Diet For the Dual –Dosha Types

Everyone has all three doshas present in their unique constitution. However, one or two doshas are usually dominant. It is rare that someone is a pure Vata (V), Pitta (P), or Kapha (K) type. It is theoretically possible for one person to have all three doshas in equal proportions, but this is even rarer than the one – doshic
type. If your dosha test shows a 10 – 20% difference in your leading and second dosha, you are a two – doshic person. See also Where do Vata, Pitta and Kapha come from.

Ayurveda advises that dual types change their diet according to the seasons. This means that during the year, blended types eat food pacifying to one dosha at the time when this dosha tends to get aggravated and adjust their diet to pacify their second dosha when seasons change. You can find more about seasons in Seasons and the Doshas.

Here are the general times of the year to change the diet for the US.

SEASON        VP; PV                  PK; KP               VK; KV
January               V                          K                        V
February             V                          K                        K
March                  P                          K                        K
April                     P                          K                        K
May                      P                           P                       K
June                     P                           P                       K
July                       P                           P                       K
August                 P                           P                        V
September         V                           P                        V
October               V                          P                         V
November           V                          K                         V
December           V                          K                         V

A new season doesn’t begin on the 1^st day of a new month; it rather starts slowly in the middle of the previous season, reaches its peak in the middle, and comes to a close during the beginning of the new season. Your diet should follow the same pattern.  Start to incorporate some food for the coming season slowly to prepare your body for the coming challenge.

TODAY’S TIP: It’s always a good idea to do a seasonal purification (see Panchakarma) during the seasonal junctions. In doing so, you will assist your body to eliminate the excessive dosha which naturally accumulates during corresponding seasons.
See also: Ritucharya-seasonal routine; and Dinacharya-daily routine).