This page isn't going to teach you everything you need to know about Doshas or your constitution, but hopefully we can get you started, and wanting to learn more. But if you are looking to get a good quick start understanding, here is our bullet-pointed, 200 words on your first step into the world of Ayurveda.
Ayurvedists recognize that the world is comprised of five elements:
- Space
- Air
- Fire
- Water
- Earth.

Those five elements then combine into three natural and common combinations -- effectively human constitutions:
- Pitta (Fire and Water)
- Vata (Wind and Space)
- Kapha (Water and Earth)
You will naturally be defined primarily by one of these, and to smaller and varying degrees by the other two. Your Dosha then has implications across the board -- from your body composition and frame, to your eating habits, thought processes, tones and rhythms of speech.
Know your Dosha to know your strengths and needs. Learn what foods are right for you, what supplements you should take, what kind of exercise, recreation, and relaxation you should partake in.
But that's only the beginning. Your Dosha will only get you so far. You will want to get in touch with your trusted Ayurvedic practitioner to assemble a more tailored and more precise plan, and we can help you with that here. But knowing and strategizing around your Dosha needs gets you started.
For example, you can check out the tables just below here to understand the foods that work best for you. These are just for Fruits, Veggies, and Daily, but please send us an email to info@ayurmegha.com if you'd like to see the full set of tables in a more visually pleasing manner.
But just in case you can't readily get your hands on tamarind, taro root, and turmeric, or don't care to spend the time properly preparing them, we can help you find the appropriate dietary supplements to keep your nutritional strategies optimal for your Dosha. Simply check out Kottakkal's website to peruse their offering. Or better yet, set up a quick session with one of our Vaidya to hone in on a more refined nutritional strategy, and enjoy a 10% on their products:
FRUITS
|
Vata |
Pitta |
Kapha |
Avoid |
Favor |
Avoid |
Favor |
Avoid |
Favor |
Generally most dried fruit |
Generally most sweet fruit |
Generally most sour fruit |
Generally most sweet fruit |
Generally most sweet & sour fruit |
Apples |
Apples (raw) |
Apples (cooked) |
Apples (sour) |
Apples (sweet) |
Avocado |
Applesauce |
Cranberries |
Applesauce |
Apricots (sour) |
Applesauce |
Bananas |
Apricots |
Dates (dry) |
Apricots |
Bananas |
Apricots (sweet) |
Coconut |
Berries |
Figs (dry) |
Avocado |
Berries (sour) |
Avocado |
Dates |
Cherries |
Pears |
Bananas |
Cherries (sour) |
Berries (sweet) |
Figs (fresh) |
Cranberries |
Persimmons |
Berries |
Cranberries |
Cherries (sweet) |
Grapefruit |
Figs (dry)* |
Pomegranates |
Cherries |
Grapefruit |
Coconut |
Kiwi |
Grapes* |
Raisins (dry) |
Coconut |
Grapes (green) |
Dates |
Mangos** |
Lemons* |
Prunes (dry) |
Dates (fresh) |
Kiwi** |
Figs |
Melons |
Limes* |
Watermelon |
Figs (fresh) |
Lemons |
Grapes (red & purple) |
Oranges |
Peaches* |
|
Grapefruit |
Mangoes (green) |
Limes* |
Papaya |
Pears |
|
Grapes |
Oranges (sour) |
Mangoes (ripe) |
Pineapple |
Persimmons |
|
Kiwi |
Peaches |
Melons |
Plums |
Pomegranates |
|
Lemons |
Persimmons |
Oranges (sweet)* |
Rhubarb |
Prunes |
|
Limes |
Pineapple (sour) |
Papaya* |
Tamarind |
Raisins |
|
Mangoes |
Plums (sour) |
Pears |
Watermelon |
Strawberries* |
|
Melons |
Rhubarb |
Pineapple (sweet)* |
|
|
|
Oranges |
Tamarind |
Plums (sweet) |
|
|
|
Papaya |
|
Pomegranates |
|
|
|
Peaches |
|
Prunes |
|
|
|
Pineapple |
|
Raisins |
|
|
|
Plums |
|
Strawberries* |
|
|
|
Prunes (soaked) |
|
Watermelon |
|
|
|
Raisins (soaked) |
|
|
|
|
|
Rhubarb |
|
|
|
|
|
Strawberries |
|
|
|
|
|
Tamarind |
|
|
|
|
|
VEGETABLES
|
Vata |
Pitta |
Kapha |
Avoid |
Favor |
Avoid |
Favor |
Avoid |
Favor |
Generally frozen, raw or dried vegetables |
In general, vegetables should be cooked |
In general, pungent vegetables |
In general, sweet & bitter vegetables |
In general, sweet & juicy vegetables |
In general, most pungent & bitter vegetables |
Artichoke |
Asparagus |
Beet greens |
Artichoke |
Cucumber |
Artichoke |
Beet greens** |
Beets |
Beets (raw) |
Asparagus |
Olives, black or green |
Asparagus |
Bitter melon |
Cabbage* (cooked) |
Burdock root |
Beets (cooked) |
Parsnips** |
Beet greens |
Broccoli |
Carrots |
Corn (fresh)** |
Bitter melon |
Potatoes, sweet |
Beets |
Brussels sprouts |
Cauliflower* |
Daikon radish |
Broccoli |
Pumpkin |
Bitter melon |
Burdock root |
Cilantro |
Eggplant** |
Brussels sprouts |
Squash, summer |
Broccoli |
Cabbage (raw) |
Cucumber |
Garlic |
Cabbage |
Taro root |
Brussels sprouts |
Cauliflower (raw) |
Daikon radish* |
Green chilies |
Carrots (cooked) |
Tomatoes (raw) |
Burdock root |
Celery |
Fennel (Anise) |
Horseradish |
Carrots (raw)* |
Zucchini |
Cabbage |
Corn (fresh)** |
Garlic |
Kohlrabi ** |
Cauliflower |
|
Carrots |
Dandelion greens |
Green beans |
Leeks (raw) |
Celery |
|
Cauliflower |
Eggplant |
Green chilies |
Mustard greens |
Cilantro |
|
Celery |
Horseradish** |
Jerusalem |
Olives, green |
Cucumber |
|
Cilantro |
Kale |
Artichoke* |
Onions (raw) |
Dandelion greens |
|
Corn |
Kohlrabi |
Leafy greens* |
Peppers (hot) |
Fennel (Anise) |
|
Daikon radish |
Mushrooms |
Leeks |
Prickly pear (fruit) |
Green beans |
|
Dandelion greens |
Olives, green |
Lettuce* |
Radishes (raw) |
Jerusalem artichoke |
|
Eggplant |
Onions (raw) |
Mustard greens* |
Spinach (cooked)** |
Kale |
|
Fennel (Anise) |
Peas (raw) |
Okra |
Spinach (raw) |
Leafy greens |
|
Garlic |
Peppers, sweet & hot |
Olives, black |
Tomatoes |
Leeks (cooked) |
|
Green beans |
Potatoes, white |
Onions (cooked)* Parsley* |
Turnip greens |
Lettuce |
|
Green chilies |
Prickly pear (fruit & leaves) |
Parsnip |
Turnips |
Mushrooms |
|
Horseradish |
Radish (raw) |
Peas (cooked) |
|
Okra |
|
Jerusalem artichoke |
Squash, winter |
Potatoes, sweet |
|
Olives, black Onions (cooked) |
|
Kale |
Tomatoes (cooked)** |
Pumpkin |
|
Parsley |
|
Kohlrabi |
Tomatoes (raw) Turnips |
Radishes (cooked)* |
|
Parsnips |
|
Leafy greens |
Wheat grass, sprouts |
Rutabaga |
|
Peas |
|
Leeks |
|
Spaghetti squash* |
|
Peppers, sweet |
|
Lettuce Mushrooms |
|
Spinach (cooked)* |
|
Potatoes, sweet & white |
|
Mustard greens |
|
Spinach (raw)* |
|
Prickly pear (leaves) |
|
Okra |
|
Sprouts* |
|
Pumpkin |
|
Onions |
|
Squash, summer |
|
Radishes (cooked) |
|
Parsley |
|
Taro root |
|
Rutabaga |
|
Peas |
|
Turnip greens* |
|
Spaghetti squash |
|
Peppers, sweet & hot |
|
Watercress |
|
Sprouts (not spicy) |
|
Potatoes, white |
|
Zucchini |
|
Squash, winter and summer |
|
Prickly pear (fruit & leaves) |
|
|
|
Taro root |
|
Radishes |
|
|
|
Watercress* |
|
Rutabaga |
|
|
|
Wheat grass, sprouts |
|
Spaghetti squash* |
|
|
|
Zucchini |
|
Spinach |
|
|
|
|
|
Sprouts |
|
|
|
|
|
Squash, winter |
|
|
|
|
|
Tomatoes (cooked) |
|
|
|
|
|
Turnip greens |
|
|
|
|
|
Turnips |
|
|
|
|
|
Watercress |
|
|
|
|
|
Wheat grass, sprouts |
|
DAIRY
|
Vata |
Pitta |
Kapha |
Avoid |
Favor |
Avoid |
Favor |
Avoid |
Favor |
Cow's milk (powdered) |
Most dairy is good! |
Butter (salted) |
Butter (unsalted) |
Butter (salted) |
Buttermilk* |
Goat's milk (powdered) |
Butter |
Buttermilk |
Cheese (soft, not aged, unsalted) |
Butter (unsalted)** |
Cottage cheese (from skimmed goat's milk) |
Yogurt (plain, frozen or w/ fruit) |
Buttermilk |
Cheese (hard) |
Cottage cheese |
Cheese (soft & hard) |
Ghee* |
Favor |
Butter |
Sour cream |
Cow's milk |
Cow's milk |
Goat's cheese (unsalted & not aged)* |
|
Cheese (hard)* |
Yogurt (plain, frozen or w/fruit) |
Ghee |
Ice cream |
Goat's milk, skim |
|
Cheese (soft) |
Favor |
Goat's milk |
Sour cream |
Yogurt (diluted) |
|
Cottage cheese |
|
Goat's cheese (soft, unsalted) |
Yogurt (plain, frozen or w/fruit) |
|
|
Cow's milk |
|
Ice cream |
|
|
|
Ghee |
|
Yogurt (freshly made & diluted)* |
|
|
|
Goat's cheese |
|
|
|
|
|
Goat's milk |
|
|
|
|
|
Ice cream* |
|
|
|
|
|
Sour cream* |
|
|
|
|
|
Yogurt (diluted & spiced)* |
|
|
|
|
|
For more information on your best food and supplement choices, please email us at info@ayurmegha.com, and check out our nutritional supplements here.