Ayurveda Made Easy by Heidi E Spear

Author:Heidi E Spear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Adams Media

Which Tastes Are Less Favorable for Vata?

Certain tastes are less favorable than others for vata. You don’t have to avoid these tastes altogether, just be mindful about how often you choose these tastes if you’re working with vata imbalance:

• A Little Pungent Is Okay for Vata: The elements that make up the taste pungent are air and fire, and pungent’s vipaka is also pungent. So, the light and airy qualities will be its short- and longer-term effect. Vata doesn’t need more air or lightness to stay in the body, so that’s why this taste is not highly recommended for vata. Because fire is also an element of pungent, some pungency is all right for vata. Vata could use the heat. To make pungency work for vata, be sure to eat other foods or tastes that are grounding and moistening (to balance the air element).

• Bitter Is of the Same Elements As Vata: Bitter is made of the elements of ether and air, and for this reason it’s not recommended for vata types. Its vipaka is cooling, so some bitter taste will be fine; you just need to balance it. For example, kale has a bitter taste. So, to make this green food supportive to vata, cook the kale so that it’s very warm and moist, oil it well using ghee, and toss in some salt and pumpkin seeds.

• Astringent Is Too Drying for Vata: Astringent’s elements are earth and air, and its light and drying effects are both short- and long-term because air is an element that is part of its virya and vipaka. Its vipaka is cooling. Over time it’s very drying. Astringent tastes are not thought of as supportive to digestion, and vata needs digestive support. With all the wonderful whole and natural foods available to support vata, it’s best to limit your use of astringent tastes when cooking for those with a predominance of vata.

WHERE DOES HONEY FALL?

Occasionally, there are foods that are exceptions to the rules. In Ayurveda these exceptions are called prabhav. Honey falls under this category. Because of its sweet taste, you would expect honey to have a cooling virya. However, honey’s virya is heating.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.