School of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion
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AYURVEDIC RECIPES
"This recipe has it all and really made me feel well nourished. The fennel, coconut and oil add a lot of depth and..." - Susan Buck,  SEE MORE REVIEWS & COMMENTSAbout the Author: John Immel, How to Make Kale with Coconut & FennelSERVINGS: 3 PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES COOK TIME: 40 MINUTES SKILL LEVEL: EASY MEAL: PREPARATION: EAT IN: FOR OCCASION: INGREDIENTSSKILL LEVEL: EASY
PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPEAdd a small amount of water to the bottom of the saucepan. Strip kale of the central vein, chop into small pieces, and add to the water. Bring to a boil, add remaining ingredients and cover. Lower heat and simmer until Kale softens and turns a bright green.
How Can This Ayurvedic Recipe Make You Feel Great?AYURVEDIC ANALYSISHow to Cleanse with KaleIn the spring, kale and other greens are a perfect choice to restore lightness and vitality. Greens are also an essential component to your yearly spring cleanse. If you haven't started your spring cleanse yet, or don't know how to cleanse, Kale with Coconut & Fennel is a great start.Kale with Coconut and Fennel gently cleanses while it rejuvenates. The cleansing action of this recipe is mainly due to kale's bitterness, and secondarily to fennel, known for its ability to burn "ama" or toxins in Ayurveda. Here kale is cooked until soft and tender, so its bitterness is mild. Meanwhile coconut and fennel add sweetness and flavor, a popular flavor combination that will be appreciated by the whole family. Sometimes, a few meals featuring greens as the main ingredient are all you need for a mild cleanse. Try Kale with Coconut & Fennel, served alongside fish. Or, if you are vegetarian, mung dal or black bean soup. Finally, serve a bit of brown rice for a complete and nourishing meal that promises to leave you feeling light and refreshed. Whether you are recovering after a fun weekend of festivities, or simply taking a rest, Kale with Coconut & Fennel is a supportive choice. If only everything in life was so simple as a bowl of greens! Cool Your TemperKale and coconut are both cooling ingredients that can calm any irritation, whether mental or physical. The bitterness of Kale draws angry bile out of the gall bladder and liver, making you feel cool as a cucumber. Your mind will simply feel relaxed and your eyes refreshed. Coconut is one of the best refreshments, a perfect way to cool you down as the heat of summer approaches. The cooling properties can even give you some relief from mild inflammation.Bitter is BetterThe leaves of all plants have a bitter component. Kale, endives, arugula and lettuce are some of the most simple, ubiquitously available greens in the grocery store. Bitters enhance and cleanse the digestive tract by stimulating GI movement (peristalsis) and the release of bile from the liver and gall bladder. Bitters were common in the diets of our ancestors and should be re-introduced as a main ingredient in the modern diet for health and longevity.Bitter taste lightens Kapha body type's natural heaviness while cooling fiery Pitta. Kale is an excellent bitter but when undercooked it is hard and chewy, and hard to chew usually means hard to digest. Therefore, Kale should be cooked until it is soft and more digestible. Fennel and salt are both digestive aids for anyone who has trouble digesting kale. The sugar, coconut flakes and oil in this recipe add a heavy quality balancing the light quality of kale. This recipe is one of our favorite staples on Joyful Belly. For more information, read more about bitter taste and greens. Raw or Cooked?Raw food offers nutritional benefits but is more difficult to digest, causing gas and bloating. The nutritional benefits are then outweighed by the toxicity of food fermenting in the gut. Indigestible food is considered poison in Ayurveda. The measure of good food is not just its contents, but its interaction with our body.Cooked food is easy to digest but destroys some vitamins and enzymes. Neither is superior. The real answer to the cooked or raw debate depends on the digestive strength of the individual. Pitta people have the strongest digestive strength and can tolerate more raw foods than other doshas. Taken from The Raw Versus Cooked Debate. WHY EAT AN AYURVEDIC DIET?Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Ayurveda shows you your specific body type’s needs and what should be favored in your Ayurvedic menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.Is Kale with Coconut & Fennel Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?AYURVEDIC MEDICINAL QUALITIES
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.Digestion: Digestive , DIGESTIVEHerbs that encourage healthy digestion.Stomachic , STOMACHICAn herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.Carminative CARMINATIVEStimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward.Cleanse and Detox: Detoxicant , DETOXICANTAn herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body.Burns Toxins BURNS-TOXINSAn herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.Energy Vitality Strength: Stimulates energy STIMULATES-ENERGYThis category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbsHeart & Circulation: Cardiac stimulant , CARDIAC-STIMULANTHerbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.Blood Thinner , BLOOD-THINNERHerbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.Alterative , ALTERATIVELiterally, an herb that restores the proper function of the body. In practice, alteratives are usually blood cleansers and blood chemistry balancers. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.Blood Tonic , BLOOD-TONICAn herb that produces more blood cells in the body or otherwise strengthens blood. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.Vasodilator VASODILATORA vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.Immune System: Anti Inflammatory ANTI-INFLAMMATORYReduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.Kidney & Urinary: Diuretic DIURETICHerbs 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.Liver & Gall Bladder: Cholagogue CHOLAGOGUECholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the gall bladder for improved digestion.Lung and Sinus: Expectorant EXPECTORANTHerbs that help you cough up and eliminate mucus. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus.Mind, Stress & Sleep: Brain Tonic BRAIN-TONICAn herb that strengthens the brain, thereby improves either mental function, stamina, or stability.Reproductive Health: Galactagogue GALACTAGOGUEIncreases production of breast milk.Weight Loss: Hypolipidemic , HYPOLIPIDEMICScrapes fats / cleanses blood vesselsLowers Blood Sugar , LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGARAn herb that lowers blood sugar.Lowers Thyroid LOWERS-THYROIDReduces thyroid function. Useful for people with hyperthyroid.Eat Well for Life With Ayurveda: Balance Your DoshaView Other Healthy Recipes for
This recipe is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring recipes here.
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