Diet for Vata Constitution

A wholesome diet is essential not only for maintaining health but also for fighting diseases. Intake of proper quantity of food promotes longevity, does not aggravate the doshas, and maintains the digestive capacity. One needs to observe some basic rules alongwith intake of a wholesome diet:

• Consumption of warm food is essential as it helps in digestion and also with the downward passage of vata.

• Oily food is beneficial as it helps in stimulating the digestion process, gives strength to the body and sense faculties, and improves complexion.

• Food should be consumed only after the digestion of the previous meal, as then it promotes proper digestion, appetite, proper manifestation of the natural urges and promotes longevity of the person.

• Food with contradictory potencies should be avoided.

• Eating food at the right place and the right time helps to reduce emotional strains.

• Eating in a hurry or carelessly results in the food entering the wrong passage and gives rise to consequences that causes serious complications.

• Eating too slowly does not give satisfaction and impairs digestion.

• Food should be eaten with concentration and self-confidence.

• Knowledge of the benefits of food is essential for good health. Apart from this one also needs to follow a disciplined life or at least avoid habits that are bad for one's health.


Habits advised for people having vata constitution are

• Massage with til or mustard oil.

• Application of aromatic powder e.g. Sandalwood.

• Bathing with hot water.

• Sleeping during daytime.

• Singing and dancing.

• Evening stroll under moonlight.

• Listening to good things.

• Avoiding stress.

Habits not advisable and hence best avoided are

• Fasting

• Eating in little quantity than sufficient

• Too much of worries, fear and anger

• Excessive coitus

• Excessive talking, singing and traveling

• Purgation restricted.

Diet advised for people having vata constitution

Food Item

• Wheat

• Rice

• Urad (Black gram)

• Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

• Til (Sesamum)

• Kanji (Starch)

• Milk

• Curd

• Sweets

• Ghee

• Oil

• Old Jaggery

• Caster oil

• Coconut

• Sarnso (Mustard)

Vegetables

• Potato

• Brinjal

• Parwal (Pointed gourd)

• Onion

• Drumstick

• Elephant root

• Ginger

• Garlic

• Carrot

• Kachhi muli (Radish)

• Banana flower

Fruits

• Mango

• Tamarind

• Pomegranate

• Orange

• Coconut

• Amala (Emblic myrobalan)

• Banana

• Lime

• Sugarcane

• Berry

• Amrut (Aconite / Monk's hood)

• Tarbuj (Water melon)

• Shahatun (Mulberry)

Dry Fruits

• Cashew nut

• Almond

• Pista (Pistachio nut)

• Akrot (Walnut)

• Alubukhara (Plum)

Masala /Spices

• Ginger

• Tamarind

• Jeera (Cumin seed)

• Tejpatra (Himalayan silver fir )

• Tulsi (Sacred Basil / Holy Basil)

• Pudina (Spear-Mint / Garden mint)

• Black pepper

• Loung (Clove)

• Garlic

• Mirchi (chilli)

• Sounf (Fennel)

• Sauchal salt (Rock salt)

• Hing (Asafoetida)

• Elayachi (Cardamom)

• Keshar (Saffron)

Animal Products

• Milk

 • Curd

• Buttermilk

• Butter

• Buttermilk

• Ghee (Saturated fats

Diet restricted for people having vata constitution

Food Item

• Chana (Bengal gram)

• Moth (Aconite bean)

• Chauli (Amaranth tender)

• Old Barley

• Corn

• Masoor (Lentil)

• Vatana (Peas)

Vegetables

• Moth (Aconite bean)

• Chauli (Amaranth tender)

• Karela (Bitter gourd)

• Kakdi (Cucumber)

• Tindali (Coccinia cordifolia)

• Ladies finger

Fruits

• Ripe Mango

• Jamun (Black berry)

• Papaya (Papaw / Papaya)

• Jackfruit

• Bilvafal (Bael)

• Sitafal (Custard apple)

Dry Fruits

• Singhada (Caltrops / Water chestnut /Singhara nut )

• Khajur (Date)

• Supari (Betel nut)