College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC FOODS

Beet Greens Benefits (According to Ayurveda)


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How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Beet Greens: Beet Greens with Cumin & Garlic
Recipes with Beet Greens: Beet Greens with Cumin & Garlic
Beet greens are bitter, astringent and heating. They stimulate peristalsis, getting things moving in the gut. Generally, beet greens have a laxative effect and soften stool, except in Vata individuals where the diuretic and astringent effect can causes mild constipation.

The leaves have a bitter irritating quality but impart a feeling of lightness.

This stimulation is welcome inspiration to stagnant Kaphas but can be unsettling for Vata and irritate Pitta.

The bitter taste acts as a cholagogue, cleansing the liver by draining bile. This can be felt as a spasm or release from the gall bladder, in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Altogether the bitterness, diuretic and cholagogue nature has a lightening effect on the body.

The sourness of beet greens liquefies mucus in the upper respiratory tract.

Eaten raw, beet greens aggravate Vata and Pitta due to their high content of oxalic acid. Moderate consumption when using beet greens in vegetable juice concoctions. The oxalic acid is a kidney irritant but is destroyed by cooking.

About Beet Greens

The astringency of the beet can cause a fuzzy feeling on the teeth.

Cooking Beet Greens

Sauteeing in oil offsets some of the dryness and astringency of beet greens.

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Are Beet Greens Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Beet Greens' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Metabolic Nature of Beet Greens

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

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?

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BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Outward

OUTWARD

Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating.

SEE ALL 'OUTWARD' FOODS / HERBS

,
Upward

UPWARD

Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating, or that move upward in the body.

SEE ALL 'UPWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse And Detox,
Energy Vitality

ENERGY-VITALITY

Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha.

SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS

, Weight Loss

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Beet Greens
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Stimulates Peristalsis

STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS

An herb that promotes involuntary smooth muscle contractions to facilitate the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS' FOODS / HERBS

General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Irritates Kidney

IRRITATES-KIDNEY

Tight, sharp pain just below ribs in the back.

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-KIDNEY' FOODS / HERBS

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Calcium

CALCIUM

Calcium nourishes bones and muscles. A muscle cell is activated when calcium enters the cell. It relaxes when the calcium is secreted.

SEE ALL 'CALCIUM' FOODS / HERBS

,
Magnesium

MAGNESIUM

Helps muscles relax. Laxative.

SEE ALL 'MAGNESIUM' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K

Foods with a Similar Nature to Beet Greens

  • Dandelion Leaves

    Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, General-laxative, Stimulates-peristalsis, Cholagogue, Irritates-kidney

    LEARN MORE

  • Artichoke

    Artichoke has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Stimulates-peristalsis

    LEARN MORE

  • Artichoke Hearts

    Artichoke Hearts has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic, Stimulates-peristalsis, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Radish (raw)

    Radish (raw) has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, General-laxative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Red Leaf Lettuce

    Red Leaf Lettuce has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Stimulates-peristalsis, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Greens

    Mustard Greens has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Stimulates-peristalsis, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Burdock Root (Gobo)

    Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Coffee

    Coffee has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, General-laxative, Cholagogue, Stimulates-peristalsis

    LEARN MORE

  • Chard

    Chard has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-peristalsis, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Radicchio

    Radicchio has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Beet Greens

  • Yellow Dock

    Yellow Dock has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Triphala Guggulu

    Triphala Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Guduchi

    Guduchi has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Chandraprabha Vati

    Chandraprabha Vati has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Bhumyamalaki

    Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Root

    Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Neem Leaf

    Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Goldenseal

    Goldenseal has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, General-laxative

    LEARN MORE

  • Bhringaraj

    Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Bilva

    Bilva has these Actions in Common

    General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Beet Greens may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Beet Greens may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Beet Greens. Please see your health care provider for more information.

View other ingredients
for Spring

Beet Greens is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.
VIEW ALL SPRING FOODS MORE FOODS FOR KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

HOW DOES EATING AYURVEDICALLY MAKE YOU FEEL?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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