Vata Dosha: Symptoms, Diet, Treatment, and More

Are you underweight? Are you easily fatigued? Do you experience discomfort in the joints? Do you suffer from dryness, insomnia, or constipation? Are you constantly restless or agitated? Is your skin dry, rough, or thin? If so, you need to balance your Vata Dosha…

The key to unlocking vibrant health and well-being is on your plate. By making conscious choices about what you eat, you can unlock the extraordinary healing power of nutrition. Food can be your medicine,  with the right ingredients and mindful choices, unlocking the great healing potential of nutrition.

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Vata Dosha Meaning

Vata Dosha is a fundamental concept in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine. Derived from the elements of air and space, Vata governs bodily functions associated with movement, including circulation, breathing, and communication between the mind and body. 

Understanding Vata Dosha is essential for maintaining balance in one’s constitution, as an imbalance can lead to physical and mental disturbances. Individuals with a dominant Vata Dosha tend to be energetic, creative, and quick-thinking but may also experience challenges such as anxiety and digestive issues when out of balance. 

Ayurvedic practices, including lifestyle adjustments and specific dietary choices, aim to harmonize Vata Dosha and promote overall well-being.

Vata Dosha Characteristics

The features and traits of the Vata Dosha dominant person are:

1. Vata Dosha Body Type

  • Size, either large or small
  • Delicate bone structure
  • Slender frame
  • Dry, rough, and cool skin
  • Dry hair
  • Brittle nails

2. Vata Dosha Personality

  • Good short-term memory
  • Poor long-term memory
  • Artistic choices
  • Anxious, insecure, often avoid conflicts
  • Impulsive
  • Anxious, insecure. Mostly avoid conflicts

Types of Vata Dosha

There are 5 types of Vata dosha they are:

1. Prana Vata:

It is in murdha (head), ura (thorax), kantha (throat), jihwa (tongue), asya (mouth), nasika (nose), and its functions are stheevana (spitting out), shwasa (respiration), udgara (belchings), kshavathu (sneezing), etc.

2. Vyana Vata:

This resides in the whole body of a person. Gati (movement), Prasarana and Akunchana (extension and flexion movements), Utkshepa and Akshepa (upward and downward movements), Unmesha and nimesha (opening and closure of eyelids), etc. 

3. Udana Vata:

This type of Vata is situated in nabhi (umbilicus), ura (thorax), and kantha (throat). It provides urja (energy), bala (strength), varna (complexion), etc.

4. Samana Vata:

This is situated near the digestive system and helps in the functioning of the digestion process.

5. Apana Vata:

It is in the basti (urinary bladder), medhra (penis), nabhi (umbilicus) vankshana (inguinal region), guda (rectum and anal canal). Excretion of urine and feces, ejaculation of semen, menstruation, delivery of the fetus, etc., are its functions in the body.

Symptoms of Vata Dosha

Let’s ‌look at the symptoms that Vata may cause in the body:

  • Dry skin, hair, ears, lips, and joints
  • Feeling dizzy and restless
  • Unusually cold
  • Insomnia or interrupted sleep
  • Roughness of skin and lips
  • Dryness around internal systems that result in bloating, gas, constipation, dehydration, weight loss
  • Low weight and inability to gain weight
  • Muscle spasms, constrictions, unusual pains
  • Excessive restlessness, fidgeting, muscle twitching, anxiety, palpitations, agitation

High Vata may not be noticeable quickly, but, in a few weeks, few or all of the Vata mentioned above dosha symptoms might crop up. 

Cause for High Vata Levels

The following triggers may be the reason if your Vata levels are high:

  • Extremely cold or dry weather
  • Eating cold food can increase Vata levels
  • In winter, the cold climate increases Vata on the skin level, resulting in dryness.
  • Excessive fasting, extremely long brisk walks, excessive workouts, and other similar activities for weight loss increase Vata
  • Foods that are too light and quick to digest increase Vata levels; for example, light poha
  • Foods drying up the mouth, skin, or stools increase dryness and aggravate the Vata
  • Injuries on the vital points in the body increase Vata levels
  • Excessive sexual activity causes dryness and increases Vata.
  • Depletion of tissues causes Vata levels to shift

Factors Influencing Vata Dosha

1. Season:

The specific dosha undergoes different modes in different rutu (season). Vata dosha becomes slightly aggravated or accumulated during Greeshma rutu (summer season), aggravation at its peak occurs in Varsha rutu (rainy season), and it comes to normalcy during Sharad rutu (autumn season). Hence, the regimen followed is also depending on this phase of dosha.

2. Period of the Day:

During the last part of the afternoon and night, there is increased Vata dosha; hence, keeping awake late at night can disturb the physiology of Vata dosha.

3. Digestion Process:

Vata gets vitiated at the end of digestion.

4. Habitat:

Vata dosha is aggravated in the person living in Jangala pradesha (arid region).

5. Age:

The old age period is with the aggravated Vata dosha.

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Ayurveda’s Top Calming Foods for Vata Dosha

Vata is pacified by sour, sweet, and salty tastes and aggravated by bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes. Vata dosha comprises air and ether elements, giving it dry, light, rough, cold, airy, and expansive qualities. 

When Vata is out of balance in the body, it leads to experiences such as cold hands and feet, dry or rough skin, feeling spacey or restless, etc.

To restore balance, Ayurveda suggests eating foods with the opposite qualities, comprising heavy and grounding foods, warm cooked foods, healthy oils for internal lubrication, and plenty of hydration.

So, before we get into particular Vata food recommendations, remember that you strive for a diet that feels deeply grounding, nourishing, and satiating to your body and your being. 

1. Fruits

Fruits

Generally, fruits balancing Vata are sweet and nourishing. While a few raw fruits are appropriate, cooked or stewed fruits are more accessible to digest and provide additional warmth, moisture, and sweetness, making them even more beneficial for Vata. 

Fruits to avoid are exceptionally cooling, astringent, or rough, which includes most dried fruit. Remember, fruits and fruit juices are enjoyed alone, 30 minutes before, ideally at least 1 hour after, any other food. This ensures optimal digestion.

FavorAvoid
Apples (cooked)
Applesauce
Apricots
Bananas (ripe, not green)
Berries
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Coconut
Dates (fresh, cooked, or soaked)
Figs (fresh, cooked, or soaked)
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kiwi
Lemon
Lime
Mango
Melons
Oranges
Papaya
Peaches
Pineapple
Plums
Prunes (cooked or soaked)
Raisins (cooked or soaked)
Tamarind
Apples (raw)
Bananas (green)
Cranberries
Dates (dry)
Dried Fruit, in general
Figs (dry)
Pears
Persimmons
Pomegranate
Prunes (dry)
Raisins (dry)
Watermelon

2. Vegetable

Vegetables

Vegetables that pacify Vata are generally sweet, moist, and cooked. Root vegetables are especially beneficial as they grow underground and are supremely grounding and stabilizing for Vata. Avoid dehydrated, rough, and cold vegetables, including most raw vegetables. 

You must have raw veggies, a salad, or any of the Vata-aggravating vegetables, keep the quantities small, and eat them mid-day when digestive strength is at its peak. A thorough cooking or a well-spiced, oily dressing will help offset some of these foods’ dry, rough qualities.

FavorAvoid/ Reduce
Asparagus
Avocado
Beets
Carrots, Cooked
Chilies (in minimal quantities)
Cilantro
Cucumber
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Chilies
Leeks
Mustard Greens
Okra
Olives (black)
Onion, Cooked
Parsnip
Peas, Cooked
Pumpkin
Rutabega
Spinach, Cooked
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Sweet Potatoes
Watercress
Zucchini
Artichokes
Beet Greens
Bell Peppers
Bitter Melon
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Burdock Root
Cabbage
Carrots, Raw
Cauliflower
Celery
Chilies (in excess)
Corn, Fresh
Dandelion Greens
Eggplant
Jerusalem Artichokes
KaleKohlrabi
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Olives, Green
Onion, Raw
Peas, Raw
Peppers, Hot
Potatoes, White
Radishes
Spinach, Raw
Sprouts
Tomatoes
Turnips

3. Grains

Grains

Grains that pacify Vata are generally nourishing, sweet, easily digested, and well-cooked. Mushy grains and puddings exemplify the smooth quality and, when sweetened and spiced, are often delicious comfort foods. 

Avoid exceptionally light, dry, rough, or dense and heavy grains. One or more of these qualities gives the grains in the avoid column below their capacity to disturb Vata.

FavorAvoid
Amaranth
Durham Flour
Oats, Cooked
Pancakes
Quinoa
Rice (all types)
Seitan
Sprouted Wheat BreadWheat
Barley
Buckwheat
Cereals (cold, dry, or puffed)
Corn
Couscous
Crackers
Granola
Millet
Muesli
Oat Bran
Oats, Dry
Pasta, Wheat
Rice Cakes
Rye
Spelt
Tapioca
Wheat BranYeasted Bread

4. Legumes

Legumes

Vata people can enjoy a narrow selection of legumes, provided they are well-cooked and well-spiced. The beans that work best for Vata are less dense, rough, and dry than other legumes. They cook relatively quickly, are easily digested, and offer a grounding, nourishing quality. Many other beans are too dry, rough, and challenging for Vata’s delicate digestion.

FavorAvoid
Lentils, Red
Miso
Mung Beans
Mung Dal, SplitSoy Cheese
Soy Milk (served warm)
Soy Sauce
Soy Meats
Tofu (served hot)
Toor Dal
Urad Dal
Adzuki Beans
Black Beans
Black-Eyed Peas
Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)
Kidney Beans
Lentils, Brown
Lima Beans
Navy Beans
Pinto Beans
Soy Beans
Soy Flour
Soy Powder
Split Peas
Tempeh
White Beans

5. Dairy

Dairy

Dairy products are generally suitable for balancing Vata, but avoiding highly processed preparations like freezing dairy products and powdered milk is good. For example, boiled cow’s milk spiced with nutmeg and cinnamon, sweetened if desired, and served hot, is a tonic for Vata. Cold cow’s milk may be difficult for many to digest.

As a rule, dairy milk (cows, goats, sheep, etc.) must be taken at least one hour before or after any other food. For this reason, avoid drinking milk with meals. Many milk alternatives are suitable substitutes if you don’t digest dairy well.

FavorAvoid
Butter
Buttermilk
Cheese
Cottage Cheese
Cow’s Milk
Almond Milk
Rice Milk
Oat Milk
GheeGoat’s Milk
Ice Cream (in moderation)
Sour Cream (in moderation)
Yogurt (fresh)
Frozen Yogurt
Powdered Milk

6. Nuts and Seeds

nuts and seeds

In moderation, all nuts and most seeds pacify to Vata. They are oily and nutritious, offering a power-packed mixture of proteins and fats highly beneficial to Vata. That said, nuts and seeds are pretty heavy and must be eaten in small quantities so as not to overwhelm Vata’s fickle digestive capacity.

FavorAvoid
Almonds
Brazil Nuts
Cashews
CoconutHazelnuts
Macadamia Nuts
Peanuts
Pecans
Pine nuts
Pistachios
Pumpkin Seeds
Sesame Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts
Popcorn

7. Meat and Eggs

Meat and Eggs

Vata does well with eggs and various meats if you choose to eat them. That said, Vata can easily be alleviated without these animal foods if your diet doesn’t include them. If you eat meat, the meats to favor are nourishing, sweet, moist, and relatively easy to digest. Meats to avoid are either too light and dry or too heavy for Vata.

FavorAvoid
Beef
Buffalo
Chicken (incredibly dark)
Duck
Eggs
Fish (fresh and saltwater)
Salmon
Sardines
Seafood
Shrimp
Tuna Fish
Turkey (dark)
Lamb
Mutton
Pork
Venison
Turkey (white)

8. Oils

Since toxins tend to concentrate on fats, purchasing organic oils is more important than buying organic vegetables and fruits. Most oils are beneficial for Vata as long as they are high-quality. The ideal choices include sesame, almond, coconut, olive, and ghee. Less favorable oils are either too dry or light, difficult to digest, or highly processed/ altered for Vata.

FavorAvoid
Almond Oil
Avocado Oil
Castor Oil
Coconut Oil
GheeMustard Oil
Olive Oil
Peanut Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
Flax Seed Oil
Soy Oil

9. Sweeteners

Most sweeteners are suitable for Vata. But it’s best to avoid immense quantities of refined sugar. Favor sweeteners in their natural state over anything highly processed. 

Beyond that, sweeteners with warming energy, like honey, jaggery, and molasses, help offset Vata’s tendency to be cold. Honey is also entirely scraping and can deplete if overused. When finding the best choices for you, experimenting with various options is often helpful in sorting out your body’s unique preferences.

FavorAvoid
Barley Malt
Date Sugar
Fructose
Fruit Juice Concentrates
Honey (raw)
Jaggary
Maple Syrup (in moderation)
Molasses
Rice Syrup
Sucanat
Turbinado
Artificial Sweeteners
White Sugar
Honey (heated or cooked)

10. Spices

spices

Most spices are lovely for Vata if none of your dishes are fiery hot. Experimenting with several new and exotic spices is generally great for Vata and can help to kindle overall digestive strength.

FavorModerate Use
Ajwan
Allspice
Anise
Basil
Bay Leaf
Black Pepper
Caraway
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Cloves
Coriander (seeds or powder)
Cumin (seeds or powder)
Dill
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger (fresh or dried)
Hing (Asafoetida)
Mace
Marjoram
Mint
Mustard Seeds
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Parsley
Peppermint
PippaliPoppy Seeds
Rosemary
Saffron
Salt
Savory
Tarragon
Thyme
Turmeric
Vanilla
Cayenne Pepper
Chili Powder
Fenugreek
Horseradish
Neem Leaves

Recipes to Balance Vata 

1. Mix Veggie Salad

Ingredients 

  • Sweet potato
  • Carrot
  • Coconut
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil

How to Prepare?

  • Steam or boil the sweet potato. Blanch the carrots
  • Mix the vegetables
  • Sprinkle some grated coconut over it. Add salt to taste
  • Drizzle some oil on the mixture
  • Toss and serve

Suggestions

  • You can also pick the vegetables of your choice for the salad.
  • As part of the salad dressing, you may choose chili powder, hing (asafetida) powder, lemon juice, rock salt, jaggery/ sugar, and til (sesame seed) oil.

2. Khichdi (Rice and Lentils Mix)

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup unpolished red rice/ brown rice
  • ½ cup split moong dal (green gram lentils)

For Saute and Garnish

  • 1 tsp. cumins
  • ¼ tsp. turmeric
  • 2 tbsp. coriander
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • A few curry leaves
  • Black pepper
  • Rock salt
  • ½ tbsp. ghee

How to Prepare?

  • For one portion of rice and moong, add 3-4 times water. Cook on low heat.
  • Add more water while cooking if required. Turn off the heat.
  • Add the saute mix and salt to taste.
  • Add ghee.

Suggestions

  • Khichadi, prepared with split moong dal and old rice, is advantageous for fevers or stomach ailments.
  • Eat with ghee or butter throughout pregnancy.
  • A variation with basmati rice is a good option if you have a deficient digestive fire.
  • Red rice contains zinc and iron in the husk. Black and purple rice contains high protein, fat, and basic fiber, which are beneficial in tissue weakness caused by vata imbalance.

3. Carrot Halwa

Ingredients

  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp. ghee
  • 4 cups milk
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, dates, or jaggery
  • A few raisins
  • 1 pinch of saffron

How to Prepare?

  • Peel and grate the carrots and cook.
  • Add milk to the pan and boil the mixture until the carrot absorbs the milk.
  • Add brown sugar, raisins and saffron.
  • Fry for about 15 minutes.
  • Fry the crushed cinnamon seeds in a ghee pan for 30 seconds.
  • Serve hot.

Vata Dosha Treatment

Vata dosha treatment aims to soothe the excess Vata energy and alleviate symptoms connected with its imbalance. Typically, it involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, herbal remedies, dietary adjustments, body therapies, and mind-body practices.

Warm and nourishing foods, regular routines, and adequate rest are recommended to pacify Vata. Herbal formulations and oils give grounding and nourishment to the body. Abhyanga, a therapeutic oil massage, calms the nervous system and promotes relaxation.

Yoga, meditation, and pranayama help balance the Vata energy and enhance overall well-being. 

Home Remedies to Balance Vata Dosha

Excess Vata in the body leads to many concerns, especially cold and dryness. Also, in more severe cases, Vata aggravation leads to anxiety. 

Look at the below Vata dosha remedies and recipes to remove excess Vata from the body:

  • Herbal Tea with Brahmi leaves: Prepare herbal tea using Brahmi leaves for healthy Vata. Herbal tea is rich in antioxidants and a healthy alternative to caffeine.
  • Use Garlic: Garlic in suitable quantities adds taste and health to the meals and helps pacify the Vata levels. Add garlic paste to your cooked vegetables or spicy soups.
  • Ghee-cooked Food: Ghee helps reduce excessive Vata levels and eliminate unpleasant dryness. Drizzle over fresh ghee on warm rice or rotis and enjoy its nourishing qualities.
  • Honey and Turmeric Paste: Mix turmeric with honey and take a spoon each day.
  • Add Dairy to Diet: When consumed in moderation, dairy products and sweets help manage excess Vata.
  • Moderate Exercise: As Vata is related to movement, vigorous exercise leads to an imbalance. Carry out moderate exercises to create stability and strength- like weight-bearing exercises.
  • Oil Massage: Pamper dry skin and promote circulation and joint health by indulging in an Ayurvedic massage with a nourishment oil every morning before you bathe. Massage your scalp with warm oil 2 to 3 times a week, and allow the oil to stay for an hour or two before you shampoo.

Wear warm clothes, take regular head and body massages, avoid fasting for long periods, improve your sleep cycle, and indulge in stress-relieving activities are advisable.

When the energetic, creative, flexible Vata dosha becomes imbalanced, it leads to many health issues. A regular grounding lifestyle helps you achieve the balance of Vata dosha.

Conclusion

Ayurveda says that balancing the doshas — forms of life energy — is integral to maintaining spiritual, mental, and physical health. Highly energetic Vata individuals have dynamic, lively personalities but may feel easily overwhelmed. To balance a Vata constitution, people must eat nourishing foods and focus on slowing down and relaxing.