What is a Pitta Body Type? And How Do You Know If You Are One?
What is a Pitta Body Type? In Ayurveda, every person has a unique body constitution based on three doshas – Vata, Kapha and Pitta. There are many different factors that go into the making of the individual doshas e.g., place of birth, climate, diet etc.
but in this article, we will focus on one’s dietary preferences being the prime factor behind their dosha makeup! To understand how it works let us take an example – Western countries have traditionally been beef-eating peoples, while India is considered to be vegetarian by nature (although with time they too has started consuming meat).
Thus, people in India are generally more Vata or Kapha-dominated by their body type due to the vegetarian diet mainly comprising of fibrous food.
But when it comes to Pitta – which is secondary to both Kapha and Vata in nature, but primary to Vata – the reason they are said to be Pitta-dominant is because of having mostly “cooked foods” i.e., foods that have been ‘heated’ during the cooking process!
For example, one cannot define all South Asians as being meat-eaters just because Indians are eating meat now. The same holds true with any other race across the world that predominantly eats cooked foods.
What are some common signs of being a Pitta-type person?
Pitta types are generally heat, heartburn, anger, irritability. They tend to sweat during warm weather and always look flushed (even if they’re not necessarily flushing)
They usually have strong appetites with the ability to eat spicy foods. This dosha is more dominant in women than men. Their bowel movements are typically yellow or brownish in colour although they can be somewhat constipated.
People with Pitta accumulation also tend to have insomnia which is why you will find them lying down even at odd hours of the day because their body clock has been disrupted due to stress and strain on their minds! How to treat/manage your Pitta body type
You can cool down your inherent Pitta dosha naturally by following these simple lifestyle changes!
- Avoid taking hot showers or baths during the daytime as well as drinking too many cold beverages at one go because it will increase your system’s heat (which is already high, remember!)
- Eating regularly should be a priority for Pitta-type individuals because skipping meals can give rise to their pitta nature which generally tends to accumulate in the stomach!
- Be wary of spicy foods and steam cooked meats because it will rouse up all that excess heat lying dormant inside your digestive system
- Being active is good, but make sure you don’t tire yourself to the point of exhaustion as that can give rise to tension and irritability.
Foods considered good for Pittas
The top 5 foods that are considered to be most sattvic or pure for Pitta people include barley, moong dal/green gram, sprouts, cucumber and aloe vera
Besides that you can add the following foods in your pitta-balancing diet: mint leaves, calamus root (shankhapushpi), licorice, cardamom, alfalfa sprouts etc .
Foods considered bad for Pittas
Highly acidic fruits like mangoes should be avoided, especially during summertime when pitta tends to accumulate more than usual
The foods that are generally considered harmful or non-beneficial for Pitta types include beef, alcohol, vinegar, fermented foods and pickles. The following herbs should also be used sparingly if at all (good to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner before taking any of these): turmeric, cumin seeds (Jeera), coriander leaves (dhania), mustard leaves (sarson).
Lifestyle best suited for Pitta-types
Pittas are generally driven by their goal-orientation towards progress which often makes them perfectionists! This is why they will do anything to achieve their goals rather than just aiming for the sky and hoping that things work out on their own
However, this can be harmful because it can lead to negative emotions like anger and irritability when things don’t go their way. It is best if you could learn to manage your goals in order to yield more favourable results!
Being too driven towards perfectionism can also give rise to serious digestive problems like acidity, ulcers and stomach aches! To overcome these problems it’s important that Pitta types learn how to take breaks from their responsibilities every now and then so they have time for themselves
Another thing you should do is try not to get overwhelmed by everything around you because this will only add unnecessary pressure which may further worsen the situation! In other words, try not to be a control freak who thinks he/she has an answer for everything just because they have a laser-sharp focus on things going according to plan.
Pitta people will definitely feel more relaxed if they try hard to juggle their responsibilities without taking things too seriously (which may lead to stress and negative emotions like anger). Try not to over-analyze things, but rather take it one step at a time because that is always the healthiest way to go!
Also don’t forget that regular exercise is important so you can stay healthy all round 🙂
Ayurvedic supplements that help with Pitta issues
There is no lack of remedies when it comes to Ayurvedic medicine because herbs used do vary based on the condition for which they are being consumed!
For example – ‘Triphala‘ is a mixture of three key herbs (Amla fruit, Bibhitaki fruit and Haritaki fruit) which is useful in treating constipation (normally seen during autumn/winter season).
On the other hand, ‘Shatavari‘ (also called the ‘Queen of herbs’) is very rich in minerals like calcium, iron and magnesium which makes it suitable for treating menstruation problems in women (normally seen during the summer season).
You can also try the following herbs if you think your digestive system is being affected by pitta:
Trikatu – a mixture of three different spices that have been used to treat different types of excess heat in the body including Pitta dosha. The key ingredients include black pepper, long pepper and ginger
Manjishta – a bright red coppery colour liquid with amazing health benefits. It’s an Ayurvedic formulation which is helpful for people looking for remedies to balance Pitta
Pitta Churna – a powder that is made by grinding the herbs Trikatu and Manjishta together, Pitta Churna can be consumed to strengthen blood vessels which are often weakened due to pitta dosha.
Turmeric – this ingredient helps stimulate proper blood circulation and purify your blood by removing toxins from it. It also helps with inflammation and pain relief which are often seen during conditions caused by excess Pitta Skin Care Remedies for Pitta types
If you are an avid user of cosmetic products, but suffer from skin problems like acne, boils and other skin infections – the chances are that your excess pitta dosha may be to blame!
To avoid further skin related issues it’s important to cut back on cosmetics whenever possible. Instead of applying heavy makeup try using herbal root powders, turmeric powder or sandalwood paste. For example, turmeric has amazing antibacterial properties which can help kill disease-causing germs when applied over the face 🙂
Sandalwood is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties which makes it a great choice if you’re looking for remedies to reduce redness in the affected area.
Best season for a Pitta-type person
The best season for people with a pitta-type body is during the summer but it’s important to remember that even then – things should be taken in moderation.
Therefore avoid hot sun and spicy food as much as possible, and if you do go out into the sun wear suitable protective clothing and don’t forget your hat 🙂
Pitta types tend to sweat easily so using cooling herbs like mint will help them feel refreshed without getting overheated 🙂
Ayurvedic health books are also great ways of learning more about these amazing healing methods which have been practised for centuries!
If you are planning on making big choices regarding your life or future – try approaching it patiently because pittas are known for being impatient and therefore making snap decisions.
In Conclusion
To summarize, pitta people are very warm and they tend to trust quickly. People with excess Pitta in their body are typically sharp-witted, inquisitive and optimistic about life.
They love their comfort and hate being alone – but they can be combative or intolerant of others at times if they feel that they are not getting the recognition that they deserve!
If you want to know more about Ayurvedic health or want to try out some herbal remedies then why not head on over here: https://ayurvedicnaturally.com/20-remarkable-herbal-teas-to-improve-skin/
Please don’t forget to share this article if you found it useful. And don’t hesitate to ask me whatever questions you might have about the pitta dosha.
Take care and stay healthy until next time! 🙂
Neelu Kalra
Hello Caroline! I am really enjoying your posts..???? they are really very nice.. Warm Regards Neelu Kalra
Caroline Fouquet
You are too kind. Thank you. So glad you enjoy my writing. ☺️
Neelu Kalra
Everyday is a learning process and it’s indeed pleasure to learn from you.???
Lisa at Micro of the Macro
Excellent post, Caroline! Thanks for taking an interest in my blog site. Wishing you a wonderful 2022! ?
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