Which vegetables should you eat based on your Ayurveda body constitution?

Vegetables are an important part of our diet but having the right ones for your predominant dosha type body is even more important. If you don’t know your dosha, click here to take the test. Ayurveda looks at each individual based on the body constitution of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, all represented by the universal elements of water, fire, earth, air and ether/space. Each of these elements has their own qualities such as fire being hot, earth being solid, air being changeable etc. Every food also has its own qualities and how these affect the body are dependant on your predominant dosha. In Ayurveda, the principle of like increases like, meaning that if the qualities of a predominant dosha are increased by having foods with the same qualities, the body will therefore become imbalanced. So looking at the Ayurvedic nutrition for each body constitution, learning the qualities of the foods you eat will determine how your body will feel once you eat these foods. Let’s look at some vegetables that balance each dosha, and some that can aggravate each one. 

PITA DOSHA

Pitta predominant people require foods that have a cooling quality, because Pitta’s represent the elements of fire and water. Adding more heat would create an imbalance to the digestion and the body overall. Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes balance Pitta, whilst salty, sour and pungent aggravate it.
Some vegetables to consider: 
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MORE OF: 
Peas,cucumber, mushrooms, celery, cabbage, lettuce, asparagus, green beans.

LESS OF:
Carrots, tomatoes, onions, beetroot, sweet potatoes, avocado, radishes, turnips.

VATA DOSHA

The qualities of foods that the Kapha predominant people require are light, warm and freshly cooked. The Kapha dosha is represented by the Earth and water elements. Reflecting this, its qualities are heavy, solid, cold, soft and slow. The tastes that balance Kapha are pungent, bitter and astringent, whilst sweet, sour and salty increase it, therefore bringing it out of balance. Some vegetables to consider:

MORE OF:
brussel sprouts, garlic, radishes, onions, mushrooms, celery, carrots, turnips, watercress, green beans.

LESS OF:
Avocado, cucumber, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, corn, zucchini. 

KAPHA DOSHA

The qualities of foods that the Vata predominant people require are warm and nourishing foods, that are cooked preferably meaning they are easier to digest. The Vata dosha is represented by the elements of air and space, therefore there is a lot of cold and dry in Vata. When Vata is too dry (out of balance) it can be expressed through dry skin, fragile or weaker joints and bones, thin dry hair, constipation etc. Therefore Vatas requires nourishing, warming foods that nurture their body, nurtures their creative minds and brings heat to their digestion. The tastes that balance Vata dosha are sweet, sour and salty, whilst pungent, astringent and bitter tastes increase its natural state. 
Some vegetables to consider:
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MORE OF:
sweet potatoes, carrots, beetroot, chillies, avocado, radishes, bell peppers, eggplant, green beans.

LESS OF:
Peas, cucumber, white potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, celery, cabbage, lettuce, green olives.