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Basic Food Guidelines for Kapha Dosha

  • Writer: Megan H.
    Megan H.
  • Dec 25, 2025
  • 2 min read

A grounding, earth-and-water-themed illustration of kapha-pacifying foods arranged along a riverbank with soil, stones, trees, and distant mountains. Fresh fruits like apples, pears, grapes, cherries, berries, figs, and citrus sit beside bitter and pungent vegetables including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onions, mushrooms, greens, squash, and sprouts. Bowls of grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, and spices are shown with light dairy, lean meats, eggs, fish, tofu, and oils. Warm earth tones, greens, and natural textures emphasize nourishment, lightness, and stimulation to support balance and vitality for kapha types.

Favoring certain foods in your everyday diet may be appropriate as a general guideline when you're not sure where to begin. Here's a basic list of foods for Kapha Dosha-predominant individuals.


Please note that these guidelines are general and do not take into consideration individual dietary requirements or adjustments that may need to be made to support food allergies, agni strength, season, constitutional make-up or doshic imbalance. (* = okay in moderation, * = include rarely).


Fruits for Kapha Dosha

  • Apples

  • Cherries

  • Figs* (dry)

  • Grapes*

  • Lemons*

  • Limes*

  • Peaches

  • Pears

  • Prunes

  • Raisins

  • Strawberries*



Most Pungent & Bitter Vegetables, great for Kapha dosha!

  • Asparagus

  • Beets & Greens

  • Broccoli

  • Cabbage

  • Carrots

  • Cauliflower

  • Celery

  • Corn

  • Eggplant

  • Green Beans

  • Leafy Greens

  • Mushrooms

  • Onions

  • Peas

  • Peppers

  • White Potatoes

  • Sprouts

  • Winter Squashes



Grains to Favor

  • Amaranth*

  • Barley

  • Bran

  • Buckwheat

  • Quinoa

  • Corn

  • Granola

  • Millet

  • Oats (dry)

  • Basmati Rice*



Legumes to Favor

  • Black Beans

  • Chickpeas

  • All Lentils

  • Mung Beans*

  • Navy Beans

  • Peas (dried)

  • Pinto Beans

  • Soy Milk

  • Tempeh

  • Tofu* (hot)



Dairy, if consuming

  • Buttermilk*

  • Cottage Cheese*

  • Ghee*

  • Fresh Goat's Cheese* (unsalted and not aged)

  • Fresh Goat's Skim Milk

  • Fresh Yoghurt (diluted)



Animal Foods, if consuming

  • White Chicken

  • Eggs (not fried)

  • Fish (freshwater)

  • Rabbit

  • Shrimp

  • White Turkey



Condiments

  • Black Pepper

  • Chili Peppers

  • Horseradish

  • Mustard

  • Scallions

  • Seaweed*



Nuts to Favor

  • Charole

  • Almonds*

  • Coconut*



Seeds to Favor

  • Flaxseed* (the seed, not the oil)

  • Pumpkin Seeds*

  • Sunflower Seeds*



Oils for Kapha (internal & external, in small amounts)

  • Corn

  • Sunflower

  • Sesame (external)



Spices

  • All spices are good



Sweeteners, if using

  • Fruit Juice Concentrates

  • Honey (raw and unprocessed)


Beverages

  • Alcohol* (medicinally)

  • Apple Juice/Cider*

  • Pure Cranberry Juice

  • Grain 'Coffee'

  • Pure Grape Juice

  • Pineapple Juice*

  • Pomegranate Juice

  • Prune Juice

  • Soy Milk (hot and well-spiced)



Teas for Kapha Dosha

  • Black Tea, Spiced

  • Chamomile

  • Cinnamon

  • Fennel*

  • Peppermint

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