Recommended Foods:
- General Preferences: Opt for a lighter diet emphasizing dry, warm foods and drinks. Choose flavors that are pungent, bitter, and astringent.
- Fruits: Select fruits like pomegranate, grapes, persimmon, and cranberries. Raisins, figs, and dates (especially with honey) are good choices. Avoid bananas, avocados, and citrus fruits.
- Vegetables: Focus on green leafy vegetables, as well as asparagus, artichokes, carrots, and cabbage. Other beneficial choices include cauliflower, broccoli, celery, and peas.
- Protein Sources: For non-vegetarians, dark meat poultry, rabbit, and venison are suitable. Vegetarians should opt for all types of dried beans and peas.
- Dairy: Favor low-fat dairy products like lassi, buttermilk, and skim milk. Use small amounts of ghee and whole milk.
- Grains: Choose older grains such as barley, millet, corn, and buckwheat. Couscous, bulgur wheat, and quinoa are good occasional choices. Limit intake of rice and pasta.
- Beans: All beans are acceptable, except tofu.
- Nuts and Seeds: Small amounts of unsalted nuts and seeds like sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin seeds are recommended.
- Spices: Prefer pungent and sharp spices like ginger, black pepper, mustard seeds, turmeric, cinnamon, and cloves. Use fresh herbs like oregano, sage, and basil.
- Sweeteners: Honey is preferred over sugar. Small amounts of rock sugar are acceptable.
- Salt: Use rock salt sparingly.
- Oils: Opt for mustard, corn, and sesame oils in small amounts.
Foods to Avoid or Limit:
- General: Avoid large meals, especially at night, and foods that are unctuous, cold, heavy, or have sweet, sour, and salty tastes.
- Grains: Minimize consumption of new grains, particularly wheat and rice.
- Vegetables: Avoid sweet potatoes, potatoes, and tapioca.
- Dairy: Limit yogurt, cream, butter, and high-fat dairy products.
- Sweeteners: Avoid sugarcane products.
- Nuts: Restrict nut butters.
- Spices: Limit salt intake.
- Fruits: Avoid avocado, banana, pineapple, and other sour fruits.
General Dietary Tips for Kapha Balance:
- Opt for a vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diet rich in legumes, whole grains, and cooked vegetables.
- Strictly avoid red meat.
- Choose lighter, well-cooked, moderately spiced foods.
- Prefer hot or warm beverages and meals.
- Embrace dry, light, non-oily, and crunchy foods.
- Include spices like thyme, basil, mint, oregano, cumin, and turmeric in your meals.
- Have the main meal at noon and a lighter meal early in the evening.
- Avoid refined sweets, excess fat, and cold foods and drinks.
- Stay away from heavy or oily foods, frozen food, and large portions.
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