Ayurveda and Pomegranates

Lissa Coffey

Pomegranates are hailed as a kind of wonder fruit - and this is something Ayurveda has been aware of for centuries.

According to Ayurveda, India's 5,000-year-old science of life, everyone has a unique mix of three mind and body principles called doshas, which create your specific mental and physical characteristics. Most of us have one or two doshas that are most lively in our nature.

The three doshas are known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each person is born with a unique combination of each of these three doshas, which make up your mind and body type. The goal is to find your particular mind and body type and keep it in balance through diet, exercise and lifestyle.

Pomegranates are perfect for maintaining balance. The Sanskrit name for the pomegranate is dadima. The main taste is considered to be astringent, but it also may contain the taste of sweet, sour and bitter. While the pomegranate is excellent for improving digestion, the beauty is that it doesn't increase Pitta.

Pitta dosha leads us to crave moderation and purity. We rely on Pitta to regulate our intake of food, water and air. Any toxins, such as alcohol or tobacco, show up as a Pitta imbalance. Toxic emotions such as jealousy, intolerance and hatred also should be avoided to keep Pitta in balance for optimum health.

Best of all, the pomegranate is an aphrodisiac. Ayurveda says that it is a remedy for impotence - eat one pomegranate every night for 14 nights and you're good to go. They're also great for helping to overcome nausea.

Here's a simple and healthy recipe for pomegranate salad.

Pomegranate Salad

• 1/2 cup garbanzo beans
• All the seeds from 1 fresh pomegranate
• 2 cups watercress leaves (heat in a skillet to wilt)
• 1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted

Toss all ingredients with a dressing of lemon juice, olive oil and a little sea salt.

Lissa Coffey is a relationship expert and the author of What's Your Dosha, Baby?  Discover the Vedic Way for Compatibility in Life and Love. Take a free quiz to determine your dosha or Ayurvedic mind/body type at www.whatsyourdosha.com.