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Balancing the doshas

Balancing your dosha is pretty straightforward and if I could give you one bit of advice, then that would be to ‘keep it simple’. It takes a little while to get to know the qualities of your dosha but once you have familiarised yourself with the main characteristics of your dosha you will find it becomes second nature to remove things from your environment that are aggravating you.

Knowing the elements that govern your dosha is essential. Vata is ruled by air and space, Pitta by fire and water and Kapha by earth and water. Overexposure to the elements that govern your dosha will send you out of balance.

The principles behind balancing the doshas are guided by the Ayurvedic approach to health (see pages 42–6) and circadian rhythms (see pages 47–63).

The recipes I have written for this book are all designed to balance your doshas and have been carefully designed to maintain that balance, particularly in the season that your dosha will be more vulnerable. For Vata types I have created warming nourishing meals with ingredients that help to calm and soothe the anxious energy in the body and to stimulate the digestive system. Pitta recipes are more cooling and wholesome, designed to satisfy the strong Pitta appetite and moderate heat in the body, particularly in the warmer months and climates. The Kapha recipes I have created are naturally a little lighter and purposed with spices and ingredients to absorb the excess moisture and weight that Kapha types hold in the body.

To help you to shop and make your food choices, refer to the food charts for Vata, Pitta and Kapha at the back of the book on pages 240–5. I still use these tables a lot even after all these years, especially if I’m Vata imbalanced, as the foods differ quite a bit to the Pitta foods I normally favour.

VATA

To summarise what we have discussed earlier, Vata individuals tend to have thin, light frames; they are quick thinkers and can be quite nervy and excitable.

The Vata dosha is responsible for communication, movement and elimination of all wastes from the body. Someone may be either Vata in their constitution or they may have a Vata imbalance. Vata imbalances are very common for people who reside in cities and have busy lives.

Air and space dominate this dosha and they also aggravate it. They are susceptible to the cold and wind so it is essential they keep warm, maintain a routine and nourish themselves with warm cooked foods; it is logical that elements that decrease and calm this dosha are earth, fire and water.

They are aggravated by bitter, pungent and astringent tastes, and calmed by sweet, sour and salty.

Elements

Elements that dominate this dosha – Air and Space

Elements that aggravate this dosha – Air and Space

Elements that calm this dosha – Earth, Fire and Water

Tastes that aggravate the dosha – bitter, pungent and astringent

Tastes that calm and balance the dosha – sweet, sour and salty

Time of day

Each dosha has a time of day when it is more obvious in the body and mind. For Vatas it is 2am–6am and 2pm–6pm. Vata types may find themselves becoming more anxious or fearful at this time of day, they may also wake at night and not be able to fall back asleep, especially if they are worried about something.

Time of year

In autumn and early winter Vata can be more aggravated in the body. The wind at this time of year can aggravate Vata types and it is important that they stay warm and out of the wind if it bothers them. When it gets windy and cold, the time has come to slow down and eat grounding, nourishing meals. Flavours that calm in autumn are the sweet, salty and sour.

Vata types struggle at this time of year as they are naturally cold and sensitive to air and movement. The autumn wind can play havoc with their digestive system as well as their minds, leading to episodes of anxiety.

Time of life

70 to 75 years and above is the time that Vata will be more prominent in the body.

Vata is responsible for feelings of joy and happiness, as well as creativity, speech, sneezing, movement and elimination.

I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.

–Mahatma Gandhi

VATA OUT OF BALANCE

The site of Vata in the body is the nervous system, and it governs the mind, colon, skin, ears, blood flow and breath – and it is where Vata will present more strongly when it is out of balance.

Signs that Vata is out of balance

When Vata people’s health goes out of balance, the symptoms usually appear first in the gut or the mind. They might complain of an upset tummy, gas, bloating, small pebbly stools that are dry, hard, dark brown and sink. They can easily become constipated or irregular, especially when travelling or away from home. They may strain when passing stools and can find it painful.

Anxiety, weight loss, restlessness, fatigue, insomnia, interrupted sleep or fearful dreams, hypertension, inability to concentrate, tremors or a nervous system disorder are all indications that Vata is out of balance. Other indicators are dry cracked skin and lips, arthritis and joint pain.

Vata types are more likely to go out of balance in autumn and early winter.

Autumn–early winter/Vata health issues: constipation, gas, bloating, anxiety, dry skin.

Habits and lifestyle factors that imbalance Vata

Eating too many cold icy foods and drinks, especially anything with bubbles, such as sparkling mineral water, carbonated drinks and foods that produce gas in the body; excess raw foods such as salads, especially in the colder months; irregular meals or skipping meals; too much travel; being outside in the cold and the wind; lack of sleep and routine; spending too much time in front of the computer and TV; stress, overthinking and over talking all imbalance the Vata dosha.

Environmental effects

Wind will unnerve them and you may notice their behaviour and mood change if exposed to too much of the air element, as they already have this as a major part of their constitution. Unsettled weather can have a strong effect on Vata types. Autumn can be difficult, accordingly.

Air travel can greatly disturb these types and they need to ensure they limit flying if they are feeling insecure, fearful and anxious. Their Vata body needs nurturing. Vatas have cold, dry skin that is very susceptible to the cold and wind. Daily warm sesame oil massage will benefit them greatly. It is essential they keep their bodies warm, both internally and externally. Fear and anxiety can really inhibit the lives of Vata types so it is essential they create a comfortable, safe, stable home for themselves.

KEY Warmth, safe calm environment and routine

AVOID Cold, dry, windy environments, skipping meals, raw food, chilled drinks, carbonated drinks, excess movement and air travel

HOW VATA MANIFESTS IN THE BODY

Cold – Coldness appears in the hands and feet. Vatas will have a tendency to avoid cold temperatures and love warmer climes. They have poor circulation and can suffer from cold bones and stiffness.

Dry – Dryness is a major issue for Vatas. They often have dry skin, hair, lips, tongue and a husky voice. Dryness in their colon usually leads to them suffering from constipation.

Light – Vata individuals are generally light in body weight with fine muscles and bones. They sleep lightly and wake easily, with little noise needed to disturb them.

Rough – Roughness appears in the body as cracked skin, nails, split ends, cracked lips, teeth and joints that creak and crack when moved.

Subtle – They will suffer from an underlying subtle anxiety, fear or insecurity. Vata types are prone to goose pimples, muscle twitches and tremors.

Mobile – Vatas can’t sit still: they walk fast, talk fast and tend to be those people who are incredible at multi-tasking. They are good at making money and great at spending it. Their eyes will dart around the room as they talk to you with their hands or shake their leg or tap. They love to travel and find it difficult to stay in one place for too long. Their moods are ever changing, as are their faith and their thoughts. Vatas love change and do what they can to make it happen often.

Clear –This quality gives Vata their clairvoyant ability, as this is related to the element of space. They can understand easily but forget abruptly, and they often experience a deep sense of loneliness.

Astringent – They can suffer from a dry choking feeling in their throats, and they will often find themselves with hiccoughs or burping. They enjoy oily, sweet, sour and salty foods.

BALANCING VATA

Vatas need routine, warm fluids, rest, massage, steady nourishment, warmth, decreased stress, and they need to avoid skipping meals, eating on the run, fasting and alcohol.

Activities that will calm Vata

Gentle calming exercise such as yoga, quigung (qigong), dance, golf, walking, swimming, listening to calming music, gardening, pottery, cooking, massage, meditation and getting to bed early all help Vatas to settle.

Warming grounding remedies – walking barefoot on the grass, warm sesame oil massage, foot massage, gardening, warm milky drinks with cardamom and cinnamon, ghee added to food and drinks

Warming grounding lifestyle choices – gardening, yoga, guided meditation, creative pursuits, listening to calming music

Lifestyle factors to limit – constant change and movement, overexercise, excess meditation without proper supervision, too much time on devices such as computers, TV, phones

So-called healthy foods that may imbalance you – raw food diets, juices, chilled smoothies and smoothie bowls, sparkling mineral water

Emotions and diet

Vatas are often attracted to cold, dry, crisp foods but these are best avoided. They can easily become imbalanced if they eat too many of these foods. Too much bitter, pungent and astringent food can also have a negative impact on the digestive system of Vata. The skin and body can become very dry in the colder weather and so Vatas should introduce warming spices and increase the amount of protein they are eating.

Soups and slow cooked stews made with plenty of root vegetables are the perfect choice for Vata types in the cooler or more unsettled months, and they do really well to warm their meals with spices like cinnamon, clove, star anise, cardamom and ginger that will help stimulate their digestion. To calm themselves they need to increase the amount of naturally sweet, salty and sour foods they are consuming. A glass of sweet warm milk before bed is a perfect remedy for any Vata that has trouble sleeping.

Routine and exercise

Vatas need to allow plenty of time for stillness in their day. Moving is what comes naturally to Vatas so they will often want to exercise and be on the go when they are feeling fragile, anxious or emotional. This is not the healthiest option, especially at the Vata time of 2pm–6pm. Their fragile nature demands they don’t allow too much space between meals. For continued wellness, Vatas should eat their meals at the same time every day. Skipping meals is one way to quickly imbalance these people. The digestive system is where Vata types are most susceptible and they may have issues with gas, bloating and constipation. They have sensitive tummies that do best with nourishing home-cooked meals.

Eating on the run or snacking instead of eating a proper meal is not a good idea for these types. If they do want to move their body, they are best to try grounding practices like yoga, tai chi or even a gentle walk. More strenuous types of exercise should be done between 6am and 10am in the morning at Kapha time.

Quiet time, listening to music, reflecting, drawing or journaling will help to calm them. Before bed they are better to read than be on their phone or computer, as any device will aggravate the Vata energy in the body.

We enter the Vata stage of our lives at around 75 years of age so it is not uncommon for these types to become more dreamy, vague or fragile as they age. The best diet for Vatas includes warming and soothing foods that are stabilising for a light, airy constitution. (See charts at the back of the book, pages 240–5.)

PITTA

Pitta individuals are dominated by the element of fire. This creates heat in the body and is responsible for metabolising, transforming, digesting and processing all of our thoughts and all we eat. Pitta is also in charge of maintaining our digestive fire (agni); if our digestive fire is low, we will have problems with digestion and suffer from heartburn, reflux and indigestion.

Pittas have quick, sharp minds and tongues, a moderate body frame and tend to be able to maintain their weight better than the other two doshas.

Elements

Elements that dominate this dosha – Fire and Water

Element that aggravates this dosha – Fire

Elements that calm this dosha – Air, Water and Earth

Tastes that aggravate the dosha – salty, sour, pungent

Tastes that calm the dosha – sweet, bitter, astringent

Time of day

10am–2pm and 10pm–2am is the time of day when Pitta will be more obvious in the body and mind.

Time of year

In summer Pitta can be more aggravated in the body. It is the season when Pitta health issues such as eczema, heartburn, reflux, headaches, hay fever, insomnia or burnout can arise. Summer is known as Pitta time (bile). Energy and heat rise up in the body in summer so it is important to keep cool. We are naturally drawn to cooling summer fruits and higher carbohydrate grains like rice. We drink more juices made from seasonal fruits and fill up on salads with cooling herbs.

More fiery Pitta types need to eat with more awareness in this season, and so too does anyone who starts to show any signs of heat in the body, such as skin issues, headaches, reflux, indigestion or insomnia.

Time of life

18 to 50–55 years is the time that Pitta will be more prominent in the body.

Pitta is responsible for regulating body heat through the metabolism of food, appetite, energy production, vitality, ambition, confidence, courage, learning and understanding.

PITTA OUT OF BALANCE

The site of Pitta in the body is the eyes, skin, stomach, small intestine, sweat glands, blood, fat – where Pitta will present more strongly when it is out of balance.

Signs that Pitta is out of balance in the body

Irritability, impatience, anger and pushy, aggressive behaviour; skin irritations and rashes; heartburn, reflux and peptic ulcers; headaches, eye problems, falling hair, early greying, hot flushes; waking in the middle of the night and unable to get back to sleep; excess sweating, acne, blood shot eyes, heavy periods, large clots; extreme hunger before menstruation; yellow urine or loose unformed stools that fall apart in water, sink or float with a strong, pungent, offensive smell; a need to use the toilet 2–3 times a day, and may be urgent; tendency to diarrhoea and urinary tract infections.

Pitta types are more likely to go out of balance in summer.

Summer/Pitta health issues: Eczema, heartburn, reflux, headaches, hay fever, insomnia, burnout.

Habits and lifestyle factors that imbalance Pitta

Eating too many hot, spicy, pungent, salty or sour foods; excess meat in the diet; too much alcohol; overanalysing or overworking; overexposure to heat and sun; intense conversations, pushing oneself too hard, emotional trauma, holding emotions in; skipping meals or fasting; exercising outside in the sun in the middle of the day in summer; not rinsing off the saltwater after swimming at the beach in summer.

Environmental effects

Determined high achievers, Pittas do well to spend time in nature connecting with the earth. Winter is the time they will feel their best if they can allow themselves to slow down and enjoy the cooler weather.

KEY Moderation, rest between work, quiet calm atmosphere, meditation, coolness, nature’s beauty

AVOID Skipping meals or overeating, artificial stimulants, too much sun and sauna

BALANCING PITTA

Heat can very easily send Pittas out of balance and although they are often drawn to hot, spicy flavours, they would do well to stay away from these flavours, especially in summer or when they are feeling angry and stressed. When out of balance, the fire rises up and out in the body and can show up as fever, impatience, ulcers, indigestion, skin rashes, headaches and reflux.

Pitta types are attracted to beautiful things and are very focused on making money and acquiring beautiful things. They are hard workers who need to learn how to relax and temper the fire within them before it overwhelms them.

Activities that will calm Pitta

Eating when you are hungry rather than when you are starving, gentle calming exercise, spending time in nature, being by the water, moonlight walks, yoga, dance, non-competitive sports, walking, swimming, gardening, writing, massage with coconut oil as it is cooling, meditation, expressing emotions, getting to bed before 10pm, staying cool, sipping cooling herbal teas.

Cooling remedies – rubbing coconut oil into the skin, chilled rose tea bags over the eyes, cooling the feet

Cooling lifestyle choices – music, meditation, yin yoga, spending time in nature out of the sun, resting by still water

So-called healthy foods that may overheat you – ferments, yoghurt, kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut

Lifestyle factors to limit – running in the middle of the day, sunbaking, hot yoga, power yoga, holding in emotions, alcohol, out in the sun without a hat, smoking, saunas

HOW PITTA MANIFESTS IN THE BODY

Hot – Pittas have strong digestive fire which means they can usually eat a lot, and often, and they tend to get quite cross if they try to go without food when they are hungry. They tend to have a higher body temperature than other doshas and can become quite agitated in the heat.

Sharp –They can have pointed sharp teeth either side of their front teeth, and sharp piercing eyes. Their features are strong and distinct, and quite angular. Pittas’ minds are quick and extremely sharp, and they are blessed with a strong memory, but their speech can be cutting. They tend to work in short sharp bursts and can become irritable if overworked. When they suffer from pain it is usually hot and piercing.

Light – Their frame is usually light/medium and, because Pitta rules the eyes, they can also suffer from an intolerance to bright lights. Their skin is light and lustrous.

Liquid – The liquid attribute is demonstrated in the waste products, loose light oily stools, excess sweat and urine. Pittas usually have a greater thirst than other doshas.

Spreading – This can be seen in the form of skin rashes, acne, inflammation and heat that moves in the body. Pitta individuals like to be well known and want their name to be spread all over the world.

Oily – They have soft oily skin and hair. They may find it difficult to digest deep-fried foods.

Sour – Pitta can often experience stomach acid, increased reflux and excess salivation.

Pungent – Often Pittas will experience heartburn, or strong burning feelings both physically and mentally. Their bodies may omit a pungent smell either from the mouth, armpits, feet or faeces.

Bitter –They will often be left with a bitter taste in their mouths following heated exchanges. They tend to have an aversion to bitter flavour. They can be bitter and twisted if they don’t get their own way.

Red – They can have fiery red hair, flushed red skin, nose and cheeks, red rashes, red skin from sunburn. Red will aggravate Pitta.

Emotions and diet

Pitta females who have not learned to temper their fire can struggle with hot flushes and insomnia during perimenopause and menopause, and this is a time when they need to look closely at the way they are managing their emotions and perhaps question if they are being honest with themselves about how they feel. They may also need to alter their diets and remove heating foods and drinks like red wine, hard cheeses and meats to reduce the fire in the body.

Or they may just stuff any negative emotions down as they present a very competent persona to the outside world.

For Pitta dietary recommendations, see the back of the book, pages 242–3.

Routine and exercise

One of the biggest challenges for Pitta individuals is to slow down and to see life from another person’s perspective. Fire governs the eyes in the body so they can often be so focused on what they want and need, forgetting to ask what those around may need and instead assuming they know best.

Because Pitta energy governs the years from 18 to 50–55, it is easy for these types to burn out in their middle years of their life as they tend to push themselves beyond their means both physically and mentally.

Pittas need to avoid overheating so exercising in the middle of the day, especially in summer, is a big no-no. Hot yoga, surfing, sunbaking or any physical work in summer in Pitta hours between 10am and 2pm will not serve them well. Because Pittas like to look good, they can become obsessed with exercise and their body shape, and may become frustrated and moody if their exercise regime is disturbed in any way.

KAPHA

Kapha individuals tend to be heavy set and often experience problems with their weight when they are out of balance. They are calm, caring and compassionate and possess incredible stamina. Kaphas have a strong constitution and tend to live longer than the other doshas.

Elements

Elements that dominate this dosha – Water and Earth

Elements that aggravate this dosha – Water and Earth

Elements that calm this dosha – Fire, Air and Space

Tastes that aggravate the dosha – sweet, sour, salty

Tastes that calm the dosha – bitter, pungent, astringent

Time of day

6am–10am and 6pm–10pm. This is the time of day when Kapha will be more obvious in the body and mind.

Time of year

In spring Kapha can be more aggravated in the body. Spring is known as Kapha time (mucus) where we eat light foods, move our body more and shake out any excess weight we have accumulated in winter. This is the season when Kapha types will struggle with respiratory issues, especially a mucus build up; they may struggle losing the extra weight they gained in winter and could even find themselves slipping into depression.

Time of life

0–18 years is the time that Kapha will be more prominent in the body.

Kapha is responsible for compassion, loyalty, patience, forgiveness, body structure (bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments) and stability, lubrication and protection.

KAPHA OUT OF BALANCE

The site of Kapha in the body is the chest, lungs, throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth and tongue, bones, plasma and mucus, and this is where Kapha will present more strongly when it is out of balance.

Signs that Kapha is out of balance in the body

Lethargy, laziness, difficulty getting out of bed after a good night’s sleep, feeling unmotivated, or beginning to isolate yourself and withdraw from friends are signs of imbalance. Kaphas may become greedy and attached or might find themselves overeating or eating for comfort, especially sweet or fatty foods. Weight gain, fluid retention, coughs and colds, slow bowel movements, diabetes, oily skin and hair, congestion in the chest and lungs, excess mucus, asthma, excessive sweet cravings and tender breasts before menstruation are other symptoms Kaphas may experience. Enlarged breasts, emotional eating, watery mucousy blood at period time, long heavy flow, depression and moodiness may also present as symptoms. They might also complain of oily stools that sink and feeling that they have not fully emptied their bowls after going to the toilet.

Kapha types are more likely to go out of balance in spring.

Spring/Kapha health issues: Fluid retention, excess mucus, coughs and colds, slow bowel movements, increased body weight, depression.

Habits and lifestyle factors that imbalance Kapha

Eating too many sweet foods (this includes fruit); eating cold, white, damp foods (especially ice-cream, milk and yoghurt); excess dairy in the diet; too much alcohol or sweet drinks; overeating (especially in the evening before bed); overexposure to cold damp environments, lack of exercise, sleeping during the day and going to bed with wet hair and drinking too much liquid be it water or hot drinks; and sitting around doing nothing for long periods at a time.

Out of balance Kapha individuals can be stubborn, possessive and greedy. Kaphas have a strong attachment to money and will often stay in jobs they are unhappy in if they are making good money.

Environmental effects

The amount of water and earth element in their constitution means they have an aversion to cold damp weather, and if exposed to these conditions for long periods of time, they can develop respiratory issues. Kaphas need to be aware of mould and rising damp in their homes and parents may need to place dehumidifiers in children’s rooms during the winter or rainy seasons. Most Kaphas will be much happier and healthier in warmer, drier climates than in cooler, wetter or even humid regions.

KEY Stimulation, variety, good exercise, reduce sweets, stay warm.

AVOID Cold and damp environments, sleeping during the day, sleeping after sunrise, doing nothing, isolation.

BALANCING KAPHA

Activities that will calm Kapha

Vigorous exercise, especially in the morning between 6am–10am, running, cycling, aerobic activity and competitive sports. Learning a new skill, stimulating the mind, changing or varying your daily routine will keep you from feeling stuck and bogged down. Travel, seeking out new friendships and meeting new people – these will get you out of your comfort zone. Have your main meal at lunchtime.

Stimulating remedies – dry brushing or exfoliating self massage with warmed cold pressed sesame oil, energetic exercise that raises a sweat for at least 30 minutes per day (think running, cycling, yoga or hiking) drinking hot water and lemon with a small pinch of cayenne on waking to stimulate digestion, keeping warm, and standing at one’s desk instead of sitting.

Stimulating lifestyle choices – listening to music or audio that stimulates the mind, walking rather than driving, socialising instead of choosing to be alone.

So-called healthy foods that may increase the mucus and dampness in the body – yoghurt, cheese, bananas, smoothies, acai bowls, chilled drinks, fruit juices, green smoothies.

HOW KAPHA MANIFESTS IN THE BODY

Heavy – Kaphas have heavy bones with solid frames, bulky muscles and can be overweight, they have calm deep voices and are usually quite grounded in mind and body.

Slow/Dull – They can tend to be slow to react, they walk and speak slowly, and only speak after allowing time to think about what they are going to say. Kaphas have a sluggish metabolism.

Cool – They have cold clammy skin, they often get a cold, cough or congestion, and they are drawn to cooling sweet foods.

Oily – They have soft oily skin, hair and faeces and well-lubricated joints.

Liquid – Kaphas tend to have a problem with fluid retention, congestion in their chest, nose and throat, and excess mucus; this can be very obvious in young children with runny noses.

Smooth – Blessed with soft smooth alabaster like skin and a smooth calm nature.

Dense – This quality ensures Kaphas have thick hair, nails, skin and muscles.

Soft – They have soft doe-like eyes and a very soft caring nature, which makes them extremely forgiving.

Static – This unfortunately can make them very happy sitting around, sleeping for long periods of time.

Sticky – They can have a tendency to become quite attached to things they care about.

Cloudy – Kaphas can have a foggy mind in the morning, they can also take a while to understand things at the best of times.

Hard – This quality gives the firm muscles and strength in both mind and body.

Gross – Kaphas can suffer from fatty tissue, blockages and obesity.

Sweet – These people have a sweet nature, and are also drawn to sweet foods that can cause them to become unbalanced.

Salty – Salty taste will assist in digestion, however, too much salt can lead to fluid retention and this can often be a problem for Kaphas.

White – Kaphas have a pale complexion, they love white food especially dairy.

Lifestyle factors to limit – Too much sitting, excess exposure to damp and cold, lying around watching movies for extended periods and spending too much time alone.

Emotions and diet

Kaphas move slowly, speak slowly and don’t like being forced into making quick decisions. They have stable minds and a solid sense of self, but out of balance they can struggle with long episodes of depression and melancholy. These are very private individuals and often suffer alone, making everyone’s problems more important than their own. Kaphas’ first step in addressing their emotions is admitting to what they are feeling, as they often minimise their emotions or laugh them off. Giving themselves permission to cry or show their vulnerability to those they trust is a big thing for Kaphas, who tend to soldier on regardless.

Kapha types love sweet foods and will be the people who crave ice-cream or a sweet treat after dinner. Indulging in habits like this will only lead to weight gain, excess mucus and negative feelings about themselves.

For food that suits Kaphas, see the charts at the back of the book, pages 244–5.

Routine and exercise

For Kapha types to lead balanced lives, they need to challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zones. Often found talking about wanting to begin an exercise or weight-loss program, they need to just start. Once they start something they are the most dedicated and consistent of all the doshas and blessed with strong bodies that have great endurance.

They are natural earth mothers and some may find it difficult to let their children grow up and lead independent lives. Kaphas need to spend more time focusing on themselves and less on others.

Ayurveda is the science that indicates the appropriate and inappropriate, happy or sorrowful conditions of living, what is auspicious or inauspicious for longevity, as well as the measure of life itself.

–Charaka Samhita 1.41

STAGES OF LIFE AND AYURVEDIC SEASONS

It is not only food that affects our constitutions; the environment, time of day, time of year and the weather also have an effect. Certain elements are more dominant in our body at certain times of our lives, to the point where they can dominate or strongly affect our health. These phases (also known as stages) are also named, a little confusingly, as doshas. So you could be a Vata dosha going through a Kapha phase of life in Pitta weather (summer). See more about seasonal eating in The Ayurvedic approach to health chapter (pages 42–6). If you are a blend of doshas or tridoshic (a balance of all three) this could become even more complicated, especially if you are cooking for a family with mixed doshas.

These stages of life are described beautifully in ancient Ayurvedic texts.

Kapha stage: 0 to 18 years – Student

Pitta stage: 18 to 50–55 years – Householder

Pitta Vata stage: 50–55 to 75 years – Hermitage

Vata stage: 75 years to death – Renunciation

The years in each stage are not fixed and will vary with each individual.

The Kapha stage is known as the ‘student’ phase of life as this is a time of learning and discovering boundaries and discipline. It is a time for building knowledge and intellect along with new tissues in the body. Mucus is the by-product of the manufacture of tissue and this is why young children, no matter what dosha they are, always seem to have an issue with mucus.

The Pitta phase can actually be divided into two phases. The first part of the Pitta phase is referred to as the ‘householder’ years where the focus of one’s life is on making your mark in the world, meeting a partner, creating a home and raising a family. This fire stage is mainly about working hard and building wealth, and we use the momentum and heat created in the body in these years to help us stay focused on the job at hand, and during this period we may feel more confident, sociable and ambitious. Because there is more heat in the body during these years we may also suffer with insomnia, skin issues, heartburn, stomach ulcers and hypertension.

The second half of the Pitta phase, also known as the Pitta Vata phase, is often referred to as the ‘hermitage’ stage and happens after 50 or 55 years where people start to let go of the attachments to money and fame and become more involved in helping others or focusing on their retirement. People may move to a quieter area and choose to live a simpler life but they are still available to family and their community for help and advice. During this phase people may show signs of both Pitta and Vata imbalance.

The Vata stage is known as the ‘renunciation’ stage where we are preparing for death. I know that sounds a little morbid but it can be an incredibly special time in one’s life. People in this phase, even if very mentally and physically active, start to become progressively more inward looking and less concerned with what is happening in the world around them; their body is now dominated by Vata so it becomes drier and colder and their digestion slows down. Joints may ache and they may become more forgetful, anxious and fearful.

The transition is slow and happens over several years, and people develop at different ages and stages. If we try to fight against these stages, it will quickly create imbalances in our bodies. In some ways the refusal of people in the west to gracefully accept and honour ageing and its natural phases could be seen as the cause of many of the health issues we are seeing today.

Issues that may arise during the Kapha years: stomach problems, congested lungs, blocked sinuses, runny noses.

Issues that may arise during the Pitta years: skin problems, acne, infection, inflammation, blood issues, headaches, migraines, liver problems, bile.

Issues that may arise during the Vata years: negativity around ageing, loss of flexibility and strength in the body, memory loss, dryness, loss of direction, osteoporosis, frailty, weakness of the immune system, joint pain.

Now that you know your dosha, or doshas, you can begin to work to nourish and look after yourself according to it and the stage of life you are in as well as being more aware of why you might be more susceptible to certain environments, seasons, changes to the weather and foods than others.

Added to that, I always recommend that people are mindful of the signs of Vata imbalance. We all have some level of Vata imbalance these days, which is the direct result of living busy lives in which we are exposed to way too much Vata unbalancing technology – phones, computers, ipads etc.

The main thing about this book is that you learn how to familiarise yourself with what isn’t working for you. If your doshas are strongly out of balance, then you may need to follow the chapter set aside for the dosha that is out of balance until you come back into balance and then you can return to following an eating and lifestyle regime that is more in line with your own constitution. (See page 22 for Vata, page 27 for Pitta and page 31 for Kapha.)