College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Almond Date Shake With Cinnamon


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"Ah, date and almond shake - a favourite! Rather than shop-bought almond milk I soak blanched almonds overnight in a mug..."
- Jacqui Gibbons

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How to Make Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon

INGREDIENTS


SKILL LEVEL: EASY
2 whole
1 c
1/8 inch
2 pinch

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

For best results, make homemade almond milk, and soak dates overnight.

1. Remove the pit from the dates.

2. Warm the milk in advance, or serve room temperature according to preference.

3. Puree all ingredients in a blender.

4. For a stronger restorative effect, add 1 tsp ghee and substitute milk for almond milk. You may also substitute with coconut milk.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Frothy Almond Date Shake nurtures and comforts your whole body, making it a the perfect addition to an Ayurvedic diet. Dates add charm and sweetness to the shake, while a slice of fiery ginger and a dash of spicy cinnamon heat up this elegant blend, warming your body to the core. On chilly fall afternoons, a creamy Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon seems to bring you back down to earth, soothing your mind and sweetening your mood.

Rebuilding Stamina

This silky-soft shake is a lush Ayurvedic tonic for fall exhaustion. In Fall months, your body uses all available energy to build an insulating layer of fat before winter. Meanwhile, low humidity in autumn depletes your fluids. The result is that your blood will be depleted of sugars, fats, and fluids throughout the season, making your muscles feel weak and tired, while your mind becomes anxious and spacey. You may even suffer from insomnia this time of year, or feel as if your bones are weaker. Fortunately, the nourishing sumptuousness of dates and grounding effect of almond milk can help you nourish your blood and rebuild your stamina.

Keeping Calm in the Fall

Colder temperatures refresh your mind, nurturing a welcome reprieve from summer laziness. Exciting new plans and daydreams accompany this boost in mental alertness. Yet, this freshness of mind, when coupled with depletion, can trigger worry and anxiety. The fall is a time where you might feel especially scattered, spacey, and mentally overstimulated. Date sugar is a balm for your nerves, coaxing a racing mind back to earth and helping you to stay grounded. Dates and almond milk work together to strengthen and soothe the liver, reducing the intensity of emotions.

Respiratory Health

What do cinnamon and dates have in common? They are both demulcent expectorants that can soothe your throat when dry. Paradoxically, demulcents also help you eliminate thick mucus from the respiratory tract. Cinnamon and dates also share astringency, useful for toning the digestive tract. Since dates are heavy for digestion, pureeing and mixing them with ginger makes them more readily digestible. Pureed food is essentially pre-chewed, making it easier for your stomach to break down and absorb nutrients in your food quickly.

Ojas-Building Tonic

Both almond milk and dates are considered ojas-building nourishment. Ojas is the poetic term used in Ayurveda for heartiness. If a person has healthy skin, strong immunity, and "juiciness," Ayurveda says they have good ojas. Ojas are associated with mental stability, endurance, and a calm, grounded presence. They bring peace of mind and bestow strong fertility. Vata and Pitta people can enjoy this tonifying shake on a regular basis to build ojas, while Kapha people - who generally have high amounts of ojas naturally - should save this beverage for special occasions only.

Popular variations of this Ayurvedic recipe include cardamom, fennel, and saffron.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Other

Aromatic

STRONG AROMATIC

Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Downward

DOWNWARD

Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles.

SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Blood Plasma Lymph

BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph.

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Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Carminative

CARMINATIVE

Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.

SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Appetizer

APPETIZER

Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat.

SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

SEE ALL 'TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

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,
Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

Warms the chest and lungs, clearing mucus and allowing for clear breathing. Often these herbs are hot, aromatic, and pungent.

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,
Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Hemostatic

HEMOSTATIC

An herb that stops bleeding.

SEE ALL 'HEMOSTATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Livotonic

LIVOTONIC

An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

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Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

SEE ALL 'APHRODISIAC' FOODS / HERBS

,
Promotes Fertility

PROMOTES-FERTILITY

An herb that promotes fertility. Generally used by women who wish to become pregnant. These herbs may also help with menstrual problems of deficiency, such as amenorrhea (lack of a period).

SEE ALL 'PROMOTES-FERTILITY' FOODS / HERBS

,
Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium, Soluble Fiber, Fats

Foods with a Similar Nature to Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon

  • Cinnamon

    Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Carminative, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Demulcent, Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Galactagogue, Soothes-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Emmenagogue, Livotonic, Diaphoretic, Galactagogue, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Demulcent, Emmenagogue, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Diaphoretic, Galactagogue, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Dates (dried)

    Dates (dried) has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Livotonic, Tonic, Diuretic, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Galactagogue, Promotes-fertility

    LEARN MORE

  • Nigella (black cumin)

    Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Carminative, Galactagogue, Diaphoretic, Lowers-blood-sugar

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Warms-chest, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Warms-chest, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Warms-chest, Carminative, Emmenagogue, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Flower / Bee Pollen

    Flower / Bee Pollen has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Promotes-fertility, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Sesame Oil

    Sesame Oil has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-fertility, Livotonic, Stimulates-energy, Nutritive, Tonic, Galactagogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Honey

    Honey has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Tonic, Demulcent, Soothes-throat, Hemostatic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Almond Date Shake with Cinnamon

  • Vidari

    Vidari has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Hemostatic, Livotonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Aphrodisiac, Promotes-fertility, Demulcent, Soothes-throat, Diuretic, Tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Wild Ginger

    Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

    Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Emmenagogue, Stimulates-energy, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Saw Palmetto

    Saw Palmetto has these Actions in Common

    Galactagogue, Nutritive, Promotes-fertility, Soothes-throat, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Shatavari

    Shatavari has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Galactagogue, Nutritive, Promotes-fertility, Soothes-throat, Tonic, Aphrodisiac

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Stimulates-energy, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Carminative, Hemostatic

    LEARN MORE

  • Bala

    Bala has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent, Nutritive, Promotes-fertility

    LEARN MORE

  • KapiKacchu

    KapiKacchu has these Actions in Common

    Promotes-fertility, Stimulates-energy, Aphrodisiac, Carminative, Diuretic, Emmenagogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Pennyroyal

    Pennyroyal has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Appetizer, Cardiac-stimulant, Carminative

    LEARN MORE

  • Mugwort

    Mugwort has these Actions in Common

    Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Promotes-fertility, Appetizer

    LEARN MORE

  • Gokshura

    Gokshura has these Actions in Common

    Tonic, Aphrodisiac, Demulcent, Diuretic, Nutritive, Promotes-fertility

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

View Other Healthy Recipes for Autumn-Winter

This recipe is recommended for Autumn-Winter. Check out these other Autumn-Winter recipes here.
VIEW ALL AUTUMN-WINTER RECIPES MORE VATA / PITTA RECIPES
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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Almond Date Shake With Cinnamon'

Do you like 'almond date shake with cinnamon'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'almond date shake with cinnamon'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 15 ratings, 4255 likes
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Emily Wishnick Philadelphia, PA
2012-09-24
“In love with this recipe. It feels so good to drink it! thank you!"
“Ashley - Yes, normally you separate fruits from meals - however in this case it is pureed which successfully blends the food into 'one substance'. Plus, dates have alot of complex sugars, which unlike most fruits makes them more compatible with heavier foods.

Gloria - Try hitting the substitute button. Raisins, figs, persimmons come to mind.

Puneet - Warmed up is certainly preferred. I will add this note to the recipe. Thanks!"

Jess Allen park, MI
2012-12-26
“I have another question regarding the fruits with meals: would it be okay to cook fruit with grains? Say, if I put oats and apples together in the slow cooker for breakfast? I've done this a few times and have found that it sits well with me but am not sure if it's creating something I can't recognize."
“Yes - as long as your digestion remains strong, many 'poor' food combinations are ok."
Jacqui Gibbons
2013-09-05
“Ah, date and almond shake - a favourite! Rather than shop-bought almond milk I soak blanched almonds overnight in a mug of water, then in the morning simply add the dates and cinnamon (and I always use cardamon) and blend. Thanks for the idea of heating it up. Re your image, I notice you use almonds with the skin on, but I was taught to never ever use these as the skin is hard to digest and slightly toxic."
David McKaig Swannanoa, NC
2013-09-05
“Enjoy the shake as a healthy dessert!"
Trish Marko Calgary, AB
2013-09-14
“This is the best tasting shake ! I used organic coconut milk, a sprinkle of cinnamon and cardamon with the dates and pressed liquify on my blender. Turned out perfect ! Even has a nice creamy top, almost like a latte top, except better ! Thank you"
Martha Thierry Los angeles, CA
2013-10-10
“Delicious ! ! !"
Kristy Meyer St. louis, MO
2014-02-17
“overwhelming urge to throw in an apple, but i'm guessing that's too much fruit w/ milk.."
Jess Allen park, MI
2014-09-10
“This is one of my favorite things to make and with many variations. Date shakes are the best...with cinnamon, ginger, saffron, or a chai blend. Even add a banana and/or lime. For those who are sensitive to dairy milk and want a very close-tasting alternative, try making Macadamia nut milk. I'm telling you the taste is so rich and "milk" like and it makes the best date shakes!"
Faith Oakland, CA
2014-12-12
“Macadamia Nut Milk ?? Want to give us our recipe Jess?"
Nneka Raleigh, NC
2015-04-18
“Amazing! I know you make great recepies.... I will have to stop eating only wild and go the conventional route. My body is very happy for this tasty treat! I will be making this again soon. "
Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2016-03-21
“Almond milk is fine for vata. Kapha can substitute rice milk."
2017-04-26
“Soaked the dates overnight, warmed almond milk to slightly warmer than room and blended all ingredients. So yummy. With homemade almond milk the consistency was much more creamer, and tastier, to me. Thank u for this wonderful, luscious recipe."
Asshanta Fayetteville, NC
2017-10-27
“Love this drink, will try the brown rice for a light meal substitute especially in the evenings heartily but not too heavy for a evening meal, any thoughts on this idea? Vatapitta Dosha."
529Terra! Metamora
2021-01-08
“Absolutely delicious and comforting. I will make this a go to shake, for sure. I made my own almond milk and added a dribble of pure vanilla extract. Very tasty!"
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