ACORN

SAVE FOOD

Acorns are high in tannins, a bitter and astringent acid that irritates the digestive tract and causes constipation. However, tannins are water soluble.

ACORN SQUASH

SAVE FOOD

Acorn Squash is a nourishing, grounding vegetable whose sweetness can be the centerpiece of a hearty meal. As sweet taste is almost always cold, be sure to warm your acorn squash with mild spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, or more savory options like...

AGAVE NECTAR

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 339 likes

SAVE FOOD

Agave, the main ingredient in Tequila, has resurfaced as a health fad in recent years. Sticky and delicious agave nectar, produced from the agave plant, has been touted as a healthier sweetener because it has a slightly lower glycemic index than sugar....

ALCOHOL

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 191 likes

SAVE FOOD

Alcohol is a hot depressant. Initially, the heat combined with the relaxing qualties of alcohol dilate blood vessels, an aid to circulation. The heart, which is a naturally affectionate and social organ, predisposes one to fun and perhaps risky social...

ALMOND BUTTER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 654 likes

SAVE FOOD

Strength & Energy Building TonicLong before the agricultural revolution, humans feasted off nuts. This ancestral food is still one of the best ways to strengthen your body. Warm and creamy almonds contain more protein per serving...

ALMOND MILK

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 5 ratings, 802 likes

SAVE FOOD

Almond milk is a wonderful soothing drink that builds strength, immunity, and grounded energy. Its cool, heavy sweetness creates a sensation of stability and calm in the body, while offering easily accessible energy. For those suffering from lactose...

ALMONDS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 562 likes

SAVE FOOD

As the most widely grown tree nut in the world, these crunchy little nuggets are highly revered for building strength and intelligence across many ancient cultures. Originally native to the levant and in Northern Africa as far west as Morocco, almonds...

ANCHOVY

SAVE FOOD

Anchovies clear dampness in Chinese medicine, and resolve water accumulations. They are a spleen yang tonic, which means their warming nature helps build agni.

APRICOT (DRIED)

SAVE FOOD

See also fresh apricots

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 14 likes

SAVE FOOD

Studies have shown use of artificial sweeteners has no effect on weight loss, baffling scientists. Perhaps the brain does not like to be deceived, or that use of artificial sweeteners doesn't address the underlying addiction to sugars.

AVOCADO

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 746 likes

SAVE FOOD

The avocado fruit grows on trees, but does not ripen until after it has been picked. It has a pear shape, and a rough, dark green to black skin with tiny bumps, which earned it the name "alligator pear". Unlike other fruits, avocado isn't sweet at all,...

BANANA

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 5 ratings, 697 likes

SAVE FOOD

Replenish Electrolytes and RehydrateYou have spent a long hot afternoon tending your garden or chasing the kids and you're feeling parched. But sometimes, no matter how much water you drink, your body still feels thirsty. Simple...

BARLEY MALT

SAVE FOOD

Half as sweet as sugar, with a distinct 'malty' taste. Dark brown, thick and sticky. Produced from sprouted barley. When seeds sprout, some of the carbohydrates get converted to simple sugars.

BASMATI RICE

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 631 likes

SAVE FOOD

Rice builds ojas. Ojas is said to have the smell of burnt rice. Of rices, Basmati is the most sattvic and aromatic. Rice is nourishing and easy to digest giving more 'bang for the buck'. Rice offers more calories with less effort from digestive...

BEEF

SAVE FOOD

Red meat strongly rebuilds deficient blood. It is especially useful in late summer and early fall. Red meat increases Pitta and Kapha. Too much red meat clogs the lymphatic system (Kapha blocking Vata in rasa dhatu), and causes blood stangation...

BEER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 109 likes

SAVE FOOD

Beer is Cheer Few people don't enjoy a cold beer on a hot summer's day. The paradox is that beer, although bitter and refreshing to taste, heats the body up. On a hot day, that increased heat leaves you thirsty and dehydrated,...

BEETS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 566 likes

SAVE FOOD

"A tale that begins with a beet will end with the devil", wrote Tom Robbins in Jitterbug Perfume. For good reason too - cooking with red beets leaves the hands looking blood-stained. A chef who slaughters beets cannot hide - only run from the scene of...

BLACK SALT (KALA NAMAK)

SAVE FOOD

Black salt is a popular condiment in India. It consists of salt infused with sulfurous herbs and spices. It is a brownish pink color due to sulfides that also give it its unique pungent flavor.

BLUE CHEESE

SAVE FOOD

Tangy and moldy, like gym socks but glorious all the same.

BLUEBERRY

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 508 likes

SAVE FOOD

Pop a few blueberries in your mouth and you'll notice reduced agitation, a relaxing sensation in the eyes, and cool feeling in your skin. These visceral signs are your personal cue indicating blueberries' beneficial effect on your liver, and their...

BONE BROTH

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 473 likes

SAVE FOOD

Bone broth is made from bones, water and vinegar. The vinegar helps leach important minerals from the bones.

BONE MARROW / FAT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 171 likes

SAVE FOOD

Bone Marrow and bone marrow fat are the heaviest and densest of all fats. It is a strong tonic and blood builder used for debilitated clients and those who over-exert their bodies, such as athletes. It is rich in minerals.

BOTTLE GOURD

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 147 likes

SAVE FOOD

Bottle gourds feel like a cross between a cucumber and pear. They are common in Asia, but new to the United States. Bottle gourd is one of the earliest cultivated plants in the world, grown for its usefulness as a water carrying device when dried and...

BRAZIL NUT

SAVE FOOD

Brazil nuts have received recent popularity for their ability to stimulate the thyroid. This warm, rich nut won't fail to please you either. It's buttery, oily tastes is universally appreciated.

BROWN RICE SYRUP

SAVE FOOD

Brown rice syrup is a sweetener derived fby cooking rice with enzymes (usually cultured from dried barley sprouts). It is only twenty percent as sweet as regular sugar.

BROWN SUGAR

SAVE FOOD

When Brown Sugar is called for in a recipe, you know that the result will be not only sweet, but rich in flavors and rustic. Brown sugar's homey-ness conjures images of Grandma's kitchen, breakfast pastries on winter mornings, rich and sweet. This is...

BUFFALO MILK

SAVE FOOD

Difficult to digest, heavy and cold. [Ashtanga Hrdayam Su 5:23]

BUTTER (UNSALTED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 251 likes

SAVE FOOD

Butter increases cholesterol, which is Kapha in nature. Eat organic butter only because the toxins are concentrated as the milk is concentrated. Ayurveda recommends ghee over butter because it is lighter for digestion. Every get thirsty after eating...

BUTTERNUT SQUASH

SAVE FOOD

Winter squashes, including butternut, are eaten in the autumn after they have absorbed the sun's energy over the summer. This stored energy gives squashes a warm ojas building heartiness that can comfort you through colder weather. Where most tonic...

CACAO BUTTER

SAVE FOOD

Has a slight aroma of chocolate.

CARROT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 603 likes

SAVE FOOD

Ancestors of the wild carrot came from Iran and Afghanistan, the center of genetic diversity for carrot. Carrots were bred from a species of wild carrot, called Queen Anne's Lace. Originally they were grown for their aromatic leaves and seeds. Since...

CASHEWS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 312 likes

SAVE FOOD

Sweet and heavy, cashews calm the nerves and satisfy your belly. The crescent shaped cashew is dense and warm, building strength and leaving you feeling sustained, particularly in cooler months. Initially crunchy, these nuts become creamy and smooth...

CHEDDAR CHEESE

SAVE FOOD

The richness of cheese promises nourishment, comfort and contentment. However, as it mixens and thickens mucus in the digestive tract with a thick, creamy layer of dairy, it bogs down digestion, and encourages candida growth. Once the richness enters...

CHESTNUTS

SAVE FOOD

Chestnuts are warm, sweet and nourishing. Their building nature is perfect for winter. Winter is a perfect time of year to strengthen your body, since your body responds better to building tonics throughout October, November, and December. Chestnuts...

CHIA SEEDS

SAVE FOOD

The word chia is a native american word meaning 'oily'. Chia seeds were an important food crop in central America. Chia seeds are one of the few seeds of the mint family consumed as a food. It is closely related to culinary sage.