How To Balance Kapha Dosha – Diet And Prevention Tips

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jeanny Kim, ND

Dr. Kim has made it her mission to transform her patients’ health through education, evidence-based medicine, and on-going treatment support. She has 27 years of experience.Her enthusiasm in helping people achieve total wellness is evident in how she approaches her practice and everyday life.

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Written by Shaheen Naser, MSc Experience: 3 years

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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Last Updated on Jul 11, 2016

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Do you experience constant weakness or have you put on unwanted weight out of the blue? Do you notice an increase in mucus secretion? Is this affecting the quality of your life? These issues might be due to an imbalance in kapha dosha.

Kapha dosha is responsible for a wide range of functions taking place in the body. Any imbalance in the kapha dosha can cause changes in these functions and have a negative impact on your health. This article includes some of the best diet and prevention tips aimed at treating any imbalance that you may be facing in your kapha dosha.

What Is Kapha Dosha?

Doshas are the powerful forces known to create the physical body. They determine the conditions of growth, aging, health, and disease. According to Ayurveda, kapha is one of the three major elements present in a person’s body. The other two elements are vata and pitta.

Kapha is known to govern many structures and lubrication in one’s body and mind. It provides the cohesiveness needed for many varying forms. It also hydrates the cells, lubricates the joints, and helps in maintaining immunity by safeguarding the tissues.

Kapha dosha is classified into five types.

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5 Types Of Kapha Dosha

Avalambhaka Kapha: It is located in the chest and is responsible for the functions of nourishment and lubrication. This type of Kapha also influences the functioning of other Kapha types.
Kledaka Kapha: It is situated in the stomach, and its main function is to moisten and digest hard foods.
Tarpaka Kapha: It is situated in the head and nourishes the sensory organs.
Bodhaka Kapha: This helps in perceiving different tastes and is located on the tongue.
Shleshaka Kapha: This type is responsible for lubricating the joints of the bones and strengthening them. It is located in the bone joints.

Any imbalance in any of these kapha types can give rise to the following signs and symptoms in the affected individuals.

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Signs and Symptoms Of Kapha Dosha Imbalance

Some of the signs of a kapha dosha imbalance are:

Indigestion or weakened digestion
Feeling cold
Laziness
Sleeping too much
Depression
Itching
Swelling
Excess mucus
A white coat on the tongue

Individuals who have kapha dosha as their dominant element are the ones who are easily affected by kapha imbalances.

Kapha individuals tend to be loving and compassionate. A more detailed list of the characteristics of a kapha is provided below.

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Kapha Dosha Characteristics

A kapha body is usually compact and solid. A few other characteristics of the kapha person are as follows.

Wide body frame
A moderate appetite
Deep sleepers
Large appealing eyes that may be blue or dark
Glowing cool skin
Thick hair that may be blonde or dark
Overproduction of secretions like milk and mucus
A pleasant voice
Calm and polite
Sweat moderately
Good stamina

If a kapha person notices an increase in their imbalance symptoms, they might have to make moderate changes to their diet to treat and prevent recurrence of the imbalance. The following are some diet tips for individuals suffering from kapha dosha imbalance.

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Kapha Dosha Diet

The kapha dosha diet includes foods like:

Light fruits like apples and pears
Honey
Beans
Grains like barley and millet
All spices
Vegetables except for tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.

Kapha people must avoid the following foods:

Dairy
Fruits like oranges, pineapples, melons, and bananas
Sugar
Tofu
Nuts
Grains like rice and wheat
Vegetables like zucchini, cucumber, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes

It is best for the kapha individuals to take precautionary tips to prevent the imbalance from recurring. A few such tips are discussed right below.

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Prevention Tips

Drink hot teas regularly.
Indulge in vigorous exercise.
Keep the temperature around you warm.
Avoid consuming oily and cold foods.
Keep warm in cold weather.
Go to bed early and wake up early.

If you do not pay heed to these diet and prevention tips, you will never be able to keep your kapha balanced for long. Hence, even if it takes a while to get accustomed to initially, be patient and stick to the tips and precautionary measures discussed in this post to treat an existing kapha imbalance and prevent its recurrence.

For any more queries about kapha imbalance, feel free to connect with us in the comments below.

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