Powerful Pitta
You Can Make Anything Happen
Pitta is made up of
Fire and a
little Water
Take a moment to think about fire. What does it look and feel like? It is hot and sharp and spreading and light. This is also what Pitta feels like in our body. A little bit of heat is a great thing. It keeps us active, driven, determined and focused and it keeps our digestive system moving. But when that heat gets out of control, it can cause all types of problems - from anger, to irritability to acidity and inflammation. Pitta is in all of us. It governs all of the processing and transformation in our mind and body and is a critical part of our health and functioning. When our Pitta is in balance, we are typically active, driven, efficient, intelligent, focused and determined. People predominant in Pitta are often hard workers in all aspect of their lives. They are typically organised, efficent, quite athletic and goal-orientated. Though when Pitta’s fire gets too heated, problems show up. Health issues such as ulcers, burning, UTIs, heavy menstruation, hair loss, bleeding disorders, acid reflux, diarrhoea and skin rashes all begin from excess Pitta. Pitta imbalance also shows up emotionally by way of anger, frustration, irritability and burn-out.
Hot . Light . Oily . Sharp
Pitta is an Energy we all Want and Need in our lives
We definitely don’t want to get rid of Pitta! Pitta is what helps us process and digest everything in our lives - physically and mentally. The key is to keep it in check because when it is out of balance, it can wreak havoc on our physical, mental and emotional lives. So how do you know if Pitta is balanced or getting out of control? See below to learn the signs as well as the key food and practices to keep Vata stable.
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Strength, Action, Determination, Focus, Efficiency, Articulation, Organisation, Healthy Digestion, Strong Metabolism
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Irritability, Frustration, Anger, Jealousy, Burnt-out, Redness, Burning, Inflammation, Skin Rashes, Reflux and Indigestion
To Balance Pitta…
Grounding + Cooling Food
Pitta is hot and light, so cool and grounding food helps balance those hot and light qualities. Some examples:
Rice, Lentils and Most Legumes and Grains
Broccoli, Cauliflower and Root Vegetables
Avocado, Coconut and Watermelon
Milk and Ghee
Avoid Hot and Heating Food
Pitta’s is hot and oily so you want to avoid things that will activate too much heat in the body, such as:
Too much chilli peppers and chilli sauce
Too much vinegar and fermented food
Too much onion and garlic, especially raw
Fried food, alcohol and caffeine
Use Cooling Herbs + Spices
Naturally, to reduce the heat, cooling herbs and spices are extremely beneficial for Pitta. In particular:
Fresh mint and coriander
Cardamom, cumin and fennel
Basil and peppermint
Avoid too much chilli and salt
Water and Green Grass
The ocean and the grass can both have powerfully cooling effects. Try:
Walking barefoot on grass first thing in morning
Evenings walks, especially by the water
Swimming is a great form of exercise
Avoid too much exposure to hot midday sun
Go Easy on Yourself
Pitta types are typically quite hard on themselves and push themselves to the point of burn-out. Try:
Making friends with imperfection
Talking to yourself as you would a friend
Prioritising time for rest and restoration
Meditation, Gratitude + Self-Care practices
Exercise + Pranayama
Pitta types often like to exercise hard! Though this can further aggravate Pitta symptoms. Instead, try:
Regular moderate exercise
Daily breath-work, especially sheetali breath
Yoga and swimming are great options
Team sport for fun rather than competition
Mantra for Pitta.
Cool Your Heat But
Don’t Dim Your Light