Where there is space, air begins to move, and the compound qualities of space and air manifest as cold, light, dry, rough, mobile, erratic, and clear.
Think of vata as the currents of the body. The body knows the food goes in the mouth, then down and out. It is vata that ushers it along. There is nothing problematic about the qualities of space and air or their function. However, if a body has accumulated too many of these qualities, certain aspects can get out of balance. For instance, the fall season is windy, dry, and cold, so the body gets this way after a little while (unless, of course, one is taking care to keep warm, eat warming, moist foods, and drink warm water). Too many vata qualities can result in signs of imbalance, such as gas and constipation, increasingly dry skin, and anxiety.
HEALTHY VATA ENSURES THAT THE BODY HAS • Consistent elimination • Free breathing • Good circulation • Keen senses
TOO MANY VATA QUALITIES MIGHT CAUSE • Gas and constipation • Constricted breathing • Cold hands and feet • Anxiety, feeling overwhelmed
People with a Vata dosha should eat small, regular meals and avoid combining too many different foods. Allowing sufficient time to eat and chewing carefully will ensure that pre-existing digestive enzymes in the saliva are released, making food easier to digest.
Important for Vata types: drink regularly and in plentiful quantities. Also important: warm drinks. Meals should also be predominantly warm and vegetables should generally be cooked, because sweet and warming dishes help subdue Vata.
The Vata type should avoid stimulating drinks. This includes cola, coffee and black tea. This is because they stimulate the human nervous system too much. Carbonated beverages should be avoided as far as possible too.
FOODS TO BALANCE VATA:
ALL FOODS WITH THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES:
warm, oily, static, slimy, hot, slow, soft, liquid are suitable for Vata types because they
combat the air characteristics.
FRUITS
Sweet fruits such as bananas, coconut, apples, figs, grapefruit, grapes, mangos, melons, oranges, papayas, peaches, pineapples, plums, berries, cherries, apricots, avocado
VEGETABLES
Vegetables should always be well cooked and eaten warm. Green beans, carrots, okra, beetroot, celeriac, asparagus, sweet potatoes
GRAINS
Oats, rice, wheat
MEAT
eggs, fish, seafood, chicken and other white meat
MILK PRODUCTS
Ghee, milk, , yoghurt
SPICES & HERBS
Pungent spices, such as pepper, chilli, allspice and turmeric, only in small quantities, otherwise all spices can be consumed.
DRINKS
Drink plenty and focus on warm drinks. Herbal and spiced teas are particularly appropriate.
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