Bitter collard greens and turmeric help thin and move the blood, destroying kapha. Lemon and black pepper assists digestion of the heavier potato and sunflower oil.

Spinach is heating but potatoes are astringent and cooling. Turmeric opens up circulation bringing heat to the extremities for kapha dosha.

Creamy coconut milk paired with roasted, crunchy pecans pacify vata and pitta but aggravate kapha. Some vatas have trouble digesting coconut milk. In that case serve as a garnish instead of a sauce or use almond milk.

Milk is the ultimate rasyana (rejuvenator) because it contains all the nutrients needed for growth and development of a baby. Unfortunately for most, however, cow's milk is also difficult to digest.

Milk causes gas in vata individuals with weak agni (digestion) and mucous for kapha. Gold milk, on the other hand, is readily absorb-able by vata and actually destroys mucous in kapha.

Here's how: Cinnamon and cardamom stimulate digestive fluids and break up stomach mucous making the milk easy to digest. Once digested, nutrient dense milk has a tendency to cool, congeal and clog the blood. When circulation stagnates the lungs, sinuses and all empty cavities fill up with fluids especially mucous. This kind of mucous lodges deep in the lungs and can be very difficult for kapha individuals to expectorate.

Turmeric heats and thins the blood and honey liquefies mucous. Thin blood circulates freely making the whole body warm blooded for colder winter months!

Lastly, cooked milk breaks up difficult to digest molecules. While raw food experts say raw milk contains helpful digestive enzymes Ayurveda recommends cooking all milk before eating. There is no right answer. Try both and find out what your body prefers!