Constitution Quiz


A constitution is what tissue state you tend to have. Knowing yours can be helpful in identifying where you may be out of balance. It can also help you choose foods, herbs and supplements that support equilibrium. Answer the following questions to get percentage scores of your constitution.

Dry Signs

Do you experience dry mouth?


Do you get dry nose or dry sinuses?


Do you have dry skin and/or a dry scalp?


Are you nails dry, chipped, and/or brittle?


Are you often thirsty?


Do you often feel agitated?


Do you have scanty urinatation?



Damp/Moist Signs

Do you experience excessive moisture in your mouth?


Are your sinuses and nose moist?


Do you have a moist or oily skin/scalp?


Do you forget to drink water?


Are you laid back, less excitable/mellow?


Do you get bloated?


Do you experience nasal congestion?


Do you have slow or stagnant digestion?


Do you ever feel stagnant or congested in your pelvic area?



Cold Signs

Are you sensitive to cold?


Do you get cold hands or feet?


Do you have a white tongue coat?


Is your tongue pale?


Is your digestion sluggish?


Does your body temperature run low to normal?


Do you often feel cool/cold?


Do you need a sweater/jacket when others aren't wearing one?


Do you urinate frequently or in large amounts?


Is your pulse slow/deep?


Is your stool thin?


Do you prefer warm drinks over cold drinks?



Warm Signs

Are you sensitive to heat?


Do you get warm hands or feet?


Do you have a yellow coat on your tongue?


Do you have redness on your tongue?


Do you have a tendency toward agitation?


Do you have a warm core?


Does your body temperature run normal to high?


Do you usually run warm-hot?


Do you use very few covers at night?


Do you wear short sleeves when others are wearing jackets?


Is your urine dark yellow?


Do you have a rapid pulse?


Is your stool hard?


Do you enjoy cold drinks more than cold drinks?


Are you often thirsty?



Your results show how you can stay in balance. It is normal to run higher or lower in certain categories. With this information, you can learn to customize foods and herbs that will be most supportive. However, if you found yourself ranking high in most questions of a category, it is highly recommended to see a health professional.

About Constitutions

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Basic information about your score

These lists are based on traditional medicine philosophies including Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and Western Vitalism. Keep in mind that each person is unique and may experience foods and herbs differently. Listen to your body if you feel a food or herb affects your constitution differently than what is listed.



DRY
If your constitution tends towards dry, choose less drying foods and opt for more moistening foods. You can also balance dry foods with a higher ratio of moistening foods.


Drying Foods

  • Crunchy foods like biscuits, crisps, crackers
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Grains - bread, pasta, rice, oats, buckwheat, etc.
  • Beans, lentils and legumes
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Raw foods
  • Green tea
  • Cinnamon
  • Most dried spices
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Oregano


DAMP/MOIST
If your constitution tends towards damp/moist, choose less moistening foods and opt for more tonifying or drying foods. You can also balance moistening foods with a higher ratio of drying or tonifying foods.


Moistening Foods

  • Dairy
  • Gluten and wheat-containing foods - bread, pasta, pastries, etc.
  • High-water content fruits and vegetables like watermelon, pineapple and cucumber
  • Sugar and sweeteners
  • Eggs
  • Meat
  • Soy
  • Demulcent (slimy) foods - Okra, Flax, Chia, Aloe vera, etc.
  • Certain mushrooms
  • Oil
  • Water with electrolytes or minerals


COOL/COLD
If your constitution tends towards cool, choose less cooling foods and opt for more warming foods. You can also balance cooling foods with a higher ratio of warming foods.


Cooling Foods

  • Banana
  • Melons - watermelon, honeydew, canteloupe, musk melon, canary, etc.
  • Strawberries
  • Raw vegetables
  • Leafy vegetables
  • Cold drinks
  • Iced water
  • Peppermint tea
  • Turmeric
  • Bitter herbs & veggies - mustard greens, chicory, dandelion leaves, radicchio, endive, bitter melon, etc.


WARM/HOT
If your constitution tends towards warm, choose less heating foods and opt for more cooling foods. You can also balance hot foods with a higher ratio of cooling foods.


Warming Foods

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Black pepper
  • Peppers (all kinds)
  • Chilli
  • Cayenne
  • Coriander
  • Cumin
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger
  • Cinnamon
  • Hot sauces
  • Tomatoes
  • Mangoes
  • Oranges
  • Coffee
  • Caffeinated beverages
  • Energy drinks
  • Oils
  • Fried foods
  • Red meat


BALANCED
If your constituition tends towards to be fairly balanced, avoid excessive amounts of dry or moist foods and choose a balance of moistening and drying foods.


BOTH DRY AND DAMP/MOIST
If you are exhibiting both dry and damp/moist signs, this could indicate a medical condition where dryness and moisture exist in different areas of the body. It is recommended to see a health practitioner.


BOTH COOL AND WARM
If you are exhibiting both cool and warm signs, this could indicate a medical condition where cold and heat exist in different areas of the body. It is recommended to see a health practitioner.



Foods may affect you differently at different times
Environmental factors can also contribute to changes in your constitution. For example, ginger may be more heating in a warm than a humid climate. Eating seasonally and according to your environment can have a positive impact on constitution and overall health. Bringing awareness to how your mouth and body feel after eating is also a great way to connect to your food consumption intuition.



Vanessa Berenstein, MA RD FMN CCH

Clinical Herbalist

Registered Integrative Dietitian

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