How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Coffee as a Sacrament

What are your rituals around coffee? Coffee has become a sacrament in our culture. A client reports, "The only time my husband and I relax together is over coffee." My response, "If your marriage is dependent on coffee, you might be addicted."

Coffee surpasses tea as the number one consumed drug. It contains high amounts of caffeine, which stimulates the adrenals to release stress hormones. These stress hormones overstimulate the mind, and numb the heart. New trades routes brought caffeine to Europe in the 1500s, stimulating the 'Age of Enlightenment' and ending the middle ages. Before that time, the center of the mind was the heart. Since Enlightenment, the center of the mind is the brain. Perhaps the shift is due to caffeine consumption? Ayurveda comes from an older time where the mind was not separate from feelings and science was not separate from spirituality.

Native Meso-Americans drank coffee, ate chocolate and smoked tobacco as medicinal herbs, sacraments and in shamanic ceremony, a practice that continues to this day. However, many non-native Americans consume these substances daily, without the adequate knowledge of their potency or effects on the nervous system.

A Love Affair with Coffee

Can you remember what black coffee tasted like as a child? Most kids reject coffee. How have your taste buds changed? That may help you break the habit. Many of my clients drink coffee because the "like the taste," However, of all their coveted foods, usually coffee is the only food they drink daily.

Although we think we like coffee because of the taste, it's possible that the body learns to like coffee without our conscious participation because of its effect on our metabolism. Coffee offers the false promise of energy and vitality, and reorients all of our sense organs toward it. Vitality is the one substance all life forms crave.

However, all that glitters is not gold. The human body was not built for the break-neck pace of our lives in industrialized society. Covering up these uncomfortable life choices with coffee prevents growth & healing. As a general rule of thumb, in Ayurveda we never take an herb for more than 3 months in a row. Coffee, one of nature's most powerful herbs, is no exception.

Many people drink coffee when they are tired in the morning or at 3pm. People with aggravated Kapha dosha feel sluggish in the morning and need a 'pick-me-up'. If you have aggravated Kapha, avoiding heavy, oily, or sweet foods at night will bring a more authentic and vital 'pep to your step' the next morning. In the morning, wash your face with cold water, drink a hot cup of ginger tea, and practice a fifteen minute exercise routine to revive circulation.

If your adrenal glands are exhausted, you'll crave coffee most at 3pm. Unfortunately, the energy boost you receive after drinking coffee depletes the adrenals even further. This process is much like whipping a tired horse. Coffee is akin to a metabolic credit card. Sooner or later, you have to repay the debt. Ultimately, coffee increases exhaustion, anxiousness and fear, especially in Vata individuals who tend to have dry endocrine glands. Coffee over-stimulates the adrenals depleting them of fluids and creating more dryness. Licorice root in a warm glass or water nourishes the kidneys. Vata may combat tired afternoons with a homemade version of Gatorade(tm). Squeeze a wedge of lime and a pinch of salt into warm water.

Breaking the Coffee Addiction

Coffee has a heavy, hearty, oily quality that is more satisfying than a simple herbal tea with water. To wean yourself from coffee, instead try herbal teas with almond milk. Rice and oat milk work as well. Reduce your coffee consumption in half each month, replacing it with one of these, or your own favorite substitute. Spices such as ginger will provide more balanced stimulation during the process.

• Almond Milk Chai
• Almonds Milk with Mint & Fennel
• Ayurvedic Roast

Vata and Pitta individuals can tolerate 1 or 2 cups of coffee a month, for leisure only, and never when exhausted or tired. Kapha individuals can tolerate 1-2 cups of coffee a week.

Coffee and Reproductive Organs

Coffee affects hormones. Post or peri-menopausal women should not drink coffee because it targets the reproductive organs. Non organic coffee is worse because it carries pesticides directly to reproductive tissue. Coffee irritates the lining of the digestive tract and should be avoided by people with digestive problems. It has a laxative effect. One study reports that coffee is linked to reduced breast size.

Withdrawal symptoms of coffee include constipation, headaches, and irritability. Since the body quickly habituates itself to coffee within several days, chronic caffeine consumption simply brings our energy levels back to normal, preventing a much needed crash.

WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?

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. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic 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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Is Coffee Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

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

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL BIOCHARACTERISTICS

What is the biocharacteristic theory of medicine?

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. Learn More	MOBILE ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity. LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Liquid is identified by thin fluids (low viscosity). LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED TOXIC ABOUT TOXIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body. LEARN MORE ABOUT TOXIC
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	BITTER ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC Bitter is disagreeable and stimulating rejection, and a strong taste often associated with black coffee, dark chocolate, and most salad greens. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER
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. 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: Acidifying ACIDIFYING An herb that creates an acidic pH in the blood chemistry. LEARN MORE ABOUT ACIDIFYING , Rajasic RAJASIC Rajasic foods stimulate desire or nervous energy. Red meat, high protein food, garlic and onions stimulate desire. Rajasic foods include chili peppers, coffee, and anything that stimulates movement. LEARN MORE ABOUT RAJASIC TYPE: Ferments ELEMENT: Air AIR Resembles air (vayu) in quality - highly mobile, drying, light, cold, subtle, rough. LEARN MORE ABOUT AIR , Fire FIRE Resembles fire (tejas) in quality - hot, sharp, penetrating, light, dry. LEARN MORE ABOUT FIRE SUBTASTE: Aromatic AROMATIC Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues. LEARN MORE ABOUT AROMATIC NUTRIENT: Antioxidant COLOR: Brown MOVES ENERGY: Outward OUTWARD Outward-moving substances stimulate circulation, push heat towards the skin, or are stimulating. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUTWARD , Upward UPWARD Upward-moving substances (Urdvha Gati Marga) include anything stimulating or activating. LEARN MORE ABOUT UPWARD

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

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.

Here are the herbal actions of Coffee:

Digestion:

Appetite suppressant

APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT

Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain

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,

Stimulates peristalsis

STIMULATES-PERISTALSIS

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

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,

Stimulant Laxative

STIMULANT-LAXATIVE

Stimulant laxatives induce bowel movements by stimulating peristaltic movement (the contraction of smooth muscle in the intestines). They are effective when used on a short-term basis. On a long-term basis, they can create dependency.

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Cleanse and Detox:

Detoxicant

DETOXICANT

An herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body.

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Energy Vitality Strength:

Stimulates energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs

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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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Liver & Gall Bladder:

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the gall bladder for improved digestion.

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Lung and Sinus:

Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. Helpful in cough and asthma.

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Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Causes tension

CAUSES-TENSION

Increases feelings of tension, constriction and tightness in the body.

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, Makes jittery,

Makes you tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

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Stimulates front of brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

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,

Wakes you up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and improves energy by stimulating circulation.

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Weight Loss:

Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

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Find Your Symptom:

Dries mouth

DRIES-MOUTH

Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty.

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Bowel-Poop-Elimination:

General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

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

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.