Kapha Pacifying Foods

Fruits Fruits that pacify kapha will generally be somewhat astringent and only mildly sweet. Dried fruits are acceptable,

on occasion, but should only be enjoyed in small quantities because they are so dense and concentrated. Fruits to

avoid are those that are exceptionally sweet or sour (like oranges or grapes), and any that are especially heavy,

dense, or watery like bananas, coconut, dates, melons, pineapple, or plums.

And remember, fruits and fruit juices are best enjoyed alone 30 minutes before, and ideally at least 1 hour after, any other food. This helps to ensure optimal digestion. Note: this rule does not apply to fruits that we typically

consider vegetables (avocados, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.). You will find these fruits listed among the

vegetables.

Favor Avoid

Apples

Applesauce

Apricots

Berries

Bananas

Cantaloupe

Coconut

Dates

Cherries

Cranberries

Figs (dry)

Grapes (red, purple, black)

Lemons

Limes

Mango

Peaches

Pears

Persimmons

Pomegranates

Prunes

Raisins

Raspberries

Strawberries

Figs (fresh)

Grapes (green)

Grapefruit

Kiwi

Melons

Oranges

Papaya

Pineapple

Plums

Rhubarb

Tamarin

Watermelon

Vegetables Vegetables that pacify kapha will generally be pungent, bitter, and astringent. Most vegetables include some

combination of these tastes, so vegetables are an important centerpiece of any effective kapha-balancing diet.

Cooked vegetables are generally easier to digest than raw ones, so its best to have raw veggies, salads, and kapha-aggravating vegetables in small quantities and at mid-day, when digestive strength is at its peak. Raw vegetables

are often more appropriate for kapha in the spring and summer seasons. The only vegetables for kapha to reduce or

avoid are those that are particularly heavy, dense, oily, or watery like avocado, cucumber, olives, and the other vegetables listed in the reduce or avoid column below.

Favor Reduce or Avoid

Artichoke

Asparagus

Beet Greens

Beets

Bell Peppers

Bitter Melon

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Burdock Root

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Chilies

Cilantro

Collard Greens

Corn

Daikon Radish

Dandelion Greens

Eggplant

Garlic

Green Beans

Horseradish

Jerusalem Artichokes

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leafy Greens

Leeks

Lettuce

Mustard Greens

Okra

Onions

Peas

Peppers, Sweet & Hot

Potatoes, White

Radishes

Rutabaga

Spaghetti Squash

Spinach

Sprouts

Squash, Winter

Tomatoes (cooked)

Turnips

Watercress

Wheat Grass

Avocado

Cucumber

Olives

Parsnips

Pumpkin

Squash, Summer

Sweet Potatoes

Tomatoes (raw)

Zucchini

Grains

Grains that pacify kapha are light, dry, and rough. In general, grains tend to be staples in our diets because they are

somewhat heavy and nourishing. But when it comes to balancing kapha, these qualities are best minimized, so

reducing grain consumption overall can be a huge benefit. Avoid grains that are exceptionally heavy, moist or

dense (like wheat, flours, breads, cooked oats, and pastas) as much as possible, and eat smaller quantities of

appropriate grains. It often works well to supplement meals with extra vegetables or legumes, which are

nutritionally rich, but also more balancing for kapha.

Favor Avoid

Amaranth

Barley

Buckwheat

Cereal (unsweetened, cold, dry)

Corn

Couscous

Crackers

Durham Flour

Granola

Millet

Muesli

Oat Bran

Oats (dry)

Polenta

Quinoa

Rice (basmati, wild)

Rye

Seitan

Spelt

Sprouted Wheat Bread

Tapioca

Wheat Bran

Oats (cooked)

Pancakes

Pasta

Rice (brown, white)

Rice Cakes

Wheat

Yeasted Bread

Legumes Legumes are generally astringent, which is one of the tastes that balances kapha. Kapha can enjoy a wide variety of

legumes, but they should generally be well-cooked and well-spiced to make them more digestible. Even well-

cooked tofu, tempeh, and warm, spiced soy milk are acceptable. The only beans that dont work for kapha are simply too heavy or oily to be balancing.

Favor Avoid

Adzuki Beans

Black Beans

Black-Eyed Peas

Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)

Lentils

Lima Beans

Mung Beans

Mung Dal

Kidney Beans

Miso

Soy Beans

Soy Cheese

Soy Flour

Soy Powder

Soy Sauce

Tofu (served cold)

Navy Beans

Pinto Beans

Split Peas

Soy Milk

Soy Meats

Tempeh

Tofu (served hot)

Tur Dal

White Beans

Urad Dal

Dairy Dairy products are best minimized when trying to reduce kapha because they tend to be heavy, unctuous, and can

increase mucus production. As a rule, dairy milks should be taken at least one hour before or after any other food.

Ideally, milk is boiled and served hot with a pinch or turmeric or ginger to make it more digestible and less congesting. Goats milk and goats milk products are the best option for kapha because they are lighter, but are best in moderation. Almond and rice milks are good substitutes.

Favor Avoid

Buttermilk

Cottage Cheese (ideally from skim goats milk) Ghee

Goats Cheese (unsalted, not aged) Goats Milk (skim) Yogurt (fresh and diluted)

Butter

Cheese

Cows Milk Frozen Yogurt

Ice Cream

Sour Cream

Yogurt (store bought)

Nuts & Seeds Nuts and seeds tend to be heavy, dense, and oily and are generally not terrifically balancing for kapha. But there

are a few types of nuts and seeds that are acceptable in small quantities. When trying to balance kapha, nuts and

seeds are best enjoyed only on occasion.

Favor Avoid

Almonds (soaked and peeled)

Charole Nuts

Chia Seeds

Flax Seeds

Popcorn (without salt or butter)

Pumpkin Seeds

Sunflower Seeds

Brazil Nuts

Cashews

Coconut

Filberts

Macadamia Nuts

Peanuts

Pecans

Pine Nuts

Pistachios

Sesame Seeds

Tahini

Walnuts

Meat & Eggs Kapha does best with animal foods that are light and relatively dry (like chicken or freshwater fish), as opposed to

those that are heavy, oily, or especially dense (such as beef, pork, or duck). Eating less meat all around is generally

beneficial. In fact, kapha can be easily pacified without any animal foods, if your diet doesnt already include them.

Favor Avoid

Chicken (white)

Eggs

Fish (freshwater)

Rabbit

Shrimp

Turkey (white)

Venison

Beef

Buffalo

Chicken (dark)

Duck

Fish (saltwater)

Lamb

Pork

Salmon

Sardines

Seafood

Tuna Fish

Turkey (dark)

Oils Most oils are a bit heavy and, well, oily for kapha. However, in very small quantities, the oils in the favor column

are acceptable, if they are of good quality. Because toxins tend to concentrate in fats, buying organic oils may be

more important than buying organic fruits and vegetables. When trying to balance kapha, you can minimize

reliance on oil by sauting foods in water instead of oil or by simply steaming them. For those occasions when a

tad of oil is needed, the best oils for kapha are corn oil, sunflower oil or ghee.

Favor Avoid

Almond Oil

Corn Oil

Flax Seed Oil

Ghee

Sunflower Oil

Avocado Oil

Apricot Oil

Coconut Oil

Olive Oil

Primrose Oil

Safflower Oil

Sesame Oil

Soy Oil

Walnut Oil

Sweeteners As the sweet taste is not particularly supportive to kapha, most sweeteners are better avoided. Honey on the other

hand which is dry, light, and heating is the one exception, when used in small quantities. Honey also scrapes toxins and fat from the tissues, so it benefits kapha on multiple levels. However, heating or cooking with honey

creates toxins, so only raw and unprocessed honey should be used. Foods and drinks that contain refined sugars or

corn syrup can be especially detrimental and should be avoided as much as possible.

Favor Avoid

Fruit Juice Concentrates

Honey (raw and unprocessed)

Artificial Sweeteners

Barley Malt

Date Sugar

Fructose

Honey (cooked, heated or processed)

Jaggary

Maple Syrup

Molasses

Rice Syrup

Sucanat

Turbinado

White Sugar

Spices Most spices are wonderful for kapha, so feel free to experiment with a wide variety of new and exotic spices.

Kapha is the only dosha that can usually handle fiery hot foods. Even if those dont suit you, a variety of mild spices will help to strengthen the digestive fire and can improve overall metabolism. In particular, the pungent and

digestive qualities of onions, garlic, ginger, black pepper, chili pepper, and cayenne pepper benefit kapha.

Favor Avoid

Ajwan

Allspice

Anise

Basil

Bay Leaf

Black Pepper

Caraway

Cardamom

Cayenne

Cinnamon

Cloves

Coriander (seeds or powder)

Cumin (seeds or powder)

Dill

Fennel

Fenugreek

Salt

Garlic

Ginger (fresh or dried)

Hing (Asafoetida)

Mace

Marjoram

Mint

Mustard Seeds

Neem Leaves

Nutmeg

Oregano

Paprika

Parsley

Peppermint

Pippali

Poppy Seeds

Rosemary

Saffron

Savory

Spearmint

Tarragon

Thyme

Trikatu

Turmeric

Vanilla

Wintergreen