I was reading about Ayurveda a couple months ago and didn't make it very far. So many things on my mind I really couldn't focus on much. So I have returned to the subject in hopes of helping my depression. I'm finding it to be a fascination subject.

Apparently there are three types of Dosha (essentially body/personality types) of which I am a Kapha, or earth type.

Below is a not so little chart showing the characteristics of the three Dosha. I must say, Kapha pretty much nails me. Interestingly enough western medicine would classify me as having what they call sluggish depression. Pretty much the same description.

The descriptors for the Kapha are:

• Thick, ample or stocky build. Larger bone-structure.
  
• Overweight
  
• Thick skin, cool, prone to acne
  
• Thick hair, shiny, lustrous
  
• Large, round eyes with thick eyelashes
  
• Lips are large, smooth, full
  
• Strong and thick nails
  
• Strong, good endurance
  
• Less active, sometimes lethargic
  
• Bowel movements thick, oily, heavy, slow
  
• Mind is calm and slow
  
• Tendency to avoid situations that are difficult
  
• Memory is slow but sustaining
  
• Sound, heavy sleeper
  
• Moderate perspiration
  
• Dreams peaceful, romantic, water, ocean
  
• Tendency towards respiratory congestion, water retention, lymph congestion, cystic acne, tiredness
• Kapha types have good endurance, strength and stamina.
  
• Although it is easy for you to follow routine, it is healthier for you to periodically break from routine.
  
• You tend toward inertia and tend to attach to people or things.
  
• Food and security are important to you.
  
• The primary organ is the chest.
  
• Kapha is often correlated with the production of mucus.
  
• Kapha types have a tendency towards congestion, sinusitis, slugishness, weight gain, diabetes or water retention.

In order to be balanced, Kapha's should be physically active, consume little fried or fatty foods, avoid icy drinks, sweets or excessive amounts of bread. They should enjoy plenty of fresh vegetables.

Kapha types should allow excitement, change and challenge to become a regular part of their lives.




You can find your type here:

What is Your Ayurvedic Type?

What I did not know is that according to Ayerveda there are Dosha specific diets that help with energy, sleep and depression.

THE KAPHA DIET

                                                                                   

	FAVOR	REDUCE/AVOID
QUALITIES	Light, dry, warm, cooked	Heavy, oily, cold
TASTES	Pungent, bitter, astringent	Sweet, sour, salty
QUANTITIES	Small – do not overeat
DAIRY	Warm low-fat or nonfat milk	All other
SWEETENERS	Honey	All others
OILS	Small amounts only: almond, corn, ghee, safflower, sunflower	All except for small amounts of oils listed
GRAINS	Barley, corn, millet, rye	Oats, rice, wheat
FRUITS	Light, dry fruits: apple, apricot, cranberry, dried fruits, pear, pomegranate	Heavy, juicy, sweet, sour: avocado, banana, coconut, date, fig, grapefruit, grape, mango, melon, orange, papaya, peach, pineapple, plum
VEGETABLES	All okay except those listed	Sweet, juicy vegetable: cucumber, sweet potato, tomato
SPICES	All okay except salt	Salt
NUTS/SEEDS	Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds	All others
BEANS	All okay except tofu	Tofu
MEATS	Poultry (white meat), white meat fish (except shellfish)	Red meat, shellfish

Oh grand, all the things I like are supposed to be bad for me? Now aint that typical. Though, given how I've felt most of my life, it would not be of any surprise to me that this is entirely true and changing what I eat will make a huge difference.

Balancing Foods
Fruit - Apples, Apricots, Berries, Cherries, Cranberries, Dried Figs, Mango, Peaches, Pears, Pomegranate, Prunes, Raisins. Sweet fruits such as bananas and dates are aggravating, as are sour fruits such as lemons, sour oranges and grapefruit.

 Vegetables - Asparagus, Beets, Beet Greens, Bell Pepper, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Beans, Horseradish, Leafy Greens, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach, Sprouts, Turnips, Watercress. Raw, pungent and bitter vegetables are balancing. Sweet, juicy vegetables are aggravating.

Grains - Amaranth, Barley, Buckwheat, Corn, Granola, Millet, Oats, Oat Bran, Quinoa, Basmati Rice, Rice Cakes, Rye and Wheat Bran are balancing. Cooked Oats, Brown or White Rice, and Wheat are imbalancing.

Legumes and Nuts - Adzuki beans, Black-Eyed Peas, Chickpeas, Flaxseeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Lima Beans, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Red Lentils, Split Peas, White Beans are balancing. Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashew, Coconut, Macadamia Nuts, Peanuts, Pecans, Pine Nuts, Pistachios, Psyllium, Sesame, Black lentils, Mung Beans, KIdney Beans, Lentils, Soy Beans, Tempeh, Walnuts and Tofu are imbalancing.

Meat - Chicken dark meat, Turkey dark meat, eggs are balancing. Beef, Duck, Freshwater Fish, Lamb, Pork, Seafood, Shrimp, and Venison are aggravating.

Herbs, Spices and Condiments - allspice, Anise, Basil, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cardamom, Cayenne, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Fenugreek, Garlic, Ginger, Horseradish, Mint, Mustard Seeds, Nutmeg, Onion, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Peppermint, Poppy Seeds, Rosemary, Sage, Spearmint, Star Anise, Tarragon, Thyme, Turmeric, Wintergreen are balancing.

Dairy - Ghee, Goats Milk and Diluted Yogurt (diluted 1:4 yogurt:water) are balancing. Butter, Cheese, Buttermilk, Cow's Milk, Ice Cream, Sour Cream and Yogurt are aggravating.

	VATA	PITTA	KAPHA
Function:	Controls Movement	Controls Metabolism	Controls   Structure
Key Word:	Changeable	Intense	Relaxed
Governs:	Colon	Intestines, Stomach	Chest
Dominant senses	Sound, Touch	Sight	Taste, Smell
Properties	Cold, Dry, Light, Rough	Hot, Light, Sharp, Moist	Cold, Heavy, Wet, Sticky
Composed of:	Air (& Space)	Fire (& Water)	Water (& Earth)
Aggravated by (Avoid):	Wind Caffeine Traveling Irregular Routine Irregular meals Cold, dry weather Excessive mental work	Heat Alcohol Smoking Pressure Stress Excessive spicy or salty foods Excessive activity	Cold Damp Oversleeping Overeating Heavy foods Too little variety in life
Diet To Keep in Balance, Favor:	Tastes: Sweet Sour Salty  Warm foods	Tastes: Sweet Astringent Bitter  Cool foods   (not cold)	Tastes: Bitter Pungent Astringent Warm, light foods
Digestion Tends to Be:	Variable, delicate	Strong, intense	Slow, heavy
Recommended Exercise for Balance:	Activities: Low-impact: Yoga Walking Dancing	Activities: Competitive or team sports: Baseball Tennis Or Cooling Sports: Swimming	Activities: Stimulating, regular exercise: Body building Running
Season:	November-February   (Cold & Dry)	July-October (Hot)	March-June (Cold & Wet)
Primary Color to Balance:	Yellow	Blue	Red
When in Balance You Are:	Enthusiastic Alert Flexible Creative Talkative Responsive	Loving Content Intelligent Articulate Courageous	Affectionate Steady Methodical High stamina Resistant to illnesses
When Out of Balance You Are:	Restless Fatigued Constipated Anxious Underweight	Perfectionist Frustrated Angry Impatient Irritable Prematurely gray or have early hair loss	Dull Prone to oily skin Prone to allergies Possessive Oversleeping Overweight