'Aahar' or food has been given much importance by Ayurveda as it is the building block of human body. Ayurveda considers that eating food is not enough, proper 'Aahar Pachan' or digestion is also essential for gaining good health. As such, it prescribes foods for every dosha body type- the Vaata type body, Pitta type body, and Kapha type body. Our body constitution or dosha decides about what foods are beneficial for us and what foods should be avoided. One food item that is good for one body type is harmful for another body type.

Diet for Vaata Type Body

Recommended Foods For Vaata Dosha

• Dairy Products : Ghee, milk, little butter.
• Vegetables : Cauliflower, green beans, green chillies, asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, ladies finger, onions and garlic, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips, pumpkin.
• Fruits : Avocades, bananas, coconuts, dates, mangoes, melons, peaches, grapes, plum, figs
• Grains : Oats, White or brown rice and wheat
• Meat : White meat (chicken, fish - baked or broiled), chicken broth
• Spices : Almost all spices and herbs in moderation

Avoidable Foods For Vaata Dosha

• Dairy Products : Cheese, yogurt
• Vegetables : Raw cabbage or cauliflower, celery, brinjal, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peas, peppers (simla mirch) potatoes, sprouts, raw tomatoes, zucchini (tori), raw radish.
• Fruits : Apples, pears, pomegranates, dates, raisins.
• Grains : Barley, corn, millet
• Meat : Turkey, rabbit, pork, lamb
• Spices : Carawas

Diet for Pitta Type Body

Recommended Foods For Pitta Dosha

• Dairy Products : Fresh ghee and un-homogenized milk
• Vegetables : Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, cooked onion, sweet potato, bhindi, cauliflower
• Fruits : Sweet apple, sweet berries, coconuts, dates, avocados, sweet melons, figs, plums, pomegranates
• Grains : Oats, barley, White or brown rice and wheat
• Meat : Baked or broiled chicken, turkey or white fish in moderate amounts.
• Spices : Cumin, coriander and cilantro, black pepper, cardamom, fennel, fresh basil and ginger, turmeric, dill

Avoidable Foods For Pitta Dosha

• Dairy Products : Yogurt, sour cream
• Vegetables : Beet, greens, carrot, garlic, green chillies, onion, peppers, pricklyy pear, radish, spinach, turnip
• Fruits : Sour apples and berries, bananas, strawberries, lemon, peaches, cranberries.
• Grains : Corn, millet
• Meat : Meat, chicken, ducks, eggs, pork, salmon, sardines
• Spices : Ajwain, asafoetida, mace, musturd, garlic

Diet for Kapha Type Body

Recommended Foods For Kapha Dosha

• Dairy Products : Small amount of goat milk, ghee in moderation
• Vegetables : Generally all vegetables are good. Some vegetables should be avoided (mentioned in avoidable foods)
• Fruits : Apples, apricots, pears, pomegranates, dried fruits in general (apricots, figs, prunes, raisins)
• Grains : Barley, muesli, buckwheat, oats, oatbran, small amount of wheat.
• Meat : Fresh water fish, shrimp, rabbit, small amount of white meat.
• Spices : Almost all spices are good. Ginger is best for improving digestion, turmeric for drying out the mucous, and chillies for removing mucous.

Avoidable Foods For Kapha Dosha

• Dairy Products : Milk, clarified butter, cheese
• Vegetables : Cucumber, olives, potato, pumpkin, raw tomato.
• Fruits : All sweet juicy fruits in general, bananas, grapes, mango, coconut, watermelon, melons
• Grains : Bread with yeast, cooked oat, wheat, white rice.
• Meat : Beef, buffalo, chicken, duck.
• Spices : Salt