What you can do to restore balance when Pitta is increased:

The rule of thumb for every Ayurvedic remedy is, that all disturbances can be balanced naturally by their counterpart – restlessness through rest, inertia through activity, coldness through heat, etc.

To restore a harmonious equilibrium in their physiology, people with elevated Pitta should observe the daily rhythms, be moderate in everything, insert rest periods and, most of all, take time for themselves. They should avoid heat. Cool drinks (not ice-cold) or cool pads often work wonders.

Regarding food, choose cool and not-too-warm dishes, with predominantly bitter, tart, or sweet tastes (see the list below). Use Ghee (clarified butter) for your cooking or the particularly cooling coconut oil. Prepare light summer salads with olive oil and a little fresh lemon juice instead of vinegar.

Pitta-reducing foods

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Pitta-reducing spices:
Coriander, fennel, saffron, turmeric, fresh ginger in small amounts, cumin also in small amounts, vanilla, pippali (long-grain pepper), poppy seeds, trikatu

Pitta-reducing herbs:
Green cilantro, verbena, lavender, borage, dill, chervil, dandelion

Pitta-reducing teas:
Pitta tea, chamomile, elderberry, mallow, hibiscus, nettle, peppermint, fennel, lavender, licorice, hops, rose petals, cinnamon, lemon balm, yarrow

Pitta-reducing vegetables:
Predominantly sweet and bitter vegetables:
Asparagus, cucumber, zucchini, celery, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, potatoes, seedlings, sprouts, green leafy vegetables and salad, artichokes, fennel, chicory, sweet pepper, pumpkin, green beans, peas, olives, broccoli

Pitta-reducing legumes:
Soy products, all legumes except red lentils

Pitta-reducing fruits:
Sweet fruits, mango, sweet melons, figs, pears, sweet grapes, raisins, pineapples, sweet oranges, apples, pomegranates, dates, apricots, kiwi, sweet pears, quinces, fresh figs

Pitta-reducing cereals:
Rice, wheat, oats, barley, spelt, emmer and einkorn wheat

Pitta-reducing oils and fats:
Olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, walnut oil, ghee

Pitta-reducing sweeteners:
Raw sugar, palm sugar, maple syrup, raw cane sugar, sharkara, sweetener from fruits (e.g. pear syrup)

Pitta-reducing nuts and seeds:
Coconut, peeled almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, water chestnut, walnut

Pitta-reducing dairy products:
Demeter-grade whole milk in glass bottles, sweet lassi, cream, mild yoghurt, cottage cheese, cream cheese, mascarpone, butter (unsalted)

Download the list

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