Vata, Pitta, Kapha

Ayurveda is part of a 5000 year-old yogic philosophy. It literally means ‘science of life’ and teaches us how to live a healthy and happy long life.

Ayurvedic nutrition is based on the 3 constitutions Vata, Pitta and Kapha:

Vata (ether and air) is light, dry, cold and irregular. Vata people have a naturally thin body structure. Skin, hair, nails and intestines are dry (tendency to constipation) and their body gets quickly cold (especially cold hands and feet). Therefore, Vatas love heat and can’t get enough sunshine. They don’t like routines, they are constantly doing something and always on the move (love to travel). A Vata person’s mind is generally busy and they find it very difficult to relax. Vatas have a tendency to have high level of anxiety, worry and insecurity.

Pitta (fire and water) is hot, oily and irritable. People with a Pitta constitution have an average athletic body structure, their body is generally warm, they sweat quickly and can’t stand too much heat and sunshine. The skin is soft and pink and the hair tends to fall out quickly or grey early. The digestive fire is strong (tendency to diarrhoea). Pittas are active, logical thinking and good organisers, but can easily be bad tempered, impatient, angry and jealous.

Kapha (water and earth) is cold, wet and stable. Kaphas have a round body and by nature thicker bones. Generally it is hard for Kaphas to lose weight. Skin and hair is soft, oily and healthy. Kaphas are very pleasant to be around with, they love to socialise but also like to stay cosy at home, doing nothing. Kaphas can easily get lazy, phlegmatic and attached. They have a tendency to become over weight, suffer form respiratory problems, fatigue and depression.