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A fantastick book my wife got into several years ago and I have also gotten into more recently is call The 3-Season Diet. The premise is that their are three food seasons. Your body works better if you align what you eat to these seasons because a. genetics and evolution are at play and b. because if you eat based on the seaon you are eating the foods that are the freshest for that period of time. Things also coincide with the cold of winter, the cleansing part of spring and the summer months when you slowy get ready for winter again.

Amazon link:
Here is a reader review:

"As a person interested in nutrition and holistic approaches to health, I read and used concepts from this book and in my opinion it deserves a five start rating! The techniques the author presents work, and the plan is really easy to do. I lost weight and felt better incorporating the "large mid day meal" concept and it works well for my busy household to eat more lightly in the evening, not to mention my digestion. Sometimes I just have to depart from the "seasonal" concept of which foods to select (gotta have that almond butter!), but overall it makes good sense to eat what is in season...it is always fresher and tastier! His recommendations on arising earlier in the morning and going to sleep earlier at night are also solid basics to regain and keep ones health. This book is a definite keeper! "

And another from an athlete:

"The 3-Season Diet is very informative. It helps me on game days, when I need energy most. This book is a winner."
-- Kendall Gill, team captain, the New Jersey Nets

Here is another site that gets into more specifics:

Natural Health Ayurved and Diet by Gary Scott

Here is some from that site that is worth reading to get a better overall understanding:

For 50 years there has been a debate over high-protein, low-fat, and highcarbohydrate
diets that has confused the American people. Each diet is backed by convincing scientific research indicating that it is the best and only way to lose weight. But how can they all be right?

The answer is astonishingly simple. Auyrved says that each one is right, but for only four months of the year! The secret to making these diets work together for a lifetime is to use each one in the appropriate season as designed by nature: low fat in the spring, high carbohydrates in the summer, and high protein (fat) in the winter.

Spring is wet and heavy and aggravates kapha. Autumn and winter being dry and brittle aggravate vatta and the hot summers aggravate pitta. This is why you see outbreaks in crimes of passion during hot summer city days.

For example in spring we should maintain our health by eating to pacify wet, humid weather.

The humidity weakens the digestion. We need to especially practice moderation in spring and eat more pungent foods.

Some of the best foods to eat at this time of year include: apples, blueberries, dried fruits, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pears, sprouts, peppers, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, chicory, chile, corn, fennel, garlic, kale, lettuce, onion, spinach, radishes, turnips, lentil and mung beans.

When summer arrives our diets should change. During the fiery dog days we should take additional care to live and eat in a way that stops a build up of fire (pitta-heat). One way is to reduce the intake of spicy and sour foods. Eat more astringent (lettuce, celery, spinach, asparagus, green beans, etc.) and bitter (lentils) foods.


When autumn and winter come we want to reduce vatta and should eat warm, oily, dense and heavy foods. Winter foods should be cooked and eaten in a peaceful environment avoiding all kinds of stimulations.

Autumn and winter are times for food that is sweet, sour or salty in taste.

Winter foods may include most fresh fruits, pasta, rice, dairy products, avocado, sweet foods and lots of fluids (especially warm drinks). Salads should have a creamy or oily dressing.

This is a time to eat more mung beans, soya beans in tofu, milk and cheese as you eat less kidney, lima, navy, pinto, split peas, white beans and black beans.

Have more warm drinks, herbal or spiced teas, warm milk, fruit and vegetable juice without ice. Reduce carbonated drinks, cold or iced drinks, coffee, tea, alcohol. Eat more dairy except powdered milk and ice cream.

Increase apricots, banana, cherries, fresh figs, peaches, citrus fruits, dates, mango, papaya, grapes, berries, pineapple, plums and reduce dried fruits, apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, prunes, melons.

Rice, oats, wheat, pasta are good as you reduce barley, buckwheat, rye, corn, millet, rice cakes, puffed or dry cereals.

The spices one should increase include asafoetidea, basil, caraway, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, clove, coriander, sage, cumin, fennel, garlic, ginger, onion, nutmeg, turmeric.

Reduce coriander seeds, fenugreek, parsley.

Eat more nuts in moderation, especially sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Reduce dry roasted or smoked nuts.

Eat more oils, especially sesame, but reduce corn oil.

Have more heavy veggies such as avocado, asparagus, beets, carrots, eggplant, leeks, olives, pumpkin, radish, sweet potato, spinach and zucchini.

Reduce raw or frozen vegetables, peas, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, corn, celery, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes.

How to Tell Body Type

There are three body types and Ayurved suggests that we should eat both to our body type and especially to help correct imbalances.

Vatta

Vatta relates to movement such as blood flow, elimination, breathing and thoughts.

Some common characteristics of people with Vatta constitution include creativity, mental quickness, imaginative, quick to learn and grasp new knowledge, but also quick to forget, sexually easily excitable but quickly satiated, slender, light, talk and walk quickly, tendency toward cold hands and feet, discomfort in cold climates, lively, fun personality, changeable moods, irregular daily routine and variable appetite and digestive efficiency.

Typical health problems include headaches, hypertension, dry coughs, sore throats, earaches, anxiety, irregular heart rhythms, muscle spasms, lower back pain, constipation, abdominal gas, diarrhea, nervous stomach, menstrual cramps, premature ejaculation and other sexual dys-functions, arthritis. Most neurological disorders are related to vatta imbalance.

Pitta

Pitta represent transformation such as digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, body temperature, skin color, vision, hearing and all the other senses.

Common characteristics of Pitta body types include: Medium physique, strong, wellbuilt, clear mind, good concentration powers, orderly, focused, assertive, selfconfident, and entrepreneurial.

They are competitive, enjoy challenges, passionate and romantic; sexually have more vigor and endurance than Vatas, but less than Kaphas. They enjoy strong digestion, strong appetite; get irritated if they have to miss or wait for a meal and like to be in command. Pittas are most easily irritated

Physiologically, these people have a strong metabolism, good digestion and resulting strong appetites. The person of pitta constitution usually takes large quantities of food and liquid. Pitta types have a natural craving for sweet, bitter and astringent tastes and enjoy cold drinks. Their sleep is of medium duration but uninterrupted.

They produce a large volume of urine and the feces are yellowish, liquid, soft and plentiful. There is a tendency toward excessive perspiring. The body temperature may run slightly high and hands and feet will tend to be warm. Pitta people do not tolerate sunlight, heat or hard work well.

Kapha

Kapha represents structure and lubrication. Kaphas have great biological strength and natural tissue resistance in the body. Kapha lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in the body; gives vigor and stability; supports memory retention; gives energy to the heart and lungs, and maintains immunity. Kapha is present in the chest, throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm, plasma, and in the liquid secretions of the body such as mucus.

Common characteristics of people who have a predominantly Kapha constitution include easygoing, relaxed, slow-paced attitude, affection, forgiveness, compassion, nonjudgmental nature, stable reliable and faithful. Kaphas are physically strong with sturdy, heavier builds. They have the most energy of all constitutions, but it is steady and enduring, not explosive.

Physical problems include colds and congestion, sinus headaches, respiratory problems including asthma and wheezing, hay fever, allergies, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Foods

Some excellent websites that describe and help you determine your body types and show food groups include:

Knowing your Ayurvedic body type

What body type are you a Vata Pitta or Kapha

Ayurvedic Body Type Quiz for Health

Basic Principles Of Ayurveda

John Douillard’s book, “3 Season Diet” covers this nutritional science in great detail.

The 3-Season Diet shows how to align our desires with the foods that nature has provided in season for thousands of years. In the winter we naturally crave soups, nuts, warm grains, and other high fat and protein foods such as meat and fish. In the spring we want salads, berries, and leafy greens a naturally low-fat diet. And in the summer when the days are long and hot we require cooling and high energy foods such as fruits and vegetables which are a naturally available high carbohydrate diet.

Of course we are used to four seasons, but in nature one season is typically dormant - a resting season. There are really 3 primary harvests, a spring, summer and fall harvest (that is typically eaten in the winter), thus The 3-Season Diet. In The 3-Season Diet we have classified foods from around the world into winter, summer and spring so you can eat with the seasons but still eat like a King.

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