By Setareh Kiumarsi
Question: Why am I constantly depressed? Why do I feel so heavy and stuck? Why does my mind feel sluggish? Why don’t I have the energy or motivation to do anything? Why does everything feel like a mountain to climb? Why do I always want to sleep?
Answer: Depression runs in our family! My parents, grandparents—everyone has always been gloomy. And anyway, with today’s society and the lack of hope or future for the youth, isn’t depression inevitable?
Sure, environmental stressors and genetics play a role. But even in the same household, raised under the same circumstances, you can find two sisters—one full of life, hope, and drive to make her life beautiful, while the other is weighed down by hopelessness, sadness, and inaction. She doesn’t move and makes no effort to change.
So, what causes the mind to so easily sink into sadness, depression, inertia, heaviness, and slowness?
According to Ayurveda, when excess moisture (Kapha dosha) becomes imbalanced in the body, these emotional symptoms appear.
The Gut–The “Second Brain”
As discussed in earlier articles, the small intestine is often referred to as our second brain. It houses numerous receptors for brain hormones. When these receptors are active, the brain produces serotonin, filling us with joy, vitality, and hope.
But when the small intestine becomes clogged with excess moisture and undigested Kapha, it wraps itself around these receptors, shuts them down, and disrupts hormone production. The result? A heavy head, depression, sluggishness, inertia, and deep emotional stillness.
So What Can We Do?
Even if you’re genetically predisposed to depression or living in a gloomy environment, there are ways to avoid worsening the situation with the wrong food choices.
In the next articles, we’ll explore foods and habits that aggravate Kapha dosha and increase depression, as well as natural home remedies to support emotional balance.
What Foods Worsen Depression and Inertia?
As explained previously, when the digestive system (the second brain) is overwhelmed with excess dampness, Kapha imbalance occurs. This slows metabolism and diminishes digestive fire.
So if you’re experiencing these symptoms, you should avoid foods that are too moist and heavy. But which foods are those?
Refined Flour and Sugar
Did you know that foods like white bread, baguettes, flatbreads, pasta, lasagna, and pizza are all extremely sticky and Kapha-inducing? Industrial pastries and cakes? Even worse—with their mix of white flour, sugar, and cream.
You might ask, “But I feel good when I eat sugary stuff. Doesn’t it make me happy?” That’s because refined sugar spikes blood sugar, triggers insulin, and temporarily releases serotonin and dopamine. So yes, you feel happier—for a moment. But in the long run, these foods are moist, sticky, fattening, and they clog the digestive tract with Kapha, disrupting your brain hormone receptors.
Eventually, hormone production gets blocked, your head feels heavy, your thoughts slow down, and the risk of depression increases.
If You Have Kapha Imbalance…
Don’t over-consume wheat and wheat-based products. Opt for whole grain flours or gluten-free options. Choose whole grain bread or multigrain options over white flour breads. Skip industrial cakes and biscuits. Instead, bake at home using natural sweeteners and digestive spices like saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and rose petals.
(Check out recipes for gluten-free breads and natural sweets.)
Other Moisture-Heavy Foods to Avoid:
- Cheese, yogurt (especially with meat)
- Cream, ice cream
- Beef, veal, pork
- Fried foods, factory oils
- Fast food, processed and canned foods
- Instant meals
- Chocolate, chips, puffed snacks
- Large portions of rice (more than 5–6 tablespoons per meal)
- Mushrooms, very sour items (like pickles, fruit leathers, sour plums)
- Peanuts
Limit Animal Proteins
Eat small portions of meat—no more than half the size of your palm per meal. Even the strongest gut struggles to digest a large steak, leading to undigested Kapha and hormone receptor blockage.
Also Reduce Moist Fruits:
- Dates, figs, bananas, melons, grapes, cantaloupe, watermelon
These are nutritious and naturally sweet—much better than refined sugar—but they are still very moist, so excess consumption is not recommended if you have Kapha imbalance.
Don’t Overeat—Especially These Foods!
Always stop eating before you feel full.
So What Should You Eat to Reduce Moisture?
Stay tuned for the next article: Natural Home Remedies for Depression.
If you republish this post, which was written with care and in the hope of well-being for all, please credit the author “Setareh Kiumarsi.”
