Ayurvedic Suggestions for Cooling Pitta

Fresh, sweet fruit and fruit juices are beneficial for balancing Pitta. They provide nutrition and keep the body cool and comfortable. Watermelon juice, fresh cucumber juice, lettuce juice and coconut milk are four of the most beneficial juices to pacify pitta. By consuming at least one of these items several times a day you will notice a tremendous difference in your reaction to the high temperature.

Fresh herbs such as mint, cilantro and watercress can also be juiced or made into a chutney to balance pitta. Or steep cooling herbs in boiling water each morning, cool to room temperature and drink the water through the day to get the benefit of the herbs and hydrate your physiology. Favor cooling spices such as cardamom, coriander, and fennel when cooking. Use Organic Rose Water or rose petal conserve as a cooling food supplement or add to summer drinks.

Salty lassi

This Salty Lassi is spiced with cumin and is a great refreshing drink in the summer.Feel free to experiment with other cooling spices like fennel and anise.

1 tsp cumin seeds
1 cup plain yogurt or coconut milk
1 cup chilled milk or water for vegans.
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 to 1 tsp salt
1/2 cup of ice cubes

A dollop of plain yogurt for garnishing


Dry roast  the cumin seeds for a few minutes until you start getting a wonderful aroma.  Cool and grind to a coarse consistency. In a blender blend all the ingredients. Top it up with a dollop of yogurt. Serve chilled. 

Makes 4 servings.

Mango Coconut Milk

This drink is very refreshing for the Pitta dosha. It is rich, nourishing, and invigorating.

 

Makes:  2 Servings

Ingredients:

1         ripe sweet mango, peeled and sliced

2 cups coconut milk

1 tsp rose or orange blossom water

¼  tsp cardamom

                sugar to taste (not needed for ripe mangoes)

Directions:

Boil the milk and let it cool to room temperature. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. 

Variation: Add 10 mint leaves.

Rose Lassi

Delicate drink to cool Pitta dosha on summer days.

½ cup     fresh yogurt

1 cup     water

1 tsp     rose petal water

1 tsp     maple syrup

1 pinch     ground cardamom (optional)

 

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Summer Mint Drink

This is a spectacular cooling drink, easy to make. Enjoy the restoring effects of fresh mint.You can make it with water or milk.

Ingredients:

For the syrup: Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Stir in 1/4 cup of tightly compacted fresh mint leaves (without the stems). Cover and chill for a minimum of four hours. Strain the mixture through a sieve. Discard the leaves. Store the syrup for up to three days. To use the syrup for a water-based drink, place one tablespoon of mint syrup in about one cup of water at room temperature and stir.

 

For a milk-based drink, you can also add 1-2 tablespoons of half-and-half cream to the water and syrup for a variation.

Detox Teas for Each Dosha

Sipping warm teas throughout the day is an effective way to flush ama (toxins) out from your body. Put all of the ingredients, except mint and lemon juice, in a medium saucepan with 4 cups of filtered water. Let it boil for 3 to 4 minutes. Let it rest and add the lemon and the mint at the end, let it rest for a while longer. Strain into a tea pot or thermos. Drink it warm if possible.



For Pitta:

1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp cumin seeds
10 fresh mint leaves
½ tsp lime juice
Raw organic sugar such as sucanat

For Vatta:

1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
½ tsp coriander seeds
½ tsp fresh ginger
½ lemon squeezed
1 tsp of honey (add at the end)

For Kapha:

1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp coriander seeds
1 stick of cinnamon or licorice
10 fresh basil leaves
Lemon juice (add at the end)

Vatta and kapha doshas can also drink Tulsi tea.See the properties of tulsi Tulasi: the Holy Herb  
Larn how to make a cup of Tulsi tea.  

Camu Camu and Dill Ghee in Steamed Kale

The vibrant,deep green color of kale certainly demonstrates that it is a power food for anemia and other blood disorders. Due to the slightly bitter taste, it is suitable for the Pitta dosha. This recipe is made in minutes and will impress your taste buds with its simplicity.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 cups of chopped kale leaves, curly or flat
½ cup of ghee
1 tbsp of fresh dill
1 tbsp of fennel leaves
1 tsp of camu camu (if you don’t have camu camu you can replace it with 2 tbsp of fresh lemon juice)
½ tsp grated lemon zest
Salt to taste
Ground fresh pink pepper

Psychological Attributes of Pitta Individuals

If you are a Pitta, you need to qualify yourself not only for your bright intelligence, confidence and leadership.When the Pitta dosha is in balance they demostrate enthusiasm and wit and are fun to be around. They find joy in the simple things of life, and find pleasure in sharing that joy with others. They are uplifting and are successful in their jobs.


Here are a few attributes that make Pitta dosha people one of a kind:

Strong sense of discernment
Ability to focus on single objective at hand
Organizer and great planners
Perform well under pressure
Speech is clear and articulate
Natural leaders
Geared for success as well as high achievers
Funny
Willful, determined and ambitious

Now if the Pitta dosha is out of balance, you will observe:

Stubbornness
Manipulation
Overly intense
Arrogant
Jealous
Controlling of others
Suppressive of emotions
Egotistical: enjoy power trips
Loud and aggressive
Tendency to erupt with anger
Materialistic

The mental imbalance relating to Pitta is burning out. They overextend in their potentials and they root their relation to life in anger, fear, anxiety, jealousy, obsessive-type behavior and deep seated emotional problems.

Tips to Balance Pitta Dosha

Favor foods with bitter, sweet and astringent tastes
Favor cool, dry, and slightly heavy foods
Avoid salty, sour and pungent foods
Eat at regular times during the day and eat when you are hungry
Avoid refined sugar
Eat in a peaceful environment
Avoid artificial stimulants, such as coffee
Engage in calming activities, like waking in nature
Meditate daily
Moderate use of sauna or hot yogas. Instead choose swimming, Tai Chi or walking
Select soft music
Take time to rest each day
Do volunteer work
Take cool showers
Use sweet and cooling essential oils, such as sandalwood and rose
Wear cooling stones such as moonstone, pearl, and blue sapphire
Massage your body with coconut oil daily
Smile more

FENNEL TEA TO CALM PITTA

This tea guarantees an instantaneous cooling and tuning of the stomach. Make the tea strong in cases of nausea, burning sensations in the stomach, colic, menstrual cramps or to refresh your breath.

Ingredients:

1 cup of water

1 cup of fresh coconut water (you can substitute this with organic coconut milk)