Balancing Vata Dosha

RECIPES BALANCING VATA DOSHA

BALANCING VATA

Vata is the air principle. It is the wind that keeps life processes in motion, as in the transmission of messages throughout the nervous system. Its basic qualities include being very active, cold in temperature, light in weight, dry and brittle to the touch, and bitter-tasting.

SYMPTOMS OF A VATA IMBALANCE

A vata imbalance is like a wild, windy day. There is a lot of movement going on, a lot of things being blown around. There is also a dryness, like when your lips become chapped by dry, cold air. You may have a vata imbalance if you have been experiencing one or more of the following symptoms for more than just a few days:

1. Excessively dry or chapped skin

2. Constipation or intestinal gas

3. Unwarranted and excessive anxiety, fear or worry

4. Insomnia, very light sleep or nightmares

5. Muscle spasms, cramps, backache, earache or joint pains

6. Poor circulation indicated by cold hands and feet

7. Erratic, light appetite and consequent weight loss

WHAT TO EAT

If you want to reduce the symptoms of a vata imbalance, you’re in luck! Vata-balancing foods, which tend to be sweeter, saltier and richer than foods that balance the other two doshas. Flavors to increase are sweet, salty and sour. Flavors to reduce are bitter, pungent and astringent. Emphasizing sweet flavors does not mean eating a whole box of cookies all at once. Actually, foods like milk, bread and fruit are what Ayurveda considers sweet. Likewise, increasing salty flavors does not mean you can now pour salt all over your vegetables or popcorn. Remember, the goal should still be to get all six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent) into your daily meals. To balance vata, eat more of the foods that taste sweet, salty or sour and less of the foods with the other three flavors.

FOODS TO INCREASE (+) WHEN BALANCING VATA

+ Sweet foods (bread, milk and bananas)

+ Salty foods (soy sauce)

+ Sour foods (vinegar, citrus fruit)

+ Warm, cooked foods

+ Fresh fruits (apples should be cooked; raw apples can increase vata)

+ Cooked vegetables (go easy on bitter vegetables such as mustard greens and turnip greens)

+ Wheat and other grains, baked goods

+ Chicken and turkey

+ Eggs

+ Seafood (any kind)

+ Dairy foods

+ Nuts (any kind)

FOODS TO REDUCE (-) WHEN BALANCING VATA

- Bitter foods (black coffee, mustard greens)

- Pungent foods (hot peppers, cumin)

- Astringent foods (lima beans, raw apples)

- Cold foods

- Dried fruits

- Raw vegetables

- Legumes (beans, peas and lentils)

- Dry foods (crackers, chips)

- Foods containing caffeine (tea, coffee and chocolate)

GUIDELINES FOR FOOD PREPARATION

Since dryness is associated with a vata imbalance, it is very important to use cooking methods that promote moisture, such as boiling, steaming, baking in a sauce, or sautéing in ghee, butter or oil. Remember that you are trying to rehydrate your body. To ease digestion, ingredients should be well cooked and, as a general rule, food should be served warm and moist. Good vata-balancing meals include rich Italian dishes, hearty poultry dishes, warming seafood dishes, soups and casseroles. A meal consisting of cooked grain and well-cooked vegetables is excellent.

1. SNACKS

According to Ayurveda, the stomach should be empty before consuming a meal. For most people, the stomach empties in about four hours, depending upon the size of the meal and the individual’s metabolic rate.

The erratic digestion of a person with a vata constitution may bring hunger on a more irregular basis. Even though full meals should be taken at regular intervals, a small snack may sometimes be in order. Sweet, ripe fruit makes a great vata-balancing snack, perhaps a banana or a juicy peach. Other healthy snacks include bread and cheese, a handful of nuts or a cup of yogurt. 

2. BEVERAGES

It is very important to drink plenty of liquids when balancing vata, and warm drinks are especially beneficial. Hot apple cider is a good vatabalancer. Hot herbal teas are perfect, especially those made with ginger, cinnamon, chamomile, lemon grass, orange peel, licorice root, sarsaparilla or sassafras.

3. BREAKFAST

For breakfast think warm, moist and nourishing. Hot cereals such as oatmeal, Cream of Wheat and Wheatena are wonderful for balancing vata. Serve them with milk, brown sugar and fruit. Pancakes, waffles and French toast are great, especially with a warm fruit topping. Eggs, cooked any style, are fine. Scrambled tofu can be substituted for eggs. Hot soup and a slice of bread or toast makes an excellent vata-balancing breakfast.

4. DESSERTS

Think of rich, sweet desserts like warm fruit cobblers and pies, rice pudding and tapioca.  

Desserts that warm the belly and soothe the mind are the best for balancing vata. Eat these rich desserts in moderation—an overdose could bring on a kapha imbalance.