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Diet for your dosha
Diet and daily routine for Vata body types
Vata people are often quick, creative and lively. When Vata rises, it shows as dryness, gas, poor sleep and restlessness. Warmth, nourishment and routine bring it back into balance.
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Vata0:40What Vata means
Vata is the dosha of air and space: dry, light, cold, rough and always moving. In balance it gives energy, quick thinking and good circulation. Out of balance it can show as dry skin, constipation and gas, joint pain and cracking, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
Food that suits Vata
- Warm, moist, well-cooked meals: soups, stews, khichdi, cooked vegetables
- A little ghee or good oil with meals
- Sweet, sour and salty tastes in moderation
- Warm milk with a pinch of spice at bedtime, if it suits you
- Regular mealtimes, without skipping meals
Foods and habits to cut down
- Dry, cold or raw food, such as salads in large amounts, crackers and cold drinks
- Long gaps between meals and fasting
- Too much tea or coffee
- Late nights, overwork and constant travel
Daily routine for Vata
- Keep the same times for waking, meals and sleep
- Oil massage (Abhyanga) with warm oil before a bath, a classical routine for calming Vata
- Gentle exercise such as walking and yoga rather than very strenuous workouts
- Wind down early and keep a regular bedtime
- Vata is dry, light and moving; excess shows as dryness, gas and poor sleep
- Favour warm, moist, cooked food with a little ghee
- Keep regular mealtimes and avoid long gaps
- Warm oil massage and a steady routine calm Vata
Not sure of your body type? Your physician assesses your prakriti at the first consultation. See also diet for Kapha types.
General information only, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a consultation. See our medical disclaimer. More health tips.