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AYURVEDIC FOODS

BLUEBERRY

Health Benefits & Uses

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3 ratings, 580 likes

Customer Reviews

5.00 out of 5 stars

"Hi Daniel, 'pacify' is to reduce, 'aggravate' is to increase. Generally if we have too high Vata or Pitta, things that..."

- Katie Clinton, Ferndale, sligo, AL

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Blueberry: Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Pop a few blueberries in your mouth and you'll notice reduced agitation, a relaxing sensation in the eyes, and cool feeling in your skin. These visceral signs are your personal cue indicating blueberries' beneficial effect on your liver, and their cooling, pitta pacifying nature.

Brain Health

Like a cool breeze, or sitting in your favorite shade tree, this indigo hued pearl brings a restful reprieve to an overheated mind. It calms your thoughts, moves energy downward and inward, and encourages a more passive demeanor. Several studies extol blueberries nourishing effects on the brain that are consistent with its pitta pacifying nature. It has been shown to minimize age-related memory loss, have an anti-inflammatory effect on your nerves, and offer benefits in Alzheimers. According to James Joseph, PhD, leading scientist at the Laboratory of Neuroscience at Tufts University, "When it comes to brain protection, there is nothing quite like blueberries. Call the blueberry the brain berry."

Recipes with Blueberry: Blueberry Mint Green Smoothie

Liver Health

Blueberries (and berries in general) protect the liver. A diet rich in berries reduces liver enzymes by as much as 23 percent (Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010) . High liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase or ALT) are a sign of liver cell injury. Regular consumption of blueberries in particular also led to a reduction in liver size, indicating improved liver function (University of Michigan). Blueberries also reduce levels of inflammation in blood. Blue, red & purple berries are high in beta-carotene, which stimulates your liver.

Dark colored fruits are rich in flavonoids, which support blood vessels. Blueberries in particular support health eyes. They are very high in antioxidants, which prevent aging and cancer. Blueberries contain oxalic acid when eaten raw. Avoid overconsuming blueberries if you tend to get kidney stones.

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Is Blueberry Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Blueberry' 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.

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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.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c

SPECIES: Vaccinium Cyanococcus

FAMILY: Ericaceae

MEAL: BREAKFAST, SNACK-DESSERT

EAT IN: SUMMER

Biocharacteristics of Blueberry

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (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.

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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

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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SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and 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. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES	AGGRAVATES

HAS THE FOLLOWING

Tissue (dhatu):

Red Blood

RED-BLOOD

Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels.

SEE ALL 'RED-BLOOD' FOODS / HERBS

Affinity:
Heart Circulation Blood
Family:
Ericaceae

HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Blueberry
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.

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Antidepressant

ANTIDEPRESSANT

Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function.

SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

Brain Tonic

BRAIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the brain, thereby improves either mental function, stamina, or stability.

SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Improves Focus

IMPROVES-FOCUS

Reduces scattered thoughts. Creates a steady mind. Includes herbs that relax (for Vata) and herbs that stimulate (for Kapha).

SEE ALL 'IMPROVES-FOCUS' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

Anticarcinogenic

ANTICARCINOGENIC

Herbs that inhibit or prevent the activity of a carcinogen or the development of cancer.

SEE ALL 'ANTICARCINOGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

, Antihistamine,

Immune Calming

IMMUNE-CALMING

Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS

Heart & Circulation:

Antioxidant

STRONG ANTIOXIDANT

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions.

SEE ALL 'ANTIOXIDANT' FOODS / HERBS

Refrigerant

STRONG REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

Opthalmic

OPTHALMIC

Benefits the eyes, vision tonic.

SEE ALL 'OPTHALMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Blood Tonic

MILD BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:

Kidney Tonic

KIDNEY-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the kidneys.

SEE ALL 'KIDNEY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Urinary Tonic

URINARY-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection.

SEE ALL 'URINARY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

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

Other:

Immune System

Constituents:

Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS

Polyphenols

POLYPHENOLS

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.

SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS

Resveratrol

RESVERATROL

Antioxidant frequently used for anti-aging. Protects airways and blood vessels. Anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic.

SEE ALL 'RESVERATROL' FOODS / HERBS

, Soluble Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K

Foods with a Similar Nature to Blueberry

Cranberry

Cranberry has these Actions in Common

Improves-focus, Refrigerant, Alterative, Antihistamine, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune-calming, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antidepressant, Blood-thinner

LEARN MORE

Acai

Acai has these Actions in Common

Anticarcinogenic, Brain-tonic, Nutritive, Alterative, Antidepressant, Improves-focus, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Livotonic

LEARN MORE

Pomegranate

Pomegranate has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Opthalmic, Antioxidant, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Grape

Grape has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Immune-calming, Opthalmic, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Brain-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Cherry

Cherry has these Actions in Common

Anticarcinogenic, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Antidepressant, Improves-focus, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Livotonic

LEARN MORE

Strawberries

Strawberries has these Actions in Common

Improves-focus, Alterative, Antioxidant, Kidney-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Livotonic, Anticarcinogenic

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Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Anticarcinogenic, Blood-tonic, Alterative, Antioxidant, Immune-calming, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Watermelon

Watermelon has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Antioxidant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Blood-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Carrot

Carrot has these Actions in Common

Opthalmic, Anticarcinogenic, Livotonic, Antioxidant, Nutritive, Alterative, Blood-tonic

LEARN MORE

Hibiscus

Hibiscus has these Actions in Common

Anticarcinogenic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antioxidant, Opthalmic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Blueberry

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Alterative, Opthalmic, Anti-inflammatory, Refrigerant, Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Improves-focus, Lowers-blood-sugar

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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Urinary-tonic, Anticarcinogenic, Antidepressant

LEARN MORE

Brahmi - Gotu Kola

Brahmi - Gotu Kola has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Improves-focus, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant

LEARN MORE

Ginkgo

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Blood-thinner, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Kidney-tonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Urinary-tonic

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Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Anticarcinogenic, Immune-calming, Livotonic

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Licorice Ghee (9oz)

Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Anticarcinogenic, Immune-calming, Livotonic

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Hawthorne Berry & Flower

Hawthorne Berry & Flower has these Actions in Common

Immune-calming, Improves-focus, Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Blood-thinner

LEARN MORE

Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Immune-calming, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Ginseng, Chinese

Ginseng, Chinese has these Actions in Common

Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Improves-focus, Nutritive, Antidepressant, Antihistamine

LEARN MORE

Bhringaraj

Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

Livotonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Opthalmic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Immune-calming

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Impact of Blueberry

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.