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The Ayurvedic Approach to Weight Management:
Tips for Pitta-related Weight Imbalances
You would think that since Pitta dosha is associated with the fire
element, a person with high Pitta would not have any problem burning
up carbohydrates and sugars.
Yet if the person doesn't take care of the digestion, that can create
problems. For instance, if someone who is predominantly Pitta by
nature skips breakfast or other meals, that can create ama, digestive
impurities, because the digestive fire becomes too strong. In this
situation, stomach acids can "burn" the food and even damage the
stomach.
To understand how this happens, think of setting an empty pot on the
stove. The heat is on, but there's nothing to cook. Instead, the pot
itself gets burned. In the same way, if you have a strong digestive
fire but you don't feed it regularly, then the digestive enzymes go
out of balance, burn the food and create ama the next time you eat.
Many people with high Pitta dosha are overweight, precisely because
they are not eating regularly and as a result ama has coated their
digestive system. When ama blocks the channels of digestion and the
channels that circulate nutrients throughout the body, then
metabolism slows down and weight gain results.
In this case, the added factor of hyperacidity creates additional
problems, because the Pitta type's fiery digestion tries to
overcompensate for the ama and blocked channels by producing more
acidity. The person may take an over-the-counter antacid, but still
they gain weight because the body is now clogged with ama, and the
antacid does not address the underlying cause.
In this situation, the person should be really careful and consult an
expert in Maharishi Ayurveda, because it is very important to repair
the pot first, so to speak, and stop the damage to the stomach area
from excess digestive acids.
Dietary Recommendations
First of all, the person with high Pitta should get into the habit of
eating three meals a day, starting with breakfast. This is very
important, as otherwise the stomach will continue to be burned by
digestive acids. Eating a cooked apple or pears with cooked prunes or
figs for breakfast is a good idea, because it will soothe the
digestive fire but not overload it. Raw pears or other sweet, juicy
fruits are also good for people with high Pitta. Other recommended
breakfast ideas include a cup of milk boiled with a pinch of powdered
licorice and then cooled, or cooked oatmeal.
A vegetable that is good for weight management is daikon radish. This
white radish can be grated and added to dhal soups for a mildly spicy
flavor. Include sweet vegetables for lunch and dinner, such as
squashes that are white inside (zucchini, loki or yellow squash).
Steam them well and then sauté them in ghee with mild, cooling
spices
such as powdered fennel, small amounts of cumin and small amounts of
turmeric. You can add 1-2 cloves to dhal soups, vegetables or grains
as you cook them, because even though clove seems to be pungent and
sharp, it actually has a cooling effect if you cook with it but don't
chew it.
You can also boil water and let it steep with licorice root and
fennel seed. Drink it throughout the day to help digestion and cool
Pitta dosha. Licorice pacifies Pitta dosha, and fennel opens the
channels of digestion and circulation without aggravating Pitta.
(Please note: If you have high blood pressure or are retaining water,
licorice is not recommended--consult an expert trained in Maharishi
Ayurveda.) Yellow split mung dhal is a good source of protein when
cooked as a soup with spices. Quinoa and basmati rice, cooked with a
little olive oil or ghee, are recommended grains. If you are
overweight, and wonder why ghee or olive oil is recommended in
cooking, remember that in this case the stomach has been damaged by
hyperacidity, and healthy fats such as ghee and olive oil will
lubricate the area and help repair the damage. For a more detailed
list of Pitta-pacifying foods, visit and click on the
Pitta icon.
Avoid eating pungent spices such as chilies, cayenne, and black
mustard seed. These will only increase the acidity. A person in this
situation may be drawn to heavy, cold, sweet foods to cool the
acidity. But heavy, cold foods will only make the problem worse by
creating more ama and blocking the channels of digestion and
metabolism. It's better to cool the digestive fire by cooking with
cooling spices, eating light desserts with your meal such as fruit
crisps, and by drinking light dairy drinks such as sweet lassi.
Sleep is Important
People who are predominantly Pitta should go to sleep before the
Pitta time of the evening (10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.). Even if you feel
like you have a lot of energy then, or feel more creative, it's not a
good idea to stay awake during the Pitta time of night, because this
only aggravates Pitta dosha further. And if you stay awake during the
Pitta time of night, you will invariably get hungry and thirsty and
may eat packaged cookies or salty snacks, or drink soft drinks or
alcohol. All of these things will only disturb Pitta dosha further
and contribute to weight gain.
Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended
to replace standard medical care or advice.
Copyright MAPI, 2002.
For more information on Ayurveda or to subscribe to free newsletters,
plaese visit http://www.mapi.com
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