How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Persimmons, Fluids & Metabolism

Persimmons have 'cold yin energy' in Chinese medicine which means their astringency cools inflammation and sweetness helps rebuild fluids. Persimmons are thus an ideal fall tonic to combat autumn dryness (Vata) and any lingering inflammation from summer heat (Pitta). Persimmon moistens the throat & nourish the lungs. Diabetics should beware of its high sugar content.

Persimmons & digestion

The high fiber and demulcent (gooey) quality of persimmon makes it good for hemorrhoids and constipation. Astringency reduces internal bleeding while sweetness coats and soothes inflammation. Astringency in skins can be also used to treat diarrhea. Exercise caution when digestion is weak - in such a case persimmon will make digestion too cold and leave food undigested. Tannins are mildly acidic. When consumed in excess tannins can irritate the stomach. It is often advised that persimmons should not be eaten on an empty stomach. Instead eat them after meals and peel them, since most of the tannic acid is in the peel. Gargle and clean your teeth after eating persimmon lest the tannic acid, pectin and sugar damage your teeth. Avoid eating too many unripened persimmons, which can form a "foodball" or phytobezoar, affixing with other food in the stomach. These phytobezoars are often very hard and almost woody in consistency. They may require medical treatment.

Nutrition information

Persimmon contains high levels of dietary fiber (good laxative), phenols, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and manganese (rebalance electrolytes in fall). They are also rich in vitamin C and beta carotene (supporting the liver = useful for hangovers and too much toxicity). Studies suggest they reduce the risk of atherosclerosis heart attacks and improve lipid metabolism the way the body copes with fat. Their iodine content can help goiter patients. Anemia patients should know that the high tannin content may inhibit iron absorption.

About Persimmons

Glossy orange-red American Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) grow wild from the east coast through to the Midwest. Akin to dates, Persimmons are very sweet & gooey. They are too sweet to ferment or rot, and thus perfect for drying. American persimmons are higher in vitamin C and calcium than their Japanese counterpart, which is roughly three times larger.

Buying & Preparation

Persimmons are unpalatably astringent (or "furry" tasting) if eaten before fully ripened.The astringency is due to tannic acid. To minimize furry-ness and maximize sweetness pick wild persimmons off the ground or after the first frost. Unripe persimmons are more orange and hard, whereas ripe ones are more red and soft. The tannins can also be removed by fully ripening the fruit. Artificially expose persimmons to frost by putting them in the freezer, which breaks the cell wall and releases ethylene. Then, expose them to light for several days. Finally place them in a paper bag together with another fruit that releases ethylene (ripening agent) such as apples, pears, or bananas.
Remove the astringent skins and hard seeds by pushing the pulp through a strainer.

Cooking Persimmons

Persimmons are a favorite, sweet southern food often baked into 'Persimmon Pudding'. Dried persimmons are almost always covered with white 'frost.' This isn't mold, it's the glucose and fructose that has evaporated out and crystalized while the fruit dried.

SERVING SIZE: 1 whole

SPECIES: Diospyros spp

FAMILY: Ebenaceae

MEAL: SNACK-DESSERT

EAT IN: AUTUMN-WINTER

Metabolic Nature of Persimmons

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. Learn More	GOOEY ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion. LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD
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 BIOCHARACTERISTIC Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT 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. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Affinity: Bowel Poop Elimination Family: Ebenaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Persimmons 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. Bowel Health: High Fiber Laxative STRONG HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr SEE ALL 'HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE' 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 , Stool Softener STOOL-SOFTENER Softens hard and difficult to eliminate stool. Stool softeners are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Examples include warm milk with ghee. SEE ALL 'STOOL-SOFTENER' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Soothing SOOTHING Calms and alleviates irritation, discomfort or pain in a particular region. SEE ALL 'SOOTHING' FOODS / HERBS , Demulcent DEMULCENT Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane. SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS Heart & Circulation: 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 , Hemostatic HEMOSTATIC An herb that stops bleeding. SEE ALL 'HEMOSTATIC' FOODS / HERBS , Rebuilds Fluids REBUILDS-FLUIDS Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids. SEE ALL 'REBUILDS-FLUIDS' FOODS / HERBS , Refrigerant REFRIGERANT An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions. SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS , Styptic STYPTIC A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used topically as a hemostatic to stop bleeding, or to reduce secretions. SEE ALL 'STYPTIC' 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 Constituents: Tannins

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.