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Popular Ayurveda ArticlesAutumn is a Vata season characterized by degeneration, the ending of things. By the end of October, there's no turning back - the late summer heat of September gives way to true cold. The cat who lay stretched out on your hardwood floor all summer sneaks... Kapha loves comfort and the good life. They love sweets and satisfying comfort foods like mashed potatoes. Some Kaphas love the creamy texture of pudding and ice cream, others love... Clear blue skies in August seem timeless and carefree, yet this month is a critical month to prepare your body for fall. The season seems to change with an August thunderstorm, rain and wind that is fantastic and quick. The storm is abruptly followed by... Vata individuals tend towards lightness and need more nurturing foods rich in sweet taste, oil, and salt. Other body types may be jealous of the delicious food recommended for a... What can you learn about your body from looking in the mirror? What clues to your health can you find on your tongue? Your tongue tells an incredibly detailed story about what's going on inside your body. It acts as a window into each organ of your body,... Ayurveda seems to exude a certain ease, as if it were second nature. In a complex world, there's something simple and very personal about Ayurveda's approach to healing. You might even wonder where this ease of Ayurveda comes from. The answer is... September evenings are full of stillness and the sound of crickets in the dry grass. Vegetation becomes sparse. Garden stems are leggy. Even the midday sun seems a bit darker. Evening coolness reminds us that although we wish summer could last forever,... What is Vata? Vata is characterized by using up too much energy or... What is Kapha? Kapha is characterized by growth of tissue. Hence it is anabolic.... Sunlight is steadily returning. A warm day or two could leave congestion and upper respiratory conditions in its wake. In the Spring, it's the warm days that make you sick. After fighting the cold all winter long, your body is unprepared for the sudden... Cooking in the winter is a delight. As you stand by the warm stove, its heat and aromas will fill your house. The winter chill is softened by this warmth. A cozy evening indoors is all the more appealing when Jack Frost nips at your nose. As you cuddle... Ayurveda offers you simple, practical ways manage your health. It can help you understand your body and how to prevent or minimize disease. Ayurveda helps you experience food, understand its effects on your body, and naturally crave and choose the foods... Introduction Acid reflux is often regarded as a minor annoyance, with approximately 20-30% of Americans experiencing symptoms... Have you caught 'Spring Fever'? By April spring fever is in full swing. You may have been hibernating indoors throughout March to avoid the tumultuous weather, but by the time April rolls around, the great outdoors is calling.... How exactly does the food you eat nourish your entire body? Ayurveda offers a unique understanding of this process. From the moment you eat a meal, the process of Ayurvedic nutrition takes a full 35 days to complete. At each step in the process a new... It's no surprise that a number of women suffer from gut problems during their menstrual cycle. From heaviness to gas, diarrhea to constipation, pre-PMS to PMS, women walk into our digestive clinic each week, baffled trying to sort out what to eat for... Kapha's digestion tends to be slow and sluggish, a condition called manda agni in Ayurveda. As a result, Kapha people tend to gain weight easily and store energy well. The dull, gooey nature of Kapha creates excess mucus in the stomach, which... What is Pitta? Pitta is easily overheated and has the qualities of a metabolic fire.... Forgiveness remains the first step to healing, even when it comes to the body. Sure, keep your eyes on the lofty goal of perfect health. But remember, the pathway to heaven is filled with mercy and compassion. Forgive your body for its shortcomings. It... Pitta people have a high metabolism characterized by heat and sharpness. They are intelligent and effective problem solvers. They are goal-oriented individuals and often successful in their pursuits. However, sometimes Pitta individuals are too... Why Cleanse? The primary goal of an Ayurvedic cleanse is to remove toxins (ama) from the body. Toxins clog your lymphatic system,... Here at Joyful Belly, we aren't shy about farts. In fact, we don't think... Spring - Mid-February - Mid May The spring is a watery season of warming temperatures. Snow melts making the rivers full and muddy. Warm temperatures encourage tender young sprouts and sweet sap to run in the vasculature of maple... Routine is Vata's best lifestyle remedy. The minimum routine for healthy, happy, and successful living is 1) eating your meals at the same time daily and 2) getting into and out of bed at the same time daily. Changes in these two areas disrupt your... Here are ten habits to improve digestion. Wait for the signs of true hunger. Eat the same time every day. The stomach likes to... Before ice-cream and other heavy sweets were invented, sweet foods were a natural energy boost between meals. The pick-me-up was a necessary complement to your diet between meals. So, people craved sweets when they were feeling tired. In modern times,... Introduction Milk has long been considered an effective home remedy for acid reflux, but does it really work? When the churning... April showers bring May flowers. This time of year, a whole host of bright new veggies come into season after a long winter of dull produce. Fresh artichokes, rhubarb, arugula, strawberries, beans, yellow corn, and asparagus all ripen in April and may... Ayurveda has a unique way of understanding digestion and nutrition. It focuses on your body's reaction to food rather than the nutrients it contains. By focusing on experience rather than content, Ayurveda helps you interpret the medicinal compatibility... Although our digestion can get used to some forbidden foods and combinations anything that aggravates doshas without expelling them is considered a bad food combination. Generally Vata has the most difficulty with poor food combining because they do not... Steeping Herbs Check your package for specific instructions on taking each herb. For most herbs, you will bring 1 cup of hot water to a boil on the stove. Place your herb in the bottom of a tea cup and pour the boiling water over... If you've recently been sick, you might remember wondering, "What is happening to me?" You know something is off, but can't quite describe it. You wish you could find some relief, but struggle even to find the words to explain how you are feeling.... Recipes, as tasty as they are, also serve as herb formulas in Ayurveda. Food is medicine. Ayurvedic practitioners are adept at crafting tasty formulas (recipes) for the benefit of their clients. After tasting one of these delicious creations, you may be... Routine meal times are essential for health. The mind loves freedom but the body loves stability. Digestion is demanding on resources. The body schedules blood to make sure enough is available for digestion. Eating off schedule not only... Disease sometimes gets you down. Whether you are overweight, allergic, or simply anxious, you might be fed up with suffering and annoyed by your aches and pains. You might think there is something wrong with you, that you're defective. You might feel... Introduction You've recovered from an eating disorder, so why is your digestion still so fragile? Eating disorder recovery is a long path, and it doesn't always end once you've overcome the destructive eating patterns. Even if... The Musical Fruit Beans could make your evening impolite. They are known as the "musical fruit" because they cause gas. A properly cooked bean, however, is easy to digest and less gaseous. Beans offer many nutritional and... Belly breathing is an easy and effective way to relax your mind, improve your digestion, and detoxify your body. You've probably heard the term before, but may be wondering - what is belly breathing, and what can it do for you? What... American breakfasts tend to resemble desserts. They are often sweet and rich in carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The romantic ideal of a hearty breakfast has led to popularity of the 'hungry-man breakfast' and 'mile high stack of pancakes.' These... The gut is home to 1/3 of your nervous system. The nerves of your gut, your gut instincts, protect your sense of security and self care. Anxiety & fear can disrupt your sense of security. An 'uh-oh' feeling in your gut leaves tension and contraction in... Ayurveda's Secret to Weight Loss Weight loss can seem like a constant fight against your own body. You can't trust your instincts, and may even feel like your own body betrayed you, leading you to weight problems. Fighting your... Break out the flip flops and tank tops! Summer is officially here. As the weather heats up and the sun shines ever brighter, summer festivities beckon constant fun. Gardens flourish, humidity rises, bugs abound and children are excited to be at play. ... Castor Oil has strong cleansing properties. Ayruveda uses castor oil internally and topically. Internally, it is a strong laxative used for seasonal cleansing. Food that sits too long in the digestive tract is a primary source of toxic waste products,... Each day, you have a choice. You get to decide what food will nourish your body. Diet choices have a significant influence on how you think, feel, look and act. More often than not, in the midst of modern life, these choices become one of convenience... The quiet solitude of January makes it a perfect month for deep thought, rest, and contemplation. The dark, introspective winter seems to bury all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, bringing the previous year to a complete rest. As the earth... To gluten or not to gluten? That's the question on everyone's mind these days. Wheat is the most commonly eaten grain in America. Consumption seems to cause problems for many - ranging from digestive problems to candida outbreaks, headaches and food... Life comes to full bloom in May just in time for Mother's Day. A tree in flower fills the air with a sweet perfume. Bright yellow and pink flowers seem to capture the very essence of new life. The entire atmosphere of May is buzzing and alive with the... By the miracle of digestion, food that you eat becomes transformed into your living human body. This profound assimilation of food has the power to change your very identity. The fact is, food becomes blood. Your body feeds this blood to your brain. The... How Much Fried Food Can you Handle? French fries & funnel cakes are a fun way to enjoy the local fair. Eat too much though, and you start to feel queasy. This is a sign you've hit your upper limit on fried foods. Uggh! The hot... Soups and sandwiches Soups are warm, soft, supportive, hydrating, and generally easy to digest. That's why a grandma cooks soup for her grandchildren when they are sick. Soups are made with love and are a symbol of grandma's... A common assumption is that Ayurveda is a vegetarian system. That is simply not the case. In Ayurveda, a little of anything is considered medicine and too much is considered poison. This rule stands for meat as well. In the ancient texts of Ayurveda,... The leaves have finally fallen, leaving trees bare and stark. Strong, cold winds make the outdoors look uninviting. A sense of loneliness sweeps the landscape, inspiring deep yearnings to gather with family and friends. Affection and time with loved ones... Watch the Video (Text Below) It's something you do every morning... Is Snacking Healthy? Your ancestors survived long periods without foods. While regular mealtimes are essential in Ayurveda, snacks are not. Fasting between meals encourages your body to digest fats, and rests your GI tract. It may... Next time you are hungry, this ancient technique will help you decide how much to eat: Place your two hands together and make the shape of a bowl or cup. Limit your portion size to this volume, approximately 2/3's the size of your stomach. Ideally, you'd... The mind is very powerful, and can twist or distort your natural food cravings. Knowledge can distract you from your body's wisdom. When it comes to eating, it's wise to remember that nurturing is not an intellectual activity. The brain is notorious for... When your circulation is poor your heart has to pump harder to move your blood. The result is high blood pressure. Your heart literally pushes through resistance in the blood vessels. Like swimming up river against a strong current, "pushing through" is... Bitters & Digestion Ayurveda suggests that a healthy gut will eliminate food six hours after eating it. The holy grail of six hour elimination exists today in indigenous societies with higher consumption of... After eating, blood rushes to the stomach to supply stomach glands with fluids. The food is mixed with acids and slowly turns into a sauce. About fifteen minutes after eating, the food if fully hydrated and blood flow to the stomach relaxes somewhat. To... A Season of Transition January is traditionally the coldest month of the year in North America. Ayurvedically, January is a month of transition from Vata to Kapha season. Vata season is characterized by the body scrambling to... Grains are seeds from the grass or buckwheat family. Grains are sweet and heavy, but are generally less oily than nuts & seeds. Autumn and winter are the best time of year for grain consumption. Since most grains are gooey, they should be minimized... Most people either brew their herbs in a drink, mix them into a syrup, or cook them into some other concoction. This practice not only makes the herb formula more tasty, it also enhances the medicinal effect. You can strengthen or soften a formula by... A food journal can make the difference between haphazardly jumping from... This category includes alcoholic beverages, pickles and other fermented foods like sauerkraut and yogurt. For many people fermentation and probiotics are the key to easier digestion and getting complete nutrition. Ferments helped humans survive cold... Have you ever met a person that seems to eat "whatever they want" - going out to eat at fancy restaurants, enjoying decadent desserts, eating foods that you deem "unhealthy" on a regular basis - but who still manages to enjoy good health? Often times, it... We all want to participate in a life full of love and happiness. But sometimes, love feels elusive and confusing. You may be concerned that love is missing from your life. Love may seem beyond your grasp, even if you are in a relationship with someone.... |
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