In general choose a diet that emphasizes warm, soupy, and easy to digest foods. The vata gut prefers cooked vegetables to raw. Most sweet and juicy fruits are beneficial for vata. Avoid unripe fruit or large amounts of astringent fruits such as pomegranate and cranberry. Vata types can best utilize animal foods in their diet. Combine legumes with sweet grains such as rice. Vata individuals should especially avoid caffeine and sugar.
| FOOD TYPE | Prefered foods | Best to avoid foods |
| Fruits | Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Berries, Cherries, Coconut, Dates, Figs, Grapefruits, Grapes, Lemons, Mangoes, Melon, Nectarines, Oranges, Papaya, Peaches, Plums | Cranberry, Pomegranate, Dried Fruits, Apples (except Cooked) |
| Vegetables | Asparagus, Beets, Carrots, cooled Celery, Sweet Potatoes, cooked Onion, Green Beans, Veggie Juices W/ Ginger | Eggplant, Spinach, Mushrooms, Peas, Most Raw Vegetables |
| Grains | Wheat, Oats, Quinoa, Rice (Eaten With Added Ghee, Butter, or Oil) | Corn, Millet, Rye, Buckwheat, Yeasted Bread |
| Legumes | Mung Beans, Red Lentils, Black Lentils, hummus, organic Tofu | Chick Peas, Soy Beans, Peas, Lima |
| Flesh Food | Eggs, dark Turkey, dark chicken, Venison, Fresh Fish, Goat | Lamb, Beef, Shellfish |
| Nuts & Seeds | Almonds (soaked and peeled), pecans, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, nut butters and milks | Excess Sesame, peanuts |
| Dairy | Fresh Yogurt, Milk Cooked With Ginger, Cardamom, And Turmeric | Ice Cream, Smoothies, Hard Cheeses |
| Sweeteners | Maple Syrup, Fresh Raw Honey, Raw Sugar | White Sugar, Excess Amounts of Chocolate, Cooked Honey |
| Spices | Ginger, garlic, asafetida (in legume soups), nutmeg | Overuse of “Hot” Spices |
| Vices | Small Amounts of Wine And Beer | Tobacco, Sugar, Caffeine |
Menus and eating habits for Vata, Pitta, Kapha types.
