Each person is made up of their own special mix of the three doshas of Ayurveda. Although we cannot see them, the three doshas are responsible for all processes of the mind and body. In this post, we share the guidelines for the Kapha diet and lifestyle.
Each of us has a unique blend of the three doshas.
Kapha provides all structure in the body. It has earthy, watery, oily, and cold qualities.
Some of the most common symptoms of a Kapha imbalance include:
- Over-weight or obesity
- Feeling foggy, heavy, dull, or slow
- Excess mucous
- Thick, white coating on tongue
- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Slow, sluggish digestion
- Lethargy
- Water retention or edema
- Congestion, colds and cough
- Diabetes
- Allergies
- Low thyroid function
- Yeast conditions
- Sinus congestion
- Lymphatic disorders
Kapha Diet and Lifestyle
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Eat organic, whole, healthy foods that have a naturally bitter, pungent and astringent taste
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Favor light, dry, and warming foods
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Eat fewer sweet, sour, and salty foods
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Kapha is balanced by eating less food
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Eat a light breakfast
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Eat your main meal between 11 am – 2 pm and take a light evening meal
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Avoid snacking and late-night eating
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Cut white sugar and greasy, fatty foods
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Use warming spices to improve digestion
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Favor warm beverages
Kapha Food List
Dairy
Grains
Favor: Amaranth, barley, basmati rice, buckwheat, corn flour, quinoa, rye
Reduce: Oats, long and short grain rice (white or brown), wheat or whole wheat
Sweeteners
Favor: Raw honey only
Reduce: Butter, buttermilk, cream, cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, Kefir, sour cream, yogurt
Vegetables
Favor: Sprouts, artichokes, asparagus, green beans, bell peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celergy, chilies, cilantro, corn, kale, lettuce, and other leafy greens like mustard greens, onions, parsley
Reduce: Beets, cucumber, eggplant, okra, tomatoes, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, water chestnuts, zucchini
Fruit
Favor: Dried fruits as they are not too sweet. Apples, cherries, cranberries, grapefruit, pomegranate, prunes, raisins
Avoid: Sweet fruits avocados, bananas, berries, cantaloupe, coconut, dates, figs, grapes, mango, melons, pineapple, oranges, peaches, pears, persimmons, plums, tangerines and watermelon
Beans
Favor: Mung beans, red lentils, soybeans (tofu & soymilk) split peas
Reduce: black lentils, chickpeas
Nuts
Favor: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
Reduce: Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, coconut, filberts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, peanuts, walnuts
Meats
Oils
Use oils in small amounts only. Even the best oils, if overused will aggravate Kapha Dosha.
Favor: Flaxseed, mustard, safflower, sunflower
Reduce: Almond, avocado, castor, coconut, olive, peanut and sesame
Herbs and Spices
Kapha types can take any spices. Their food should be well-spiced and never bland. They do well with any spice but should reduce Salt.
Kapha Lifestyle
- Get plenty of vigorous exercise often
- Don't sleep in past 6 am and never sleep during daylight hours
- Stimulate your mind by learning new things
- Socialize often with friends or take part in activities that explore your limits
- Sleep with light, warm covers, with the window cracked for fresh air
- Never over-eat or snack often
Things That Throw Kapha Off Balance:
- Overeating
- Eating Kapha aggravating food
- Watching too much television
- Living in cold, damp climates
- Being lazy
- Avoiding mental challenges
- Storing emotions
- Eating to repress emotions
- Focusing too much on material goods
Please don't hesitate to ask me questions in the comment area below. I’m here to help you out and I would love nothing more than for you to be the healthiest and happiest version of yourself possible. Let me know if you need anything and I will be sure to get back within “hours” most of the time.
I look forward to helping you!
Hello, I am getting confused on recomendations on Kapha diet. For example some say eat berries others say avoid them. Same with oils etc… conflicting lists. I’m just starting. So don’t know how to research this.
Hello Nancy,
Ayurveda recognizes 6 tastes: Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. Most fruits are sweet. The sweet taste can imbalance Kapha dosha because sweet taste promotes heavy qualities in the body. Yes, food lists can be confusing and they can vary a bit. Some fruits are better than others. Tart apples and cherries are highly recommended in springtime. Are you primarily Kapha? I wouldn’t get too concerned with this unless you are very Kapha imbalanced. Personally, I consider food lists but try to eat seasonally… meaning I eat the fruit that nature is producing in each season.
Thank you for your information. It’s very helpful. I will be following this hoping it will help me.
You are welcome, Teresa. Come back and let me know how you’re doing.
Realizing that a lot of the sluggishness I’m feeling, along with the congestion (I love icecream and live on a dairy farm, yikes!) comes from Kapha imbalance. i consume too much dairy and am not active enough, and tend to eat big meals. I have a feeling my life is about to change in a big way, thank you for this information. I’ve tried OMAD (one meal a day) in the past, and felt really good doing it, but didn’t do it longterm. Do you think this kind of reduced eating is good for kapha?
Typically Kapha types are not hungry in the morning and so they don’t want a meal until late morning. It would be better to have a light breakfast, then eat your largest meal before the sunsets and then do not eat again till morning. There are many, many benefits to fasting for 12 hours. It’s very important to get some sort of exercise too!