Pitta Diet and Lifestyle Guidelines

Pitta Diet and Lifestyle

• Eat organic, whole, foods that have a naturally sweet, (this doesn't mean white sugar) bitter or astringent taste.
• Because Pitta dosha is hot and moist, it is balanced by cooling foods and herbs like mint, cucumber, and milk
• Pitta is imbalanced by heavy processed foods like canned foods, pastries, ready-to-eat meals, and deep fried foods especially
• Avoid any sour, spicy, hot, and pungent foods
• Pitta types tend to experience acid reflux, so eat regular intervals of time without starving yourself
• People who have a lot of fire are pretty sensitive to their surroundings so don't eat while you're watching the news or anything that would cause you to be upset. Eat peacefully and don't ever eat if you're having an emotional conflict.

Within 15 days of beginning this Pitta diet and lifestyle, you should notice changes in your digestion that is more stable. As a result, your energy levels will be more balanced.

Favor: Nut Milks, unsalted butter, ghee, plain yogurt, cottage cheese, unsalted goat cheese

Reduce or Eliminate: Flavored or sweetened yogurt, hard cheeses, sour cream

Favor: Wheat, barley, oats, rice, amaranth, couscous, quinoa, tapioca

Reduce or eliminate: Brown rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, rye

Favor: Honey, jaggery

Reduce or eliminate: White sugar, artificial sweeteners, malt syrup, maple syrup

Favor: Dark leafy greens, okra, cucumber, asparagus, pumpkin, cauliflower, green beans, zucchini, celery, lettuce, sweet potato, potato, broccoli, kale, wheatgrass, peas, parsnip

Reduce or eliminate: Raw beets, raw carrots, raw garlic, raw onion, eggplant, hot peppers, tomato, spinach, radish

Favor: Pomegranate, ripe pineapple, orange, plum, grape, cherries, melons, mangos, papaya, avocado, dates, figs, strawberries, watermelon, lime, pear, raisins

Reduce or eliminate: Apricot, grapefruit, cranberry, kiwi, banana, lemon

Favor: Lima beans, mung dal, mung beans, black beans, adzuki beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, soybeans, pinto beans, chickpeas, tofu

Reduce or eliminate: Tuvar dal, urad dal

Favor: Soaked and peeled almonds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut

Reduce or eliminate: Cashews, brazil nuts, chia seeds, peanuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, walnuts, sesame seeds, pine nuts, pecans

Favor: Chicken, turkey, pheasant, fresh water fish

Reduce or eliminate: Eggs, seafood, beef, pork, or any red meat

Favor: Coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil, soy oil

Reduce or eliminate: Almond oil, sesame oil, apricot oil, safflower oil, corn oil

Favor: Basil, cilantro, saffron, coriander, cardamom, cumin, fennel, mint, dill, neem, turmeric, wintergreen

Reduce or eliminate: Chili or cayenne peppers, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, clove, black pepper, nutmeg, oregano, sage, thyme, poppy seeds, rosemary, marjoram, mace, asafetida, ajwain

Restrict to occasional white wine or beer

Pitta Lifestyle

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day. (Four meals are generally better than three).
• Aim to eat freshly cooked meals with cooling spices
• Do not drink coffee, tea or alcohol on an empty stomach
• Drink plenty of lukewarm water and herbal teas prepared with fennel or coriander
• Do not drink ice water
• Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits from Recommended Pitta Food list above
• Do not eat fruits or drink fruit juices with your meals. Eat them on an empty stomach before meals.
• Swimming, aquatic yoga and aqua gymnastics are ideal exercise
• Restorative and gentle yoga like Yin yoga are good for Pitta types to calm their aggressive nature. Since they prefer intense movements, Ashtanga Yoga could serve them. But it's advisable to avoid vigorous practices like Power or Bikram Yoga.
• Practice deep abdominal breathing and cooling breaths like Sheetakari Sheetali, and Chandra Bhedi Pranayama
• Take a 15-30 minute nap during the afternoon to restore your energy level
• Take a lukewarm shower. Avoid hot showers
• Maintain a sleeping routine
• Meditate for 30-45 minutes regularly
• Take lots of walks in nature at sundown. Preferably alongside a body of water or in a shaded park to cool and calm agitated body and mind.