Confused by the title? Think I've made a grammatical error? Nope! I'm right on the money with this one. We are just a few days away from summer. And for many of us, we've been waiting to bare some skin since last September or October. That got me to thinking: Why do so many people have so many problems caring for their skin throughout the year - particularly summer? Maybe it's because they don't know their skin dosha. A recent episode of my favorite show,
Dr. Oz inspired me to revisit what I'd learn in nutrition school about Ayurvedic medicine and how it could help others learn to love the skin they've been given.
First let me explain what a dosha is. A dosha is a mind-body type. Ayurveda us the ancient medical system of India, that is still used today, which believes the cause of skin conditions is thought to be a dosh imbalance. There are three doshas in Ayurveda. They are" Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each has a unique set of characteristics and if you know your dosha, then you can take steps to possibly prevent skin problems before they begin.
The funny thing about following Ayurveda is that you'll learn almost every food you love is probably on the "you really should avoid that" list. For instance, I fall under the Pitta dosha. Here is what this food as medicine system says about me:
Pitta Skin
Pitta skin types need to stay cool. Their skin tends to burn easily and they are more sensitive to sun exposure. A Pitta imbalance can result in rashes, acne, and other inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Foods to Eat
Pitta skin types should eat sweet, watery fruits like melons, mangos, and pears. Think of a pot of water on high heat – Pitta evaporates the heat from your skin so you need to add foods with a high water content to keep Pitta in balance. Pitta is the exact opposite of Vata in terms of temperature, so eating foods that are cooling such as coconut oil and rose petal jam helps to reduce the skin inflammation.
Get the Pitta meal plan.
Herbs to Take
There are three great herbs for balancing Pitta skin:
Turmeric powder has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and you can use in your cooking
Amla berry, which is a cooling herb. You can take this as a supplement beginning at 250mg a day. It is also available in jam form.
Fennel seeds, which are ideal for digestion. Chew a pinch of fennel seeds after your meals.
What to Avoid
Pitta skin gets aggravated by eating spicy foods so they should avoid foods like chilies, black pepper, and jalapenos. The heat in spicy foods further increases Pitta people’s own natural internal heat.
Anyone who knows me knows I love, love, love spicy foods. It's also the reason I experienced heart burn for the first time in my life this year! I was so fired up over this experience, I blogged about it. Check out my January 24th entry. So, you have to know I was floored to hear I probably should avoid spicy foods. I will say Ayurveda was right. I cut out my fiery foods for a week and I saw a huge difference in my skin's appearance and texture. Less red undertones - the natural ones were there, but the inflammatory ones disappeared. Fewer breakouts and my skin felt smooth and looked hydrated.
I am a huge fan of using food as medicine. That's the reason I decided to become a holistic health coach. While I do acknowledge the power of traditional medicines, I would rather take a green or natural approach for my health and wellness unless it becomes absolutely necessary to go the other route. If you're interested in learning how Ayurveda medicine could work for you,
click here and take this quiz to determine your dosha and get the solutions for your skin. And as always, please leave me a comment or contact me if you need any support in achieving your health and wellness goals. Be sure to visit my health coaching website and share it with others. The address is
http://www.ritechoicenutrition.com
That's the latest skinny on SKIN. So get ready to bare yours....or not. Just remember to love yourself - because you're good enough, smart enough and doggone it, people like you!
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