Ama
Ama is a heavy, moist substance that congests our bodies and is due to undigested food. This ama can create several diseases of the body and needs to be cleared out and cleaned up once a year, depending on your eating habits, and sometimes twice a year. Sometimes you will hear ama and Kapha being used interchangeably when describing conditions of the body. They are very similar in qualities and both can create problems. The difference between the two is that Kapha is the physical make-up of the body that includes our bones, skin, fluid and organs whereas ama is an intruder that creates disease that was caused by not digesting food properly. Ama does not need to be in the body while Kapha does. Ama clogs the channels of the body, decreasing metabolism, fogging up the mind, creating unwanted growths and congestion.
In order to decrease ama you can do a couple of things; 1) Give yourself or get an annual cleanse during the change of seasons in the Spring or Fall. 2) Follow an ama-reducing diet. The time you should allow for following an ama-reducing diet depends on your dominate dosha. Kapha doshas can stay on for long periods of time. Pitta dosha for shorter periods and Vata dosha for the least amount of time. Both Pitta and Vata should follow the ama-reducing diet with rejuvenating therapies and foods. Here is a chart of ama-reducing foods and ama-increasing foods.
Ama-Reducing Diet:
Lemon, lime, grapefruit, pomegranate, cranberry
Steamed vegetables (for vata and kapha)
Raw vegetables (for Pitta)
Whole grains
kitchari
Mung beans
Pumpkin seeds
Acidophilus, takra (yogurt water)
Ghee, mustard and flax oils
Raw honey
Spices
In order to decrease ama you can do a couple of things; 1) Give yourself or get an annual cleanse during the change of seasons in the Spring or Fall. 2) Follow an ama-reducing diet. The time you should allow for following an ama-reducing diet depends on your dominate dosha. Kapha doshas can stay on for long periods of time. Pitta dosha for shorter periods and Vata dosha for the least amount of time. Both Pitta and Vata should follow the ama-reducing diet with rejuvenating therapies and foods. Here is a chart of ama-reducing foods and ama-increasing foods.
Ama-Reducing Diet:
Lemon, lime, grapefruit, pomegranate, cranberry
Steamed vegetables (for vata and kapha)
Raw vegetables (for Pitta)
Whole grains
kitchari
Mung beans
Pumpkin seeds
Acidophilus, takra (yogurt water)
Ghee, mustard and flax oils
Raw honey
Spices
Warm liquids (green tea, herbal tea)
Ama-Increasing:
Sweet fruits
Potatoes, mushrooms, carrot juice (too sweet)
Breads, pastries, white flour
All other beans
Nuts and seeds
Dairy
Pork, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, margarine, lard
All other oils
Sugars
Salt
Cold liquids (black tea, coffee)
Potatoes, mushrooms, carrot juice (too sweet)
Breads, pastries, white flour
All other beans
Nuts and seeds
Dairy
Pork, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, margarine, lard
All other oils
Sugars
Salt
Cold liquids (black tea, coffee)
By Edie O'Reilly