MEAT & EGGS

In Ayurvedic medicine, meat is solely recommended for healing purposes or when there are no other food options available. Thus, meat is indicated when someone is severely depleted, weak, and/or convalescing. Further, meat and eggs are generally recommended in Ayurvedic medicine when one is experiencing a Vata, pitta, or vata/pitta imbalance. This means that meat and eggs are not recommended to pacify Kapha dosha as they are too sweet, dense, and moist. Please note that Ayurvedic medicine understands that white meat and freshwater meat are best for pitta dosha as these meats are considered heavy and cooling whereas dark meat and saltwater meat are considered to be heating for pitta. 

Best Meats & Eggs for Pitta

• Egg whites

• Chicken (white meat)

• Turkey (white meat)

• Venison

• Fish (freshwater)

• Buffalo

• Rabbit

DAIRY & NUT MILKS

Dairy and nut milk are generally grounding, nourishing, and cooling, making this food category supportive of pitta dosha. Despite this fact, there are some heating and sour dairy products like processed yogurt, buttermilk, and sour cream that are best avoided when working to pacify pitta. If selecting dairy products, Ayurveda recommends choosing fresh and unprocessed products to best support easy digestion and the intake of prana (life force energy). Since hard cheeses need to be aged for 6 months or more, Ayurveda does not consider hard cheeses like parmesan or sharp cheddar to have much prana. Additionally, hard cheeses clog the Nadis, the channels in which prana flows in the subtle body; thus, Ayurveda does not recommend hard cheeses for any of the doshas. In contrast, soft cheeses are considered fresh and sattvic (harmonious) in Ayurvedic nutrition. Dairy is best enjoyed slightly warm because cold dairy products like a chilled glass of milk can reduce or completely put out one’s Agni, disrupting the natural flow of digestion. If consuming dairy, it is also best to have it at least one hour away from meals and with spices to support optimal digestion, assimilation, and absorption. 

Best Dairy & Nut Milk for Pitta

• Cottage cheese

• Ghee 

• Cheese (soft, unsalted & unaged) 

• Cream cheese

• Goat cheese (unsalted & unaged)

• Yogurt (freshly made)

• Cow’s Milk

• Coconut milk

• Soy Milk

• Rice Milk

NUTS & SEEDS

Renowned Ayurvedic physician, Dr. Vasant Lad recommends that all doshas consume nuts in small quantities, as they can be difficult to digest. Additionally, when pacifying pitta, one may choose to eliminate nuts from the diet because of their heating and oily properties. Instead favor seeds in small amounts as they are more cooling and dry. 

Best Nuts & Seeds for Pitta

• Coconut

• Sunflower seeds

• Pumpkin seeds

• Carole

• Almonds (soaked & peeled)

FRUITS

In Ayurvedic medicine, fruits are considered to be purifying due to their light and etheric nature, but they can also be incredibly juicy and sweet. Pitta balancing fruits are the ones that are just that- juicy, sweet, and water-dense. It is best to avoid tart, sour, and heating fruits like sour oranges, grapefruit, and cranberries. By proper Ayurvedic food combination, always consume fruits away from meals, enjoying them separately as a snack.

Best Fruits for Pitta

• Strawberries

• Blueberries

• Blackberries

• Raspberries

• Peaches

• Mango 

• Nectarines

• Grapes

• Cantaloupe

• Watermelon

• Honeydew melon

• Lemons

• Limes

• Figs

• Apples (sweet)

• Cherries (sweet)

• Apricots (sweet)

SUGARS / SWEETENERS

As you might have guessed, sugars contain a sweet taste; hence, pitta can benefit from unprocessed sugars in their most natural form. This means that refined white sugar is not supportive of pitta dosha or any of the other doshas. Instead of adding refined sugar to your baking and/or beverages, we suggest opting for natural sweeteners that still have the sweet taste but also contain cooling energy, making them pacifying to pitta dosha. 

Best Sugars / Sweeteners for Pitta

• Maple syrup

• Sucanat

• Turbinado

• Date sugar

We hope that you enjoy incorporating these pitta-friendly foods into your meals! Please keep in mind that this list is merely a starting point to begin, with, but that ultimately it is most important to listen to your body and your gut to see what is best for you. Pay attention to any digestive disturbances that you may experience when eating certain foods. Keeping a food journal can be a great way to assess what does and does not work for you and your digestive system.