How Can This Ayurvedic Food Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Some say it has the "slippery texture of seal skin." Others say it is like, "biting into a sponge." One student says, "It reminds me of a scrambled egg consistency."

The word tofu literally means "bean" in Japanese. Soy is an ancient crop from East Asia that was domesticated as early as 6-7,000 B.C., almost 9,000 years ago!

Tofu is made from ground soybeans. They are ground in water, heated, and curdled with minerals like calcium or magnesium salt. The result is a tofu-like gel. The liquid is then extracted to make the tofu firm. The whole process is similar to paneer or cheese curds. This is how tofu gets its uniquely smooth, moist, and mushy texture.

Tofu is famous because of its popularity in Asia, and among vegetarians who use it for meat replacement. 1lb of soybeans contains as much protein as 2lbs lean meat!. Tofu is attractively economically as a reasonably priced protein source.

But why curdle the beans? Because curdling denatures the bean proteins, making soy easier to digest. The tofu can also be fermented, making it even easier to digest.

Connoisseurs will notice a slight sweetness and bitterness to tofu. Even though tofu is smooth, one student noted, "The astringency / dryness dried out my mouth. I had a dry, rough sensation after eating the tofu."

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2019 study and survey of 50 students of Ayurveda who experimented with tofu. During the study, students ate tofu for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Anti-Aging

Tofu moisturizes the skin and joints. The dull, cooling properties make it useful for hot, fiery or dry skin conditions. Tofu improves elasticity of skin, reducing wrinkles. Its estrogenic properties make it ideal for dryness due to menopause. Vatas should exercise caution: tofu moisturizes skin but it is also a diuretic, which can dry out a sensitive Vata constitution.

Heart Healthy

As tofu improves elasticity of skin, it also improves elasticity of blood vessels. This is useful in atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, a major cause of heart disease.

Soy protein studies show tofu may be useful to lower cholesterol, especially low density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad kind of cholesterol. This may be due to the phytoestrogens in tofu.

Eases Menopause / Supports estrogen

Hoping for a smooth menopause? Tofu is supportive for women who have low estrogen, due to phytoestrogen compounds. In menopause, estrogen levels drop, causing dry skin and low bone density.

Tofu is used in Ayurveda to reduce hot flashes and menopause related symptoms, including dry skin and low bone density. Tofu is also supportive during a period, when estrogen dips. In China, tofu is used to improve the quality and quantity of breastmilk.

There is controversy surrounding the estrogenic effects of tofu, especially regarding breast cancer. Some say soy should be avoided for women with estrogenic lumps in the breast, since soy may aggravate them. Other studies conclude soy is safe, and will not cause breast cancer. Other studies show that women who eat soy products at least once a week have a 48-56% lower risk of breast cancer, due to phytoestrogen content.

Could Ayurveda help avoid some of this controversy? Could one dosha (Kapha) be more sensitive to the negative effects of soy's estrogenic effects, but Vata's benefit? More study is needed.

Cools Pitta / Clears Heat

Tofu's cool quality is known for clearing heat in the digestive tract. One student reports, "I felt my body temperature cool down a little bit while eating tofu."

As it pacifies Pitta, tofu is soothing and relaxing.

Calming, Heavy on Digestion

Tofu is filling. It has a sweet aftertaste. It is building and nourishing for those who can digest it.

It can even make you feel lethargic, and heavy. In excess, the density and heaviness can aggravate Kapha. One Kapha student notes that, after tofu, she gets "white thick coating and my saliva is richer."

The heavy, lethargic effect of soy on the mind makes soy tamasic.

Those with dry, cold constitutions (Vata) might find tofu hard to digest. In these individuals tofu may cause burping, heaviness in the upper gi, gas & bloating.

Students reported tofu was hard to digest, causing them to feel heavy, lethargic or bloated. Here's what they had to say:

• "I felt pressure in my stomach and tension. It was heavy in my stomach for about a half hour after consuming."
• "It made me feel, dense, heavy, static, and cold. I felt a huge heaviness in my body few minutes after eating tofu,"
• "I was nauseous, like I wanted to cough up mucus from my stomach"
• "My mind felt heavy, sluggish and foggy."

The solution to Tofu's slow effect on digestion? Eat a smaller quantity to avoid gas & bloating. Or add some spices. Or, follow these rules for an easy to digest beans.

Note: The curdled soy proteins in tofu are easy to digest than raw soybeans (as in edamame) but fermented soy products are even easier.

Clears Toxins by Making You Pee

Tofu is famous in Chinese medicine as a toxin clearing diuretic. Students reported:

• "I was urinating more frequently than normal and felt thirsty."
• "It's diuretic effect made my urine more cloudy or bubbly."
• "I did notice a few more bubbles about 2 hours after I eat the tofu."

Why the Bubbles? Bubbles are a sign of protein in the urine and protein loss from the blood.. Bubbly urine indicates a recent high protein meal, or that the kidneys are irritated to the point where they are leaking protein.

Drying Quality Makes Stools Firm

The astringent, cold, drying quality of tofu are signs of air element. These qualities generally hardened stools for Vata students. Here's what they had to say:

• I experienced, "dryness with my bowel movements."
• "My stool was a bit more compact and cracked than usual."
• My stool was "harder and came out broken in two." It was, "dense with large cracks." Note large cracks are a sign of dryness.

For Pitta and Kapha students, the high fiber content aided stool bulk and helped elimination for many. The cool quality of tofu is especially useful for hot, Pitta type diarrhea.

Contraindications

Don't be afraid! It doesn't taste like a whole food but it is. However, tofu is highly processed and 90% of the soy crop is GMO. So get organic.

Avoid tofu if you have high estrogen levels, or get lumps in the breast during menstruation. Avoid tofu if it dries you out, or causes gas or bloating. If tofu makes you feel cloudy or sluggish, perhaps it is not right for you.

Like many plants, Soy has anti-nutrients the inhibit absorption of nutrients to protect it from plants and insects. These anti-nutrients inhibit uptake of minerals. Fermenting soy can reduce these anti-nutrients, and make soy easier to digest, reducing many of the negative qualities of soy.

Many people are allergic to soy. If you're allergic be careful: Soy and soy derivatives appear in many products.

Tofu and Dosha Summary

To summarize, tofu is a satisfying protein source that clears heat, detoxifies, eases urination, firms up stools, and moisturizes the lungs and skin.

The estrogenic compounds in tofu pacify Vata but can aggravate Kapha. However, the diuretic compounds aggrvate and dry out Vata, while pacifying Kapha. Tofu's cool quality pacifies Pitta.

Although tofu is high in nutrients it is low in calories. However, we recommend caution in use for weight loss because tofu is estrogenic. Estrogen causes weight gain.

All in all, tofu is fairly mild to all body types. So try some, and see if it is a good fit.

ABOUT TOFU

Tofu was invented in China over 2000 years ago.

BUYING & PREPARATION

Tofu is made by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds into blocks. Tofu texture is rated by the amount of water content, from watery (soft / silken tofu) to dry, (extra firm tofu).

90% of the soy crop is genetically modified (GMO), making good quality tofu hard to find. It's also highly processed. This is why you should eat organic tofu, only.

Tofu may be fermented, sweetened, or flavored in some instances.

COOKING TOFU

Browse Recipes Tofu can mimic many other foods, and easily takes on the overall taste of a dish. Its soft yet sturdy texture and neutral taste adapt well. Tofu is flexible, and can be used in a variety of cooking styles and flavors. It is popular in stir fries, marinades, soups. Among beans, tofu is especially easy to digest, makes it popular as a meat substitute for vegetarians.

One student notes, "If erasers where white and edible, this is probably what it would taste like!" Tofu has a slight aftertaste of raw beans and sweetness.

The following tips show you how to reduce one or more of the effects of Tofu:

• Dryness - Balance dryness with salty and sour tastes, as in salt, soy sauce, and lemon.
• Astringency - Balance the astringency with oils, such as sesame oil.
• Cold, Dull - Balance the cold quality with spices, such as turmeric, ginger, cayenne.
• Heaviness - Balance the heaviness with aromatic herbs like basil, mint.

Tofu may be chopped and fried, baked, or tossed into a soup.

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 Tofu Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

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

AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL QUALITIES

INCREASES Increases These Qualities (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main characteristics (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	DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT GUNA Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT DRY ABOUT DRY GUNA Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY GUNA Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY COLD ABOUT COLD GUNA 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 GUNA Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types People tend to get sick, over and over again, due to similar causes and habitual 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: Ojas OJAS Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness. LEARN MORE ABOUT OJAS , Tamasic TAMASIC Tamasic foods promote rest, sleepiness and stillness. Examples include wheat, mushrooms. LEARN MORE ABOUT TAMASIC , Acidifying ACIDIFYING An herb that creates an acidic pH in the blood chemistry. LEARN MORE ABOUT ACIDIFYING TYPE: Beans Legumes, Ferments CONTAINS: Allergens, Soy ELEMENT: Air AIR Resembles air (vayu) in quality - highly mobile, drying, light, cold, subtle, rough. LEARN MORE ABOUT AIR , Earth EARTH Resembles earth (prithvi) in quality - heavy, dense, solid, stable, hard. LEARN MORE ABOUT EARTH SUBTASTE: Bland BLAND Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. LEARN MORE ABOUT BLAND NUTRIENT: Calcium, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Protein COLOR: White NOURISHES: Muscle MUSCLE Muscle tissue (Mamsa Dhatu) includes muscles and ligaments. LEARN MORE ABOUT MUSCLE , Plasma PLASMA Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph. LEARN MORE ABOUT PLASMA , Reproductive REPRODUCTIVE Reproductive tissue (Shukra/Artava Dhatu) includes male and female reproductive organs. LEARN MORE ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE MOVES ENERGY: Downward DOWNWARD Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles. LEARN MORE ABOUT DOWNWARD , Inward INWARD Inward moving substances promote introspection, self reflection, stillness, or slow the system down. LEARN MORE ABOUT INWARD FAMILY: Fabaceae

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Digestion:

Appetite suppressant

APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT

Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain

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Energy Vitality Strength:

Satisfies stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

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Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

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Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIURETIC

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Irritates kidney

IRRITATES-KIDNEY

Tight, sharp pain just below ribs in the back.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IRRITATES-KIDNEY

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Grounding

GROUNDING

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.

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Makes you tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Reproductive Health:

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk.

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Skin Care & Beauty:

Skin Tonic

SKIN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens and nourishes skin, improving tone, color, moisture and complexion.

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Weight Loss:

Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LOWERS-THYROID

Women's Health:

Uterine Tonic

UTERINE-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system.

LEARN MORE ABOUT UTERINE-TONIC

Find Your Symptom:

Dries mouth

DRIES-MOUTH

Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty.

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Soothing

SOOTHING

Calms and alleviates irritation or discomfort in a particular region.

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Bowel-Poop-Elimination:

Constipative

CONSTIPATIVE

An herb that binds stools / stops diarrhea. When used in excess, these herbs and foods can cause constipation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSTIPATIVE