Vata Dosha

  1. Vata people tends to be thin with dry, rough and dark skin.

  2. Large, crooked and protruded teeth.

  3. A small thin mouth and dull dark eyes.

  4. Vata speak quickly, sleep little and their sleep is often interrupted.

  5. They walk, talk and think fast.

  6. They are good at remembering recent events but have a poor long term memory.

  7. They are changeable in the beliefs. When unbalanced they are often frightened and anxious.

  8. Vatas eat little, they like sweet, sour and salty food.

  9. Vata people tend to be emotionally insecure.

  10. Vata people are more susceptible to aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve disorder, constipation, flatulence, tics, twitches, wrinkling of skin and mental confusion.

Recommended Diet for Vata People

Vata people tend to suffer from nervous tension and variable digestive fire (agni). Their meals must be warm, heavy, moistening and strengthening. Preferred tastes are sweet, sour and salty. Pungent, bitter and astringent foods are not recommended; hot spices are good for regulating appetite. Meals should be taken in small portions, frequently and regularly. Fast food, junk food and instant food should be avoided. Television, reading or other forms of distraction should be avoided during the meals. 

Vegetables

Recommended Cooked, Asparagus, Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Coriander, Courgettes, Cucumber, Daikon radish, Fennel, Garlic, Green beans, Green chillies, Leeks, Lettuce, Mustard, Okra, Olives (black), Onions (cooked), Parsley, Parsnip, Peas (cooked), Pumpkin, Radishes (cooked), Spaghetti squash, Spinach (raw/cooked), Sprouts, Squash (summer/winter), Swede, Sweet potato, Taro root, Turnip greens, Watercress

Best Avoided Frozen, raw or dried, Artichoke, Aubergine, Beetroot, Bitter melon, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Burdock root, Cabbage (raw), Cauliflower (raw), Celery, Dandelion, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Mushrooms, Olives (green), Onion (raw), Peas (raw), Peppers (hot/sweet), Potatoes, Prickly pear, Radishes (raw), Sweetcorn (fresh), Tomatoes (cooked or raw), Turnips, Wheat grass sprouts

Fruits

Recommended  Sweet Fruit, Apples (cooked), Apple sauce, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Berries, Cherries, Coconuts, Dates (fresh), Figs (fresh), Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwi fruit, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Melons, Oranges, Papayas, Peaches, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes (soaked), Raisins (soaked), Rhubarb, Strawberries, Tamarinds

Best Avoided Dried Fruit, Apples (raw), Cranberries, Dates (dry), Figs (dry), Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Prunes (dry), Raisins (dry), Watermelons

Dairy

Recommended Most dairy is healthy, Butter, Buttermilk, Cheese (hard/soft), Cottage cheese, Cow’s milk, Ghee, Goat’s cheese/milk, Ice cream, Sour cream, Yoghurt (diluted/spiced)
Best Avoided Cow’s milk (powdered), Goat’s milk (powdered), Yoghurt (plain, frozen, fruit)

Beverages

Recommended Almond milk, Aloe vera juice, Apple cider, Apricot juice, Berry juice (no cranberry juice), Carob, Carrot juice, Chai (hot, spiced milk), Cherry juice, Grain ‘coffee’, Grapefruit juice, Grape juice, Lemonade, Mango juice, Miso broth, Orange juice, Papaya juice, Peach nectar, Pineapple juice, Rice milk, Sour juices, Soya milk (hot/well spiced), Vegetable bouillon, Herb Teas:, Ajwan, Bancha, Catnip, Chamomile, Chicory, Chrysanthemum, Clove, Comfrey, Elderflower, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Fenugreek, Ginger (fresh), Hawthorn, Juniper berry, Kukicha, Lavender, Lemon grass, Liquorice, Marshmallow, Oat straw, Orange peel, Pennyroyal, Peppermint, Raspberry, Rosehip, Saffron, Sage, Sarsaparilla, Sassafras, Spearmint, Strawberry, Wintergreen

Best Avoided Apple juice, Black tea, Caffeinated beverages, Carbonated drinks, Chocolate milk, Coffee, Cold dairy drinks, Cranberry juice, Ice cold drinks, Iced tea, Pear juice, Pomegranate juice, Prune juice, Soya milk (cold), Tomato juice, V-8 juice, Herb Teas:, Alfalfa, Barley, Basil, Blackberry, Borage, Burdock, Cinnamon, Cornsilk, Dandelion, Ginseng, Hibiscus, Hops, Jasmine, Lemon balm, Nettle, Passion flower, Red clover, Red Zinger, Violet, Yarrow, Yerba mate

 

Nuts
Recommended In moderation:, Almonds, Black walnuts, Brazil nuts, Cashews, Filberts, Hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pinenuts, Walnuts
Best Avoided None


Condiments
Recommended Black pepper, Kelp, Ketchup, Lime pickle, Mango chutney (sweet/spicy), Mango pickle, Mayonnaise, Salt, Spring Onions.
Best Avoided Vinegar

 

Grains
Recommended Amaranth, Durum flour, Oats (cooked), Pancakes, Quinoa, Rice (all kinds), Sprouted wheat bread, Wheat

Best Avoided Barley, Bread (yeast), Buckwheat, Cereals (cold, dry, puffed), Corn, Couscous, Crackers, Granola, Millet, Oat bran, Oats (dry), Pasta, Polenta, Rice cakes, Rye, Sago, Spelt, Tapioca, Wheat bran

 

Oils
Recommended Internal and External Use:, Ghee, Olive, Sesame, Most others, External use only, Avocado, Coconut
Best Avoided Flax seed


Pulses
Recommended Lentils (red), Mung beans, Lentils (green) Mung, Soya cheese, Soya milk, Soya sauce, Soya sausages, Tofu, Urad dal (black)
Best Avoided Black beans, Black-eyed peas, Chick peas, Kidney beans, Lentils (brown), Lima beans, Peas (dried), Pinto beans, Soya beans, Soya flour, Soya powder, Split peas, White beans

 

Seeds
Recommended Flax, Halva, Pumpkin, Sesame, Sunflower,
Best Avoided Popcorn, Psyllium