Worry, constipation or insomnia? Ayurvedic tools for a vata imbalance
The Vata Dosha
Vata dominant people in balance are creative, imaginative, innovative, playful, sensitive, intuitive, healing, empathic, sometimes spiritual. Combining space and air, the vata dosha can also be drying, spacey, restless, ungrounded.
Signs of a vata imbalance include
Mood swings
Dry skin or mucous membranes
Constipation
Insomnia
Worry
Reduced libido
Balancing foods for vata
Vata people thrive on moist, oily and unctuous foods as they pacify the dryness of vata.
Healthy oils and fats are key for vata. Ghee, sesame oil and olive oil and avocados are great options for vata balancing.
The oily and heavy quality of nuts makes them an excellent source of fat for nourishing vata types.
Cold foods, including frozen items, iced or carbonated drinks, foods straight out of the fridge, sandwiches and sushi can be aggravating to vata. If digestion is disturbed, then those raw fruits and vegetables can lead to bloating and gas.
Warming foods are best for vata. It is best to have vegetables lightly cooked, baked or steamed and eaten while hot, rather than consuming raw vegetables and salads.
Warming spices help to balance the coldness of vata and stimulate digestion and include ginger, garlic, asafoetida and black pepper. Excessively pungent spices that can be drying for vata.
Stimulate warmth in the body by drinking plenty of warm water and herbal teas, such as ginger, lemon, cardamom, tulsi (holy basil) or fennel.
Vata types do well with foods that are well cooked and moist in nature, while they should limit their intake of dry foods, such as dry crackers, dried fruits, popcorn, and so on.
As dry foods are not great for vata, avoid cold raw salads and go for a cooked salad with roasted vegetables.
Avoid raw vegetables except occasionally in small amounts.
Though beans are a good source of protein, they can be gassy and airy and can often be a challenge for vata types to digest. Soaking lentils overnight and cooking them with spices such as cumin, ginger, turmeric and asafoetida can help make them more digestible. Mung beans can work for vata.
Organic hormone free dairy products can be nourishing, grounding and pacifying for vata. Milk and ghee are the most beneficial for this dosha type. Vata types can be prone to lactose intolerance, but boiling milk prior to drinking helps remove the milk proteins, making it more digestible. Soft cheeses are better digested by vata types than hard cheeses.
Cooked grains, especially with salt, ghee, ginger and natural sweeteners added to them are grounding and sweet and provide balance to vata. Grains that are dry or puffed can be aggravating to vata, as they have light and dry qualities. Yeasted breads and pastries are best avoided, as they can be gassy.
Meats are heavy and nutrient-rich, so vata types do well to eat moderate amounts of meat. Favour organic chicken and turkey over beef, lamb, pork, and other red meats.
Juiced vegetables, in moderation and balanced with ginger, can also be easier to digest for vata types.
Vata types don’t always do well with nightshades (tomatoes, aubergines, peppers and potatoes).
Adding lemon to warm water is the best antidote for vata imbalance. To protect your agni (digestive fire), one or two slices of fresh ginger with a pinch of rock salt and lemon juice before meals or yogurt with a pinch of salt taken with your meal.
Avoid carbonated beverages and stimulants such as caffeine, caffeinated beverages, and chocolate.
Other ways to balance Vata
Establish a regular routine, including a regular early bedtime, rising time, and mealtimes.
Sleep and rest are key for vata.
Calm your nerves and soothe dry skin with a self-massage each day with warm oil.
Eat in a settled relaxed and mindful environment. Avoid eating while watching tv, talking on the phone or standing up.
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