It’s associated with fire and heat, and those who are pitta-dominant are often sharp-witted, competitive, and highly focused. They are intelligent and outspoken, making them good leaders, speakers, and teachers. They tend to be linear, straightforward thinkers who are goal-oriented. Physically, they have angular features, bright eyes, and moderate body weight. Those who have too much pitta may be prone to issues like acne, skin rashes, heartburn, and indigestion. Pitta imbalances can also present emotionally: Being overcritical of yourself and others, overthinking and overanalyzing situations, feeling restless, and having a short temper are all indicators of a potential pitta imbalance. Don’t overschedule yourself, and take care to build rest into your schedule. Make a point to spend time in nature and keep fresh flowers and plants in your home and at work. Surround yourself with soothing colors and opt for sweet, cooling fragrances like rose, mint, jasmine, and chamomile. A daily massage can also be helpful for calming elevated pitta. Keep your digestive system humming with three square meals a day, minimal snacking, and a consistent eating schedule. And whenever possible, minimize distractions while you eat. “Processed foods and leftovers are thought to lack vital energy and can have ingredients that aggravate all doshas, so they are to be avoided,” says Stanton. Eating for your dosha can go a long way toward keeping you feeling great, but keep in mind that this kind of intentional eating is more a practice and less a list of hard-and-fast rules. Be sure to talk to your physician before drastically changing your diet or starting a new supplement routine. Follow any intense training with a lengthy cool-down, stretch, and meditation. To avoid getting overheated, plan your workouts for cooler parts of the day. And schedule in those rest days! Focused, driven pittas tend to overlook them, but they’ll benefit from the downtime.
