The three types of Ayurveda. Which is yours?

In Ayurveda each of us has a constitution, and based on it, the therapist establishes a lifestyle that balances the whole. This constitution is determined by the activity of the three doshas or humorsWhat are they vata, pitta and kapha.

Each of them corresponds to an energy and each person has a different combination of them, in which one or two predominate. Kapha is identified with the water bodily; pitta is the fire which gives heat, and Vata is associated with air. Here is more information about them.

What is your dosha: vata, pitta or kapha?

Your physical appearance, personality traits or behaviors that are accentuated when you feel good or when you feel bad and some physical symptoms of imbalance help determine which dosha is predominant in each person.

Find out which one is yours with this little test and what are the basic recommendations to take care of yourself through food in each case.

Based on your overall appearance

Your constitution, the appearance of your skin and your hair, your eyes, your lips and the appearance of your teeth vary depending on whether one dosha or another predominates:

Vata: Slim, bony build; dry, rough, cold skin; sparse, dark, fine, curly hair; small dry, dull eyes; thin, dry lips; teeth sometimes misaligned.pitta: Build and middleweight; freckled skin; moderate hair or premature balding, fine, soft, reddish or gray; piercing green, gray or hazel eyes; medium-sized red or pink lips; medium teeth.Kapha: Short stature, strong and well developed body; oily, soft, smooth skin; wavy, abundant, thick, oily, shiny hair; large, prominent, attractive eyes; strong, white teeth, firm and thick lips.

According to your positive mental traits

In personality some virtues are more marked depending on your profile:

Vata: Strength, flexibility, imagination, sensitivity, spontaneity, positivity, speed (to learn, to forget), enthusiasm.pitta: Sharpness, intelligence, security, clarity, joy, ambition, friendly, courageous, independent, good memory.Kapha: Calm, ability to love, tolerance, serenity, wisdom, compassion, loyalty, patience, stability, slowness (to learn, to forget).

According to your negative mental traits

When the dosha is altered, the tendency to develop certain behaviors can be accentuated:

Vata: Anguish, agitation, feeling empty, ungrateful, nervousness, indecisiveness, hyperactivity, reserve, addiction.pitta: Anger, cruelty, irritability, criticism, jealousy, aggressiveness, conceit, domineering, arrogant, vindictive.Kapha: Depression, possessiveness, lethargy, greed, desire to control, insecurity, apathy, vulgarity, laziness, materialism.

According to your physical symptoms of the imbalance

Your predisposition to suffer certain problems can also give information about what your predominant dosha is:

Vata: Insomnia, loss of appetite, gas, constipation, cramps, low back pain, varicose veins, joint clicking.pitta: Hot flashes, heartburn, hemorrhoids, burning eyes, allergies, colitis.Kapha: Sinus congestion, cough, cold, high cholesterol, asthma, overweight, diabetes, bronchitis.

How to balance the doshas with food

If you are vata, when an excess of air is generated, in general you should use the cooked foods better than raw. They are especially recommended:

Vegetables: asparagus, garlic, green beans, leeks, cooked onion, pumpkin, cooked cabbages.Fruit: apples, apricots, kiwis.Cereals and legumes: amaranth, whole wheat pasta, cooked oats, seitan, lentils, millet, mung beans, tofu.Others: pumpkin and sunflower seeds, nuts.

If you are pitta, your allies are the cold foodto moderate the fire.

Vegetables: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, dandelions, lettuce, peas, peppers,Fruit: avocados, berries, plums, pomegranates,Cereals and legumes: amaranth, barley, whole wheat pasta, oat bran, basmati rice, chickpeas, soybeans, beans, lentils.Others: rehydrated almonds and olive oil.

If you are kapha, Are you interested in combating the heaviness caused by excess fluids with light food.

Vegetables: Cabbages, leeks, mushrooms, onion, hot and sweet peppers, pumpkin, cooked tomato,Fruit: apples, berries, plums and raisins,Cereals and legumes: amaranth, barley, corn, couscous, oats, polenta, basmati rice, beans, chickpeas, lentils.Others: flax and sunflower seeds.