AYURVEDIC FOODS

Red Leaf Lettuce Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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Is Red Leaf Lettuce Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Red Leaf Lettuce' 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 lbs
SPECIES: Lactuca sativa
FAMILY: Asteraceae

PREPARATION: RAW, SALAD
EAT IN: SPRING
FOR OCCASION: CLEANSE

Metabolic Nature of Red Leaf Lettuce

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

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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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

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

TASTES
Taste Help

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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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

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
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating
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


Family: Asteraceae
HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Red Leaf Lettuce
Help
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.

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

Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

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Analgesic

ANALGESIC

Pain reliever, reduces pain without eliminating sensation. Also known as anodyne.

SEE ALL 'ANALGESIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Alterative

STRONG 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

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Antioxidant

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

,
Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

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

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

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Opthalmic

OPTHALMIC

Benefits the eyes, vision tonic.

SEE ALL 'OPTHALMIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

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

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' 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

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

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

Other:
Constituents:

Foods with a Similar Nature to Red Leaf Lettuce

Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antioxidant, General-laxative, Stimulates-energy, Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-peristalsis

LEARN MORE

Romaine Lettuce

Romaine Lettuce has these Actions in Common

Refrigerant, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Sedative, Blood-thinner, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-peristalsis, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Chicory Lettuce

Chicory Lettuce has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Refrigerant, Blood-thinner, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Opthalmic

LEARN MORE

Mustard Greens

Mustard Greens has these Actions in Common

Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Wakes-you-up, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, General-laxative, Stimulates-peristalsis

LEARN MORE

Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic, Alterative, Blood-thinner, Lowers-blood-sugar, Analgesic, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Endive

Endive has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Cholagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, General-laxative, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Kale

Kale has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Cholagogue, Stimulates-energy, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-peristalsis

LEARN MORE

Grapefruit

Grapefruit has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Stimulates-peristalsis, Hypolipidemic, Wakes-you-up, Antioxidant, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Coffee

Coffee has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Stimulates-peristalsis, General-laxative, Wakes-you-up, Antioxidant, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Blueberry

Blueberry has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Opthalmic, Blood-thinner, Refrigerant, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Red Leaf Lettuce

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Refrigerant, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Antioxidant, General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Opthalmic

LEARN MORE

Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant, Alterative, Blood-thinner

LEARN MORE

Bhringaraj

Bhringaraj has these Actions in Common

Analgesic, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Opthalmic, Sedative

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Bitter Ghee - Tikta Ghrta (9 fl oz)

Bitter Ghee - Tikta Ghrta (9 fl oz) has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Blood-thinner, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Mahatikata Ghrta

Mahatikata Ghrta has these Actions in Common

Blood-thinner, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Refrigerant, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Yellow Dock

Yellow Dock has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Cholagogue, General-laxative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Guggulu

Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Alterative, Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Shilajit Tonic

Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Milk Thistle

Milk Thistle has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Analgesic, Antioxidant, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS

Red Leaf Lettuce 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.

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.

Clinical Tools & Resources

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About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

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

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Red Leaf Lettuce'

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