor Balancing Pitta

In case pitta is imbalanced the following lifestyle changes can bring it on the track:

·        It is an old saying, ‘lunch like a king’. You should have your good lunch between 12 pm to 2 pm.

·        Do meditation, since it calms the mind and balances out pitta’s fiery.

·        Sporting activities can be very good. However, vigorous exercises should be avoided. Swimming in cool water can be very beneficial for pacifying pitta.

·        Pitta is aggravated during the summer system. Therefore extra care should be taken during the summer season.  Drink and keep yourself hydrated.

·        Avoid going out in the summer during the afternoon time.

·        If you are feeling hot, you should drink a glass of cold water. It will achieve two aims – it cools you down and also pacifies your anger.

In fact, by changing your eating habits and living life according to the pitta balancing can help you live a happy life.