Kapha Body Type
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Kapha
The results of your online questionnaire indicate that you have a Kapha-dominant body type, or Prakriti.
The most revered ayurvedic text, the Charaka Samhita, defines the characteristics of Kapha dosha as: heavy - both water and earth are heavy elements (guru); cold (sheetoha); soft (mridu); unctuous, offering lubrication (snigdha); sweet (madhura); stability, offering immunity (sthira); and slippery (tikshila).
Here is a summary of your characteristics, signs of imbalance and likely health problems and some general tips for good health.
Kapha characteristics
- Easygoing, relaxed, slow-paced
- Affectionate and loving
- Forgiving, compassionate, non-judgmental nature
- Stable and reliable; faithful
- Physically strong and with a sturdy, heavier build
- Have the most energy of all constitutions, but it is steady and enduring, not explosive
- Slow moving and graceful
- Slow speech, reflecting a deliberate thought process
- Slower to learn, but never forgets; outstanding long-term memory
- Soft hair and skin; tendency to have large 'soft' eyes and a low, soft voice
- Tend toward being overweight; may also suffer from sluggish digestion
- Prone to heavy, oppressive depressions
- More self-sufficient, need less outward stimulation than do the other types
- A gentle and essentially undemanding approach to life
- Sexually Kaphas are the slowest to be aroused, but they also have the most endurance
- Good health, strong disease resistance
- Slow to anger; strives to maintain harmony and peaces
- Not easily upset and can be a point of stability for others
- Tend to be possessive and hold on to things, people, money; good savers.
- Don't like cold, damp weather
People of Kapha constitution have well-developed bodies. There is, however, a strong tendency for these individuals to carry excess weight. Their chests are expanded and broad. The veins and tendons of Kapha people are not obvious because of their thick skin and their muscle development is good. The bones are not prominent.
Their complexions are fair and bright. The skin is soft, lustrous and oily, it is also cold and pale. The hair is thick, dark, soft and wavy. The eyes are dense and black or blue: the white of the eye is very white, large and attractive.
Physiologically, kapha people have regular appetites. Due to slow digestion, they tend to consume less food. They crave pungent, bitter and astringent foods. Stools are soft and may be pale in color: evacuation is slow. Their perspiration is moderate. Sleep is sound and prolonged. There is a strong vital capacity evidenced by good stamina, and Kapha people are generally healthy, happy and peaceful.
Psychologically, they tend to be tolerant, calm, forgiving and loving: however, they also exhibit traits of greed, attachment, envy and possessiveness. Their comprehension is slow but definite: once they understand something, that knowledge is retained. Kapha people tend to be wealthy. They earn money and are good at holding on to it.
Signs of Kapha imbalance
- Sluggish thinking, dull thinking
- Apathetic, no desire
- Depressed, sad, sentimental
- Slow to comprehend, slow to react
- Procrastinating, lethargy
- Clingy, hanging on to people and ideas
- Greedy, possessive, materialistic
- Too much sleep
- Very tired in the morning, hard to get out of bed
- Drowsy or groggy during the day
- Weight gain, obesity
- Mucus and congestion in the chest or throat
- Mucus and congestion in the nose or sinuses
- Nausea
- Diabetes
- Hay fever
- Pale, cool, clammy skin
- Edema, water retention, bloated feeling
- Sluggish digestion, food 'just sits'
- in the stomach
- High cholesterol
- Aching joints or heavy limbs
There are a number of signs of Kapha dosha imbalance. Physical problems include colds and congestion, sinus headaches, respiratory problems including asthma and wheezing, hay fever, allergies, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). When you experience symptoms such as nausea, lethargy, a feeling of heaviness, chills, looseness of the limbs, coughing, mucus discharges, breathing difficulties, and a tendency to sleep too much, you may be suffering from Kapha imbalance. Other symptoms can be inertia, congestion, stagnation, and circulation problems. There may be a tendency toward obesity. Boredom, laziness, and mental dullness may also be present.
In summary, when you experience symptoms such as nausea, lethargy, a feeling of heaviness, chills, looseness of the limbs, coughing, mucus discharges, breathing difficulties, and a tendency to sleep too much, you may be suffering from Kapha imbalance. Other symptoms can be inertia, congestion, stagnation, and circulation problems. There may be a tendency toward obesity. Boredom, laziness, and mental dullness may be present.
Indications of balanced Kapha influences are physical strength, a strong immune system, serenity, mental resolve, rational thinking, ability to conserve and use personal resources, endurance, and adaptability.
Dietary Advice for a Kapha constitution
Warm, light food. Dry food, cooked without much water, minimum of butter, oil and sugar. Stimulating foods with pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes. Kaphas need to watch the consumption of too much sweet foods or fatty foods. Keep an eye on the salt consumption also, which tend to result in fluid retention in Kaphas. Light meals are to be favoured such as light breakfast and dinner. Avoid deep fried foods.
Eat lightly cooked foods or raw fruits and vegetables. Eat spicy, bitter and astringent foods. Watch out for eating too much food, a typical kapha tendency. Select hot food over cold food whenever feasible. Dry cooking methods (baking, broiling, grilling, sautéing) are preferable for kaphas over moist cooking such as steaming, boiling or poaching.
As an appetizer eat bitter or pungent foods instead of salty or sour. Foods such as romaine lettuce, endive, tonic water, ginger tea or a pinch of ginger to stimulate appetite.
Other preferred spices are cumin, fenugreek, sesame seed and turmeric. Any food that is spicy is good for kaphas such as very hot Mexican or Indian food, especially in winter. Foods that are good for kapha breakfast are hot spiced cider, corn muffins, and bitter cocoa made with skimmed milk and a touch of honey. Avoid cold cereals, cold juice or milk, and sugary pastries. Bacon and sausage aggravates kapha due to their salt and oil. For kapha types, breakfast is optional. (You may skip it if you like). To pep you up in the morning, take honey, hot water, lemon juice and ginger.
Try skipping a meal or two and take a spoonful of honey in hot water to keep you going. Kaphas have a sweet tooth. So, cutting down on sugar is difficult for many of them. Cutting out sugar is recommended. Take honey instead.
Avoid taking more than a spoonful of honey a day. Don't overindulge on dairy foods. Butter, ice cream, and cheese are among the worst foods you can take as it aggravates the kapha. Take warm low fat milk. Avoid hamburgers and milk shakes.
Eat raw fruits, vegetables and salads. Watch out for restaurant foods, especially oily, salty, sweet or deep fried foods - these are all kapha aggravating. Eat salad with minimum salad dressing. Take a glass of hot water instead of ice water. Eat salad instead of soup especially in hot weather.
Wellness tips for Kapha types
Kapha's are prone to lethargy, sluggishness, depression, and overweight, Kaphas need activity and stimulation. Daily exercise is more important for them than for any other type. Getting out of the house and actively seeking new experiences is also valuable. Be receptive to useful change, renounce impediments to progress, be intentional in implementing life-enhancing actions, and choose foods, mental attitudes, behaviors, exercise routines, and relationships and environmental circumstances which can be instrumental in balancing kapha characteristics.
Meditation can be more intensive for kapha constitutions than for vata or pitta constitutions. Schedule time every day for prayer and meditation.
- 45 minutes of walking daily - a total of at least 15 miles a week, in normal conditions.
- Generally, plenty of exercise and activities should be done, aerobics or a regular workout.
- Try to surround yourself with diverse and energetic experiences, that you can do on a regular basis.
- Relaxation is also advised, doing various or diverse things, allowing time for amusement and play.
- Try to be affectionate, loving and friendly with those around you, do not let things bother you.
- Avoid stress and strain, and overworking.
- Do not sleep during the day and do not oversleep at night - 8 hours is the accepted norm.
If your basic constitution is mixed (kapha-pitta or kapha-vata), include smaller portions for the second dosha.
Kapha dosha is aggravated and increased in the spring of the year. During this season, eat less and choose more dry, fibrous foods. During wet, cold seasons, all mind-body types can choose some of the above foods and decrease others.