What should you eat in the world of “food rules”?
- Martyna Bajer
- Oct 12
- 3 min read
Nowadays, nutrition can feel overwhelming...
Many people hear that gluten is always bad, dairy is inflammatory for everyone, or that raw foods are the ultimate health choice. Out of fear or confusion, they eliminate entire food groups, often without considering whether those foods actually cause imbalance for them! 🤯
The Ayurvedic perspective offers a refreshing alternative!
Instead of treating food as universally “good” or “bad,” Ayurveda looks at how food interacts with the individual. A food that supports one person’s digestion and balance might create discomfort in someone else.
Like increases like, opposites balance
At its core, Ayurveda works with qualities.
Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (the three doshas) are not abstract categories but expressions of elements and tendencies in the body and mind.
Vata, made of air and ether, is light, cold, dry, and mobile.
Pitta, made of fire and water, is hot, sharp, oily, and penetrating.
Kapha, made of water and earth, is heavy, cool, stable, and nourishing.
The principle “like increases like, opposites balance” means that when we consume foods or follow habits with the same qualities as our dosha, we amplify them.
The balancing act comes from inviting the opposite qualities through food, lifestyle, and routines.
This framework seems simple at first glance: Avoid what aggravates you, invite what balances you. But....
Humans are more complex than that!
Most people are not governed by just one dosha!
More often, we are dual constitutions: Vata-Pitta, Pitta-Kapha, Kapha-Vata etc., in endless proportions.
Take a Vata-Pitta type:
They may experience cold feet and hand, dry hair, and restlessness of the mind (all qualities of Vata), alongside acne, irritability and ocassional loose stools (Pitta).
Should their diet be cooling to calm Pitta or warming to warm up Vata? Neither!
The answer to choose foods and preparations that don’t aggravate either side and that create balance for both.
Think of meals that are warm but not overly spicy, moist, yet not heavy, simple and easy to digest.
And this always has to be adapted to someone’s reality... A working mom or a student on a budget needs quick, affordable meals. Someone working from home with more time and love for cooking might experiment with careful spice blends, slow-cooked meals, or seasonal variations. The principle is the same, but the way we apply it depends on the person’s life.
This is why Ayurvedic nutrition cannot be reduced to a static food chart. For dual constitutions especially, the needs shift with season, climate, stress level, and digestive strength. What is balancing in one moment might be aggravating in another!
Dairy, for example, may aggravate Kapha when it is heavy, cold, and taken excessively, but in small amounts and prepared warmly, it can be deeply nourishing and grounding, especially for Vata.
Gluten, when consumed in moderation and properly digested, may be tolerated perfectly well by some, while for others it creates clear signs of imbalance.
Raw salads may be refreshing for a fiery Pitta in summer, but they can disturb digestion in a Vata person during winter.
Instead of labeling foods as good or bad, I prefer to ask:
For whom? In what season? In what quantity? Prepared in what way?
There are principles, yes, but their application changes constantly depending on the whole picture!
Nutrition is not about copying what worked for someone else, nor about following the latest trend. It is about knowing yourself and responding to your unique needs.
You don’t need to figure all of this out on your own!
... Or spend hours scrolling through Google or asking ChatGPT (FYI: the Ayurvedic texts aren’t fully available online).
I am here for you and I can help you with:
✅ Translating Ayurvedic wisdom into clear, practical steps that fit your body, your lifestyle, and your circumstances.
✅ Preparing customized recipes that balance your constitution and current imbalances.
✅ Teaching you how to adjust meals with simple tweaks so that even everyday ingredients become healing.
✅ Guiding you on seasonal eating, so your diet naturally shifts with the weather and supports your energy all year round.
✅ Showing you how to make smart food choices whether you’re cooking at home, eating out, or traveling.
✅ Helping you understand not just what to eat, but how to eat strengthen digestion.
Are you ready to discover what your unique constitution needs and how to bring it into balance?
