Kapha Food Guidelines for Kapha Dosha
from Maharishi Ayurveda

NOTE: Guidelines provided in this table are general. Specific adjustments for individual requirements may need to be made, e.g., food allergies, strength of agni, season of the year and degree of dosha predominance or aggravation. *okay in moderation, ** okay rarely Before making any changes to your diet, it is recommended that you check with your physician. This ayurvedic dietary guide is educational and is not intended to treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. For more information about the ayurvedic intellectual understanding about the Kapha body-type see our Kapha page.

FRUITS -- Yes Generally most astringent fruit FRUITS -- No Generally most sweet & sour fruit VEGETABLES -- Yes In general most pungent & bitter vegetables VEGETABLES -- No In general, sweet & juicy vegetables apples applesauce apricots berries cherries cranberries figs (dry)* grapes* lemons* limes* peaches pears persimmons pomegranates prunes raisins strawberries* avocado bananas coconut dates figs (fresh) grapefruti kiwi mangos** melons oranges papaya pineapple plums rhubarb tamarind watermelon artichoke asparagus beet greens beets bitter melon broccoli brussels sprouts burdock root cabbage carrots cauliflower celery cilantro corn daikon radish dandelion greens eggplant fennel (anise) garlic green beans green chilies horseradish jerusalem artichoke kale kohlrabi leafy greens leeks lettuce mustard greens okra onions cucumber olives, black or green parsnips** potatoes, sweet squash, winter Taro root tomatoes (raw) zucchini LEGUMES -- Yes LEGUMES -- No DAIRY -- Yes DAIRY -- No aduki beans black beans black-eyed peas chick peas (garbanzo beans) lentils (red & brown) lima beans mung beans* mung dal* navy beans peas (dried) pinto beans soy milk soy sausages split peas tempeh tofu (hot)* tur dal white beans kidney beans soy beans soy cheese soy flour soy powder soy sauce tofu (cold) Urad dal miso buttermilk* cottage cheese (from skimmed goat's milk) ghee* goat's cheese (unsalted & not aged)* goat's milk skim yogurt (diluted) butter (salted) butter (unsalted)** cheese (soft & hard) cow's milk ice cream sour cream yogurt (plain, frozen or with fruit) GRAINS -- Yes GRAINS -- No BEVERAGES -- Yes BEVERAGES -- No amaranth* barley buckwheat cereal (cold, dry or puffed) corn couscous crakcers durham flour* granola millet museli oat bran oats (dry) polenta quinoa* rice (basmati, wild)* rye sango seitan (wheat meat) spelt* sprouted wheat bread (essene) tapioca wheat bran bread (with yeast) oats (cooked) pancakes pasta** rice (brown, white) rice cakes** wheat aloe vera juice apple cider apple juice* apricot juice berry juice black tea (spiced) carob carrot juice chai (hot spiced milk)* cherry juice (sweet) cranberry juice grain "coffee" grape juice mango juice peach nectar pear juice pinapple juice* pomegranate juice prune juice soy milk (hot & well-spiced) Herb Teas: alfalfa bancha barley blackberry burdock chamomile chicory cinnomon clove almond milk caffeinated beverages** carbonated drinks cherry juice (sour) chocolate milk coffee cold dairy drinks grapefruit juice iced tea icy cold drinks lemonade miso broth orange juice papaya juice rice milk sour juices soy milk (cold) tomato juice Herb Teas: marshmallow rosehip** NUTS -- Yes NUTS -- No SEEDS -- Yes SEEDS -- No charole almonds (soaked and peeled)** black walnuts brazil nuts cashews coconut filberts hazelnuts macadamia nuts peanuts pecans pine nuts pistachios walnuts chia flax* popcorn (no salt, no butter) pumpkin* sunflower* halva psyllium** sesame tahini OILS -- Yes For internal & external use in small amounts: (most suitable at top of list) OILS -- No SPICES -- Yes All spices are good! SPICES -- No corn canola sesame (external) sunflower ghee almond avocado apricot coconut flax seed** olive primrose safflower sesame (internal) soy walnut ajwan allspice almond extract anise asafoetida (hing) basil bay leaf black pepper caraway cardamom cayenne cinnamon cloves coriander cumin curry leaves dill fennel* fenugreek garlic ginger mace marjoram mint mustard seeds neem leaves nutmeg orange peel oregano paprika parsley peppermint pippali poppy seeds rosemary saffron sage savory spearmint star anise tarragon thyme turmeric vanilla* winter green salt CONDIMENTS -- Yes CONDIMENTS -- No SWEETENERS -- Yes SWEETNERS -- No black pepper chili peppers chutney, mango (spicy) coriander leaves dulse* hijiki* horseradish lemon* mustard (without vinegar) scallions seaweed* sprouts* chocolate chutney, mango (sweet) gomasio kelp ketchup** lime lime pickle mango pickle mayonnaise pickles salt soy sauce tamari vinegar fruit juice concentrate honey (raw & not processed barley malt fructose jaggary maple syrup molasses rice syrup sucanat turbinado white sugar FOOD SUPPLEMENTS -- Yes FOOD SUPPLEMENTS -- No aloe vera juice amino acids barley green bee pollen brewer's yeast minerals: copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc royal jelly spirolina blue-green algae vitamins A, B, B12, C, D & E minerals: potassium