Kapha Pacifying Foods
Fruits Fruits that pacify kapha will generally be somewhat astringent and only mildly sweet. Dried fruits are acceptable,
on occasion, but should only be enjoyed in small quantities because they are so dense and concentrated. Fruits to
avoid are those that are exceptionally sweet or sour (like oranges or grapes), and any that are especially heavy,
dense, or watery like bananas, coconut, dates, melons, pineapple, or plums.
And remember, fruits and fruit juices are best enjoyed alone 30 minutes before, and ideally at least 1 hour after, any other food. This helps to ensure optimal digestion. Note: this rule does not apply to fruits that we typically
consider vegetables (avocados, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.). You will find these fruits listed among the
vegetables.
Favor Avoid
Apples
Applesauce
Apricots
Berries
Bananas
Cantaloupe
Coconut
Dates
Cherries
Cranberries
Figs (dry)
Grapes (red, purple, black)
Lemons
Limes
Mango
Peaches
Pears
Persimmons
Pomegranates
Prunes
Raisins
Raspberries
Strawberries
Figs (fresh)
Grapes (green)
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Melons
Oranges
Papaya
Pineapple
Plums
Rhubarb
Tamarin
Watermelon
Vegetables Vegetables that pacify kapha will generally be pungent, bitter, and astringent. Most vegetables include some
combination of these tastes, so vegetables are an important centerpiece of any effective kapha-balancing diet.
Cooked vegetables are generally easier to digest than raw ones, so its best to have raw veggies, salads, and kapha-aggravating vegetables in small quantities and at mid-day, when digestive strength is at its peak. Raw vegetables
are often more appropriate for kapha in the spring and summer seasons. The only vegetables for kapha to reduce or
avoid are those that are particularly heavy, dense, oily, or watery like avocado, cucumber, olives, and the other vegetables listed in the reduce or avoid column below.
Favor Reduce or Avoid
Artichoke
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Beets
Bell Peppers
Bitter Melon
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Burdock Root
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chilies
Cilantro
Collard Greens
Corn
Daikon Radish
Dandelion Greens
Eggplant
Garlic
Green Beans
Horseradish
Jerusalem Artichokes
Kale
Kohlrabi
Leafy Greens
Leeks
Lettuce
Mustard Greens
Okra
Onions
Peas
Peppers, Sweet & Hot
Potatoes, White
Radishes
Rutabaga
Spaghetti Squash
Spinach
Sprouts
Squash, Winter
Tomatoes (cooked)
Turnips
Watercress
Wheat Grass
Avocado
Cucumber
Olives
Parsnips
Pumpkin
Squash, Summer
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes (raw)
Zucchini
Grains
Grains that pacify kapha are light, dry, and rough. In general, grains tend to be staples in our diets because they are
somewhat heavy and nourishing. But when it comes to balancing kapha, these qualities are best minimized, so
reducing grain consumption overall can be a huge benefit. Avoid grains that are exceptionally heavy, moist or
dense (like wheat, flours, breads, cooked oats, and pastas) as much as possible, and eat smaller quantities of
appropriate grains. It often works well to supplement meals with extra vegetables or legumes, which are
nutritionally rich, but also more balancing for kapha.
Favor Avoid
Amaranth
Barley
Buckwheat
Cereal (unsweetened, cold, dry)
Corn
Couscous
Crackers
Durham Flour
Granola
Millet
Muesli
Oat Bran
Oats (dry)
Polenta
Quinoa
Rice (basmati, wild)
Rye
Seitan
Spelt
Sprouted Wheat Bread
Tapioca
Wheat Bran
Oats (cooked)
Pancakes
Pasta
Rice (brown, white)
Rice Cakes
Wheat
Yeasted Bread
Legumes Legumes are generally astringent, which is one of the tastes that balances kapha. Kapha can enjoy a wide variety of
legumes, but they should generally be well-cooked and well-spiced to make them more digestible. Even well-
cooked tofu, tempeh, and warm, spiced soy milk are acceptable. The only beans that dont work for kapha are simply too heavy or oily to be balancing.
Favor Avoid
Adzuki Beans
Black Beans
Black-Eyed Peas
Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)
Lentils
Lima Beans
Mung Beans
Mung Dal
Kidney Beans
Miso
Soy Beans
Soy Cheese
Soy Flour
Soy Powder
Soy Sauce
Tofu (served cold)
Navy Beans
Pinto Beans
Split Peas
Soy Milk
Soy Meats
Tempeh
Tofu (served hot)
Tur Dal
White Beans
Urad Dal
Dairy Dairy products are best minimized when trying to reduce kapha because they tend to be heavy, unctuous, and can
increase mucus production. As a rule, dairy milks should be taken at least one hour before or after any other food.
Ideally, milk is boiled and served hot with a pinch or turmeric or ginger to make it more digestible and less congesting. Goats milk and goats milk products are the best option for kapha because they are lighter, but are best in moderation. Almond and rice milks are good substitutes.
Favor Avoid
Buttermilk
Cottage Cheese (ideally from skim goats milk) Ghee
Goats Cheese (unsalted, not aged) Goats Milk (skim) Yogurt (fresh and diluted)
Butter
Cheese
Cows Milk Frozen Yogurt
Ice Cream
Sour Cream
Yogurt (store bought)
Nuts & Seeds Nuts and seeds tend to be heavy, dense, and oily and are generally not terrifically balancing for kapha. But there
are a few types of nuts and seeds that are acceptable in small quantities. When trying to balance kapha, nuts and
seeds are best enjoyed only on occasion.
Favor Avoid
Almonds (soaked and peeled)
Charole Nuts
Chia Seeds
Flax Seeds
Popcorn (without salt or butter)
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Brazil Nuts
Cashews
Coconut
Filberts
Macadamia Nuts
Peanuts
Pecans
Pine Nuts
Pistachios
Sesame Seeds
Tahini
Walnuts
Meat & Eggs Kapha does best with animal foods that are light and relatively dry (like chicken or freshwater fish), as opposed to
those that are heavy, oily, or especially dense (such as beef, pork, or duck). Eating less meat all around is generally
beneficial. In fact, kapha can be easily pacified without any animal foods, if your diet doesnt already include them.
Favor Avoid
Chicken (white)
Eggs
Fish (freshwater)
Rabbit
Shrimp
Turkey (white)
Venison
Beef
Buffalo
Chicken (dark)
Duck
Fish (saltwater)
Lamb
Pork
Salmon
Sardines
Seafood
Tuna Fish
Turkey (dark)
Oils Most oils are a bit heavy and, well, oily for kapha. However, in very small quantities, the oils in the favor column
are acceptable, if they are of good quality. Because toxins tend to concentrate in fats, buying organic oils may be
more important than buying organic fruits and vegetables. When trying to balance kapha, you can minimize
reliance on oil by sauting foods in water instead of oil or by simply steaming them. For those occasions when a
tad of oil is needed, the best oils for kapha are corn oil, sunflower oil or ghee.
Favor Avoid
Almond Oil
Corn Oil
Flax Seed Oil
Ghee
Sunflower Oil
Avocado Oil
Apricot Oil
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Primrose Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Soy Oil
Walnut Oil
Sweeteners As the sweet taste is not particularly supportive to kapha, most sweeteners are better avoided. Honey on the other
hand which is dry, light, and heating is the one exception, when used in small quantities. Honey also scrapes toxins and fat from the tissues, so it benefits kapha on multiple levels. However, heating or cooking with honey
creates toxins, so only raw and unprocessed honey should be used. Foods and drinks that contain refined sugars or
corn syrup can be especially detrimental and should be avoided as much as possible.
Favor Avoid
Fruit Juice Concentrates
Honey (raw and unprocessed)
Artificial Sweeteners
Barley Malt
Date Sugar
Fructose
Honey (cooked, heated or processed)
Jaggary
Maple Syrup
Molasses
Rice Syrup
Sucanat
Turbinado
White Sugar
Spices Most spices are wonderful for kapha, so feel free to experiment with a wide variety of new and exotic spices.
Kapha is the only dosha that can usually handle fiery hot foods. Even if those dont suit you, a variety of mild spices will help to strengthen the digestive fire and can improve overall metabolism. In particular, the pungent and
digestive qualities of onions, garlic, ginger, black pepper, chili pepper, and cayenne pepper benefit kapha.
Favor Avoid
Ajwan
Allspice
Anise
Basil
Bay Leaf
Black Pepper
Caraway
Cardamom
Cayenne
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coriander (seeds or powder)
Cumin (seeds or powder)
Dill
Fennel
Fenugreek
Salt
Garlic
Ginger (fresh or dried)
Hing (Asafoetida)
Mace
Marjoram
Mint
Mustard Seeds
Neem Leaves
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Peppermint
Pippali
Poppy Seeds
Rosemary
Saffron
Savory
Spearmint
Tarragon
Thyme
Trikatu
Turmeric
Vanilla
Wintergreen
Top Related