ACAI

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 35 likes

SAVE FOOD

Acai means fruit that cries. Acai is a sweet & juicy fruit with a satisfying purple pulp. It provides rich nutrition, high antioxidant value, and fiber.

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...

ADZUKI BEANS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 370 likes

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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.

AGAVE NECTAR

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 323 likes

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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....

AJWAIN

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 411 likes

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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.

ALCOHOL

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 185 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...

ALLSPICE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 362 likes

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Highly aromatic & spicy, Allspice is an ideal appetizer that refreshes the mouth. It is a delicious addition to meats and desserts, where it doubles as a digestive aid. It's taste and astringency closely resembles cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and it...

ALMOND BUTTER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 611 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, 762 likes

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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, 534 likes

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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...

ALOE VERA GEL

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 501 likes

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Aloe includes more than 250 species of flowering succulents and is native to Africa, Madagascar and Jordan. It is closely related to cactus, yucca and onion. For thousands of years and across many cultures, aloe has been used to heal a variety of...

ALOE VERA JUICE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 332 likes

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Aloe includes more than 250 species of flowering succulents and is native to Africa, Madagascar and Jordan. It is closely related to cactus, yucca and onion. For thousands of years and across many cultures, aloe has been used to heal a variety of...

AMARANTH

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 407 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...

ANISE

SAVE FOOD

Anise is sweet and very aromatic.

APPLE (COOKED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 914 likes

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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)

(3.67 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 346 likes

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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....

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 6 ratings, 536 likes

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Often used for weight loss, vinegar strongly increases the flow of bile. Bile is a fatty, oily substance made by the liver, and stored in the gall bladder. It helps you digest fats. Since bile is also a fatty oily substance, draining bile from the...

ARTICHOKE

SAVE FOOD

Artichokes, a member of the thistle family, are a hepatoprotectant. Artichoke may be gassy for those with weak digestion. Artichoke is very high in fiber. It's chologogue properties, together with its high fiber content make it ideal to flush toxic...

ARTICHOKE HEARTS

SAVE FOOD

See the Ayurvedic Analysis of Artichokes page.

ASPARAGUS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 408 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 ratings, 655 likes

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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 rating, 335 likes

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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 ratings, 593 likes

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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...

BEETS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 526 likes

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"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 BEANS

SAVE FOOD

Black beans are a rich source of vegetable protein, easing any meat cravings for those seeking satiation. The shiny obsidian quality of the beans are a beautiful addition to any meal, providing an earthy depth and dark contrast. Black beans appear...

BLACK PEPPER

SAVE FOOD

The word 'pepper' is dervied from the South Asian word 'pippali'. Pippali (long pepper) is a famous herb in Ayurveda for lung and heart conditions, and is a close relative of black pepper. The word pepper gradually came to include the unrelated New...

BLACK TEA

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 280 likes

SAVE FOOD

Caffeine shifts awareness from the heart chakra to the third eye. New trades routes brought caffeinated beverages to Europe creating an 'Age of Enlightenment' and ending the middle ages. Ayurveda comes from an older time where the mind was not separate...

BLUE CHEESE

SAVE FOOD

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

BLUEBERRY

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 474 likes

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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, 444 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, 155 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, 142 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.