ADZUKI BEANS

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

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

SAVE FOOD

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...

ALMONDS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 534 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...

AMARANTH

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

SAVE FOOD

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...

BANANA

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 5 ratings, 655 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...

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, 103 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, 526 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...

BUCKWHEAT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 175 likes

SAVE FOOD

Buckwheat's hearty warmth hits the spot on any damp cloudy day in November. Enjoy as you snuggle up with your loved ones, or while listening to crackling logs in a wood burning stove. Smoky, nutty and earthy, buckwheat is slightly demulcent like...

CHICKEN

SAVE FOOD

The dark meat of chicken is oily and has a rich fat content, making it a grounding, nourishing meat for Vata and Pitta. Chicken is an excellent choice to balance conditions of dryness and debility by giving the body strong protein with a heavy dose...

CHOCOLATE (CACAO)

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 7 ratings, 275 likes

SAVE FOOD

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...

DATES (DRIED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 196 likes

SAVE FOOD

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.

EGGS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 246 likes

SAVE FOOD

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...

GHEE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 415 likes

SAVE FOOD

Trying to cut down on butter at the movies? Try popcorn with ghee and cinnamon. Ghee is golden and delicious. Children love it. It is also great as a garnish drizzled over food. For details on how to make ghee yourself search for "ghee" in the recipe...

HEMP SEED

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 294 likes

SAVE FOOD

Introduction Heavy, 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...

HONEY

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 237 likes

SAVE FOOD

Honey - The Nectar of the Gods This pure and natural heavenly gift from nature was the first sweetener known to man. Honey's sweet goodness has been an icon of abundance for centuries. It's golden syrup seems to capture the...

JACKFRUIT

SAVE FOOD

Jackfruit is grown in subtropical lowlands. They have the largest fruit of any tree. Like fig trees, jackfruit are in the moraceae family.

LAMB

SAVE FOOD

Lamb fat is heavy. Muscle fats are widely used in ayurveda for convalescing (recovering from illness). However, muscle (mamsa) and muscle fats (vasa) are heavy for digestion. Downstream, they cause 'sroto-rodha' or blockage of blood. After several days...

LAVENDER

SAVE FOOD

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.

MOLASSES

SAVE FOOD

Introduction You'll feel warmed to the bone and relaxed after eating molasses. The gooey and thick nature of this sweetener gave rise to the famous phrase "as slow as molasses." One client observed these qualities, "The molasses...

POPPED AMARANTH

SAVE FOOD

Any dry grain will aggravate Vata.

POPPY SEED

SAVE FOOD

From the poppy family, contains slight traces of narcotics that, like nutmeg, help induce sleep.

PORK

SAVE FOOD

This substantial meat builds blood and strength (balya). It's strengthening qualities (bruhana) are ideal for weak, or deficient clients. A pork stew with kale, garlic, ginger, and molasses is a tasty postpartum dish that will rebuild blood...

PUMPKIN

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 124 likes

SAVE FOOD

Soft, sweet, and buttery, pumpkin pie has been my favorite Thanksgiving treat since childhood. I've baked over 8 pumpkin pies this season alone.

QUINOA

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 6 ratings, 547 likes

SAVE FOOD

This extremely nutritious pseudo-grain was originally cultivated on the high plains of the South American Andes Mountains. Although the wide variety of health benefits is just beginning to be studied and appreciated by modern western countries, the...

ROSEMARY

SAVE FOOD

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.

SESAME OIL

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 231 likes

SAVE FOOD

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...

SESAME SEEDS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 224 likes

SAVE FOOD

"Open sesame" was the secret password in the medieval Arabic adventure tale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. These magic words revealed a cave rich with treasures secreted by thieves. Sesame seeds and oil are a food treasure rich with myriad health...

TAHINI

SAVE FOOD

Smooth, hearty tahini is the creamy butter of blended sesame seeds. This savory and sensual spread invites a Middle Eastern richness to your...

TOFU

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 158 likes

SAVE FOOD

Tofu was invented in China over 2000 years ago.