Should We Eat by Season or Dominant Dosha?

If the seasonal dosha conflicts with your dominant dosha, for instance, if you’re a Kapha-dominant person in Vata season, figure out which of your qualities (gunas) are out of balance. For example, I’m a Vata-Pitta dominant type. Still, last March, after a trip to India in horribly polluted air conditions, I suffered from a kaphic condition, bronchitis. So I ate more pungent foods, such as garlic, cayenne, and wasabi, to cut through the mucus and stoke my digestive fire and my will to live. The pungency helped to clear my sinuses, reignite my passion for food and life, and lighten my mood. The same principles apply when one has two dominant doshas: focus on balancing gunas.

When in doubt, strive to eat all six tastes in every meal. When you eat all six tastes, your body can find its own balance. It’s like taking an adaptogenic herb.

A convenient way to bring all six tastes to a meal is to use a six-taste spice mix. You can buy such a mix from Ayurvedic online stores. Or you can look up a recipe and make your own.

And, of course, always cook with love!