PITTA DOSHA

 

UNDERSTANDING PITTA DOSHA 

Pitta dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element associated with fire and water. It's hot, oily, sharp and mobile in nature and governs all transformation and metabolism in your mind and body. Processes like digestion, assimilation and perception, including mental digestion.

Summer is the Pitta season with the hot weather, sunshine and the transformation & ripening of the harvest. 

If you have predominantly Pitta constitution, the qualities of Pitta ( hot, oily, sharp, mobile ) will be expressed in your mind&body. You have a medium body structure( athletic ) and you can build muscle easily. Pitta-influenced constitutions love a challenge, whether that's professionally or in sport. Their hands and feet are never cold, even in winter

Intellectually the fiery Pitta types are distinguished by being quick on the uptake and by their powerful intellect and ambition. These are born leaders, brimming with energy and strength and with a tendency to be perfectionists. Their drive is called passion. Their aim is to win.

 

Pitta in Balance :

  • perfectionist (type A personality
  • strong intellect
  • strong digestion
  • radiant, glowing skin
  • sleeps through the night
  • inner peace & happiness 

Pitta out of Balance :

  • controlling, fiery personality
  • workaholic tendencies
  • overheated, excess stomach acid
  • skin rashes & acne
  • interrupted sleep
  • loose bowel movements

 

How to Balance Pitta Dosha - Easy Lifestyle Tips 

One of the foundational principles of Ayurveda is that “like increases like,” and opposites balance. Therefore, because Pitta dosha is hot, sharp, and oily in nature, it benefits from things that are cooling and soothing. Some of the easiest ways to restore balance to Pitta: engaging in cooling activities like swimming, strolling in nature (but not under the hot sun), and doing light-hearted things like spending time with loved-ones and children. Fiery, intense Pitta benefits by being more playful in life! 

People with Pitta body types tend to work long hours and expect a great deal of themselves and others. Remember: you can still be a perfectionist and have fun along the way.

Lifestyle tips to support Pitta Dosha :

  • Follow a Pitta dosha-balancing diet, favouring cooling, heavy, dry foods and sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes. Avoid or reduce foods that are hot, sour, salty, and spicy
  • Keep cool. Avoid hot temperatures and food and spicy meals
  • Remember: everything in moderation. Try to avoid overworking and bring balance to your daily routine
  • Allow for uplifting leisure time every day
  • Don’t skip meals (which inevitably leads to “hanger” for Pitta types). Eat three satisfying meals per day, at about the same time each day
  • Ensure your largest meal of the day takes place at noon, when your digestive fire is strongest
  • Give yourself an Abhyanga (self-massage with warm oil) each day before bathing, using a cooling oil such as coconut
  • Reduce mental stress with meditation

Pitta Dosha Diet Guidelines & Recipes :

In Ayurveda, food is medicine. A Pitta-pacifying diet will go a long way toward cooling and soothing fiery Pitta dosha. Aim to eat three meals at the same times each day: morning, noon, and evening—and try not to skip meals (which can fan the flames of Pitta’s digestive fire and lead to frustration, irritability, acid stomach, and other unpleasant issues). Ideally, you’ll feel hungry by the next meal, but not ravenous.

Try to eat in a quiet, relaxing environment to avoid over-stimulation. Last, but definitely not least, whenever possible favor organically grown foods and avoid genetically modified foods (GMOs).

Pitta Calming foods 

Foods that are cooling, liquid and refreshing calm pitta.

Grains, such as oats, barley, cracked wheat, spelt, soba, udon, basmati brown and white rice, sweet brown rice, mochi and sushi rice.

Vegetables, such as kales, collards, lettuces, asparagus, bamboo shoots, green beans, artichokes, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lotus root, parsnip, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, squash, pumpkin and sprouts. Avoid radishes and raw spinach.

Spices, such as coriander, dill, cardamom, cilantro, curry leaves, fresh basil, fennel, turmeric, ginger and saffron. Occasionally cinnamon, nutmeg or a bit of black pepper. Minimize spices, such as asafoetida, dry ginger, fenugreek and mustard seed. Avoid onions and garlic.

Oils, such as ghee, flax, olive, sunflower and coconut.

Nuts and seeds, such as soaked and peeled almonds, roasted sunflower seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds and coconuts.

Beans and legumes, including split mung beans, split peas, adzuki beans, tofu, lima beans, garbanzo beans and black beans.

Fresh seasonal fruits, such as apples, apricots, berries, cherries, coconuts, dates, fresh figs, grapes, pears, tangerines, mangoes, pineapples, plums, kiwi, limes and sweet oranges. Minimize or leave out sour fruits, such as grapefruit and lemon.

Dairy, including ghee, whole cottage cheese, warmed whole cow milk with cooling spices, fresh yogurt in small amounts, yogurt cut in half with water as a digestive drink or buttermilk. Avoid aged cheese and commercial yogurt.

Sweeteners, including fruit juices, agave nectar, barley malt, maple syrup, dates and Sucanat. Avoid chocolate, honey and molasses.

Minimize sour, spicy, pungent and salty foods and eliminate those such as pickles, olives, fermented foods and chilies.

Recipes :

Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon 

1 cup Almond milk ( preferably home made)

Pinch of cinnamon

2 dates 

1/8th inch fresh ginger 

Preparation

1. Remove the pit from the dates.

2. Warm the milk in advance, or serve room temperature according to preference.

3. Puree all ingredients in a blender.

4. For a stronger restorative effect, add 1 tsp ghee and substitute milk for almond milk. You may also substitute with coconut milk.

It is an Ojas building tonic. Both almond milk and dates are considered ojas-building nourishment. Ojas are associated with mental stability, endurance, and a calm, grounded presence. They bring peace of mind and bestow strong fertility. Vata people can enjoy this tonifying shake on a regular basis to build ojas.

 

Mung Dal Kitchari ( Serves 1 )

1Tbs of ghee 

Mineral Salt

1/2 tsp of fresh grated ginger root

1/8 tsp of turmeric ( fresh or powdered)

1/4 small strip of Kombu cut into small pieces 

1/8 tsp cumin seeds, coarse grind

1/8 tsp coriander seeds, coarse grind

1/8 tsp brown mustard seeds 

Pinch of asafoetida

1/16 tsp cardamom powder

3-4 drops lime

1/4 cup ( 50gr) basmati rice

1/8 cup ( 25gr ) split mung beans ( if split mung beans are not available use whole that has been soaked 6+ hrs )  

1 1/2 - 2 cups water or as much needed for desired thickness 

Preparation 

Warm the ghee in your pot, add salt, ginger, turmeric and kombu. Simmer until the aroma comes up. Add the remainder of the spices and continue to simmer until the aroma is present and the mustard seeds start to pop. Then add the rice and split mung. Stir together and simmer for a few minutes. Add water and simmer for 35 minutes in a covered pot on the stove. This time may vary depending on your pot, cooktop and temperature in the room. If you are using a pressure cooker, bring to pressure and cook for 15 minutes, allowing the pressure to come down naturally.

Let sit for 5 minutes with the lid off so the tastes can become friends and the food cools a bit. Add lime on the side to include the sour taste for a balance of the six tastes. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, cilantro (coriander leaf), dill or basil. Add up to 1 Tbsp. flax meal if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.

Kitchari is Ayurveda's signature healing recipe and a perfect food. This recipe is healing and nourishing for all doshas. 

 

Avocado and cucumber quacamole (serves 3 ) 

1 cup avocado

1/4 cup cilantro

1/2 cup cucumber

1/4 whole lime

2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

Preparation :

1. Peel and seed avocado. Thoroughly mash avocado, lime, olive oil, and salt.

2. Peel, seed and dice cucumber. Chop cilantro. Gently fold into the avocado mixture.

Serve chilled!

Cilantro and cucumber give this guacamole a refreshing crunch. These ingredients make it extra cool, increasing its soothing capabilities in the summertime.

This will cool pitta in the summer heat.

Yoga Video to balance&ground Pitta Dosha

 

Meditation&Pranayama for Pitta DoshaÂ