How Can Adzuki Beans Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

These small, red beans are powerhouses of nutrition and bursting with zinc, magnesium, iron and potassium. Their high iron content replenishes the blood for those with iron deficiency anaemia. Adzuki beef stew is especially blood building for women after menstruation. Their slightly yang nature confers strength and builds energy, supporting efficient function of the kidney and reproductive system. While many beans cool your metabolism, Adzuki is more neutral, leaving a pleasant warm feeling in your gut.

High fiber cleanses the small intestine of toxicity as it leads to bulkier stools and a more satisfying elimination the next morning. The high fiber also reduces cholesterol. Meanwhile, adzuki is slightly diuretic, flushing and cleansing the urinary tract and kidneys of toxic heat. They also assist in clearing blood stagnation and reducing swelling.

Beans contain saponins in order to protect themselves from insects. However, these saponins inhibit protein digestion, resulting in stagnation and production of gas in the bowels - a whole lot of discomfort. The good news is that Adzuki beans are less "musical" as compared to other kinds of beans, so you can consume them safely without fear of public embarassment! Individuals who are blessed with a robust digestive system should be able to digest beans without gas formation.

ABOUT ADZUKI BEANS

Adzuki beans are known to have originated in China where they are used extensively in traditional medicine. They are a staple in the macrobiotic diet and very popular in Japan, second only to the soybean in terms of consumption and popularity.

BUYING & PREPARATION

Adzuki beans can be purchased dried, canned, powdered or in form of a paste. Traditional Ayurveda does not recommend consumption of canned foods. However, canned Adzuki beans are lighter on the system and easier to digest. Sprouted beans are even better in terms of ease in digestion.

COOKING ADZUKI BEANS

Browse Recipes Adzuki beans take less time to cook than other beans. However, the best way to cook dried Adzuki beans is by way of soaking them overnight. Drain the water, rinse the beans and add fresh water for cooking. Place on the stove and bring to a boil in a pot with a lid. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, keeping the lid slightly open. You can add a pinch of baking soda to soften the beans. Click here for more cooking tips.



Adzuki beans have a sweet, nutty flavor that makes them a popular ingredient in Asian dessert recipes. A common preparation is to boil Adzuki beans with sugar and mash them into a soft red bean paste, used as a filling in many desserts or pureed with coconut milk in adzuki ice-cream. Adzuki beans may also be fermented or sprouted for more savory preparations, and are often paired with seaweed (kombu) and fish in soups. The powder may be mixed into sticky rice preparations garnished with black sesame seeds.

WHY SHOULD YOU EAT AYURVEDICALLY?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Foods that supplement your specific body type’s needs and digest easily create your menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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Are Adzuki Beans Good for Me?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Adzuki Beans is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

MEDICINAL QUALITIES

INCREASES Increases These Qualities (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main characteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	DRY ABOUT DRY GUNA Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY GUNA Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	ASTRINGENT ABOUT ASTRINGENT GUNA Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types People tend to get sick, over and over again, due to similar causes and habitual imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	EFFECT: Sattvic SATTVIC Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness. LEARN MORE ABOUT SATTVIC , Acidifying ACIDIFYING An herb that creates an acidic pH in the blood chemistry. LEARN MORE ABOUT ACIDIFYING , Ojas OJAS Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness. LEARN MORE ABOUT OJAS TYPE: Beans Legumes ELEMENT: Earth EARTH Resembles earth (prithvi) in quality - heavy, dense, solid, stable, hard. LEARN MORE ABOUT EARTH SUBTASTE: Bland BLAND Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. LEARN MORE ABOUT BLAND NUTRIENT: Iron, Protein COLOR: Red NOURISHES: Muscle MUSCLE Muscle tissue (Mamsa Dhatu) includes muscles and ligaments. LEARN MORE ABOUT MUSCLE , Red Blood RED-BLOOD Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels. LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-BLOOD

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Energy Vitality Strength:

Satisfies stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

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Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

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Heart & Circulation:

Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body or otherwise strengthens blood. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

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Styptic

STYPTIC

A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used to stop bleeding.

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Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

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Find Your Symptom:

Dries mouth

DRIES-MOUTH

Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty.

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Strengthening-Tonics:

Muscle Tonic

MUSCLE-TONIC

Herbs that strengthen and tone muscle tissue. Helpful for people recovering from long term illness and debility, or after a sprain.

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Bowel-Poop-Elimination:

Constipative

CONSTIPATIVE

An herb that binds stools / stops diarrhea. When used in excess, these herbs and foods can cause constipation.

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High Fiber Laxative

HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE

A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The size of a stool stimulates peristalsis and the stool passes more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydrating.

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