Are you feeling sluggish and unmotivated lately? Do you crave sweets, gain weight just by looking at food, and have a hard time shedding pounds? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you might have a Kapha dosha imbalance—or, you might be a Kapha dosha mind-body type.
What is Kapha Dosha?
Kapha dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element associated with earth and water. It’s slow, moist, cool, oily, heavy, smooth, and steady in nature and embodies structure, lubrication, and stability in the mind and body.
Kapha Dosha Characteristics / Mind-Body Constitution
If you have a predominantly Kapha constitution, the qualities of Kapha (slow, steady, moist, smooth, oily, cool, heavy) will be expressed in your mind and body. Your frame and build will tend toward robust and strong, and you will likely have a radiant complexion, large eyes, and thick, lustrous hair.
You’re probably pretty warm, friendly, compassionate, and easygoing, too. If you know someone with a Kapha personality, they’re probably a true blue friend. When in balance, Kapha types are the teddy bears among us—sweet in nature and a pleasure to be around.
The heavy qualities of Kapha dosha can sometimes leave Kapha types feeling a little sluggish and lethargic (they’re the soundest sleepers of all dosha types).
When it comes to getting things done, Kapha-dominant types generally take their sweet time! They may be slow to get going, but they are dependable and dedicated. Kaphas often have a sweet tooth and may struggle to shed pounds, but with a Kapha-balancing diet they generally feel more balanced.
These are some of the basic Kapha dosha characteristics (remember, we all have some measure of Kapha in our minds and bodies). Now, let’s move on to some of the things you’ll notice in your mind and body when Kapha dosha is in balance, and when it’s out of balance:
| Kapha In Balance |
Kapha Out of Balance |
|---|---|
| • stable temperament | • gains weight easily |
| • good long-term memory | • sluggish digestion |
| • healthy robust physiology | • prone to sinus and respiratory issues |
| • strength and stamina | • lethargy |
| • compassionate and affectionate | • feelings of sadness |
| • sound sleep | • difficulty waking up |
| • food cravings |
How to Balance Kapha Dosha—Easy Lifestyle Tips
One of the foundational principles of Ayurveda is that “like increases like,” and opposites balance. Therefore, because Kapha dosha is slow, heavy, moist, cool, and oily, it benefits from things that add a little fire and spice!
One of the best things you can do to counter Kapha’s slow, heavy nature is to add some spice to your life—quite literally. Kapha types benefit from adding a bit of ginger, pepper, and other heating spices to their meals.
Changing things up is good for Kapha, too, as Kapha personality types can sometimes get stuck in a rut or be prone to inertia, lethargy, oversleeping, and melancholic moods. Fresh air and regular exercise are some of the best ways to fire up Kapha, as are: learning new hobbies, taking new classes, taking a different route to work each day, listening to upbeat music, and making sure to socialize with uplifting friends and family members.
Here are some other easy things you can do to remedy a Kapha imbalance:
- Follow a Kapha dosha-balancing diet, favoring lighter fare and tastes that are bitter, pungent, and astringent, while avoiding heavy, oily foods and those that are sweet, sour, and salty. See full Kapha Dosha Diet Guidelines below.
- Enjoy a little bit of vigorous regular exercise every day.
- Favor warm temperatures.
- Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
- Seek out variety and new experiences.
- Stay warm in cold, damp weather.
- Follow the adage: early to bed, early to rise.
- Give yourself a daily oil massage with stimulating essential oils like eucalyptus and rosemary.
Kapha Dosha Diet Guidelines
In Ayurveda, food is medicine. A Kapha-pacifying diet will go a long way toward nourishing Kapha dosha to stay balanced. Because Kapha dosha is cool and slow in nature, it benefits from getting fired up a little with stimulating activities and foods.
Cold, wet foods can weigh sluggish Kapha down further. If you have a predominance of Kapha dosha, you’ll benefit from foods that are warm, light, dry, and lightly spiced.
Food should be fresh, well-cooked, tasty, pleasing, and satisfying. Try our clearing Kapha lentil dish that can be easily made with a thermos, or our simple but delicious spring pasta recipe. Take your meals regularly, at the proper time - morning, noon, and evening. Eat the proper amounts of food at each meal, avoid over- or undereating.
You should feel hungry by the next meal, but not ravenous. Snack a bit between meals as long as it does not dampen the feeling of hunger by your next meal. Eat in a quiet, relaxing environment. Favor organically grown foods and avoid genetically modified foods (GMO's).
Kapha Diet
|
|
Favor |
Reduce or Avoid |
Summary |
Lighter diet; dry, warm food and warm drinks; pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes | Avoid large quantities of food, especially at night; avoid unctuous, cold, heavy food; minimize sweet, sour, and salty tastes |
Grains |
Old grains (minimum one year), barley, millet, corn, buckwheat, rye, oats, wheat, rice (good quality, like basmati rice) | Avoid new grains, especially wheat and rice |
Pulses |
All, except tofu and black gram | Avoid tofu (soybeans), black gram |
Dairy |
Lassi (yoghurt and water drink -- preferably made thin), buttermilk, low-fat milk; small amount of ghee | Cheese, whole milk |
Sweeteners |
Honey, old jaggery (caramelized sugar cane syrup) | Avoid sugar cane products (except old jaggery) |
Oils |
Ghee (for cooking), mustard, sunflower, corn, olive (all, especially ghee, in small amounts) |
|
Nuts and Seeds |
Sunflower and pumpkin seeds | Avoid all nuts |
Spices and Condiments |
All spices except salt, especially pungent and sharp spices (pepper, ginger, etc.), lemon juice; Kapha Churna and Kapha Tea | Avoid salt |
Vegetables |
Artichoke, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn, daikon radish, eggplant, garlic, green beans, green chilies, horseradish, kale, leafy greens, leeks, lettuce, mustard greens, okra, onions |
Avoid olives (green and black), potatoes (sweet), squash (winter), tomatoes (raw), zucchini |
Fruits |
Apples, applesauce, apricots, berries, cherries, cranberries, figs (dry), peaches, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, prunes, raisins, strawberries | Avoid avocado, banana, coconut, dates, figs (fresh), grapefruit, kiwi, melons, oranges, papaya, pineapple, plums, rhubarb, watermelon |
Note: Guidelines provided in this table are general. Specific adjustments for individual requirements may need to be made, e.g., food allergies, strength of agni, season of the year and degree of dosha predominance or aggravation. Before making any changes to your diet, it is recommended that you check with your physician. This Ayurvedic dietary guide is educational and is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease.
Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. If you are seeking the medical advice of a trained Ayurvedic expert, call or email us for the number of a physician in your area. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.
Awaken your senses and find your joy again with this stimulating collection of Kapha-balancing essentials - from zesty spice blends and teas to supplements soaps and more.
Take our Dosha Quiz to discover your unique mind-body type.
