Vata diet modified for postpartum mothers. (Postpartum Care).

Vata Diet Modified for Postpartum Mothers

Food Qualities: Favor these:                  Reduce or avoid these:

These qualities calm vata and should be emphasized.

Sweet          basmati rice,                  meats, especially
               unleavened wheat               red, candy,
               pasta after two                ice cream, easy
               weeks, tapioca (no eggs),      on white sugar,
               natural cane sugar,            breads, hard to
               honey, sweet fruit,            digest sweets
               yams, carrots, beets,
               poultry/fish
               after four weeks
               cottage cheese,
               ricotta, tofu, milk

Salty          sea and rock salt,             chips, soy sauce
               seaweeds (cooked),
               Braggs Amino Acids, kelp

Sour           fresh lemon or lime            fermented cheeses,
               juice, tamarind,               miso, vinegar,
               sweet oranges, yogurt          yogurt, sour cream,
               or buttermilk lassi            wines, grapefruit
               (mix them with equal
               parts water)

Oily           milk, butter, ghee,            most cheeses,
               ricotta cheese,                fried foods, nuts
               olive oil, sesame
               oil (especially roasted)

Warm           warm or hot temperature
               foods and drinks

Heavy          essene breads, chapatis,       aged cheeses, meats,
               tofu, avocado, some nuts       nuts, eggs,
               soaked 24-48 hours,            leavened wheat
               butters when thinned           items, yogurt
               white meat soups
               after 4 weeks

Food Qualities: Favor these:                  Reduce or avoid these:

These qualities increase vata and should be less dominant in the diet.

Pungent        cumin, caraway, ginger,        garlic, onion,
               black pepper,                  radish, chilies,
               cinnamon, cardamom,            sage, peppers,
               black mustard,                 thyme, oregano,
               caraway, clove, basil          rosemary

Bitter         turmeric, fenugreek,           coffee, chocolate,
               spinach,                       goldenseal,
               licorice, chrysanthemum,       dandelion, green
               echinacea,                     leaf veggies, aloe
               rhubarb, yarrow,               vera juice,
               grapefruit seed extract        peeled eggplant

Astringent     split hulled or soaked         dry wine, pomegranate,
               24 hours mung beans,           cranberry,
               legumes in general,            green apple
               rhubarb, spinach, nutmeg,
               cinnamon, turmeric,
               raspberry and hibiscus leaf
               (for Kaphas)

Dry            barley, cooked or              dried fruit if unsoaked
               soaked dried fruit,            or uncooked
               corn, potatoes,
               beans, crackers

Cold           cool temperature drinks        cold foods and
               or fruit in summer             drinks, ice cream,
                                              milk and foods
                                              right out of the
                                              refrigerator

Light          spinach, sweet                 corn, crackers,
               apples, barley                 salads, apples