A Comprehensive Guide to Pitta Dosha Diet

Reviewed By : Michele Porter - Nutritionist

Ayurveda states that the five elements of nature – earth, water, fire, air, and ether – also exist within the human body and mind in the form of three mind-body elements or doshas: Vata dosha, Pitta dosha and Kapha dosha. These doshas affect various aspects of an individual's life, including body type, digestion, mood, and sleep patterns. 

Knowing one's dosha can help you choose the right foods, exercise routines, and lifestyle practices for optimal health. Each dosha has specific characteristics and requires a diet and lifestyle to maintain balance and promote well-being. In this article, let is learn about Pitta diet to help you keep active and healthy.

What's your dosha type? 

Among the three, we tend to be a blend; however, it's one or two of these that we mostly tend to be. 

Do you often feel hot, irritable, or "hungry?" Is your skin sensitive or prone to breakouts, rashes, and irritation? Do you sometimes have excess stomach acid or trouble falling asleep at night? If some of these things sound familiar, you might have a Pitta dosha imbalance—or you might be a fiery, passionate Pitta dosha mind-body type.

So, it's important to understand the Pitta dosha and Pitta diet. Let us first understand what a Pitta dosha is.

Understanding the Pitta Dosha

Pitta is the dosha associated with the elements of fire and water, and it is responsible for digestion, metabolism, and transformation in the body. 

Medium build, balanced weight, sharp intellect, and goal orientation are key features of a pitta dosha personality. They are often intelligent, competitive, and strongly desire success. However, when the Pitta dosha becomes imbalanced, it can lead to physical and emotional symptoms.

An imbalance of Pitta dosha may result in a personality that is controlling, fiery personality, workaholic tendencies, loose bowel movements, overheated, excess stomach acid, and uninterrupted sleep.

So now that we are clear with whether you fall in this category, let's look into the solution, what can be fixed to get the Pitta balance, as we at Foodhak believe that how you would feel depends on what you eat. So let's correct our diet to bring that balance to our mind and body. 

The Pitta Diet

The Pitta diet balances the Pitta dosha and promotes optimal health and well-being. It emphasises cooling, calming, and nourishing foods that help to soothe excess heat and acidity in the body. 

What to look for in general when you are on a Pitta diet?

 When you plan the Pitta diet, here are the things you should consider:

• Emphasise Cooling Foods

One of the key principles of the Pitta diet is to emphasise cooling foods that help to soothe excess heat in the body. This includes foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and leafy greens, which help reduce inflammation and promote overall health and well-being.

• Emphasise Whole Foods 

The Pitta diet emphasises whole, nutrient-dense foods that help to nourish the body and promote optimal health and well-being. This includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

• Emphasise Cooling Spices

Certain spices can help to cool the body and balance the Pitta dosha. These include spices like coriander, fennel, and mint. These cooling spices can be added to meals to help balance the Pitta dosha and promote optimal health and well-being.

• Emphasise Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are an important part of the Pitta diet, including fats like olive oil, avocado, and nuts. These healthy fats help to nourish the body and promote optimal health and well-being.

• Eat Small, Frequent Meals

 Eating small and frequent meals throughout the day can help to balance the Pitta dosha and promote optimal digestion. This eating approach helps prevent overeating and promotes steady energy levels throughout the day.

• Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking plenty of water is essential for balancing the Pitta dosha and promoting optimal health and well-being. Water helps to cool and hydrate the body, which can help to soothe excess heat and acidity.

Knowing what to eat is as important as knowing what to not. Right! This brings us to our next step of food items and things we need to look to avoid. 

What to avoid when you are on a Pitta diet?

Though you know now what you should eat in your Pitta diet, there are a few thighs to avoid:

• Avoid Spicy and Acidic Foods

Pitta imbalances can cause an acidic pH in the body, leading to various health issues. It is important to avoid spicy and acidic foods like hot peppers, tomatoes, and citrus fruits, which can aggravate the Pitta dosha and worsen symptoms.

To keep meals mildly flavoured, we need to avoid too many spices, which leads us to another dish you may grab your hands on at Foodhak. Kale & Spirulina Bhaji. Made with Onion and Kale, mildly spiced and roasted to create the perfect crunch, it's a perfect savoury snack. Added with Spirulina, known to be one of the most popular superfoods.

These snacks pack a nutritional punch, with Vitamin C contributing to the normal functioning of the nervous and immune systems.

• Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods can aggravate the Pitta dosha and lead to various health issues. It is important to avoid processed foods like fast food, packaged snacks, and sugary drinks, which can be difficult to digest and cause a range of health issues.

• Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol can aggravate the Pitta dosha and lead to various health issues. It is important to avoid caffeine and alcohol and opt for healthier beverages like water, herbal tea, and coconut water.

Sample Pitta Diet Meal Plan

Now that we have a clear idea of what would suit you as someone with Pitta dosha let us help you with some basic meals that might help you begin this journey.

Here is a sample meal plan that incorporates the key principles of the Pitta diet:

• Breakfast: A bowl of oatmeal topped with almond milk, topped with sliced peaches and almonds.
• Mid-Morning Snack: A handful of blueberries and a small serving of Greek yoghourt.
• Lunch: A spinach salad with grilled chicken, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. Dress with a cooling vinaigrette made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and cooling spices like coriander and mint.
• Afternoon Snack: Carrot sticks and hummus.
• Dinner: Grilled salmon with some roasted asparagus and quinoa. Season with cooling spices like fennel and coriander.
• Dessert: A bowl of sliced watermelon.

Some Delicious Ayurvedic Meals

At Foodhak, we bring you some delicious Ayurvedic meals with proper scientific understanding. 

Courgette Lemon & Mint Soup is one great example that falls in the category of the Pitta diet. Our vibrant, zesty Courgette, Lemon and Mint Soup takes its green colour from the courgettes and fresh mint. Each flavour is perfectly balanced, resulting in a delicious healthy soup. Sit back and enjoy the minty flavours, tangy lemon zest, and mild notes of garlic, fennel thyme and parsley. Not only is this soup hydrating, but it aids in your digestion plus helps you with weight loss due to its high fibre content. 

Korean Bulgogi Stew is just another great option you can eye at Foodhak. Loaded with vegetables and traditional pears to give the sauce its sweetness. It's also low in saturated fat and high in fibre and contains vitamin A, which helps immune function, skin and vision, and chloride, which aids digestion. Not bad going for one bowl of food!

By emphasising cooling, calming, and nourishing foods, the Pitta diet can help to balance the Pitta dosha and promote optimal health and well-being. If you have a Pitta dominant dosha, incorporating these dietary principles into your daily routine can help to promote optimal health and well-being. 

However, it is advised to consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before significantly changing your diet or lifestyle. You can visit Foodhak for information about the Ayurvedic foods you can add to your meal plan.