Diet for AsthamaFood qualities to reduce: cold, dry & heavy.
Best Taste: Sweet, bitter & pungent in small amounts
Worst Taste: Salty, Sour & astringent.
FOOD GROUPS:Grains: It is best to eat these as cooked grains.
| Best (Daily) | Wheat, porridge (with water), white rice. |
| Small Amounts | rice (brown or white, short or long grain), millet, rye, couscous. |
| Avoid | Buckwheat, corn flour products, dry oats, cereals, muesli |
Dairy: Best to use raw or organic milk .It should be taken warm, with small amount of cardamom, also try not to eat anything at least half an hour before & after milk.
| Best | Skimmed milk, goats milk. |
| Small Amounts | ghee (clarified butter) |
| Avoid | Ice cream, frozen yogurt, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, hard cheeses, margarine, peanut butter, Plain Cow Butter, whey, goats cheese, tofu/bean curd, paneer. |
Sweeteners: Over use of any sweetener will eventually cause an imbalance.
| Best | maltose, maple syrup, maple sugar, rice syrup |
| Small Amounts | Date sugar, dextrose, fructose, grape sugar, molasses, Honey, White Sugar |
| Avoid | |
Oils: Oils are very important. They alleviate dryness and are generally heavy and nourishing, so should be used in less quantity.
| Best | Olive Oil, canola oil |
| Avoid | Corn oil, Vegetable oil, Peanut Oil |
Fruit: Fruit is best when it is sweet. Sour fruits must be avoided.
| Best Sweet fruits | Apricots, avocado, dates, grapes, sweet limes, mango, peaches, pears, , plums (sweet), pomegranate, , raisins, |
| Small Amounts | Apples, Papaya, plums (sweet), musk melon, black grapes |
| Avoid Sour Fruits | Cherries (sour), dry fruit, pineapples (sour), plums (sour), oranges (sour), Papaya, Coconut, watermelon, bananas |
Vegetables: Cooked vegetables are best as they are more nourishing and easier to digest.
| Best | Artichoke (with oily dressing), avocado, cilantro, Jerusalem artichoke, leeks, okra, onion (cooked), potato, pumpkin, squash (acorn, winter, crook neck, zucchini etc.), asparagus, carrot |
| Small Amounts | Alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, beet, bell pepper, bitter melon, broccoli, cabbage, celery, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, cauliflower,Mushrooms, mustard greens, parsley, hot peppers(Sour), turnips |
| Avoid | Brussels sprouts, chillies, hot peppers, radishes, raw onion, tomato ketchup, snow peas, chick peas, tomato, peas (sweet), spinach |
Nuts & Seeds: These should be eaten lightly dry roasted to assist digestion and only lightly salted, if at all. Nut butters, except for peanut, may also be eaten.
| Best | none |
| Small Amount | Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew, lotus seeds, macadamia, pecans, pine. Pistachio (non salted), pumpkin seeds |
| Avoid | Peanuts |
Meats: Repeated research shows that plant based diets are healthier than meat based diets and prevent many diseases. Ayurveda and Yoga emphasize a vegetarian diet..
| Best | None |
| Avoid | Shell fish, lobster, oysters, prawns, turkey, beef, pork, all sea food. |
Legumes: Those listed in small amounts are best as a dhal or as a spread with added spices. When digestion is weak or constipation present, even those beans listed under small amounts should be avoided.
| Best | Mung beans, |
| Small Amounts | Aduki beans, black gram, kidney, black lentils, pinto, soy beans, tofu. |
| Avoid | Red and yellow lentils, Fava, chick peas. |
Spices: Spices aid the digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as improve flavour. Food should have an overall spicing effect of being warming but not hot. It is the overall effect of spicing that is most important and not the individual spice used. Food should never be bland.
| Best | Bay leaf, chamomile, cardamom, cilantro, cumin, coriander, dill, Fennel, rosemary, saffron, spearmint, turmeric, ginger (fresh), cinnamon, garlic (raw). |
| Small Amounts | Anise, basil, fenugreek, ginger (fresh), marjoram, nutmeg, Oregano, sage, salt, star anise, thyme, cloves. |
| Avoid | Asafoetida, black pepper, cayenne, horseradish, hot mustard |
Condiments/Confectionary:| Best | None |
| Small Amounts | Mayonnaise |
| Avoid | Chocolate, vinegar, tamarind |
Beverages: These are best taken at room temperature or warm and never ice cold.
| Best | mild spice teas, milk, hot water |
| Small Amounts | Above listed fresh fruit juices (diluted), tea ( green) |
| Avoid | Alcohol, carrot juice (undiluted), coffee (caffeinated & decaffeinated), soft drinks, sweet fruit juices (undiluted), tomato juice, vegetable juices (green), fish, yogurt & bread. |
Disclaimer: We have taken utmost effort whilst recommending dietary changes, various Yoga positions, breathing techniques, stretches and other exercises. However for the best advice we recommend you to consult our Ayurvedic physician if you have multiple health issues.
