How to Manage Pitta-Related Weight Imbalances?

Since Pitta dosha is related to the fire element, you may think that burning the carbohydrates and sugars in their diet is not a problem for a person with high Pitta.

However, if a Pitta-dominated person fails to maintain his or her digestion, it can lead to specific digestive problems. For example, if a person with Pitta mainly skips breakfast or other food, the digestive fire will become more intense and it will cause ama (digestive impurity). The stomach acids “burn” the food and may damage the stomach in this situation.

 

To know how this happens, consider placing an empty pot on the stove. The heat is high and the pot is empty. Instead, the vessel itself burns. Likewise, if you have a strong digestive fire but do not eat it regularly, the digestive enzymes will be out of balance and the food will burn and make ama the next time you decide to eat.

Most of the people with high Pitta dosha are overweight, and because they do not eat regularly, as a result, the ama interferes with their digestive system.

When Ama blocks the channels of digestion and the channels that supply nutrients throughout the body, the metabolism slows down and the body weight increases.

In this case, the excess component of hyperacidity causes more issues, because Pitta-type fire digestion produces more acidity and tries to compensate excessively for the ama and blocked channels. Individuals can take over-the-counter antacids, but they still gain weight because the body no longer fills the ama and the antacid does not address the underlying cause.

During these problems, one should seek the advice of an expert in Dhathri Ayurveda Hospital & Panchakarma Centre, as it is very important to seek advice to prevent excessive digestive acids from damaging the stomach. Dhathri Ayurveda Hospital is the best ayurvedic treatment centre in Kerala following the genuine traditional and natural treatment methods for various diseases

 

Tips to manage the diet of a person with high Pitta

Mainly, a person having high Pitta should eat meals daily, beginning from breakfast.

• Having an apple or pears cooked with figs is an ideal breakfast, as it will quench the fire of digestion but not overdo it. In addition, it is always better for people with high Pitta to have raw pears or other sweet and juicy fruits.

• Drinking a cup of boiled milk with a pinch of liquorice is a good breakfast meal.

• Daikon radish is the ideal vegetable for weight management. Grate this white radish and add it to the dal soups for a mild spicy flavour.

• Add sweet vegetables such as white squash to lunch and dinner. Once they are well steamed, add a little cold spices, fennel, a small amount of cumin, and a small amount of turmeric and fry in ghee.

• Add 1-2 cloves to dhal soup, vegetables or cereals because the cloves are delicious and spicy, but if you cook with it and do not chew it, it has a cooling effect.

• You can also allow the water to boil and soak with the root of liquorice and fennel. Drinking it throughout the day helps in the digestion and cooling of the Pitta dosha.

• Liquorice soothes Pitta dosha, fennel opens the channels of digestion and blood circulation without worsening the Pitta. (Remember: Liquorice is not recommended if you have high blood pressure or water retention -it is always better to consult in Dhathri Ayurveda hospital before its use).

• When cooked up as a soup with spices, the yellow split mung dhal is a good source of protein.

• You can also allow the water to boil and soak with liquorice root and fennel. Drink it the whole day for better digestion and cooling effects.

• Quinoa and basmati rice are recommended cereals, need to be cooked up with a little olive oil or ghee. If you are overweight and wondering why ghee or olive oil is recommended in cooking, in cases where hyperacidity causes stomach upset, healthy fats like ghee and olive oil can lubricate the area and help repair the damage.

• Eliminate the consumption of pungent spices such as black mustard seed, cayenne, and chilies, as they boost up the acidity.

• Individuals with excessive Pitta may be attracted to heavy, cold, and sweet foods to relieve acidity. But having heavy and cold food makes the ama worse blocks the channels of digestion and metabolism. Cooked with cold spices, it is good to cool down by eating light desserts like fruit crisps with food and drinking soft dairy drinks like sweet lassi.

Moreover, a night of good sleep is an essential component to balance the Pitta Dosha. Even if you feel you have a lot of energy, or feel more creative, staying awake at night is not a good idea because it can exacerbate Pitta dosha.

If you stay awake at night, you will always feel hungry and thirsty, and you may be tempted to eat packaged biscuits or salty snacks or drink soft drinks. All these can irritate the PItta dosha, worsen it and increase the body weight.