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College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion


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Turnip Benefits (According to Ayurveda)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Turnips are the quintessential winter vegetable, perfect to cleanse the system after the holidays.

Raw brassicas contain chemicals that can block thyroid function called goitrogens. These chemicals are easily inactivated by steaming or cooking.

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Is Turnip Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Turnip' 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.

Take the Quiz

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.

Metabolic Nature of Turnip

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

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.

Find Out More

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

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

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?

Find Out More

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

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.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

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.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

Other

Subtaste:
Bland
Family:
Brassicaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Turnip
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.

(see all)
Weight Loss:
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

,
Lowers Thyroid

LOWERS-THYROID

Reduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:
Anti Estrogenic

ANTI-ESTROGENIC

Reduces estrogen, which reduces thickness of the uterus endometrium, pelvic congestive disorders like fibroids, and frequently dysmenorrhea as well.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-ESTROGENIC' FOODS / HERBS

Bone & Joint:
Chelates

CHELATES

Binds to toxins such as heavy metals making them more soluble for elimination by the body.

SEE ALL 'CHELATES' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Nitric Oxide

STRONG NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

, Carbohydrate

Foods with a Similar Nature to Turnip

  • Broccoli

    Broccoli has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-thyroid, Chelates, Hypolipidemic, Anti-estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Kale

    Kale has these Actions in Common

    Chelates, Hypolipidemic, Anti-estrogenic, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Kohlrabi

    Kohlrabi has these Actions in Common

    Chelates, Lowers-thyroid, Anti-estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Turnip Greens

    Turnip Greens has these Actions in Common

    Anti-estrogenic, Chelates, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Cabbage (raw)

    Cabbage (raw) has these Actions in Common

    Anti-estrogenic, Chelates, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Cauliflower

    Cauliflower has these Actions in Common

    Anti-estrogenic, Chelates, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Brussels sprouts

    Brussels sprouts has these Actions in Common

    Chelates, Lowers-thyroid, Anti-estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Soy Beans

    Soy Beans has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Watercress

    Watercress has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic, Lowers-thyroid

    LEARN MORE

  • Celery Stalk

    Celery Stalk has these Actions in Common

    Chelates, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Turnip

  • Maca

    Maca has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-thyroid, Anti-estrogenic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Root

    Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

    Anti-estrogenic, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Neem Leaf

    Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Anti-estrogenic, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Varanadi Kashaya

    Varanadi Kashaya has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Gymnema / Gurmar

    Gymnema / Gurmar has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Kaishore Guggulu

    Kaishore Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Kanchanar Guggulu

    Kanchanar Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Garcinia Cambogia Fruit

    Garcinia Cambogia Fruit has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Patola

    Patola has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Bitter Ghee - Tikta Ghrta (9 fl oz)

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

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Betaine

    Betaine has these Actions in Common

    Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Turnip 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.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Turnip 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.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Turnip. Please see your health care provider for more information.

View other ingredients
for Spring

Turnip is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.
VIEW ALL SPRING FOODS MORE FOODS FOR KAPHA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

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.
CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

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.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Turnip'

Do you like 'turnip'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'turnip'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 112 likes
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Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2016-07-26
“What is chill blins?"
Like Reply
Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2016-12-20
“Rutabaga would have similar effects."
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