Inflammation
Like many viruses, coronavirus is derived from excess pitta or inflammation in the body, this creates an environment where the virus is able to grow easily. So to put it simply, if we keep the body in balance and reduce any pitta aggravation we are a lot less likely to get or suffer severely from the virus.
In the western world we are involved with a lot of pitta dominant foods and activities such as coffee, alcohol, tomatoes, red meats, cheeses, over work, competition and general stress. As a population, the UK is higher in pitta quality genetically than some hotter countries. This is because we have had to keep our internal body warm to deal with the external cold; this in some part has led to the excess of pitta in our culture today. Although we need this pitta/fire to keep us warm, taking that too far and out of a balanced state is very easy and if a population is more dominant in pitta they are likely to head for a certain lifestyle that increases and supports pitta, as that is what their body and mind is attracted to. Like a forest fire growing by the minute, consuming all resources in its path (capitalism in other words).
In places like India, South East Asia and Africa their populations are more kapha dominant because unlike us they need to keep their internal bodies cool to deal with the hot external environment. In this nice, cool environment, supported by lots of kapha food, such as coconuts and rice, the virus grows less easily.
So at this time it is necessary to reduce our pitta consumption and adopt a less inflammatory diet and lifestyle regime. Advice on how to do this is listed below.
Inflammation: Instructions on reducing pitta
This is general advice for dealing with or avoiding Covid-19. If you have another condition/imbalance it may not be appropriate for you. Ayurveda is a very individual and personalised medicine. If you are unsure please book in for a consultation or email me samatherapist@gmail.com.
General information:
Foods/drinks to avoid
Most important:
Tomatoes (including any sauces containing this)
Chili
Red meat
Cheese
Coffee and heavily caffeinated drinks
Deep fried foods
Any raw foods or salads
Peanuts
Bananas
Pineapple (and other tropical fruits apart from papaya)
Sour fruits (other than lime)
Fermented products and vinegar
Red fish
Red wine
Have these less often than normal:
Dried foods
Yeasted breads
Oats
Buckwheat
Quinoa
Rye
Avocado
Strawberries
Melon
High salt products
Mustard
Tamari
Cashews
Marmalade
Nutella
Cocoa
Marmite
Carrots
Swede
Parsnips
Beetroot
Lettuce
Corn
Green olives
Cucumber
Pinenuts
Turmeric
Dairy milk
Red fish
Food and drink to eat more of:
Coconut products (including only cooking with coconut oil)
Maple syrup
Almonds and walnuts (soaked overnight is best) and almond butter
Seasonal veg that is sweet or bitter such as:
Cooked leafy greens
Peas
Leeks
Cauliflower
Squash
Green beans
Watercress
Courgette
Pumpkin
Fennel
Potatoes
Cassava
Yam