Earth Types

as you recall, was a fifty-year-old woman who had spent a lifetime struggling with both weight and depression. She had benefited from a number of the diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes that I ve described in Step One. But it was the Ayurvedic Mind-Body approach that really inspired her. 

Cindy liked the earth-inspired images of Ayurveda more than the medical terminology or the psychological language that she d encountered from her previous physicians and psychiatrists. I feel that we re talking about all of me, she told me once. I m not just this problem or that problem—I m a whole package.  

In Western terms, kapha imbalance bears a remarkable resemblance to depression caused by a norepinephrine/dopamine deficiency. Both have similar symptoms depressed mood, low energy, a tendency to sleep more. 

Because kapha imbalances take so long to develop, it can be difficult to see them clearly. Here are some of the factors that often create kapha imbalance  

I always suggest to my patients that they begin with the simplest solutions. So if you re a kapha type or a kapha combination and you re feel- 

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Cert et al. (1994) reported that bleaching caused the formation of the highest levels of stigmasta-3,5-diene and that bleaching temperature and earth type had an effect on sterol dehydration. These authors also reported that heating olive oil... 

Earth-Type Materials—Mineral Phases, Flint, Obsidian, Pottery, Clay... 

The Adrift or Denial Type People who are prone to low dopa/norepi levels and sluggish depression —what Mind-Body medicine calls Earth types—are likely to react to stress with confusion. These are Denial types who feel frequently adrift. If you re a Denial type, you ll notice that difficult situations often inspire you to turn off, numb out, or freeze, seemingly without emotions or opinions. Awareness is your route to joy, waking up to life s many possibilities and to your own vital nature. 

Your Brain-Healthy Kapha Diet How Earth Types Need to Eat... 

Reduce or avoid sweets. Many of my kapha patients have told me that they seem to gain weight easily even when they don t eat much. They may be getting too many sweets and starchy foods, consuming processed sugar and refined carbohydrates. Earth types seem poorly equipped to handle these substances, which their body easily stores as fat. 

Go for lots of variety in your diet. Remember, in pretty much every area of life. Earth types have to be careful about not getting into a rut. Remind yourself that variety is literally the spice of life by including in your diet a wide range of tastes, textures, food groups—and spices. 

Because of their constitution. Earth types may undertake a longer fast than the other types, going without food for up to a week. However, I would recommend undertaking any fast of more than two days under appropriate supervision only. For either shorter or longer juice fasts, apple and cranberry are good choices. 

Dry saunas are particularly useful for Earth types. You can take one any time of year, but you ll appreciate them most from winter through early spring, when they can help you lose some of the kapha moisture that weighs on your body and spirit. I also recommend saunas during your detox month at least a few times per week, or up to twenty to thirty minutes once or twice a day if you ve got easy access to a sauna. 

Earth types can be strong and athletic, especially when young. But their tendency to become sedentary and gain weight as adults makes exercise of utmost importance for staying in balance. 

Earth types also have the most to gain from regular exercise. For them, exercise should be vigorous, requiring them to push themselves and go a bit beyond their comfort zone. Of course they should make sure to take precautions to avoid injury, although they are the most... 

Here s how Earth types might best arrange their days and nights ... 

As Cindy had discovered, kapha is aggravated in winter, when the world seems cold and dark. Early spring—cool and damp—can also aggravate Earth types, as can any cool, damp weather. 

Your Brain-Healthy Kapha Routine Daily Life for Earth Types... 

What works best for Earth types is variety within routine. Earth types should also make a point of finding people and activities that interest and stimulate them. Just as the clogged and muddy stream needs fresh water to keep the energy flowing, so do kapha people need friends, teachers, colleagues, and activities to inspire them to keep moving. 

Simple pleasures for Earth types include a brisk walk alone or, better yet, with a walking partner. Get outside and enjoy nature, particularly if you can seek warmth and the sun. 

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