
Popular in southern soul food. Apparently, eating black eyed peas on New Years Day brings prosperity.
Cabbage's cool, light nature makes it ideal for recovery from a few days of heavy foods. Cooked, it is soft yet bulky, providing ample fiber to clear and gently cleanse the GI. A hot steaming bowl of soft cabbage soup soothes as it satisfies. Though...
Grapefruit is a relatively new addition to the citrus family. It is a hybrid first discovered in the 18th century. Described as tart, tangy, or sweet, the grapefruit is said to be one of the "Seven Wonders of Barbados, because legend says the fruit was...
Also called string beans!
Beans are the 'musical fruit' because they contain saponins to protect themselves against insects. Saponins form the sudsy foam on the surface of a cooking pot of beans. They prevent protein digestion resulting in stagnation and gas of the bowels.
Lima beans are a relatively sweet, easy to digest bean and an important source of protein for vegetarian.
Pinto beans are a 'mottled' bean. Regarding their cultural importance, pinto beans are the official state vegetable of Nex Mexico, where I studied ayurveda! Pinto beans are used for refried beans and chili. They are also called 'frijoles' in Mexico.
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.
Seitan is made from the gluten of wheat washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch dissolves. The insoluble gluten remains behind. Seitan is an alternative to soybean-based meat substitutes.
Rich, dense and satisfying in nature, the celebratory shrimp is a fun favorite at parties. The little crustaceans are popcorn sized for easy consumption, making an elegant hors d'oeuvres for any festive occasion. Some of the ways we commonly enjoy...
Spaghetti squash gives the sensation of eating a large hearty meal without the consequence of heaviness in the belly when you are finished. It is light and easy to digest.
Tempeh is fermented soybeans.
Researchers have found that the bitter taste of turnips is due to calcium. Turnip greens contain up to 4 times the calcium of other cruciferous vegetables. Several scientists are researching the presence of calcium taste buds. Confirmation would bring...
Sesame oil is derived from nutty sweet sesame seeds. As the seed matures, it bursts out of its pod. Think back to the children's story about "open sesame," a secret password in the medieval Arabic adventure tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. As the...
Wine stimulates agni & taste. It penetrates deeply into tissues. It is warming and brings mental satisfaction. Wine softens stools. Wine contains tannins which are astringent. It is hot, sweet and sour. Certain wines may be sharp or bitter as...
Raw brassicas contain chemicals that can block thyroid function called goitrogens. These chemicals are easily inactivated by steaming or cooking.
Cranberries grow in acidic bogs. Early settlers in North American thought cranberry flowers looked like a crane, and named them 'craneberry'. They are a major commercial crop in North America.
Pumpkin seeds are warming, sweet, heavy, oily and blood building. In fact, if you puree them into a butter, the oil that separates out is blood red. Building your blood generally boosts your umph and your digestion. Also known as pepitas, pumpkin seeds...
Epazote is a popular cooking herb in Mexican cuisine. Avoid in pregnancy as epazote is listed as an emmenagogue. Anti-Parasites The essential oil was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a vermifuge and was...
IntroductionEarthy, oily and slightly sweet, hemp seeds are a hearty addition to your winter diet. These dense seeds nourish and build tissue, leaving you feeling strong, stable and sustained, even during the harshest months of...
Watercress is the ideal nutritive tonic for Kapha with anemia. Raw brassicas contain chemicals that can block thyroid function called goitrogens. These chemicals are easily inactivated by steaming or cooking.
Corn syrup may seem ideal for Vata individuals trying to gain weight. The fructose is converted directly into fat tissue, maximizing weight gain. However, corn syrup bypasses your natural appetite suppressing mechanisms, which lead to overconsumption...
Although Jicama appears like a dusty old stone, it's taste and texture are refreshingly sweet and crisp. Jicama is the only root in the bean family consumed as a food. Licorice root, the other edible root of the legume family, is largely consumed as an...
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...
Glossy orange-red American Persimmons (Diospyros virginiana) grow wild from the east coast through to the Midwest. Akin to dates, Persimmons are very sweet & gooey. They are too sweet to ferment or rot, and thus perfect for drying. American persimmons...
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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’