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YOU ARE ALL PITTA-KAPHA

FIRE ALONG WITH THE EARTH COMPONENT, YOU ARE QUITE A FORCE OF NATURE. PASSIONATE AND HOT-HEADED WITH THE ABILITY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT. THESE TWO DOSHAS BRING STRENGTH AND A SMOOTH WAY OF HANDLING PEOPLE.

What is "Pitta-Kapha"?

Pitta-Kapha is your dosha type. What is a dosha? It's simply the Ayurvedic definition for your bio-individuality. In other words it's your body type, which includes your metabolic constitution, your personality, and your physical characteristics.

By understanding what makes us unique, we can make better decisions as they relate to our diet, our lifestyle, and our mental health.

So I'm A Pitta-Kapha. What Does This Mean?

Pitta–Kapha types often have Pitta physical characteristics with Kapha mental attributes. This means that you have great physical stamina and health along with a high capacity for exercise and athletic pursuits.

In addition, you probably have a good memory and a strong capability for learning new information.

You tend towards balanced emotions and excellent physical health.

The Kapha dosha lends stability while Pitta dosha gives adaptability. This is quite the dynamic combination!

On the down side, you can be prone to respiratory infections, skin infections, and premature graying.

You can also be arrogant, overconfident, and a bit on the smug side.

Photo: Ed Needs A Bicycle. Creative Commons.

EMBODIED BY FIRE AND EARTH, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE MOUNTAINS, AND ARE PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS—MAYBE A LITTLE TOO PROUD. YOU CAN ALSO BE A BIT REMOVED FROM THE REALITY OF THOSE AROUND YOU.

YOU CAN BE AGGRESSIVE AND EMOTIONAL WITH SHARP INTELLECTUAL POWERS SO IT’S WISE TO AVOID ANY KIND OF VERBAL ARGUMENT WITH YOU AS YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO ARGUE YOUR POINT OF VIEW WITH CLARITY, SINGLE-MINDEDNESS AND PRECISION.

Typical Pitta-Kapha Characteristics:

Heavier, dense, structure (Kapha)

Moderate body (Pitta)

Red, full face (Pitta)

Moderate facial features (Pitta)

Well developed musculature (Pitta)

A tendency to add weight (Kapha)

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE PUSHED YOUR LIMITS?

We often think of our health in terms of symptoms. We have a headache, or indigestion, or skin irritation. However, symptoms are just that, symptoms of an underlying problem or imbalance.

At The Holistic Highway we work with patients to treat the underlying cause of their imbalance and not just their symptoms.

To use an analogy, if you have a headache, we want to determine and treat the cause of your headaches, not just prescribe Tylenol for the pain. This is health-care, not sick-care, and it's the key to long term health, energy and vitality.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF IMBALANCE:

The common water element between Pittas and Kaphas means that there is an excess of wateriness or oiliness. This shows up in excess watery tissues of the body (phlegm, mucus) and in a tendency to have oily skin and hair.

Thus, Pitta–Kaphas do well by eating foods that are astringent and drying.

Likewise, Kaphas tendency towards stability and sometimes, immobility means that you can get stuck in a rut.

Doing something spontaneous will keep things interesting for you and help balance you out!

Additionally, for balance you could benefit from active exercises such as yoga, walking, gymnastics, aerobics, bike riding and running during the early part of the day.

LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GET BACK IN BALANCE:

In order to eliminate symptoms and get back in balance, consider the following recommendations.

Being a kapha-pitta type means that these two dosha’s are predominant in your constitution. It is usually best to manage a dual dosha according to the season.

In general, as a pitta-kapha, follow a pitta-pacifying regimen during the late spring and summer seasons especially when the weather is hot.

Follow a kapha-pacifying regimen during the cooler times of year like fall, winter and early spring and especially when the weather is cool and damp.

Do not skip meals, do not fast and do not wait to eat until you are ravenously hungry. Although you can get so absorbed that you do not eat – this can increaseacidity and make you irritable.

Start your day with cooked fruit, followed by some cereal. Eat a sustaining meal at lunch, and a lighter meal for dinner.

For snacking, choose sweet juicy fruit--fully ripe mangoes, sweet pears and sweet juicy grapes are excellent Pitta-pacifying choices. Delaying meals can cause excess acidity, so eat on time every day.

The Amalaki herb helps enhance digestion without aggravating Pitta dosha. It also helps balance stomach acid and studies show that it functions as an antioxidant and supports the liver in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

Daily elimination is very important to prevent digestive toxins from accumulating in the body. Triphala (a mixture of fruits) helps promote regularity as well as toning the digestive system.

Triphala is made up of three fruits and is most commonly purchased as a powder.

Triphala has the following effects:

Assists natural internal cleansing

Gently maintains regularity

Nourishes and rejuvenates the tissues

Supports healthy digestion and absorption

Natural antioxidant

Triphala is most commonly known for its use as a gentle bowel tonic, being helpful in digestion, and supporting regular bowel movements. The combination of the three fruits has a synergistic effect to bolster many other systems as well.

In addition to the GI tract, Ayurveda uses triphala to support healthy respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, reproductive, and nervous systems. Triphala has also been shown to be a powerful antioxidant, protecting cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

The three fruits involved in making triphala are also known for their individual effects:

Amalaki (Emblica officinalis): Has a cooling effect that manages pitta, supporting the natural functions of the liver and the immune system.

Bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica): Is particularly good for kapha, supporting the respiratory system as well as kapha accumulations in all systems.

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula): Though having a heating nature, it is still good for all three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha). Is known for its “scraping” effect, which removes toxins and helps maintain healthy levels of weight.

To soothe sensitive skin, to balance the emotions and to nourish and tone muscles and nerves, indulge in an ayurvedic massage every morning before you bathe or shower. Use coconut oil for your massage because coconut cools the skin.

If you like, you can add 3-4 drops of a pure essential oil such as lavender or sandalwood to 2 oz. of massage oil. Mix well before use.

After your shower or bath, spray your skin with pure rose or sandalwood water to keep your skin feeling cool all day long.

Protect yourself from the heat. Stay cool in warm weather by wearing loose cotton clothing. Cotton allows the skin to breathe and for Pittas – they need to wear natural fibers like silk, cotton, and linen. Synthetic material can heat the skin up too much. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes when you go out. Drink lots of room temperature water.

Water-based activities are ideal exercise for Pitta-dominant people. Try swimming or aqua- aerobics to stay fit but cool. Strolling after sunset, especially along a waterfront, is also a soothing way to fit some leisurely activity into your day. Being next to water is soothing to Pittas who find the coolness of water calming for their intensity, however the Kapha in you will prefer a dryer environment especially when the humidity starts souring.

Balance work and play. Set aside some time for R&R everyday, and do not get so absorbed in a project that you are unable to detach from it.

Set aside about 30 minutes each day for meditation, to help balance the heart and emotions and to enhance body-mind-spirit coordination.

A GREAT PITTA-KAPHA PACIFYING LUNCH FOR YOU:

Hot Quinoa Cereal with Warmed Spiced Coconut Milk

A protein rich grain combined here with pungent spices will satisfy the hunger of a pitta that has the slower metabolism of a kapha. The coconut milk is cooling and the spices are great for stimulating the sluggishness you can sometimes feel.

Serves 6.

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

2 cups filtered water

2 cups organic coconut milk

1/2 teaspoon dried ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup maple syrup

1. Put the water and quinoa in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the quinoa is tender and the mixture thickens, about 20 minutes, adding more water if necessary.

2. When the quinoa is almost done, put the coconut milk, ginger, and cinnamon in another small saucepan. Warm the mixture over low heat.

3. Divide the quinoa among the 4 serving bowls. Pour the warm coconut milk over each serving and drizzle with maple syrup.

real food isn't made from ingredients

REAL FOOD IS INGREDIENTS.

Enjoy delicious, healthy meals that are specifically designed for the metabolism of a Pitta-Kapha with an Ayurveda Meal Plan from The Holistic Highway.

Get 5 Delicious And Healthy PITTA-KAPHA Meals A Week

Try a PITTA-KAPHA meal plan for free with a 14 day trial. If for whatever reason you aren't satisfied with your plan, you can cancel at the click of a button, no questions asked, and never pay a dime. After that, it is just $6.99 a month. What have you got to lose? Sign up today!

Click Here To View A Sample Week For Pitta-Kaphas

Putting the right foods in your body is the number one factor in determining your health and energy levels.

Want to eat delicious, healthy foods that are right for you all the time?

These budget-friendly meal plans include everything you need to eat the foods that are right for you every night of the week. No more "What's for dinner?" No more time consuming dinner prep or expensive take out.

Just simple, easy to make dinners that are right for you.

Click Here To Get 5 Delicious And Healthy PITTA-KAPHA Meals A Week

Shopping Lists Make It Easy
Each weeks plans come with a corresponding shopping list so that you know exactly what, and how much, to buy each week. Simply buy the ingredients on the shopping list and you will have everything you need for 5 dinners that week! Every ingredient on your list will be used which means no waste (and no more wasted money) as well as an empty refrigerator at the end of the week.

Seasonal Recipes
The meals change with the seasons because eating the foods that are in season are tastier, cheaper and better for you. That’s why we ask where you live so we can provide the meals that are in-season given your location.

Curated Specifically For You
Each meal not only includes the recipe for that meal, but also a detailed breakdown of why each meal was chosen for you. We breakdown the benefits of each meal from both an eastern and western perspective so that you know exactly what is in your food and why it's the ideal food for you.

Adjustable For Every Dosha
One of the challenges of eating the food that is right for you is that, as social creatures, we rarely eat alone, and therefore need to create meals that the whole family can enjoy. That's why each recipe comes with instructions on how to make easy tweaks to the recipe so that the meal is right for each dosha at your dinner table. A little dash of this herb for a Pitta, a splash of oil for a Pitta... you get the idea. One recipe with basic dinner plate tweaks allows you to prepare custom meals for the whole family with just one recipe!

Dinners for 1, 2, 4 and More!
Each recipe is designed as a meal for 2. Eating alone? Simply cut the amount of ingredients in half. Feeding a family of four? Double up. Simple, easy and adjustable.

30 Minutes Or Less
We understand that eating right isn't easy, and that we all live very busy lives. That's why each meal has been carefully crafted to take about 30 minutes or less to cook. Some may be a little longer, but they are worth it. we promise.

“I cannot thank The Holistic Highway enough for introducing me to the meals that are right for me! I'm amazed at how quickly my body responded to the changes I made in my diet. I feel fantastic and the food is delicious!” - Tracy Calhoun

Try it for free

Try a meal plan designed just for you with a 14 day trial. If for whatever reason you aren't satisfied with your plan, you can cancel at the click of a button, no questions asked, and never pay a dime. After that, it is just $6.99 a month. What have you got to lose? Sign up risk free below!

Click Here To Get 5 Delicious And Healthy PITTA-KAPHA Meals A Week

Click Here To View A Sample Week For Pitta-Kaphas

"EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT, AND AS SUCH, YOUR TREATMENT MUST REFLECT YOUR INDIVIDUALITY." -Watch The Breakthrough TEDx Talk by Kerry Harling, CEO and founder of The Holistic Highway

To learn more about the lifestyle and diet changes that are best for Pittas, schedule a Complimentary Consultation with Kerry Harling, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Integrative Medicine, TED speaker and the founder of The Holistic Highway.

Schedule Your Consultation With Kerry Harling