By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed
Ayurvedic
health care practitioners believe that a state of disease is able to develop
when the particular dosha or mind/body matrix of an individual is out of
balance. Participating in a springtime detox diet will help a Yogi or Yogini to
reestablish their internal balance through a purifying diet of healthy food,
spices and teas. In fact, the elite Council of Maharishi Ayurveda Physicians
recommends that all dosha types complete a spring detox diet in order to
cleanse the body of toxic producing substances that may have accumulated in a
Yoga practitioner’s digestive tract during the dark winter months.
The
Pitta dosha is the most fiery of all of the doshas. Classically speaking, the
Pitta dosha is governed by thinking, learning and the fire of digestion. Yogis
or Yoginis who are predominantly pitta in nature are usually highly
intelligent, very quick in their thought processes, ethical and often excel in
leadership positions. A Pitta individual also tends to be quite dharmic in his
or her behavior and very disciplined, sometimes to such an extent that his or
her outlook on life becomes quite rigid and set.
When a
Pitta is out of balance, he or she will often exhibit a high level of
irritability and a short fuse, becoming easily angered at the proverbial drop
of a hat or glass of spilt milk. An out-of-balance Pitta may also exhibit skin
rashes, prematurely grey hair, excess stomach acid and an overly critical
attitude. Ayurvedic physicians recommend that Pittas eat cooling, sweet
and cleansing foods, such as fruit juices and cleansing greens. An optimal
Pitta diet will emphasize fresh plant foods and minimize processed foods, meat
and seafood. Eating at regular mealtimes and exercising daily out in nature
will also help to keep a Pitta dosha individual in balance.
Participating
in an Ayurvedic springtime detox diet will help to refresh and balance all of
the doshas. An optimal Pitta spring detox diet includes lots of bitter, green
leafy vegetables, including kale, arugula and parsley for their cleansing
properties.
Celery and cucumbers are also great vegetables to include in a Pitta cleansing diet. Additionally, blue, red and purple fruits are highly recommended for Pittas by Ayurvedic practitioners. A great way to include many greens, vegetables and fruits into your diet is by making a yogurt-based, green smoothie everyday while detoxifying. In this way, you will be able to include many of the recommended cleansing and bitter greens in a nourishing, cooling and sweet base of organic yogurt and succulent fruit.
© Copyright – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
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