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COVID-19: The Ayurvedic perspective

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