| Gary Watson Naturopath & Iridologist
0421 830 139 [email protected]
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| These foods help to calm the Nervous System or “Vata” They can be eaten liberally |
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| Grain | Basmati rice Wheat [unless gluten sensitive] Amaranth [ancient form of wheat] |
Barley Oats Quinoa |
| Legumes | Cook to a soft consistency Mung beans Aduki beans |
Split yellow pea Split red pea Urad dal |
| Fruits Sweet and sour |
Grapes Lemons Pears Bananas Sweet oranges Dates |
Figs Apples (preferably cooked) Avocados Berries (strawberry, blueberry, gooseberry, raspberry etc) Raisins (small amount) |
| Sweet Vegetables | Sweet potato Sweet corn Pumpkin Zucchini Carrots Green beans Green chillies Beetroot |
Cauliflower [small amounts] Leeks Asparagus Coriander (cilantro) Fennel Garlic Okra Parsnips Radishes [cooked] |
| Spices Avoid using hot pungent, drying spices Use fresh spices |
Ginger root Coriander (cilantro) Cumin Coriander seeds |
Fennel seeds Turmeric Asafoetida (hing) available from Indian shops |
| Dairy | Fresh, whole milk (unhomogenized) Ghee (purified butter) |
Butter in small amounts |
| Meats White meats |
Chicken Fish |
Turkey (baked or grilled) Chicken broth |
| Nuts Small amounts |
Almonds Pecans |
Sesame seeds |
| Oils Small amounts |
Ghee Sesame Olive |
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| Summary Have these tastes |
Salty Sour Sweet |
Celery Lemon Carrots, sweet potato, sweet corn, fruit |
| Summary Have these food qualities |
Warming foods Slightly oily Slightly heavy foods |
Ginger, black pepper Ghee Root vegetables |
| Foods that aggravate the Nervous system “Vata” Avoid in large amounts |
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| Fruit | Durian [too pungent] | ||
| Vegetables | Lettuce Cabbage Cauliflower Broccoli Sprouts Salads Green leafy vegetables Brussel sprouts Bitter vegetables |
Hollow vegetables with tiny seeds (except for peppers) If joint problems no deadly nightshade plants; Potato Eggplant Rhubarb Tomato |
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| Cold drinks | Avoid taking iced drinks frequently. Drink water at room temperature or warmer |
Drink a cup of hot (filtered) water 3 times a day | |
| Cold food | No cold foods out of the fridge | Tofu | |
| Raw foods | Lettuce (all types) Raw carrot |
Cucumber Tomato |
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| Avoid all dry, rough, stale foods | Biscuits Crackers |
Bread older than 1 day Toast |
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| Avoid anything light, airy or dried | Crisps Toast |
Crackers | |
| Dried foods | Dried beans Split peas |
Mung beans | |
| Summary Avoid these tastes |
Pungent Bitter Astringent |
Brussel sprouts, garlic, tarragon Lettuce, bok choy, celery Cucumber, celery, potato |
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| Summary Avoid these food qualities |
Light Cold Dry |
Lettuce Tofu, salads, coconut Crackers, buscuits |
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Vata lifestyle factors to avoid or minimise if possible |
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| Being under stress and reacting to stress with anxiety. Physical exhaustion. Excessive exercising. Marathons. Mental strain, overwork, intense studying, exams. Avoid excessive addictive patterns e.g. smoking, drinking alcohol, recreational drugs etc Sudden change in life circumstances affects Vata (e.g. death of someone close, separation, divorce, changing jobs or moving house.) Suffering emotionally from fear, fright and anxiety. Changes in seasons Cold, dry, windy weather (Autumn/winter) Lack of sleep. Going to bed late regularly. Travelling long distances regularly i.e. flying, long car, bus and train journeys. Stringent diets e.g. vegan and salicylate diets for long periods of time. Fasting Skipping meals habitually |
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If you have been diagnosed as having a ‘Vata’ problem then your Nervous system has been under stress for too long |
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| Digestion Especially when stressed |
Bloating Wind, flatulence Gurgling Constipation (alternates with diarrhoea) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
| Mental or emotional symptoms Especially when stressed |
Often anxious or worried Sensitive Over reactive Changeable moods Phobias Depression (reactive) |
| Sleep Especially when stressed |
Poor sleep Anxious or fearful dreams Waking during the night Difficulty getting back to sleep Light sleep, wake easily or often |
| Females | Menstrual disorders Infertility |
| Miscellaneous | Lower back pain not caused by injury Weight loss |
| Headaches | Tension and Stress headaches Headaches that move around the head Changeable in intensity or position of headache |