ADZUKI BEANS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 314 likes

SAVE FOOD

Adzuki beans are known to have originated in China where they are used extensively in traditional medicine. They are a staple in the macrobiotic diet and very popular in Japan, second only to the soybean in terms of consumption and popularity.

AJWAIN

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 319 likes

SAVE FOOD

Ajwain is native to the Middle East and is still common in Egypt as well as Indian cooking. Like turmeric, ajwain is a spice used to enhance digestibility rather than flavor.

ALMOND MILK

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 reviews, 559 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 reviews, 358 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...

APPLE (COOKED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 661 likes

SAVE FOOD

In Norse mythology, apples are said to provide eternal youthfulness. Apples appear in many religious traditions, including the bible, often as a forbidden fruit. Apples originated in Western Asia, where its wild ancestor still grows today. There are...

APPLE (RAW)

(1.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 271 likes

SAVE FOOD

Apples are crunchy and leave a rough feeling on the roof of the mouth, both signs of astringency. Astringency is drying. Thus raw apples provoke Vata and constipation. Cooked apples and apple sauce are more Vata friendly. They are not astringent....

APRICOT (DRIED)

SAVE FOOD

See also fresh apricots

APRICOT (FRESH)

SAVE FOOD

Frank Cook and I happened to visit our friend Aaron Wilson during apricot season in Jerome, Arizona. The Turks have a saying, 'the only thing better than this is an apricot from Damascus.' We should rewrite that phrase to include wild apricots from...

ARUGULA

(4.50 out of 5 stars) 2 reviews, 336 likes

SAVE FOOD

Its sharp peppery flavor is a sign that arugula is light and easy to digest for those with slow, cold digestion, or to help take a heavy meal and "lighten" it, so your body can assimilate the nutrients of the entire dish.

ASPARAGUS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 310 likes

SAVE FOOD

Asparagus has a delicate flavor and texture making it an ideal vegetable for gourmet cuisine!

BANANA

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 5 reviews, 439 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

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 264 likes

SAVE FOOD

Barley has an ancient history, and was first cultivated in the Near East.

BASIL

SAVE FOOD

Basil's warm and spicy aroma adds a passionate flare to any dish, bringing the heat of the Mediterranean sun to your table. Its bright green color and vigorous flavor is unmistakable in pesto. It adds verve to a home-made tomato sauce, and is a perky...

BASMATI RICE

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 2 reviews, 372 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...

BEET GREENS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 136 likes

SAVE FOOD

The astringency of the beet can cause a fuzzy feeling on the teeth.

BEETS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 353 likes

SAVE FOOD

Beets come from the south of Europe. They are a member of the amaranth family. The beet has a long history of cultivation stretching back to the second millennium BC.

BLUEBERRY

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 307 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...

BOTTLE GOURD

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 94 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...

BUFFALO MILK

SAVE FOOD

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

BUTTER (UNSALTED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 147 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...

CARDAMOM

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 8 reviews, 520 likes

SAVE FOOD

Love for cardamom resonates through history - for instance, ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom to whiten their teeth and sweeten their breath. Cardamom helps take the edge off of caffeine in the famous drink Turkish coffee. Cardamom is a member of the...

CARROT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 374 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...

CELERY STALK

SAVE FOOD

The word for celery comes from the Greek word selinon which translates to 'parsley,' a close relative of celery. Celery's powers have been known since antiquity. Leaves of it were found in the garlands surrounding King Tut's tomb, and Homer makes...

CHERRY

SAVE FOOD

Berries arrive just in time for late spring, early summer. Berries are lymphatic movers that complete the spring process of cleansing your liver. They are also liver tonics to protect your liver during summer. Berries are rich in anti-oxidants that...

CHICK PEA (GARBANZO)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 review, 253 likes

SAVE FOOD

The fiber in chickpeas is nearly 75% insoluble which remains undigested as it reaches the colon. This significantly bulks up stools for a satisfying morning elimination. As with many high fiber foods, beans have been shown to reduce cholesterol,...

CHICORY ROOT

SAVE FOOD

Maybe it's the name, or the pretty blue flowers that line the highway, but every time I think of chicory, I smile with the thought of a party in New Orleans.

CILANTRO

SAVE FOOD

Cilantro is the leaf of the coriander seed. Both the leaves and the seeds have citrus overtones. Cilantro, as a cooling herb, pairs well with hot spicy dishes.

CINNAMON

SAVE FOOD

Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree in the Lauraceae family native to Sri Lanka. Other members of this family include sassafras, avocado, camphor, and spicebush. Trees of the laurel family, including cinnamon, predominate in the world's laurel forests....

CLOVES

SAVE FOOD

Cloves are native to India and Indonesia. They are the aromatic dried flower bud of a tree in the same family as Eucalyptus and Guava (Myrtaceae family). Cloves resemble a nail in shape. The English name 'clove' derives from the latin 'clavus'...

COCONUT BUTTER

SAVE FOOD

Fronds of a coconut palm sway in a tropical breeze,...