YOUR MIND & BODY TYPE IS FIRE + EARTH (PITTA + KAPHA)
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In the FIRE + EARTH type, FIRE—which constantly wants to prove itself in competitions and goes through life with strong willpower—combines with the very grounded nature of EARTH—which cannot be flustered and also enjoys putting his/her feet up and relaxing. This type can also be described as the ‘nurturing leader’.
MIND
If you’re an FIRE + EARTH individual, you are most likely grounded, hardworking, and powerful (think of the power behind a volcano, with both earth and fire elements). You have an ‘action-oriented’ and competitive side (FIRE), with a calm, laid back demeanor (EARTH). With your iron will and open heart, you are driven by passion and have the perseverance to see through long projects and can stick with the same job for years. This strength coupled with your ability to put your heart behind your actions allow you to assume leadership roles and assert yourself well. Additionally, your perseverance provides enough energy to promote and support long-term projects. The FIRE + EARTH type is a born CEO, provided that his/her education and experience are suitable for such a position. When imbalanced, you tend to experience lethargy while being overly critical/judgmental with yourself and others.
BODY
The FIRE + EARTH type is one of the strongest Mind & Body types—it’s robust and resilient. Generally speaking, you are healthy with a strong, well-built frame and strong digestion which allows you to tolerate eating virtually everything, up to a point. Unfortunately, you tend to take this for granted and abuse your good fortune, leaning towards unhealthy lifestyles: too little exercise, too much food, a bit too much indulgence. As a result, problems with obesity and/or associated health risks may surface. This type tends to be prone to retaining and reabsorbing the body’s toxins, obesity, skin diseases, body odor problems that result from heavy perspiration with inconsistent elimination patterns.
HOW TO BALANCE FIRE + EARTH
Ever wonder how to feel more balanced in your everyday? Ayurveda shows us that small lifestyle and diet changes can have a huge impact on our overall wellbeing.
Browse through the following guidelines to understand how to balance your FIRE + EARTH Mind & Body Type. As you read through the suggestions below, keep in mind that no one expects you to shift your lifestyle and diet overnight. Slow and steady shifts are huge wins and, based on our experience, you’ll feel them right away.
PACIFYING LIFESTYLE
Food: What we eat is at the crux of our wellbeing so take a look at the food guidelines below and try to follow them as much as you can. Like for all other types, but most importantly for FIRE + EARTH types, the main meal should be lunch, at the middle of the day. Dinner should only be a light, dry meal.
Meal regularity: Avoid skipping meals. FIRE + EARTH types can have a sharp and sometimes insatiable appetite that needs to be kept in balance. Skipping meals can make a FIRE + EARTH type overeat at the next meal.
Wake up early: Try to wake up early, before dawn. Think 6 or 7AM. This might sound drastic but FIRE + EARTH types are the ones who need the least sleep out of the Mind & Body types yet they love to sleep and tend to sleep too much which can make them stagnant, lethargic or slow to get going in the morning. Every minute you sleep beyond 7am will make you feel heavy and tired.
Kickstart your circulation & metabolism first thing in the morning:
Start the day with a cup of hot water and a vigorous self-massage (Read Self body massage with oil) to get your circulation moving. Good circulation is at the crocks of a strong metabolism! Sleeping all night makes our circulation stagnant and we need to get that circulation moving first thing in the AM.
Workout daily, balancing vigorous & relaxing activities. Balance out soul cycle, or kickboxing class with yoga or time gardening, hiking, etc. Work hard, play hard.
Change it up! FIRE + EARTH types need to make a concerted effort to allow for variety and challenge in their life. Getting out of one’s comfort zone and trying new things everyday often can balance this type’s solid nature and tendency to get stuck in ruts as well as invite more stimulation and excitement into the life of FIRE + EARTH types. They can also benefit from breaking from the complacency that comes with routine.
Every spring: Do a seasonal cleanse, like our 3 day Mind-Body Reset, every spring to help avoid seasonal allergies and keep you healthy fit and good tone.
Ideal climate: Keep comfortable and dry. Avoid situations of excessive heat, humidity or cold & damp conditions. Avoid steam rooms and stay in the shade when at the beach.
RECOMMENDED HERBS
Strong nervous system: Brahmi: renowned mental rejuvenative traditionally used to promote the intellect, enhance mental alertness, and support proper function of the nervous system. These herbs can be taken upon waking and before bed.
Regular elimination: Triphala: detoxifies the GI tract by cleansing the colon, eliminating excess toxins and heat while supporting healthy bowel movements. These herbs can be taken upon waking and before bed.
PACIFYING FOOD GUIDELINES
FAVOR
Light & airy over dense and heavy: Build your diet around veggies and fruits which are wonderfully light, a moderate amount of raw fruit, salads and raw veggies (only in Spring and Summer) and green and black teas which are lighter than coffee can all balance EARTH types. Avoid 4 main foods: wheat, red meat, dairy and sweets.
Cooked yet cooling in nature: Drink room temperature beverages and favor warm cooked foods that are easier to digest yet cooling by nature like: watery vegetables zucchini, squash, melons, gourds and grains like Kitchari, quinoa, barley, wild rice and oats. All types of green vegetables should be eaten in abundance when cooked, minimizing potatoes, pumpkin, and tomatoes and other nightshades which are either too heavy or heating.
Dry over moist and oily: FIRE + EARTH types tend to have oily skin so eating drying foods like soaked beans, sweet potatoes, dried fruits, rice cakes and popcorn can help. When cooking, replace oil and butter with ghee which doesn’t provoke FIRE + EARTH types and wheat flour with oatmeal or spelt flour which are much easier to digest. Fat intake may be restricted to 4-6 teaspoons per day. Yogurt is best avoided as it aggravates FIRE + EARTH individuals.
Rough over smooth: Favor scraping and detoxifying foods, like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, dark leafy greens, and many beans to counter FIRE + EARTH types’ smooth, oily nature. FIRE + EARTH types should have at least, 1 serving of leafy greens per day to stimulate proper circulation and digestion. Avoid smooth goods like bananas, milk and cheese.
Bitter tastes: Favor bitter greens like kale, dandelion greens, kale, cabbage, sunchokes, dark chocolate, cumin, saffron, turmeric, bitter gourd, mint, curry and fenugreek leaves and seeds. The bitter taste is exceptionally cooling, and also drying. It helps to absorb moisture, muscle fat and sweat.
Astringent tastes: Legumes like soaked beans, chickpeas, soybeans, lentils, raw apples, cranberries, pomegranate, artichoke, broccoli, cauliflower, popcorn and rice cakes are beneficial to toning bodily tissues and removing excess fluid.
AVOID
If you remember one thing only, remember this rule of thumb: FIRE + EARTH types should avoid 4 main foods: wheat, red meat, dairy and sweets.
Sweet tastes: Cold, heavy, moist and oily, naturally sweet foods such as fruits, root veggies, milk, nuts, yogurt and red meats aggravate FIRE + EARTH types’ tendency to gain weight. In regards to grains, replace all wheat with carbohydrates like barley, oat, quinoa, rice and corn. Barley in particular is very good for balancing FIRE + EARTH individuals and keeps cholesterol, blood sugar & cravings in check. Eliminate refined sugars and other sugary sweet foods like pies, cookies, pastries etc. Their only sweetener of choice should be honey.
Sour tastes: Avoid foods like vinegar, cheese, sour cream, green grapes, oranges, pineapple, and grapefruits which aggravate FIRE + EARTH types as they are heating and increase thirst, water retention and swelling.
Salty tastes: Limit salty tastes as, similar to sour tastes, they increase heat, moisture and oiliness in the body, which FIRE + EARTH types already have enough of.
Pungent tastes: Avoid spicy & hot foods like chilies, radishes, turnips, raw onions and spices like turmeric and fenugreek leaves and seeds. Instead, use fennel, coriander, garlic, curry leaves, mint and cumin.
*This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.