If you are a vata (thin and lanky, with cold hands and feet, constipation, dry skin, eat and sleep irregular, tend toward irregular digestion, lose weight when stressed, enjoy warm, humid weather, have insomnia and low immunity) with a pita child, you are probably having a hard time figuring him/her out. Pitta types are dominated by the fire element, which makes them innately strong, intense, and irritable. They tend to have a medium build and endurance with powerful musculature. They are strong willed and good at doing what they think is right. They approach work and play with the same intensity and competitiveness. They are natural leaders and quick learners. They have strong digestion and intense appetites, both for food and challenges. If they miss a meal they are likely to become grumpy and may take a "bite" out of somebody instead.. For balance, pittas need to manage their "fiery" tendencies, channeling them in productive ways and learning to recognize their destructive power.
The food we eat has a direct result on our health and our emotional life. In today's modern world, we rarely make time to eat mindfully. Often, we eat on the go, in cars or at our desks for the five minutes we can spare. But when we eat without noticing our food, we miss one of life's greatest pleasures and we allow that which should nourish us to become that which causes us stress. I know this life is busy, but you must watch what and when you feed your pitta child. You must take time for regular meals, making lunch the biggest meal of the day, digestion is at its greatest from 10:00-2:00. The Pitta is the fire element, it is naturally strong with high agni (fire), which demands fuel; if the digestive fire isn’t fed regularly, it overheats. Acids and enzymes then concentrate, disrupting normal digestion and contributing to the formation of ama, a toxic byproduct that can cause faulty digestion and clog body channels causing weight gain. Also, to much pitta can cause aggressive behavior, and "hot" emotional reactions such as anger, irritability, frustration, and hatred. To keep pitta from firing up too much, especially during hot months, begin fostering "coolness" in every sense of the word: slow down, chill out, swim, and eat cooling, sweet foods.
Cooling foods are, meat, fresh produce (except sour), and dairy products, ice cream is a great treat for a pitta that is raging, the cold dairy will bring the pitta quickly back into balance. When I talk about food I mean organic, or homemade, not processed food. The processed food with all its hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and preservatives, will put the pitta or any dosha, for that matter, out of balance.
If you give your pitt loved one an apple or banana, for a snack, this is not going to do the trick, unless you follow it quickly with a protein. The protein burns like a log on the fire, slow and long. The carbs burn like kindlen fast and furious. Therefore a starving pitta has burned through that banana before he takes the last bite! And now he is on the prowl for something more satisfying.
To keep your pitta child from crashing give him a protein snack between meals, boiled eggs or string cheese, (please stay away from those yogurts for kids). Most times pittas can’t tell they are hungry, by the time they realize they are hungry it’s too late, you will know it is too late by their meanness, mid meal snacks will also keep them from gaining weight, I know it sounds crazy, but when a pitta is starving they can clean out a fridge in a moment, the mid meal snack will keep him from getting to that ravaging moment, and he will eat less at meal time..
This is not just for children. I am a pitta. I grew up with the nickname ornery. My husband, and my 6 daughters, who are all vata’s, now with children or their own, also thought I was ornery before I started studying Ayurveda. Now they understand not just me, but their own children as well. They remind me to take my snacks when we are going places, and they, especially my husband, know how uncomfortable it is for me to be hungry, not just physically, but emotionally, and mentally as well. I don’t like that out of control feeling, embarrassing myself in front of others, and seeming like I can’t get a grip. I can’t!! Just feed me, it is that easy!!
Nancy Adams Certified Thai Yoga Therapist
Certified Yoga Instructor
and Ayurveda Consultant
These are my own thoughts. I sometimes take writings from others to support my own ideas.
