How do we actually distinguish between foods in Ayurveda?
You may have heard ayurvedic practitioner nyc say things like:
“Eat heavy foods at lunch,” or “Avoid slimy foods like yogurt and sea food especially if there is congestion or skin problems,” or “Don’t eat cold foods at night.”
But rarely do they hand you a specific menu or dish list. Instead, Ayurveda gives principles — guidelines on which qualities (guṇas) to increase or reduce, depending on your body’s current state or imbalance.
To make your own food choices wisely, you need to understand these terms — heavy, light, slimy, dry, cold, hot, rough, smooth, and so on. Once you grasp what these mean and how they relate to the elements, you’ll be able to make balanced decisions for any situation — whether it’s the time of day, season, or a temporary imbalance in your body.
First, understand that everything — including food — is made up of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space.
Each element expresses certain qualities (guṇas) that we can directly relate to through our senses — such as heaviness, softness, lightness, coldness, or roughness.
The foods we eat reflect these same elemental qualities — depending on which element is most dominant within them.
For example, sea water contains salt, which gives it a slimy and heating nature.
In contrast, fresh water is cooling and clear.
Interestingly, water as an element is quite dynamic — it can be soothing and clearing, yet also heavy and clogging when excessive.
Foods that are higher in air and space elements tend to increase Vata, those rich in earth and water increase Kapha, and foods with more fire tend to increase Pitta.
Heavy (Guru) foods contain more earth and water elements.
Just as earth and water are dense and grounding, these foods slow digestion and can create a feeling of heaviness or sluggishness if your Agni (digestive fire) is weak.
These foods tend to increase Kapha and reduce digestive strength.
If you often feel bloated or sleepy after meals, you’ve likely eaten too many heavy foods for your current digestive capacity.
Let’s look at some examples of heaviness across food groups:
Dairy is predominantly earth + water, hence heavy and Kapha-increasing.
Lentils generally contain air and earth elements.
All meats contain earth and water, giving them grounding and strengthening qualities — but they vary in heaviness.
All spices carry the qualities of fire and air, which stimulate digestion but can also increase Pitta if overused.
Fenugreek, carom (ajwain), and mustard are particularly fiery and should be used mindfully by those prone to acidity or heat.
Nuts contain both earth and fire elements. The earth element makes them heavy and nourishing but can also increase Kapha, leading to weight gain if eaten in excess. But because of the heavy hot qualities, they balance vata.
Almonds have a stronger fire element, in some people, too many can cause heat-related issues like pimples or skin rashes.
Cashews and peanuts have more earth element, making them heavier and more fattening, especially for those with sluggish digestion or Kapha dominance.
Pine nuts, walnuts and Pistachios – Contain slightly balanced earth and fire. However, they can also aggravate Pitta and kapha if eaten in large amounts.
Now, when Ayurveda says “eat heavy foods during the day (Pitta time)” and “light foods at breakfast and dinner,” you can actually decode what that means.
You don’t need a list of do’s and don’ts — you need understanding.
To create a balanced diet, all you need to do is complement the heaviness of one food with the lightness of another, or the cooling quality of one with the heating of another.
If you’re eating heavy beef, balance it with light grains like millet or quinoa and spices to help digestion.
If you’re eating rice, which is watery and Kapha-promoting, pair it with dry, airy vegetables like leafy greens or sprouts.
If your meal includes cold, slimy foods like yogurt or seafood, add warming spices like ginger, pepper, or mustard seed.
In the next blog, we’ll explore the six tastes in Ayurveda, which will further help you choose and pair foods intelligently.
This is how the 20 guṇas help you customize your meals intelligently — not through restriction, but through balance.
Simmi Chopra is a highly accomplished Ayurvedic Practitioner with a unique blend of expertise in traditional Ayurveda and modern science. Trained in the ancient healing system, she completed the prestigious Ayurveda Doctor program from Kerala Ayurveda. Based in New York City, Simmi practices at SIDH Ayur, where she offers personalized Ayurvedic therapies, dietary guidance, lifestyle recommendations, and herbal solutions to help clients achieve holistic balance.
