Masala dosha

Ayurveda is all about leading a balanced life, in harmony with changing climates. The three factors 

that rule your well-being are what, when and how you eat, so that your doshas are in harmony. 

The revered Ayurvedic text Charaka Samita describes three biological humors or psycho physiological energies called doshas which make up one’s constitution: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Together, the doshas orchestrate all the activities occuring within us. People with more Vata in their constituents are generally thin with slender frames and prominent structure where as people with Kapha dosha tend to be on the heavier side.Each person has a combination of two doshas and when one  becomes more dominant than the other, it creates problems. “According to Ayurveda, the food should have six essential tastes — sweet, sour, bitter, salty, pungent and astringent. But the amount will differ from one dosha to another," says Dr Prashant of Birla Kerala aidyashala and lists certain super foods.
Pitta
Tell-tale signs:  If you are feeling constantly irritable, impatient and have constant acidity problem, stress may not be the culprit. If you are becoming increasingly intolerant and constantly feeling thirsty, you need to pacify your Pitta.
Diet:  To balance the liquid nature of Pitta, have more dry foods. Have less salty, pungent and sour tasting foods.
Ghee is said to have cooling effect on the mind and body. Cooling foods such as milk, coconut and sweet, juicy fruits, especially pear can calm a fiery pitta. Dry cereals, granola and rice cakes balance the liquid nature of Pitta. Have more leafy greens, cauliflower, bitter gourd, carrots. Sweet lassi will enhance digestion.
vata
Tell-tale signs:  It is time to calm your Vata if your bowel movements are restricted and sleep eludes you. If you are worried or anxious and feel tired all the time, stop having raw and cold foods.
People with Vata dosha are more prone to catching cold.
Diet:  To balance the cold and dry nature of Vata, include foods that are warm, liquid or oily in your daily diet. Include sweet, sour and salty tastes in your diet daily. Have less of the bitter, pungent and astringent tastes.
Add some ghee (clarified butter) to your foods. Avoid too many dry foods such as crackers, dry cold cereals.Milk and diary products are beneficial. Soak ten almonds overnight and have it in the early morning. Most spices are warming and enhance digestion, so cook with a combination of spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, dried ginger, black pepper.
Kapha
Tell-tale signs: If you are gaining weight easily and feeling sluggish all the time and your skin and scalp are oilier than usual, your Kapha must be dominant. Since Kapha is a combination of earth and water, the metabolic fire is low, leading to sluggishness.
Diet: If you need to balance Kapha, steaming foods and sautéing it in very little ghee is ideal. The three tastes that help balance Kapha are pungent, bitter and astringent, so include more of these tastes in your daily diet. Eat less of the salty, sweet and sour tastes. Avoid too many oily foods. Have rice gruel with diced vegetables. Stay away from too much salt. Eat snacks in moderation and avoid sugary snacks though honey is beneficial.
Choose lighter whole grains like barley. Grains such as rice or wheat, eat very small quantities should be had in moderation. Drink lassi infused with digestion-enhancing spices and herbs with lunch. Ginger rekindles the metabolic fire. So does garlic and ajwain.
Source:Mumbai Mirror