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Recipes with Milk: Almond Milk with Saffron & Cardamom
Rich and creamy, milk is a soothing balm to both body and mind. As a schoolboy, I LOVED coming home to a cool, refreshing glass of milk. Milk's mild sweetness goes down easy. On hot days it refreshed me. On cold days, a warm glass of milk with hot cocoa still transports me back to childhood simplicity.
There's something affectionate about milk - maybe it's because milk is a gift from mother cow to baby. Maybe it's because cows are gentle animals? Either way, it's natural that milk would sweeten a person's heart. Dairy farms themselves are a symbol of wholesomeness. Milk's nurturing qualities make it the food equivalent of a security blankie..
Milk is part of daily life. We put milk in tea and coffee. We give it to babies. We use dairy to make everything from whip cream to ice cream to cheese to pudding.
Milk, however, has been a topic of controversy for many years. Should we actually be drinking milk, or is only for babies? What's the difference between organic and grass fed? Is low fat or full fat the right option?
With so much confusion around milk, this article will guide you through the "need to know" info. It will share the Ayurvedic perspective on the benefits of milk. It will also teach you how to get the most from milk, from what milk to choose right down to how to prepare it.
Nourishing & Strengthening Balm
If you're feeling weak or depleted, milk can nurse you back to strength. Milk is anabolic and promotes tissue growth. Ayurveda recommends it for weak or deficient individuals.
Most of us have grown up watching ads about the benefits of milk, "It does a body good!" As children, we were told that the calcium in milk would lead to strong bones and teeth. But milk is so much more than calcium. Milk is a nourishing and strengthening food that contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to grow a baby!
Although dairy products tend to be high in calcium, the calcium is bonded to fats and may be more difficult to absorb than calcium content of bitter, leafy green vegetables such as turnip greens. Ayurvedically, you can protect your bone tissue by prevention of gas & bloating. Gas & bloating creates acidifies the blood, which has the net effect of leaching minerals from the bones.
According to Ayurveda, dairy products are high in ojas, meaning it nourishes the very essence of high quality tissue. Foods that are high in ojas are used in many tonic formulas and aphrodisiacs. Unfortunately, this means that dairy products can cause weight gain. So those who are trying to slim down should limit their consumption of dairy.
Recipes with Milk: Rice pudding with Raisins & Cinnamon
Soothe Nerves & Sleep Soundly
A glass of milk conjures calm and content. Its rich, creamy and heavy qualities pacify Vata dosha, helping you stay grounded when you feel scattered, a satisfying balm for frayed nerves.
Milk provides a sense of stability and hearty nourishment. It is heavy, cooling, and thick. It helps keep you feeling calm and content, and allows you to relax into a night of deep sleep. Handed down over generations, a warm glass of milk before bed is a traditional home remedy to induce sleep.
Ayurveda strengthens this sleepy effect with a pinch of nutmeg or ashwagandha. Both herbs have a mild sedative that induce restful sleep. Another Ayurvedic tradition is to have a warm mug of homemadegarlic milk before you hit the hay. Garlic milk may sound unappetizing, but trust us when we say this creamy bedtime tonic works a charm.
Cooling When Hot & Irritated
Milk's cool qualities soothes burning sensations. The sweet taste, which is abundant in milk, is cooling and anti-inflammatory. That's why a glass of milk is a traditional remedy for a stomach ulcer. Good quality milk also contains high levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
The fats and sugars in milk lovingly coat and soothe irritated tissues. They do so by building a layer of mucus that protects the lining of the stomach wall. Its pleasant & sweet creaminess has a comforting quality that has made it popular in desserts.
The sugars in milk can also increase inflammation in some clients, especially in those who have a yeast infection, or are allergic or intolerant to dairy products. Unless needed for strength, do not drink sweet or mucus forming foods when there are yeast or other parasites in the GI tract.
Soothing for Lungs, But Can Increase Congestion
Milk is a soothing tonic for the lungs, particularly if the respiratory tract is dry or inflamed. The sweet, cold, heavy and gooey qualities of milk are mucus promoting. This can either soothe dry lungs, or aggravate congestion, depending on whether your blood is deficient (Vata) or excessively rich (Kapha).
Adverse reactions to milk might include increased congestion with thick mucus filling their sinuses and throat.
Ayurveda has a few tricks up its sleeve to enjoy milk without the mucus side effects! Adding certain herbs and spices that support the lungs and combat mucus production will help you enjoy milk without the unwanted flow of mucus!
Aromatic cardamom is Ayurveda's top mucus destroying spice. It's also an antispasmodic and bronchodilator, allowing you to breathe easy. A warming lung tonic, pungent pippali helps easy the digestion of heavy milk. It also tonifies the lungs. If you want to use something you already have in the cupboard, add some heating honey and hot ginger. The lungs thrive when warm!
Recipes with Milk: Milk with Almonds, Rose Petal & Saffron (Thandai)
Lactose Intolerance vs Dairy Allergy
A lactose intolerance is the inability to break down a type of natural sugar found in milk called lactose. A person becomes lactose intolerant when they stop small making enough of the enzyme required to break down the lactose. This enzyme is called lactase. Babies produce a lot of lactase but then production wanes if a person stops drinking milk as they get older.
Approximately 65% of the world's population is unable to efficiently digest lactose, the main sugar found in milk, after infancy. This generally causes gas, bloating and digestive discomfort. A number of studies have been conducted into whether humans should continue drinking milk after infancy. Some object philosophically, "Milk is for babies. Is it natural for an adult to eat foods intended for babies?"
A number of clients in the Joyful Belly clinic come to us with signs of lactose intolerance. They report feeling "gassy and bloated" after drinking milk. Some even report getting painful cramps.
A milk allergy is quite different to a lactose intolerance. This allergy occurs when the body perceives milk as a harmful invader and initiates an immune response. Symptoms may include a rash or hives. In some individuals, the reaction can be severe, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the lips and face. If you have any of these symptoms, an intolerance or allergy test can help confirm your suspicions.
Milk, like most sweet foods, can provoke candida in your intestines and other places in your body, which can mimic signs of an allergy.
Effect on Digestion
As milk is heavy, cool and rich, it tends to slow down digestion(agni). Cow milk is heavier than nut milk. If a person can't digest milk, it causes an explosion of bacteria and yeast that can irritate the colon. This leads to food stagnation, fermentation and gas.
The optimal way to enjoy milk is to have it warmed up with some digestive spices. As mentioned already, cardamom is particularly helpful to reduce the mucus forming qualities of milk. Invigorating turmeric and warming cinnamon together with cardamom and honey are the perfect combination to combat the heaviness of milk.
Ayurveda recommends cooking milk for those who have trouble digesting it. Cooking milk turns the sugars into beta-lactose which is far more soluble and easier to absorb. Most milk purchased in the United States is pasteurized which means it's already pre-cooked.
Effect on Elimination
The fats and sweetness of raw milk is a gentle laxative that can promote smooth elimination. Cooked milk, on the other hand, can cause constipation. Adding a teaspoon of ghee to warm milk helps reduce the likelihood of constipation.
How to Enjoy Milk & When to Avoid
Many people routinely drink cold milk with meals. Ayurveda recommends avoiding cold milk, drinking too much at once, or eating with other foods. Milk curdles almost instantly after reaching the stomach. If it mixes with other food the curdled milk coats and insulates the food from gastric juices. Keep food combinations simple and enjoy milk as rejuvenating drink away from other foods. Milk may be cooked with grains or ghee.
Buying & Preparation
The milk people drank over 100 years ago usually came directly from the animal. Its qualities are quite different to the milk swilled by the gallon in today's culture. Modern milk in supermarket fridges is highly processed. A once nourishing food is becoming increasingly difficult to digest. It's not just whole cream or skim to choose from anymore either. With a greater variety than ever to choose from, how do you know where to start?
Organic or Not?
Organic milk means the cows may eat a mixture of both grass and grain. Their food must be entirely organic. This means no antibiotics, hormones, synthetic pesticides, herbicides or genetically modified ingredients. Non organic cows may be treated with growth hormones and antibiotics in the US, though this is illegal in many other countries.
In the U.S., cows are given bovine growth hormone to help them mature faster so they produce more milk. Concern around the consumption of these animal products is mounting. The FDA, however, approves the use of bovine growth hormone and does not see it as a threat to human health.
Antibiotics are given to animals to kill bacterial infections. The overuse of antibiotics is being blamed for an increase in "superbugs." These "superbugs" are bacteria that have become resistant to the medication. As research into this area continues, claims are being made that these "superbugs" pose a serious threat to human health. On the other side, it's believed that the consumption of animal products treated with antibiotics poses little risk.
To avoid hormones, antibiotics, and other contaminants, we recommend drinking organic milk only. Dairy products like cheese & butter are concentrated, so it is even more important to choose organic.
Grass Fed or Not?
Grass fed milk means that the cows eat a diet of grass only, not processed grains such as corn and soy. Grass is what nature intended for a cow to eat. Studies have shown that milk from grass fed cows is nutritionally superior and has a more desirable fat profile. It tends to be lower in overall fat but higher in healthy fats.
Grass fed milk has a higher content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in meat and dairy products. It is known for its anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties.
Grass fed milk also has the optimal balance of omega fatty acids. Both omega 3 and omega 6 are essential fatty acids. This means your body can't produce them on its own - you need to take them in through dietary sources. Both are necessary, but the typical modern diet has a surplus of omega 6. Grass fed milk has the preferred omega ratio, which is anti-inflammatory and improves heart health.
Raw or Pasteurized?
Commercial pasteurization began in the US around 1900s. Pasteurization increases milk safety by destroying harmful microorganisms and reducing spoilage. It's claimed this process also destroys many of the essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins and "good bacteria" in the milk. This belief has led to a modern movement to consume raw, live culture milk, which is illegal to sell in most states.
Low Fat or Not?
For years, fat was touted as a "bad food" and many people began to favor skim milk. Recent research is proving there is no need to fear saturated fat from healthy sources like avocado, ghee and milk when part of a balanced diet. This does not include saturated and trans fats from processed sources such as baked goods or fried foods.
Studies have found that saturated fat from dairy doesn't seem to affect heart disease risks like other saturated fats. It also actually lowered the risk of central obesity while low fat dairy products increased the risk of central obesity. In fact, the higher calories in full fat milk is said to increase satiation and improve the absorption of fat soluble vitamins in the milk such as D, A and E.
Low fat milk, like many processed low fat foods, cause a spike in blood sugar levels and should be avoided. This is because low fat milk contains higher amounts of carbohydrates and has a higher glycemic index in comparison to whole, full fat milk. While it may not raise blood sugar levels to the same extent as a soda or ice cream, it still contributes to weight gain over time, despite it being promoted as a healthier alternative.
Children who drink low fat milk are three times more likely to be overweight than children who drink whole milk. Low fat milk is not as satisfying as whole milk because it lacks fat, so children are left hungrier even after drinking large amounts of skim milk. The fat content in whole milk makes it more filling and satisfying, and therefore you can be more quickly satisfied consuming less of it.
Homogenized or Not?
Do you remember when milk used to have a layer of cream at the top? These days, processed milk is generally homogenized. Buy cream top instead! Homogenization prevents separation of the cream from the milk because it breaks up all the heavy cream fat molecules. To homogenize milk it is pressed through a fine sieve at 4,000 pounds per square inch. The pressure reduces the size of fat globules in the milk by a factor of ten or more.
Homogenized milk fats are so tiny they bypass the digestive process and directly inject hormones in the milk to the bloodstream. Homogenized milk also causes deterioration of arterial walls. Proteins in homogenized milk pass into the bloodstream directly causing a histamine response and mucous, inflaming your GI tract and other tissues.
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You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Milk' is a good fit.
Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes
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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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.
A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.
In each study below, students from the
Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the effects.
See other studies of food & herbs at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Milk affect your temperature?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
7
13
6
1
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your ear temperature?
27
22
17
12
7
2
3
21
3
Hotter
No Change
Cooler
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your sweat quantity?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
0
21
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of your skin?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
1
3
0
23
Yellower/Greener
Paler
Redder
Grayer
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of your tongue body?
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
1
1
20
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the swelling of your tongue body?
21
17
13
9
5
1
7
2
18
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
9
14
3
1
0
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your digestion speed?
15
12
9
6
3
0
1
3
7
11
5
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
TOXINS
How did Milk affect the amount of gas & bloating?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
5
6
11
5
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your stool smell?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
3
12
12
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
0
4
19
4
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
1
2
21
2
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your throat soreness?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
23
4
More sore
No Change
Less sore
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your urine smell?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
20
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
19
6
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your sweat smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
2
23
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your acne?
30
24
18
12
6
0
2
24
1
More acne
No Change
Less acne
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your freckles/moles?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
27
0
Darker
No Change
Lighter
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of your sclera (white part of eye)?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
0
0
0
4
Redder/Bloodshot
Yellower
Grayer
Browner
Whiter
23
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of the lower eye lid?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
23
1
More green/dark green
More purple
No Change
Less green/purple
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
HYDRATION
How did Milk affect your urine frequency/quantity?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
6
18
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the dryness of your skin?
22
18
14
10
6
2
3
8
16
Drier
Oilier
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the puffiness of lower eye lid?
21
17
13
9
5
1
6
19
2
Puffier
No Change
Less Puffy
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the cracks on your tongue?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
20
6
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
FLUID-THICKNESS
How did Milk affect your ear pressure?
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
22
0
More pressure
No Change
Less pressure
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your congestion?
20
16
12
8
4
0
18
9
0
More congestion
No Change
Less congestion
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the thickness of your mucous congestion?
20
16
12
8
4
0
18
8
1
More thick
No Change
Less thick
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Milk affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
10
14
3
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your muscle tension?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
11
13
3
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your anxiety?
15
12
9
6
3
0
2
12
10
3
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the stillness of your tongue?
25
20
15
10
5
0
7
19
1
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
DIGESTION
How did Milk affect your digestion speed?
15
12
9
6
3
0
1
3
7
11
5
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the amount of gas & bloating?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
5
6
11
5
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
9
14
3
1
0
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect burning sensations in digestive tract (do not include acid reflux)?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
4
18
1
1
Much relief
Slight relief
Same
Slightly more burning
Much more burning
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
TONGUE
How did Milk affect the color of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
1
2
21
2
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the swelling of your tongue body?
21
17
13
9
5
1
7
2
18
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the stillness of your tongue?
25
20
15
10
5
0
7
19
1
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
0
4
19
4
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the cracks on your tongue?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
20
6
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of your tongue body?
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
1
1
20
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
STOOL
How did Milk affect your stool smell?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
3
12
12
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your stool consistency?
15
12
9
6
3
0
3
5
10
8
1
Much softer
Slightly softer
Same
Slightly harder
Much harder
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your stool frequency/quantity?
15
12
9
6
3
0
4
6
10
6
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your stool color?
25
20
15
10
5
0
3
0
1
1
22
More yellow
More gray
More green
More orange
Same
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your stool lightness?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
15
8
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly darker
Much darker
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
URINE
How did Milk affect your urine clarity?
25
20
15
10
5
0
6
20
1
More cloudy
Same
More clear
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your urine smell?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
20
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your urine lightness?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
18
5
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly Darker
Much Darker
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your urine frequency/quantity?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
6
18
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
19
6
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
SWEAT
How did Milk affect your sweat smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
2
23
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your sweat quantity?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
0
21
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
SKIN
How did Milk affect your freckles/moles?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
27
0
Darker
No Change
Lighter
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your acne?
30
24
18
12
6
0
2
24
1
More acne
No Change
Less acne
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the dryness of your skin?
22
18
14
10
6
2
3
8
16
Drier
Oilier
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of your skin?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
1
3
0
23
Yellower/Greener
Paler
Redder
Grayer
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
EYE
How did Milk affect the color of your sclera (white part of eye)?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
0
0
0
4
Redder/Bloodshot
Yellower
Grayer
Browner
Whiter
23
No Change
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the color of the lower eye lid?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
23
1
More green/dark green
More purple
No Change
Less green/purple
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the puffiness of lower eye lid?
21
17
13
9
5
1
6
19
2
Puffier
No Change
Less Puffy
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
ENT
How did Milk affect your ear temperature?
27
22
17
12
7
2
3
21
3
Hotter
No Change
Cooler
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your congestion?
20
16
12
8
4
0
18
9
0
More congestion
No Change
Less congestion
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your ear pressure?
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
22
0
More pressure
No Change
Less pressure
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your throat soreness?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
23
4
More sore
No Change
Less sore
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect the thickness of your mucous congestion?
20
16
12
8
4
0
18
8
1
More thick
No Change
Less thick
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
SYSTEMIC
How did Milk affect your muscle tension?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
11
13
3
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your anxiety?
15
12
9
6
3
0
2
12
10
3
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your temperature?
15
12
9
6
3
0
0
7
13
6
1
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
10
14
3
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
HEART
How did Milk affect your heart pain/pressure/cramping?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
3
22
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your heart rate?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
11
16
0
0
Much slower
Slightly slower
Same
Slightly faster
Much faster
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
How did Milk affect your heart rhythm?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
24
3
More palpitations
Same
Less palpitations
Total Responses: 27 Study ID:125 (2022-03-01 - 2023-03-12)
Milk 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.
We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.
CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Milk 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.
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.
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.
“Great question! Ayurveda avoids labeling food as bad or good; it depends on the individual. Raw milk has different qualities than cooked milk. The same is true for goat's milk vs cow's milk. Cooked milk is easier to digest for many Vata individuals. Raw milk has more enzymes and may be easier for some Kapha individuals. Goat's milk is easier to digest and lighter. Cow's milk may be a more nourishing tonic for someone who is depleted."
“Which milk is better for Pittas? My 3 year old is very Pitta. We read about cheese causing angry moods. It seemed that even goat dairy made no difference in his mood and behavior. We took dairy out of his diet and now he is so loving with an enormous decrease in his frustration and outbursts. BUT somehow I feel like he should have some milk or something for protein/calcium ojas.
I thought of raw, or giving it to him only at certain times of day. I feel confused about what's best.
Is there any way I can make or buy dairy for him that won't aggravate his sensitive Pitta?"
“What kind of milk is better for pacifying Kapha? I've been using almond milk, but after reading this maybe I shouldn't be? I read where soy milk wasn't good for kapha and just assumed cow's milk wasn't an option.
"
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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.