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InfoPlace Home > Yoga Articles > Read Yoga Articles > Food Articles > Balanced Food

Health And Yoga News Letters - Balanced Food

By Shyam Mehta

Every person has a basic constitution that does not change from birth to death. From time to time he or she has illnesses or other disturbances.

This constitution is characterized by his or her Ayurvedic tri-dosha balance [x% kapha, y% pitta, 1-x%-y% vatta].

The food that you eat should optimally correspond to your tri-dosha balance. Over time, as your yoga practice develops, you become much more sensitive to what you eat and you prefer vegetarian, fresh, light food.

Your diet also needs to change if you want to become fit, or want to reduce weight.

Here is a list of how various foods help or harm your tri-dosha balance to move towards harmony [1/3/1/3/1/3]. A "-1" implies that this food is bad for a person with this excess, a "1" is good for you (in moderation). For example, unsalted butter in moderation is good for someone with an excess of pitta energy in their system (that is, their pitta proportion exceeds 33.3%). It is also good if he or she also has an excess of kapha, but not so good if there is an excess of vata.

		Vata	Pitta	Kapha
Dairy
	Butter salted	1	-1	-1
	Butter unsalted	-1	1	1
	Buttermilk	1	-1	-1
	Cheese hard	-1	-1	-1
	Cheese soft	1	-1	-1
	Cheese soft, not aged, unsalted	1	1	-1
	Cottage cheese	1	1	-1
	Cottage cheese, fr skimmed goat's milk	1	1	1
	Cow's milk	1	1	-1
	Cow's milk powdered	-1	-1	-1
	Cow's Milk Semi Skimmed	1	1	1
	Cream Cheese	1	1	-1
	Cream sour	1	-1	-1
	Egg White	1	-1	-1
	Egg Yolk	1	-1	1
	Ensure	1	-1	1
	Ghee	1	1	1
	Goat's cheese unsalted, not aged	1	-1	1
	Goat's cheese, soft, unsalted	1	1	-1
	Goat's milk	1	1	-1
	Goat's milk powdered	-1	1	-1
	Goat's milk, skimmed only	1	1	1
	Margerine	-1	-1	-1
	Soya Milk (hot)	1	1	1
	Tofu	1	1	-1
	Yeast	-1	1	1
	Yoghurt diluted	1	1	1
	Yoghurt diluted & Spiced	1	-1	-1
	Yoghurt plain/frozen/with fruit	-1	-1	-1
	Yoghurt, freshly made & diluted	-1	1	-1
Seeds
	Black sesame seeds	1	1	1
	Sunflower seeds	1	1	1
	Pumpkin seeds	1	1	-1
	White sesame seeds	1	1	1
	Watermelon seeds	1	1	1
	Lotus seeds	1	1	-1
Nuts
	Almonds	1	-1	1
	Chestnuts	1	-1	-1
	Chinese almond	1	1	1
	Coconut	1	1	-1
	Hazelnuts	1	1	-1
	Macadamia	1	1	1
	Mixed nuts x walnuts	1	-1	-1
	Peanuts	1	1	1
	Pecan	1	-1	-1
	Pine nuts	1	1	-1
	Pistaschio	1	-1	1
	Walnuts	1	1	-1
Pulses, beans, legumes
	Aduki beans	-1	1	1
	Beans White	-1	1	1
	Bitter Gourd (alt to lentils)	-1	1	1
	Black (Eyed) Beans	-1	1	1
	Brown (Puy/Massoor) lentils	-1	1	1
	Butter beans	1	1	1
	Chick peas Garbanzos	-1	1	1
	Kidney beans	-1	-1	-1
	Lima Beans	-1	1	1
	Miso	1	-1	1
	Moong Dahl Yellow	1	1	-1
	Mung beans/Split mung with husk	1	1	-1
	Mung Whole	-1	1	1
	Navy beans	-1	1	1
	Peas dried	-1	1	1
	Pinto Beans	-1	1	1
	Red split lentils/beans	1	1	1
	Soy beans	-1	1	-1
	Soy cheese	1	1	-1
	Soy Flour	-1	1	-1
	Soy milk	1	1	1
	Soy Powder	-1	-1	-1
	Soy Sauce	1	-1	-1
	Soy sausages	1	1	1
	Soya	-1	1	-1
	Split peas	-1	1	1
	Tempeh	-1	1	1
	Tofu	-1	1	1
	Tofu cold	-1	1	-1
	Toor Dahl	-1	-1	1
	Urud	-1	-1	-1
Vegetables- Leafy
	A Most Cooked	1	-1	1
	A Most Frozen, dried	-1	1	1
	A Most Pungent	1	-1	-1
	A Most Pungent & Bitter	-1	1	1
	A Most Sweet, bitter	1	1	1
	A Most Sweet, juicy	1	1	-1
	Artichoke	-1	1	1
	Artichoke Jerusalem	-1	1	1
	Beet greens	-1	-1	1
	Broccoli	-1	1	1
	Brussel sprouts	-1	1	1
	Cabbage	1	1	1
	Cabbage, Green	1	1	1
	Cauliflower	1	1	1
	Chinese broccoli	1	1	1
	Chinese green	1	1	-1
	Choy sum	-1	-1	1
	Dandelion greens	-1	1	1
	Green leafy veg	-1	1	1
	Leeks	1	1	1
	Lettuce	-1	1	1
	Lettuce Gem	-1	1	-1
	Mustard greens	1	-1	1
	Ong Choy	-1	-1	1
	Pak choy	-1	1	1
	Parsley	-1	1	1
	Spinach	1	1	1
	Watercress	1	1	1
	Wheat grass sprouts	-1	1	1
Vegetables-Salads, Raw
	A Most vegetables	-1	1	-1
	Beets	1	-1	1
	Cabbage	-1	1	1
	Carrot	1	-1	1
	Cauliflower	-1	1	1
	Corn fresh	-1	-1	1
	Cucumber	1	1	-1
	Leeks	1	-1	1
	Lettuce	-1	1	1
	Onions	-1	-1	1
	Parsley	-1	1	1
	Peas	-1	1	1
	Radish	-1	-1	1
	Spinach	-1	-1	1
	Tomato	-1	-1	-1
Vegetables- Non Leafy
	A Most Cooked	1	-1	1
	A Most Frozen, dried	-1	1	-1
	A Most Pungent	-1	-1	1
	A Most Pungent & Bitter	-1	1	1
	A Most Sweet, bitter	1	1	1
	A Most Sweet, juicy	1	-1	-1
	Asparagus	1	1	1
	Aubergine/eggplant	-1	-1	1
	Bean sprouts	1	1	-1
	Beetroot/beets	1	1	1
	Bitter Melon	-1	1	1
	Broad beans	1	1	1
	Burdock root	-1	-1	1
	Carrot	1	1	1
	Carrot White	1	1	1
	Celery	-1	1	1
	Chick peas	-1	-1	-1
	Chilli green	1	-1	1
	Cilantro	1	1	1
	Corn on cob	-1	-1	1
	Courgette	1	1	1
	Cucumber	1	1	-1
	Dried mushroom	-1	1	1
	Fennel/ Anise	1	1	1
	Fresh mushroom	-1	1	1
	Garlic	1	-1	1
	Green beans	1	1	1
	Horse radish	1	-1	1
	Kale	-1	1	1
	Kohlrabi	-1	-1	1
	Lemon	1	1	-1
	Lotus root	-1	1	1
	Marrow	1	1	-1
	Olives black	1	1	-1
	Olives green	-1	-1	-1
	Onions	1	1	1
	Parsnip	1	1	-1
	Peas	1	1	1
	Peppers Hot	-1	-1	1
	Peppers, sweet	-1	1	1
	Potato Sweet	1	-1	1
	Potatoes sweet	1	1	-1
	Potatoes white	-1	1	1
	Prickly pear, Fruit	-1	-1	1
	Prickly pear, Leaves	-1	1	1
	Pumpkin	1	1	-1
	Radish	1	1	1
	Radish Daikon	1	-1	1
	Runner beans	-1	1	1
	Rutabaga	1	1	1
	Spaghetti squash	-1	1	-1
	Spring onion	1	1	1
	Sprouts not spicy	-1	1	1
	Sprouts spicy	-1	-1	1
	Squash summer	1	1	1
	Squash winter	1	1	-1
	String beans	-1	-1	-1
	Suede	-1	1	-1
	Taro root	1	1	-1
	Tomato	1	-1	1
	Turnip greens	-1	-1	1
	Turnips	-1	-1	1
	Yam	1	-1	1
	Zucchini	1	1	-1
Beverages-Non Alcoholic
	Coconut milk	1	1	1
	Fresh vegetable juice	1	1	1
	Black coffee (fresh beans)	-1	1	1
	Lactose	1	1	1
	Fruit juice	-1	1	1
	Black tea	1	1	-1
	Cocoa	1	1	1
	White coffee	-1	1	1
	Indian tea	1	1	-1
	Glutamate	-1	-1	1
	Horlicks	1	1	-1
Beverages - Alcoholic
	Beer	1	1	1
	Red Wine	-1	-1	1
	White Wine	1	1	-1
Herbal Teas
	Nettle tea	1	1	1
	Mint tea	1	1	1
	Camomile	1	-1	1
	China tea	-1	-1	1
	Green tea	1	1	-1
	Chrysanthumum tea	1	-1	-1
Fruit
	Most astringent fruits	1	1	1
	Most sour fruits	-1	-1	1
	Most sweet & sour fruits	-1	1	-1
	Most sweet fruits	1	1	1
	Apple sauce	1	1	1
	Apples cooked	1	1	1
	Apples sour	-1	-1	1
	Apples sweet	-1	1	1
	Apricot	1	-1	1
	Apricots sour	1	-1	1
	Avocado	1	1	-1
	Banana	1	-1	-1
	Berries Sour	1	-1	1
	Berries sweet	1	1	1
	Cherries sour	1	-1	1
	Cherries sweet	1	1	1
	Chinese pear	1	-1	-1
	Cranberries	-1	-1	1
	Dates, fresh	1	1	-1
	Figs	1	1	-1
	Gooseberries	-1	-1	-1
	Grapefruit	1	-1	-1
	Grapes green/white	1	-1	-1
	Grapes red& purple	1	1	-1
	Guava	1	-1	-1
	Kiwi	1	-1	-1
	Lemon	1	-1	-1
	Lime	1	1	-1
	Lychee	1	1	1
	Mangoes green	1	-1	-1
	Mangoes ripe	1	1	-1
	Melon	1	1	-1
	Oranges sour	1	-1	-1
	Oranges sweet	1	1	-1
	Papaya	1	-1	-1
	Passion fruit	1	1	1
	Peach	1	-1	1
	Pears	-1	1	1
	Persimmon	-1	-1	1
	Pineapple sour	1	-1	-1
	Pineapple sweet	1	1	-1
	Plums sour	1	-1	-1
	Plums sweet	1	1	-1
	Pomegranite	-1	1	1
	Prunes soaked	1	1	1
	Raisins soaked	1	1	1
	Rhubarb	1	-1	-1
	Strawberries	1	-1	1
	Tamarind	1	-1	-1
	Tangerine	-1	1	1
	Water melon	-1	1	-1
Dry Fruit
	A Most dry fruit	-1	1	-1
	Sultana	1	1	1
	Figs	-1	1	1
	Prunes	-1	1	1
	Currants	1	1	-1
	Dates	-1	-1	-1
	Raisins	-1	1	1
Oils
	Olive oil	1	1	1
	Sunflower oil	1	1	1
	Humuus	1	1	1
	Tahini	1	1	-1
	Palm oil	1	1	-1
	Corn oil	1	1	1
	Silfa flower	1	-1	-1
	Sesame oil (ext)	1	1	1
	Saaflower oil	1	-1	1
Grains
	Rice	-1	1	1
	Sago	-1	-1	-1
	Millet	-1	1	1
	Basmati rice	-1	-1	1
	Oatmeal	-1	1	-1
	Corn meal	-1	-1	1
	Rye	-1	1	-1
	Wheat bran	-1	1	-1
	Tapioca	-1	-1	1
	Semolina	-1	1	1
	Barley flour	-1	1	-1
	Oats	-1	-1	1
	Wheat flour	-1	1	-1
	Soya	-1	-1	1
Breads,etc
	Rice cakes	1	1	1
	Ryvita	-1	1	-1
	Puri	1	-1	1
	Pitta bread	-1	1	-1
	Fresh bread	1	-1	1
	Chappati	1	1	-1
	Pasta	-1	-1	1
Cereals
	Sugar puffs	-1	1	1
	Cornflakes	-1	1	-1
Sweetners
	Barley malt	1	1	-1
	Fructose	1	1	-1
	Fruit juice concentrate	1	1	1
	Honey raw, not processed	1	-1	1
	Molasses	1	-1	-1
	Sugar white	-1	1	-1
	Honey raw, other	1	-1	-1
	Jaggery	1	-1	-1
	Maple syrup	1	1	-1
	Rice Syrup	1	1	-1
	Sucanat	1	1	-1
	Turbinado	1	1	-1
Sweets
	Blancmange	-1	1	1
	Halva	1	-1	1
	Chocolate	1	1	-1
	Sweet biscuits	-1	-1	1
	Indian sweets	1	-1	-1
	Cakes	-1	1	1
	Icecream	1	1	-1
	Sponges	1	1	-1
	Water lolly..	-1	1	1
Spices, Herbs, Condiments
	Basil	1	-1	1
	Bee pollen	-1	1	1
	Cardamon	1	1	-1
	Corriander	1	1	1
	Curry leaf	1	-1	1
	Ginger	-1	-1	1
	Lemon grass	1	-1	-1
	Mint	-1	1	1
	Nutmeg	1	-1	-1
	Pepper, black	1	1	1
	Tamarind	1	1	1
	Tumeric	-1	-1	1
	Mango chutney sweet	1	1	-1
	Mango pickle	1	-1	-1
	Dulse	1	-1	-1
	Gomasso	1	-1	-1
	Hijiki	1	1	-1
	Kelp	1	-1	-1
	Tomato Ketchup	1	-1	-1
	Kombu	1	1	1
	Lime Pickle	1	-1	-1
	Mayonnaise	1	-1	-1
	Mustard	1	-1	-1
	Pickles	1	-1	-1
	Scallions	1	-1	1
	Seaweed	1	-1	-1
	Tamari	1	-1	-1
	Vinegar	1	-1	-1
	Mustard no vinegar	1	-1	1
	Salt	1	1	1
	Mustard	-1	-1	-1
Miscellaneous
	Soya sauce	1	1	1
	Marmite	1	1	1
	Seaweed	1	-1	-1
	Deep fried	1	1	1
	Chinese fungus	1	1	1
Meat
	Beef	1	-1	-1
	Chicken dark	1	-1	-1
	Duck	1	-1	-1
	Lamb	-1	-1	-1
	Pork	-1	-1	-1
	Turkey dark	1	-1	-1
	Veal	1	1	1
	Chicken white	-1	1	1
	Rabbit	-1	1	1
	Venison	-1	1	1
	Turkey white	-1	1	1
	Buffalo	1	1	-1
Fish
	Cod	1	1	1
	Halibut	-1	1	-1
	Herring	1	-1	1
	Plaice	1	-1	1
	Salmon	1	-1	-1
	Sardine	1	-1	-1
	Sole	-1	1	1
	Trout	1	1	-1
	Tuna	1	-1	-1
	A Freshwater	1	1	1
	A Sea	1	-1	-1
Seafood
	Lobster	1	1	1
	Oysters	-1	-1	1
	Mussels	1	1	-1
	A General	1	-1	-1
	Shrimp	1	1	1

Shyam has been practicing yoga for 47 years and teaching it for 32 years. Shyam is with The Loving Heart Centre and you may visit his website at
http://www.lovingheartcentre.net

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