Choice of Food
 
In planning the diet it is necessary to know which food to have or avoid based on ones personal doshic constitution or imbalance. For easy reference therefore some of the acceptable and avoidable items for each doshic type has been listed below :
Fruits
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
apples Avocades apples(sour) apples(sweet) bananas apples
dates grapes berries(sour) berries(sweet) dates berries
figs (dry) lemons cranberries coconuts grapes cranberries
pomegranate bananas strawberries dates water melons pomegranates
raisin sweet oranges banana figs sweetners dried fruits
pears plum lemon avocados melons strawberries in small amounts
  figs (fresh) peaches sweet melons mango  
  mango   plums coconut  
      pomegranates    
Dairy
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
cheese dairy yogurt fresh ghee milk just a little dairy
cow’s milk fresh, whole sour cream fresh whole un-homogenized milk clarified butter cheese goat milk and ghee in moderation
powdered un-homogenized milk        
yogurt ghee        
  little butter        
  white meat (chicken, fish or turkey – baked or broiled)        
  chicken broth        
Grains
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
Barley white or brown basmati rice Corn white or brown basmati rice, wheat Bread(with yeast) barley buckwheat cousous millet
corn wheat millet barley oat(cooked) muesli
cereals oats oat(dry) oat bran wheat oats
granola quinoa quinoa oats white rice oat bran
millet   polenta wheat or wheat bran cane small amount of wheat
tapioca          
Meat
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
turkey white meat (chicken, fish and turkey - baked or broiled) meat baked or broiled chicken, turkey or white fish in moderate amounts beef fresh water fish
rabbit chicken broth chicken buffalo shrimp
pork   ducks chicken rabbit
lamb   eggs duck venison
    pork   small amount of white meat
    salmon    
    sardines    
Vegetables
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
Cabbage(raw) beets Beet asparagus Cucumber asparagus
Cauliflower(raw) cauliflower(cooked) greens broccoli Olives beets
Peas leeks Carrots cabbage Potato bitter
Potatoes carrots Garlic cucumber Pumpkin melons
Spinach asparagus Green Chillies cooked onions Spaghetti broccoli
Eggplant cilantro Onion sweet Squash beet greens
Mushroom fennel and a little bit of garlic Peppers potatoes Tomato(raw) cabbage
Raddish(raw) green beans Prickly pear sprouts   garlic
Spinach greens chillies Radishes squash and a small amount of okra and cauliflower   fennel
Tomatoes(raw) okra Spinach     carrot
  parsnips Turnips     horseradish
  pumpkins       leafy greens
  radishes( preferably cooked)       leeks
          lettuce
          okra
          cooked onions
          spinach
          sprouts
          squash
          turnip and a small amount of artichoke, burdock root and brussels sprouts
Spices
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
Carawas   Ajwan Ajwan Black pepper Salt   chillies,
Almond extract Anise cardamom ginger, cinnamon, clove, fenugreek and bay leaves
Aruise Asafoctida coriander Ajawan
Basil Basil seeds Arvise
Bay leaf Bay leaf cinnamon Asafoetida
Black pepper Garlic cilantro Bay leaf
All spices are good. Ginger fennel seeds Caraway
cilantro, cummin, corriander and fennel seeds, turmeric and asafoetida(hing) Mace fresh basil Cinnamon
  Pippai dill Dill
  Mustard turmeric and a small amount of cumin and fresh ginger Mace
  Seeds      Nutmeg
      Saffron
Nuts
Vata Pitta Kapha
No Yes No Yes No Yes
None small amount of almonds Almonds sunflower seeds and almonds in moderate amount Almonds small amount of almonds ,
pecans and sesame seeds Cashew Black Walnuts charole
  Peanuts Brazil nuts  
  Pinenuts Filberts  
    Hazelnuts  
    Peanuts  
    Pine nuts  
    Walnuts  
Food Chart
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DOSHA
Animal Food
Beef  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy, Thick
Buffalo  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Dull
Chicken, Light  Astringent, Sweet Heating Sweet Light Unctuous
Chicken, Dark  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy, Heating
Duck  Sweet, Pungent Heating Sweet Heating, Heavy
Eggs  Sweet Heating Sweet Unctuous, Heavy
Eggs, Yolk  Sweet Heating Sweet Cholesterol
Food Chart
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DOSHA
Dairy
Butter  sour Cooling Pungent Light, Binds the stool
Buttermilk  Sweet, Sour Cooling Sweet heavy, Unctuous
Cheese, Hard  Sour Heating Sour Heavy, Oily, Congestive
Cheese, Soft  Sour Heating Sour Heavy, Unctuous
Cottage Cheese  Sour, Salty Heating Pungent Lighter, Less, Heating
Cow's Milk  Sweet Cooling Sweet Laxative, Heavy, Mucus
Ghee  Sweet Cooling Sweet Kindles Agni, Digestive
Goat's Milk  Sweet Cooling Pungent Light, Strengthens Mucus
Sour Cream Sour Heating Pungent Heavy, Unctuous
Yogurt Sweet, Sour Cooling Sweet Hydrophilous, Mucus
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DOSHA
Fruits
Apple  Astringent Cooling Sweet Rough, Light
Avocado  Astringent Cooling Sweet Oily, Heavy, Soft
Apricots  Sweet Heating Sweet Liquid, Heavy, Sour
Berries,  Sour Heating Pungent Sharp, Light
Berries,  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous, Liquid
Banana,  Astringent Heating Pungent Soft, Light
Banana, ripe  Sweet Heating Sour Smooth, Heavy
Cantaloupe  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy, Watery
Cherries  Astringent, sour Heating Pungent Light, Liquid
Coconut  Sweet Cooling Cooling Oily, Hard
Carnberries  Astringent, Sour Heating Pungent Light, Dry, Liquid
Dates  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Energizer
Figs  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Energizer
Grapes,green  Sour Heating Pungent Liquid, Strengthening
Grapes,red  Sweet Cooling Sweet Smooth, Energizer
Grapefruit  Sour Heating Sour Acidic, Hydrophilious
Kiwi  Sweet, Astringent Heating Pungent Heavy, Hydrophilious
Lemon  Sour Heating Sour Juicy, Digestive
Lime  Sour Cooling Sweet Refreshing, Digestive
Mango,green  Astringent, Sour Cooling Pungent Heavy,Hard
Mango, ripe  Sweet Heating Sweet Energizer
Melons  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Hydrophilious
Oranges  Sweet, Sour Heating Pungent Heavy
Papy  Sweet, Sour Heating Sweet Heavy, Unctuous
Peaches Sweet, Astringent Heating Sweet Heavy,Liquid
Pears  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Pungent Dry, Rough, Heavy
Persimon  Astringent, Sour Heating Pungent Light, Dry, Sharp
Pineapple  Sour, Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy, Sharp
Plums  Sweet, Sour, Astringent Heating Sweet Heavy, Watery
Pomegranate  Sweet, Sour, Astringent Cooling Sweet Smooth, Oily
Prunes (Soaked)  Sweet Cooling Sweet Soothing, Laxative
Risins (Soaked)  Sweet, Sour Cooling Sweet Soothing, Laxative
Rhubarb  Sweet Heating Sweet Laxative, Heavy
Tamarind  Sour Heating Sour Heating
Watermelon  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy
Grains
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DOSHA
Grains
Amaranth  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Pungent Light
Barley  Sweet Cooling Sweet Light, Diuretic
Buckwheat  Astringent Heating Sweet Heavy
Corn  Sweet Heating Sweet Dry, Light
Durham flour  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Sweet Light
Millet  Sweet Heating Sweet Dry, Light
Oat Bran  Astringent, Sweet Cooling Sweet Rough, Dry, Light
Oats, dry  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy
Oats, cooked  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy
Pancakes (wheat)  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Unctuous
Pasta  Astringent Cooling Sweet Heavy, Soft
Quuinoa  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy
Rice, Basmati  Sweet Cooling Sweet Light, soft, Wholesome
Rice, Brown  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy
Rice Cakes  Astringent, Sweet Cooling Sweet Drying, Light
Rice, White  Sweet Cooling Sweet Holds Water, Soft
Rye  Astringent Heating Pungent Dry, Light
Sago  Astringent, Sweet Cooling Sweet Drying, Light
Seitan  Sweet Heating Sweet Heating, Light
Spelt  Pungent, Astringent Heating Pungent Light, Dry
Tapioca Astringent, Sweet Cooling Sweet Drying, Light
Wheat  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Unctuous, Laxative
Legumes
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DOSHA
Legumes
Aduki  Astringent Cooling Pungent Hard, Heavy
Garbanzo (Chick peas)  Sweet Cooling Pungent Dry, Rough, Heavy
Kidney Beans  Astringent Heating Pungent Hard, Rough, Heavy
Lentil, Brown  Astringent Heating Pungent Rough, Heavy
Lentil, Red  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Sweet Light, Soft
Miso  Astringent, sour Heating Pungent Fermented
Mung Beans  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Sweets Light Dry
Navy Beans  Sweet, Astromgent Heating Pungent Dry, Rough
Pinto Beans  Astringent Cooling Pungent Hard to Digest
Soy Beans  Astringent, Sweet Cooling Pungent Unctuous, Heavy
Soy Cheese  Astringent, Sour Heating Pungent Heavy
Soy Sauce  Astringent, Sour Heating Pungent Fermented
Soy Sausages  Astringent, Sour Heating Pungent  
Sou Flour  Astringent, Sour Cooling Pungent  
Soy Powder  Astringent, Sour Cooling Pungent  
Tempeh  Astringent Heating Pungent Light
Tofu  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Pungent vpk
Tur Dal  Astringent Heating Pungent Hard, Heavy
Urad Dal  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy, Soft, Unvtuous
White Beans  Astringent Cooling Pungent Hard To Digest
Nuts
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DOSHA
Nuts
Almond (w/skin)  Sweet heating Sweet Oily, Heavy, Energizer
Almond (soaked peeled)  Sweet Cooling Sweet Same as above
Brazil  Astringent, Sweet Heating sweet Unctuous
Casheew  Sweet Heating sweet Oily, Heavy, Energizer
Charole  Sweet Hearing Sweet Delicate, Gentle
Coconut  Sweet Cooling Sweet Helps mucous secretion
Hazelnut  Astringent, sweet Heating Sweet Energizes
Macadamia  Astringent, Sweet Heating Sweet Energizes
Peanut  Sweet Heating Sweet Oily, Heavy, Strengthens
Pecan  Astringent, Sweet Heating Sweet Oily, Heavy
Pine Nut  Astringent, sweet Heating Sweet Very Energizing
Pistachio  Sweet Heating Sweet Oily, Evergizing
Walnut  Sweet heating Sweet Oily, Heavy, Ecergizing
Oil
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DOSHA
Oils
Almond  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy
Avocado  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous, sweet
Castor Oil  Sweet, Bitter Heating Sweet Heavy, Cools External, Heats Internal
Cocunut  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous, Heavy
Corn  Sweet, Astringent Heating Pungent Dry, Rough, Heating
Canola  Astringent Cooling Pungent Dry, Rough, light
Ghee  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Kinds, Agni
Mustard  Pungent Heating Pungent Sharp, Strong smelling
Olive  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, causes cellulite
Peanut  Sweet Heating Sweet Strengthening
Safflower  Sweet, Astringent Heating Pungent Light, Sharp, Oily
Sesame Sweet, Bitter Heating Sweet Strengthens, Lubricates
Soy  Astringent Cooling Pungent Dry, Rough, Heavy
Sunflower  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Sweet Soothing, Lubricating
Kapha should use oils in very small amounts
Seeds
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DOSHA
Seeds
Popcorn  Astringent, Sweet Cooling Pungent Dry, Light, Rough
Psyllium  Astringent Cooling Pungent Dry, Light, Rough
Pumpkin  Sweet heating Pungent Oily. Heavy, Hard
Safflower  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Sweet Oily, Light, Soft
Sesame  Sweet, Bitter, Astringent Heating Pungent Oily, Heavy, Smooth
Sunflower  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Sweet Oily,Light, Soft
Spices
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DOSHA
Spices
Ajwan  Pungent Heating Pungent Sharp, Light, Digestive
Allspice  Pungent Heating Pungent Agni, Liquifies Kapha
Anise  Pungent Heating Pungent Light, Detoxifying
Basil  Astringent Bitter, Sweet Heating Pungent
Bay Leaf  Pungent, Bitter Heating Pungent vpk
Caraway  Sour, pungent Heating Sweet Stimulates Agni
Cardamom  Sweet Cooling Pungent Light, Oily, Degestive
Cayenne  Pungent Heating Pungent Hot, Dry
Chocolate  Sweet, Sour Heating Sweet Hyperactive, Acidec Congests
Cinnamon  Sweet Hwating Pungent Dry, Light, Oily
Clove  Pungent Heating Pungent Light,Oily
Coriander  Astringent Cooling Sweet Light, Oily, Smooth
Cumin  Pungent Heating Pungent Digestive
Dill  Asstringent, Sweet Heating Sweet Light
Fennel  Sweet Cooling Sweet Delicate
Fenugreek  Pungent, Bitter Heating Pungent Kindles Agni
Garlic  Pungent Heating Sweet Oily, Heavy
Ginger, Fresh  Pungent Heating Sweet Light, juicy, Degestive
Horseradish  Pungent, Astringent Heating Pungent Kindles Agni
Radish  Pungent Heating Pungent Hard, Liquid, Rough
Rutabaga  Astringent, Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, unctuous
Spinach  Astringent –Cooling Pungent Dry, Light,Rough  
Sprouts  Astringent Cooling Pungent Light,Juicy
Squash Winter  Astringent, Sweet Heating Pungent Dry, Sharp, Heavy
Squash  Sweet, Astringent Cooling Pungent vpk
Tomato  Sour, Astringent Heating Pungent Nightshade, Disturbs
Turnips  Pungent, astringent Heating Pungent Rough, Dry
Zucchini  Astringent Cooling Pungent Heavy, Liquid
Hing  Pungent Heating Pungent Dry, sharp, digestive
Mace  Astringent, Sour, Pungent Heating Pungent Kindles agni
Majoram  Pungent, astringent Heating Pungent Kindles
Mint  Sweet Cooling Pungent Calms pitta
Mustard  Pungent Heating Pungent Sharp, oily, light
Neem(leaves)  Bitter Cooling Pungent Stimulates vata slightly
Nutmeg Sweet, astringent Heating Pungent Stimulates digestion
Paprika  Pungent Heating Pungent Stimulates agni
Parsely  Astringent, pungent Heating Pungent May stimulate pitta
Poppy seed  Sweet, astringent Heating Pungent Binds stool, aids sleep
Saffron  Astringent, Bitter Heating Pungent Dry, Light
Savory  Sour, Pungent Heating Pungent Kindles Agni
Tarragon  Sweet Sour, Astringent Cooling Pungent Moderation
Turmeric  Bitter Heating Pungent Dry, Light, Digestive
Sweetner
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DOSHA
Sweetners
Barley Malt  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous, Liquid
Date Sugar  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Energizer Oily
Fructose  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous,Liquid
Honey  Sweet Heating Sweet Heating, Scrapes Fat
Jaggary  Sweet Heating Sweet Strengthening heavy
Maple syrup  Sweet Cooling Sweet Light, strengthener
Molasses  Sweet heating Sweet Heavy, Promotes Bleeding
Rice Syrup  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous, Liquid
Sucanat Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous, Heavy
Sugar, White  Sweet Cooling Sweet Heavy, Oily, Energizer
Turbinado  Sweet Cooling Sweet Unctuous
Fish, Freshwater  Sweet, astringent Heating Sweet Light, Unctuous, Soft
Fish, Salmon  Sweet Heating Sweet Unctuoous, Heating
Fish, Tuna  Sweet, Salty, Astringent Heating Pungent Heating
Mutton  Sweet Heating Sweet Strengthning, Heavy
Pork  Sweet Heating Sweet Heavy, Unctuous
Rabbit  Sweet Cooling Pungent Dry, Rough, Astringent
Shrimp  Sweet heating Pungent Light, Unctuous

Note Information has been collected from various ayurveda books and sites, please consult practitioner as well

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