
Promotes strength and solidity. Anabolic, but without creating stagnation. Regulates estrogen (phytoestrogens can increase or decrease estrogen as needed). Liver, Spleen Yin Tonic. Alfalfa is a urinary & GI membrane restorative. (Source: Holmes)
Black salt is a popular condiment in India. It consists of salt infused with sulfurous herbs and spices. It is a brownish pink color due to sulfides that also give it its unique pungent flavor.
Tangy and moldy, like gym socks but glorious all the same.
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.
The richness of cheese promises nourishment, comfort and contentment. However, as it mixens and thickens mucus in the digestive tract with a thick, creamy layer of dairy, it bogs down digestion, and encourages candida growth. Once the richness enters...
Cooling, lymphatic decongestant, alterative, anti-inflammatory diuretic, astringent, bitter. Mild demulcent. like Cleavers but stronger decongestant.
Egg yolks are satisfying, creamy and soft. They have a high fat and nutrient content, containing everything necessary to nourish a baby chicken. This makes egg a strengthening tonic. Egg yolks are creamy when raw, and have a dry, pasty...
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...
Nutritive tonic and nerve tonic. Strengthens. Promotes urination.
Chances are, Popeye never ate spinach, he ate lamb's quarters instead. Next time you take a stroll in your neighborhood, look for this nutritious weed that boasts a meaty, hearty flavor. A northern relative of quinoa, lamb's quarters is packed with...
Like a salty bean cheese, tangy and sour with a funk. Used mainly in soups as a flavorful stock.
All hard, dense foods are difficult to digest and hard cheeses are no exception. In addition, parmesan cheese is salty, aged, and fermented provoking both Pitta and Kapha.
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...
Salt brings out the flavor in food and brings enthusiasm for life. While contraindicated for Kapha and high blood pressure, salt is also one of the most important medicines for Vata
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...
"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...
Spinach is heating in the digestive tract and drying. It is unusual because very few foods are both astringent and hot. It contains oxalic acid which provokes Pitta and is especially contraindicated for kidney stones. Cooking destroys the oxalic acid.
Sprinkle dried nettles into any soup or stir-fry, and they will impart a rustic, hearty earthiness. This is a rough, tough plant that brings its strength and stamina as a gift for your body. It's deep green color is a sign of its stellar nutritional...
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Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’