Written by John Immel, Asheville, NCVata individuals tend towards lightness and need more nurturing foods rich in sweet taste, oil, and salt. Other body types may be jealous of the delicious food recommended for a Vata diet. Sweet taste does not mean sugar, which is actually overstimulating for Vata. In Ayurveda, sweet refers to nourishing foods like root vegetables, animal products, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Foods should be warm, moist, and heavy, yet easy to digest - something like a root vegetable soup, or grandma's chicken soup, for example.

Vata tends toward dryness, which is often the first sign of Vata imbalance. If you are Vata, hydrate your body before sitting down to eat. Stomach acid, enzymes, and bile all come in liquid form. If you are not adequately hydrated a half an hour in advance of a meal, you'll lack the 2/3rd liter of fluid necessary to digest your meal, and may experience fullness after only a few morsels. Dryness often causes gas, bloating, and constipation. Aside from hydrating with water, sour and salty tastes are the juicy flavors to favor. Add good quality oils like ghee to your diet and regularly massage your skin with oil.

Vata tends to be cold and deficient. The blood of a Vata person may be anemic and lacking umph. This lack of umph also weakens digestion since the digestive organs are fueled by blood. Blood builders like red meat, raisins, eggs, and saffron may be helpful.

A Vata person's metabolism may be low due to exhaustion. As a result, their food doesn't get broken down fully. This begins a chain reaction where nutrients don't get absorbed, further weakening the blood. Bad bacteria grow in the unabsorbed food, causing gas and bloating. This is not the kind of dinner party we're looking for.

Vata individuals should avoid foods that are cold and difficult to digest, such as legumes, raw food, brassicas like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Add warmth by adding mild spices and serve food hot. Hinvastak churna, ginger, and black pepper support healthy Vata digestion. Vatas need to be sure to chew food well and be present and still while eating.

Remedies for the following imbalanced qualities:

• Dry - with salt, oil, sour taste, or protein
• Light - with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
• Cold - with spices and cooked food served hot
• Rough - with gooey foods like oatmeal
• Subtle - with grounding root vegetables
• Clear - with grounding root vegetables

If you don't know your body type yet, take the quizzes on Joyful Belly to find out. If you do know your body type, use these resources to balance Vata:

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