I’m a foodie who loves to eat tasty, pretty and variety of food. Not only eating, but I also enjoy cooking different types of cuisines. Before taking YTT, I always thought my food habits are quite healthy as I have dedicated 3 days a week as meat-free days. However, I’ve discovered that there is much more in food and eating when we learn about Doshas (3 different energies that present in a person’s physical, emotional and mental) and Gunas (3 types of food that affect body and mind)
From a quiz result, I’m a Pitta-Kapha Doshas combination. I have contrasting qualities of heat and cold. My predominantly Pitta derives from the elements of Fire and Water which possess qualities of heat, intensity and lightness, whereas my Kapha derives from the elements of Earth and Water, thus the qualities are cold, heavy, slow, smooth and soft. Thus, my food should be a mix of both heating and cooling, drying and light. Below are examples of my Pitta-Kapha food recommendation.
| Best | Avoid / Minimize | |
| General | √ Warm, cooked food
√ Bitter and astringent tastes |
! Too hot or too cold food
! Sweet, sour and pungent taste |
| Vegetables | √ More cooked and less raw
√ Cooling properties such as zucchini, squash, gourds |
! Chilies, radish, eggplant, green bell peppers |
| Grains | √ Quinoa, barley, whole wheat, oats with bran | ! White sticky rice, brown rice |
| Fruits | √ Neither very sweet or sour such as apples, pears, blueberries, cherries | ! Too sour and too sweet such as mango, papaya, pineapple, orange, lime, kiwi |
| Protein | √ Egg whites, suitable meats, moong beans and milk or milk substitutes like almond milk or soy milk | ! Beef, duck, turkey, pork, chicken and seafood |
| Dairy | √ Raw or organic milk | ! Cheese, cream, yoghurt, sour cream |
| Nuts & Seeds | √ Light and dry seeds such as pumpkin seed and sunflower seeds | ! Most nuts which are heavy, oily and slightly warm aggravate Pitta and Kapha such as brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts, walnuts |
| Oils | √ Use in small amounts
√ soy & olive oils |
! Canola, avocado, sesame, flaxseed |
| Beverages | √ Room temperature or warm | ! Ice cold, alcohol, black tea, coffee |
Basically for my Doshas, the type of Gunas I should embrace are clearly Sattvic foods. The foods that promotes purity, energy, health and joy. It should be fresh and natural as possible. Examples of Sattvic foods are fresh vegetable (no onion & garlic), fruits, milk, herbal tea, grains & nuts, mung beans and honey. While Rajasic or tamasic food like animal proteins, fried food, processed foods refined sugar, stimulants like caffeine, hot & spicy food should be avoided.
Keep these in mind while attempting to balance my Doshas, I now know I shall think twice or thrice before making my favorite hot and spicy Tom Yum soup or mango sticky rice or indulge in cheese platter with wine!!!
