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

Apples
Applesauce
Apricots
Berries

Avoid

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 kaphaaggravating 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

Artichoke
Asparagus
Beet Greens
Beets
Bell Peppers
Bitter Melon
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Burdock Root
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Chilies
Cilantro

Grains

Reduce or Avoid

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 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

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

Avoid

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 wellcooked 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

Adzuki Beans
Black Beans
Black-Eyed Peas
Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)
Lentils
Lima Beans
Mung Beans
Mung Dal

Avoid

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

Almonds (soaked and peeled)

Charole Nuts
Chia Seeds
Flax Seeds
Popcorn (without salt or butter)
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds

Avoid

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

Almond Oil
Corn Oil
Flax Seed Oil
Ghee
Sunflower Oil

Avoid

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

Fruit Juice Concentrates

Honey (raw and unprocessed)

Avoid

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

Ajwan
Allspice
Anise
Basil
Bay Leaf
Black Pepper
Caraway
Cardamom
Cayenne
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coriander (seeds or powder)
Cumin (seeds or powder)
Dill
Fennel
Fenugreek

Avoid

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