Eating Ayurvedically means honoring your body and where it is at in its current state. While we all have our Prakruti or a dominant dosha, and tend to experience more of that dosha’s imbalances, we still have all 3 doshas within us. This means that it is imperative to continually check in with ourselves and how we are feeling at any given moment. This observation can help us better decide which foods, exercise routines, and lifestyle choices are going to best cater to our needs to create optimal health. The season of wet winter is considered kapha season, as the environment tends to hold the same qualities as the kapha dosha; cool, heavy, stable, slow, soft, and sticky. Therefore, we will all tend to experience more kapha imbalances and can benefit from shifting to a more kapha pacifying diet. If you’ve been feeling or experiencing any of the following imbalances: tired, heavy, lethargic, listless, weight gain, congestion, nausea, or constipation, try out this simple and delicious kapha balancing recipe!

Kapha Balancing Recipe

Serves: 2-4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped mint
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped sweet peppers
• 1 cup baby kale
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup chickpeas
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• Himalayan sea salt to taste

Directions:

Sauté red onion, sweet peppers, and chickpeas in 1 tbsp of oil until soft and brown. While sautéing onions, peppers and chickpeas, rinse quinoa under cold water and then boil in 2 cups of water for 10-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Once vegetable mix starts to soften, add baby kale. Mix quinoa with remaining 1 tbsp. of olive oil, lemon juice, and sautéed vegetables. Top with chopped mint, cilantro, salt, and pepper.

Benefits for Kapha

• Chickpeas: Lighter in nature, and a high fiber food, which helps promote healthy digestion. Chickpeas are also known for helping reduce cholesterol.
• Sweet Peppers: Help increase metabolism, regulate weight loss, and blood pressure, and promote healthy eyes.
• Baby Kale: Light and dry in nature, which helps balance the heavy and oily qualities of kapha. Kale is also high in fiber and full of vitamins, which helps promote healthy digestion.
• Quinoa: A grain with the highest amount of fiber, which promotes healthy digestion. Quinoa is also filled with tons of vitamins, as well as flavonoids, which are said to hold anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties.
• Lemon juice: While lemon juice may seem more acidic in nature, both lemons and limes are alkaline, which means they are good for helping maintain healthy digestion for all of the doshas.
• Cilantro: Stimulates digestion without over stimulating the digestive fire, as to aggravate pitta. Cilantro also helps purify the blood and detoxify the body of ama (toxins).
• Mint: The pure scent of mint is energizing, which is just what kapha needs. Mint is also great for soothing upset stomachs, reducing nausea, as well as increasing the speed of digestion.

Angela Glaz, Ayurvedic Specialist and 500 Hour E-RYT

@ekavedalife