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College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion


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White Sugar Benefits (According to Ayurveda)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with White Sugar: Shrimp Coconut Curry with Cilantro & Peanut
Recipes with White Sugar: Shrimp Coconut Curry with Cilantro & Peanut
Sugar is highly addictive. We consume over 150x the amount of sugar as our ancestors only 100 years ago. Refined, white sugars cause blood stagnation in Kapha leading to agitation and puffiness. White sugar is on the top ten list of foods to avoid for every dosha, but is especially damaging to Kapha. You may notice congestion, pressure in the ears, swollen lymph nodes, and digestive upset after too much sugar. Sugar sweetens the saliva leading to cavities.

About White Sugar

Most white sugar comes from either beets or sugar cane. Honey was the main sweetener before refined sugar became available. There are many sugar substitutes including artificial sweeteners, fructose, sucrose, xylitol, stevia, corn syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup and unrefined sugar cane such as sucanat & jaggery. Xylitol is a natural tooth-friendly, nonfermentable sugar alcohol with 33% less calories than regular sugar. Ayurveda prefers natural sweeteners over artificial substitutes.

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Is White Sugar Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

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

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

TOXIC

ABOUT TOXIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOXIC

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

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

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

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.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha 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.

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PACIFIES
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

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of White Sugar
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)
Skin Care & Beauty:
Demulcent

STRONG 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

Foods with a Similar Nature to White Sugar

  • Blue Cheese

    Blue Cheese has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Xantham Gum

    Xantham Gum has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Seitan (wheat meat)

    Seitan (wheat meat) has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Confectionary Sugar

    Confectionary Sugar has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Agave Nectar

    Agave Nectar has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Potato Starch

    Potato Starch has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Romano Cheese

    Romano Cheese has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Cheddar Cheese

    Cheddar Cheese has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Heavy Cream

    Heavy Cream has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Taro Root

    Taro Root has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to White Sugar

  • Psyllium Seed Fiber Supplement

    Psyllium Seed Fiber Supplement has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Asparagus root

    Asparagus root has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Slippery Elm

    Slippery Elm has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Lungwort Lichen Thallus

    Lungwort Lichen Thallus has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Sassafras Root

    Sassafras Root has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Hydrangea

    Hydrangea has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Borage Leaf

    Borage Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Coltsfoot

    Coltsfoot has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Uva Ursi

    Uva Ursi has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Marshmallow Root Powder

    Marshmallow Root Powder has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Safed Musali

    Safed Musali has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

White Sugar 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.

View other ingredients
for Spring

White Sugar is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.
VIEW ALL SPRING FOODS MORE FOODS FOR VATA / PITTA 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.
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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 'White Sugar'

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

96 likes
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12Marzo1967
2013-02-14
“what is the best sweetener for ayurveda for the different body tipes? thanks!"
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