Ayurvedic Body Types Explained

Did you know that eating for your body type can bring the mind-body into balance, help prevent and treat digestive disorders, boost your overall health, and energize you with renewed vitality and strength?

According to the medical wisdom of Ayurveda ("the science of life"), optimal health and well-being are contingent upon living a lifestyle that is balanced and in harmony with the cycles of nature. Like all of the Veda sciences, Ayurveda believes in the body's natural ability to heal itself, so long as we know what physical, mental, or emotional blocks are holding us back. Moreover, Ayurveda has come back to the fore and is considered today a most practical and effective regimen of self-care.

Your Ayurvedic Body Type

According to Ayurveda, not only does the food you eat have a major impact on your overall well-being, but each of us comes prewired with a certain body type that responds favorably to certain foods and rejects others. The three Ayurvedic body types or "doshas" are: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Although each of us is comprised of a combination of all three, each of us also has one principal or dominant body type with a unique set of characteristics. Once we are aware of our personal blueprint, we can knowingly choose foods and ingredients which keep our system well-nourished and balanced.

Determining Your Dominant Dosha

Not sure what your body type is? Take the Dosha Quiz, a short survey which will determine your dominant dosha and which you can complete from the comfort of your own home.

Dosha Balances and Imbalances

Once you know whether you have a Vata, Pitta, or Kapha constitution, Ayurveda prescribes a very specific diet plan for restoring balance, for aiding digestion and detoxification, and for optimal functioning. In fact, it asserts that we must balance our doshas in order to be healthy. By eating dosha-friendly foods, you will be making a wise and informed decision about nutrition that specifically benefits your body. By correcting the doshic imbalances associated with your body type, you will be taking charge of your own health and healing.

Your Personal Ayurvedic Diet Plan

Once you have taken the Dosha Quiz, you can learn which foods and ingredients align with your intrinsic nature and which foods to avoid. You will also learn which herbs and spices your body needs and which can actually serve as a form of preventative medicine. Armed with your highly individualized Ayurvedic diet plan, you will enjoy not only the physical benefits but enhanced mental and emotional function as well.