Obesity is one of the most common widespread health disorders that has gained a position under epidemic. People with a BMI (body mass index) of more than 30 are diagnosed with obesity. There are various causes of obesity which may vary in males and females but the risk of obesity is common to both men and women.
Ayurveda mentions different body type, depending on which the person tends to lose or gain weight. Before understanding the body type for sustainable result, it is important to know how a weight gain or weight loss is different in men when compared to women. Men and women have a different approach to weight loss.
Difference in weight loss between men and women
The body structure of men is different than women. They have more body mass and need more energy intake on daily basis. There is a gender specific effect on effort in weight loss and easiness in weight gain.
Women have high testosterone hormone, hence more fats and less muscles when compared to men. This makes easy for men to lose weight.
The effort or weight loss result may vary in men and women but the approach towards losing weight is same for both.
Understand Your Body Type
Just like you use shampoo according to hair type, use skin products according to skin type, in a same way the weight loss effort varies depending on the body type. In Ayurveda, the human body is made of ether (Aakash), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (jal) and earth (prithvi). These five elements are called panchamahabhoot, balance of these 5 elements is critical for the well-being of a person.
These dominance of two of these five elements is grouped under three fundamental doshas i.e vata, pitta, kapha. Let us know understand the body type depending on these doshas.
Vata Body Type
This body type is comprised of air and ether. Biological functions such as contraction of muscles, breathing, movement of other doshas, etc are prime functions of the vata body type. The imbalance of vata dosha disturbs the movement of hormones and fluids leading to serious health problems.
Some of the features of vata dominant body are dry skin, thin hair, brittle nails, cold extremities, irregular sleep, etc. Imbalance of vata dosha may cause digestive health problems and lead to accumulation on toxins in the body. Generally, people with vata body type have difficulty in gaining weight.
Weight loss diet tips for vataj body
Eat small meals in short intervals. You can divide the meal into 4-5 small meals and eat in fixed intervals.
Avoid eating raw and cold foods, carbonated drinks, refrigerated stuff, etc. Instead consume hot soups, hot fluids, etc to pacify vata dosha and speed the weight loss.
Choose nuts and seeds for snacks.
After overnight fast oatmeals, porridge, and sautéed veggies are a great option to start the day, sipping hot soup can pacify vata and help lose weight.
Pitta Body Type
Pitta is composed of elements fire and water. The elements present in pitta dosha supports the metabolism and governs the body temperature. Pitta dosha is responsible for breakdown of food molecules and convert it into energy.
Pitta dominant body has a strong metabolism that indicates good digestion. Also, pitta-dominant individuals have medium build bodies and comparatively large appetites. Balancing pitta dosha is important for natural weight loss. It is easy to lose weight for pitta-type people.
Weight loss tips for pitta body
Imbalance of pitta dosha leads to stress and this causes emotional eating leading to weight gain. Due to stress there is more acids in the stomach hence it is important to balance pitta dosha for weight loss. Given below are weight loss tips for pitta dominant body.
Avoid eating nuts and seeds.
Do not skip meals as it leads to the accumulation of toxins that can block the body’s channels. This causes hormonal imbalance and makes weight loss difficult.
Green tea, mint tea, triphala, etc can help reduce weight in men with pitta type.
Drinking herbal water has a great impact on weight loss in pitta-dominant people.
Limit intake of eggs and non-veg and avoid hot and pungent spices. Minimize consumption of sugar.
Eat lentils, legumes, and salad moderately.
Kapha Body Type
It includes the elements earth and water. Kapha dosha supports movement of joints, hydrating the skin and maintains immunity.
Kapha type are generall over-weight or obese. They have fully developed muscles and have slow metabolism. Such body type face great difficulty in losing weight.
Weight loss tips for kapha dominant body
Kapha dominant body are usually heavy, slow and cold. Given below are the weight loss tips to balance kapha dosha. Balance of kapha dosha can help in sustainable weight loss.
Herbal tea with ginger or cinnamon can promote weight loss.
Avoid eating dairy products and fat-rich foods.
Eat small portions and take less than you think you can eat.
Add a lot of green leafy vegetables in your diet and consume fruits such as mangoes, peaches and apples.
Include herbs and spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, etc. These spices support digestion and improve metabolism.
Consuming lean proteins such as lentils, chickpeas, legumes, fish, etc support metabolism and promote weight loss.
Avoid eating cold foods. Intake of warm, dry, and light foods can balance the cold and heavy nature of kapha dosha. Such foods include steamed veggies, quinoa, millet, and grains.
Take Away
It may be easy to lose weight but not to sustain. The sustainable weight loss process is a complicated procedure that requires the guidance of professionals. Understanding your body type is critical when you are going for ayurvedic weight loss.
Consulting an ayurvedic health care provider can help you understand your body type and choose the right diet that can escalate and sustain weight loss. Apart from a proper Ayurvedic diet, there are certain Ayurvedic lifestyle modifications according to body type.
It is essential to know the body type because depending on this knowledge you can choose the food your body needs for over all wellbeing.