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Determine your constitution
Identify your body type better
Food & Diet Guide for All types
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Ayurveda is a truly holistic and integral medical system
that treats human beings as a 'whole' which is a combination of body, mind
and soul.
"AYU" means all aspects of life from conception to death and
"VEDA" means knowledge of learning. It is a way of life that
describes the diet, medicine and behaviour that are beneficial or detrimental
for your life or lifestyle.
Ayurveda is one of the oldest (approximately 6000 years old) scientific
medical systems in the world, with a long record of clinical experience. It
is one of the great gifts of the Gods of ancient India to mankind. It is not
just a system of medicine in the common sense of curing disease. It is also a
way of life which teaches us how to maintain and protect our health.
According to the four main vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva), they stated
that when the God Brahma created the universe with human life, human beings
started to feel sick, not doing all Karmas properly as they were supposed to.
So the creator of the universe, Brahma wrote Ayurveda which some people call
as a fifth veda.
The Rig veda is the foundation stone of the other vedas, being the oldest of
the four and contains concepts of Ayurveda. Its three great Gods - Indra,
Agni and Soma - related to the three doshas (body type) of Ayurveda - Vata,
Pitta or Kapha.
In Atharva we find references to anatomical and physiological factors, the
disease process, treatment of specific diseases and other systematic
knowledge about Ayurveda. All the material about the science of life is
compiled together in the so called as a fifth veda, Ayurveda and all those
compilations are called "Samhitas". Due to invasion of different
cultures in ancient India, many of these Samhitas have been lost or burnt,
but three main Samhitas are available: Charaka-Medicine Veda;
Sushruta-Surgery Veda; Ashtanga Hridaya-Lifestyle Management.
Ayurveda is not only medicine but is also a way of life.
How to determine your constitution
Select one of the three options below to determine which
description fits you best. Make a note to which type your choice belongs. If
you feel two or all options fit, jot down each type. If you are unsure about
a choice, just leave it. Tally up how many times each type has been chosen.
As each person is a combination of all three types, you are likely to have
numbers for all three. The type with the highest number is your dominant
constitutional type.
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The Vata
Type
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The Pitta
Type
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The Kapha
Type
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Usually low body weight and
light bone structure. Enthusiastic and sensitive. Prone to illnesses like :
rheumatism, anxiety, infertility, impotence, heart trouble. Like a warm
environment. Prolonged intellectual concentration can affect their health.
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Like
physical activity. Metabolism works well, muscle & bone structure are
moderately developed. Intellectually alert & methodical. They make good
leaders, scientists or technicians. Impatient & aggressive. Prone to
high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, skin cancer, herpes &
inflammations.
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Usually
heavily built. Do not like to rush, take their time. Strong and enduring.
Prudent, confident, reliable, calm under pressure. Good business sense. Can
become greedy or lethargic. Prone to digestive problems, poor blood
circulation, colds, bronchitis, lung and breast cancer.
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The following table can help you identify your body type
better-
Physical Attributes-Body Type
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SKIN
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thin, dry,
cool, fairly dark, tans easily
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pale,
lustrous, freckles, rashes, sunburns easily
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thick,
whitish, oily, cold
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MOUTH
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small or
large, gums receding
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medium
size
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large
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NECK
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thin,
scrawny, very long, very short
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average,
in proportion to body
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solid,
like a tree trunk
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HAIR
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thin,
dark, dry, curly, coarse, kinky, frizzy
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fine,
soft, fair, reddish
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thick,
plenty, wavy, shiny, brown
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NOSE
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small,
narrow, long, crooked, asymmetrical
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pointed,
average size
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large,
rounded, oily
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LIPS
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thin,
narrow, tight, dry, unbalanced
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medium,
well proportioned, soft, red
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big, full,
smooth, oily
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FACE
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long,
angular, small chin
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heartshaped,
pointed chin
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large,
round, full
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EYES
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small,
narrow, sunken, dark, brown, grey
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average,
hazel, light blue, grey, intense lustre
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large, attractive, blue, light brown
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TEETH
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irregular,
big, crooked, little
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medium
size, soft gums, yellowish
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strong,
white, healthy gums
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SIZE at
birth
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thin,
small
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average
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large
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HEIGHT
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very
short, very tall
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medium
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tall,
sturdy, short, stocky
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WEIGHT
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low, hard
to put on weight
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moderate,
easy to put on or take off weight
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heavy,
tends to overweight
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FRAME
BONES
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light,
delicate, narrow hips, shoulders
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medium
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large
shoulders, hips are broad
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MUSCLES
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underdeveloped,
prominent tendons
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firm, well
developed
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solid,
strong
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JOINTS
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prominent, dry, tend to crack, knobbly
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normal, in
proportion to limbs
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large,
healthy, well lubricated
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SWEAT
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very
little, often little smell
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a lot when
hot, strong, sour smell
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moderate,
a little sweat present
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ACTIVITY
LEVEL
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busy,
involved, fidgety
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moderate
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slow,
lethargic, heavy
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SEXUAL
ACTIVITY
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intense,
passionate, fantasies
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solid,
capable, sensous
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slow to
arouse, maintains passion
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FERTILITY
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low
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average
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high
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TEMPERATURE
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prefers
warmer environment
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prefers
cooler environment
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hates
coldness
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STOOL
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dry, hard,
irregular, constipated
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soft,
oily, loose, regular
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slow,
oily, thick, heavy, plenty
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SLEEP
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fitful, scanty, interrupted, not restful
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not long,
but very sound
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very deep,
prolonged, likes plenty
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SPEECH
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fast, not
lost for words
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sharp,
clear, cutting, precise
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slow,
monotonous
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MEMORY
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good short
term, poor long term
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good,
rapid recall
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slow, very
good long term
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Personality
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THINKING
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superficial,
theorises, few actions
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logical,
precise, plans well ahead
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slow,
refuses to be rushed
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BELIEFS
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few deep
beliefs, changeable
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strong,
fanatical
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deep,
steady, does not change
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EMOTIONS
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fearful, unpredictable,
anxious
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aggressive,
judgemental
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calm,
greedy, possesive
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Way of Life
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Work Preference
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creative,
imaginative
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intellectual
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caring
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Money
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spender,
unwise, poor
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moderate,
likes luxuries
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saves,
prudent, rich
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Lifestyle
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fast,
erratic, no plans
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plans
ahead, ambitious, busy
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steady,
does not change, regular
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A Food & Diet Guide for the Three
Ayurvedic Types
Food should be natural. Cooking, freezing, etc. changes the natural quality
of food. How foods can be combined, how much food should be eaten, the
environmental history of food growing, seasonal effects on the food, eating
habits and manners, how a person's attitude can affect food are all factors
to be considered for a proper guide. Buttermilk is very good, balancing all
three doshas.
Vata Reducing Diet - VATA, a combination of the elements of
ETHER and AIR requires sweet, sour, salty and moistening foods. Avoid eating
when stressed, anxious or nervous. Try to develop regular eating habits.
Drink milk, spice or herb tea. Avoid dried fruit, apples, melons. Eat sweet
fruits, avocado, banana, brown rice or red cabbage.
Pitta Reducing Diet - The element of Pitta is predominantly
FIRE. Pitta people benefit from foods that have a cooling effect. Avoid fatty
and spicy foods including: sour fruits, peanut butter, oranges, banana,
tomatoes or garlic. Don't drink much alcohol. Concentrate on raw fruits and
vegetables. Try to eat in an atmosphere of calm and order. Take time when
eating. Drink lots of cool water, fruit juices and tea.
Kapha Reducing Diet - As WATER and EARTH are the elements of
KAPHA, avoid foods that are sweet, sour and salty. Concentrate on food that
is bitter, spicy and tangy. Eat light, warm meals. Avoid overeating, do not
eat between meals and do not let emotional disturbances make you eat more.
Never sleep after a meal as this will increase weight. Drink as little as
possible, especially avoiding cold drinks.
Ideal Food Guide for your constitution - Download
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