EGGS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 307 likes

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Egg whites are a great source of protein. The egg yolks are a hearty and nourishing tonic pacifying Vata but aggravating Kapha. Egg yolks are high in cholesterol. Egg yolks are heating, and mildly aggravating to Pitta. Some people are allergic to the...

RED BELL PEPPER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 137 likes

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The entire nightshade family (solanaceae) aggravates Vata and Pitta, due to the weak liver of these two body types. All peppers aggravate Pitta due to heat. Note that black pepper...

BALSAMIC VINEGAR

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Vinegar heats up digestion, but aids fat metabolism. Balsamic vinegar is made with red wine, which is hotter than other vinegars.

ROSEMARY

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Rosmarinus, is from the latin "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), and means "dew of the sea". Rosemary grows in arid Mediterranean conditions and, as its name implies, can survive on the humidity carried by the sea breeze.

LAVENDER

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The name lavender comes from the latin root lavare meaning 'to wash.' Lavender flowers yield abundant nectar for beekeepers. Pumas respond to lavender the way cats respond to catnip.

BASIL

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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...

DILL

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Dill seems to lighten the palate. As one client reports, "Dill embodies the taste of freshness with a little kick." It is called shatapushpa in Ayurveda. Dill is a member of the carrot family (apiaceae) along with parsley, celery, cumin,...

CUCUMBER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 307 likes

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Oft considered a vegetable, these elongated cylindrical delicacies are actually a fruit. They join watermelon and honey dew as succulent members of the summer friendly melon family. Originally from the Indian subcontinent, cucumbers are now grown...

SCALLIONS (RAW)

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Opens Up the Lungs As an aromatic pungent, raw scallions opens up circulation to the lungs, chest, and skin. This quality is used to purge all cold related disorders from these organs. Scallions are helpful as both an expectorant...

DATES (DRIED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 242 likes

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Dates have been a staple food and cultivated in the Middle East for thousands of years. Their cultivation has been documented in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and as far back as 6000BC in Arabia.

OKRA

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Okra is ojas building like most plants in the mallow family. It is also slimy and astringent, a seemingly unusual combination. Since okra is also cool, it is tri-doshic. Okra is especially helpful for relieving dryness in the joints.

ROMAINE LETTUCE

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Nothing is more refreshing on a hot summer day than a crisp salad. All year long, your Ayurvedic practitioner has been telling you to avoid cool foods, but in the summertime, that rule is put on hold. It is the perfect time to enjoy watery, crunchy...

DANDELION LEAVES

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 338 likes

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When most people think of dandelion, they think of pulling this pesky weed out of their manicured lawn. It's the poster child for weeds. This is especially ironic because colonists brought the dandelion to the Americas as an important medicinal plant....

KALE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 422 likes

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Start with lacinto kale if regular Kale is too bitter but make sure you eventually switch over to the real stuff.

MISO

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Like a salty bean cheese, tangy and sour with a funk. Used mainly in soups as a flavorful stock.

NUTMEG

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 197 likes

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Nutmeg is aromatic, astringent, and a sedative. It's aromatic quality makes it ideal for improving digestion, while astringent quality helps bind the stool. Nutmeg is thus the preferred spice for cold type diarrhea. Nutmeg cuts through fat of milk...

AMARANTH

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 481 likes

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Amaranth represented up to 80% of the caloric intake of the Aztecs before the Spanish conquest. Amaranth tastes somewhat like corn, but is somewhat less sweet. Others have described the taste as nutty, like bacon or wood, or slightly bitter. It is...

SWEET PEAS

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Sweet peas (and string beans) are among the most easily digestible beans, and are thus an important source of fiber and protein. They can help you stay regular and feel satisfied after meals. Their naturally cooling properties are soothing to...

FIGS

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Figs are a heavenly and blessed fruit. Buddha achieved enlightenment under the bodhi tree, a large and old sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa). In Genesis, Adam and Eve hid their nakedness with fig leaves. The prophet Muhammad exclaimed, "If I had to...

DOSA MIX

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 71 likes

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Our palates just aren't used to sour food unless it's a pickle. But dosa's are more full bodied than plain rice and lentils, just like beer compared to bread.

ANISE

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Anise is sweet and very aromatic.

COTTAGE CHEESE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 173 likes

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Cottage cheese is easier to digest and lighter than most other dairy products. Ysha Oakes recommends mixing Cottage Cheese with flax seed oil and spices like black pepper and turmeric.

CHOCOLATE (CACAO)

(4.12 out of 5 stars) 8 ratings, 331 likes

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Romance may be sealed with a box of chocolates, but passion for chocolate is as eternal as true love. Long before John Cadbury invented the chocolate bar, native meso-american peoples brewed chocolate with medicinal herbs. Chocolate has been used as...

ORANGE

(3.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 295 likes

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The peel contains diosmin and hesperidin usually in varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

RICE FLOUR

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 150 likes

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Many gluten free breads contain rice flour. Although rice flour rises in the oven, Vata take care! It is denser and drier than wheat.

SEAWEED (HYDRATED)

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Seaweed must by hydrated before serving to pacify Vata, otherwise it is too dry. The fire quality of salt aggravates Pitta and the liquid quality Kapha. Seaweed supplies iodine and has a rich nutrient profile. Examples include: Wakame...

BROWN SUGAR

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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...

KOMBUCHA

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Akin to vinegar, kombucha is highly acidic and increases Pitta. As a medicine, kombucha should be consumed in small quantities only, such as a tsp before meals.

WHITE FLOUR (WHEAT)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 5 ratings, 107 likes

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There is a popular saying, "Wheat increases brawn, but rice increases brain." Wheat is dense nutrition, but it is difficult to digest. It pulls too much blood out of circulation and into the digestive tract. The loss of blood dulls the mind, and voila...

COCONUT MILK

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