Abstract

DIETARY CONSIDERATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH KAPHA PRAKRITI: A CRITICAL REVIEW

Singh Akhilesh Kumar* and Dr. Darshana

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Abstract

Āyurveda, as a holistic system grounded in individualized constitutional care and elemental equilibrium, designates Kapha as the principal bioelement responsible for cohesion, lubrication, and immunological resilience within the organism. Characterized by its inherently stable, heavy, and unctuous qualities, Kapha fundamentally influences structural integrity and metabolic consistency, making it uniquely susceptible to dietary and environmental modulation. This article presents a critical examination of the complex interplay between Kaphaja disorders and nutritional factors, drawing upon authoritative classical texts such as the Ashtāṅga Hridaya and Charaka Saṃhitā. Through rigorous textual synthesis, the study delineates Kaphaprakopaka (aggravating) and Kapha-śāmaka (pacifying) dietary substances, analyzed via the framework of Rasa (taste), Guṇa (quality), Vīrya (potency), Vipāka (post-digestive transformation), and Prabhāva (specific action). Emphasizing the dynamic nature of Kapha within both physiological and psychosomatic domains, the research highlights the significance of thermogenic, light, and drying food attributes in mitigating Kapha exacerbation, while cautioning against the systemic stagnation provoked by heavy, cold, and oily dietary elements. The findings underscore the quintessential Āyurvedic principle of personalized nutrition—accounting for Prakṛti, Kāla, and Deśa—positioning diet not merely as sustenance but as a strategic therapeutic intervention integral to maintaining homeostasis and preventing Kapha-related pathologies. This investigation thereby contributes a sophisticated, integrative perspective on dietary management within Āyurveda, offering valuable insights for contemporary precision nutrition and lifestyle medicine frameworks.

Keywords: Kapha Doṣa, Kaphaja Vikāra, Āyurvedic Nutrition, Kapha-prakopaka Dravya, Kapha-śāmaka Dravya, Prakṛti-based Dietetics, Āhāra Cikitsā, Precision Nutrition, Lifestyle Medicine.