yoga

43

december 2018 / january 2019

yogajournal.com.sg

coconut milk

WHY Coconut milk is cooling, soothing, and

sweet, and it contains MCT (medium-chain

triglyceride) oils, which can boost stamina.

TIP Add a pinch each of cardamom,

cinnamon, and cocoa to a cup of coconut milk

to boost flavor and balance out the creaminess

of the milk. It’s like delicious, instant chai.

Kapha dosha

Kapha dosha is heavy, like the earth itself—

and when it is found in excess, it can have

dampening, cooling, and congestive effects.

Kapha imbalance is characterized by depression

and lethargy, and it may lead to health

conditions associated with a build-up of fat

(obesity), phlegm (colds, flu, allergies), or tissue

(tumors). Cool rainy weather may cause a

kapha imbalance, as can a lack of exercise, late-

night snacking, and oversleeping.

Kapha imbalance is best addressed

with pungent, astringent, and bitter flavors in

hot, light, and dry preparations.

quinoa

WHYQuinoa has a light quality and tastes

bitter and astringent. It is not as heavy as

potatoes or oats or other comfy carbs. It’s also

full of easy-to-digest protein, which can nourish

sluggish kaphas who need to get moving.

TIP Toast dry quinoa in a skillet until it turns a

light brown and has a nice nutty aroma. Add

the correct amount of water (about a cup and

half for every cup of grain), cover, and simmer

gently until the water is absorbed. Toasting

quinoa first brings out a nice nutty flavor. To

turn it into a simple side dish, just mix in a

pinch of salt, some sunflower seeds, a handful

of bitter greens, and perhaps a few (not too

many!) dried cranberries.

kale

WHYKale is a bitter green with astringent

qualities that will help lighten up a heavy kapha

digestion. It’s also high in vitamins A, C, and K,

as well as lutein.

TIP My kapha-challenged clients love stir-frying

kale in sesame or olive oil, then adding 1 table-

spoon of spicy mango chutney to bring sweet,

yummy balance to their lives. Kale is a great

choice for treating pitta imbalance, too.

Jennifer Workmanis a sports and medical

nutritionist, Ayurvedic instructor, and founder

of The Balanced Approach. She is the author of

the bookStop Your Cravings: Satisfy Your Tastes

without Sacrificing Your Health.

the six tastes

and six qualities

Once you have a sense of which dosha might need a little dietary TLC, you

can make other great choices based on the tastes and qualities that are best

for you at any given moment. Ayurveda suggests that you try to have all six

tastes and qualities present in every meal to keep cravings under control. But

you can use this guide to skew the menu and emphasize the foods that will

help you stress less.

TASTES

sweet

BalancesVata, pitta

Found in Fruit, sugar,

honey, milk, white rice,

milk chocolate, coconuts,

pomegranates, watermelon

sour

BalancesVata

Found in Lemons, yogurt,

sour cream, cheese, vinegar

salty

BalancesVata

Found in Sea salt, soy sauce

or tamari, salted chips, olives

pungent

BalancesKapha

Found in Cinnamon, chili

peppers, ginger, cloves,

horseradish, hot peppers

bitter

BalancesPitta, kapha

Found in Tea, coffee, turmeric,

dark-green veggies like kale,

chard, collards

astringent

BalancesPitta, kapha

Found in Green apples,

cranberries, pomegranates,

aloe vera juice, lentils, beans

QUALITIES

warm

BalancesVata, kapha

Found in Soups, stews, teas,

spicy foods, chili peppers

cool

BalancesPitta

Found in Salads, ice cream,

iced tea, pomegranates,

cranberry juice, limes

light

BalancesPitta, kapha

Found in Rice cakes,

popcorn, lettuce, apples,

quinoa

heavy

BalancesVata

Found in Red meats, oil,

cream, ice cream, soups and

sauces based on oil or dairy

oily

BalancesVata, pitta

Found in Ghee, coconut oil,

olive oil, avocado, nuts and

nut butters

dry

BalancesPitta, kapha

Found in Popcorn, rice

cakes, beans, barley, rice

CLOCKWISE LEFT TO RIGHT: ISTOCKPH

OTO.C

OM/JOANNA WNUK; ISTOCKPH

OTO.C

OM/EYEWAVE; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/YINYANG