College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup With Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake


How to Make Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake

  • SERVINGS: 3
  • PREP TIME: 8 MINUTES
  • COOK TIME: 25 MINUTES
  • SKILL LEVEL:
    MEDIUM
  • PREPARATION: SOUP
  • EAT IN: AUTUMN-WINTER

INGREDIENTS


SKILL LEVEL: MEDIUM
2 tbsp
3 clove
1 lbs
1 c
1/2 tsp
1/2 tsp
1/2 c
1/2 lbs

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE


  1. Chop and sear pork and shiitake in sesame oil until browned.
  2. Meanwhile, mince the garlic and bring a saucepan with 2c water to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
  3. Just before removing pork, sautee garlic in pork pan for 30 seconds.
  4. Add all ingredients to the saucepan and cover the ingredients with water.
  5. Simmer 20 minutes and serve.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

All the ingredients are fortifying and blood building, suitable for postpartum and anemia.

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 Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake' 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 Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake

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.

Find Out More

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

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?

Find Out More

PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

SALTY

ABOUT SALTY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Salty refers to anything with salt, or high mineral content.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SALTY

BITTER

ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes and is laxative, and drying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER

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
Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating Pitta 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
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

AGGRAVATES
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

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Other

Musky

MILD MUSKY

Have an earthy smell to them, such as mushrooms.

SEE ALL 'MUSKY' FOODS / HERBS

Red Blood

RED-BLOOD

Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels.

SEE ALL 'RED-BLOOD' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake
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)
Appetite Suppressant

APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT

Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain.

SEE ALL 'APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

Strengthens Resolve

STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE

Increases determination and courage by reducing stress and building strength.

SEE ALL 'STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE' FOODS / HERBS

,
Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Anxiolytic

ANXIOLYTIC

Herbs that help people suffering from anxiety or panic. They promote a state of calm and often improve sleep. Most anxiolytic herbs are also nervines.

SEE ALL 'ANXIOLYTIC' FOODS / HERBS

Builds Stamina

BUILDS-STAMINA

Promotes strength, endurance and resistance in the body. Rebuilds weak tissues after a time of depletion.

SEE ALL 'BUILDS-STAMINA' FOODS / HERBS

,
Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' 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.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Irritates Throat

IRRITATES-THROAT

Creates abrasive feeling in the back of the mouth. May stimulate coughing.

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

,
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

,
Warms Head

WARMS-HEAD

An herb that increases sensations of heat and warmth in the head.

SEE ALL 'WARMS-HEAD' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' 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

Constituents:
Phosphorous,
Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

, Fats,
Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

, Protein,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

, Medium Chain Triglycerrid, Sulfated Polysaccharides, Sulphur, Polysaccharides, 5a Reductase Inhibitor,
Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

,
Inositol

INOSITOL

Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.

SEE ALL 'INOSITOL' FOODS / HERBS

, Silica Salts, Sodium, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Melatonin,
Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Phytosterols

PHYTOSTEROLS

The plant version of cholesterol. Often precursors to stress and sex hormones.

SEE ALL 'PHYTOSTEROLS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Polyphenols

POLYPHENOLS

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.

SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS

,
Salicylates

SALICYLATES

Salicylates relieve inflammation, are anti-cancer, and antidiabetic, but some are allergic to it.

SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Coumarin

COUMARIN

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

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Strengthens-resolve, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Warms-head, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Strengthens-resolve, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Warms-head, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Strengthens-resolve, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Warms-head, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Pork

    Pork has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Warms-head, Builds-stamina, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Strengthens-resolve

    LEARN MORE

  • Lamb

    Lamb has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Strengthens-resolve, Builds-stamina, Nutritive, Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach

    LEARN MORE

  • Hemp Seed

    Hemp Seed has these Actions in Common

    Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Builds-stamina, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Diuretic, Nutritive, Anxiolytic

    LEARN MORE

  • Stinging Nettles

    Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Builds-stamina, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, Diuretic, Strengthens-resolve

    LEARN MORE

  • Buffalo Milk

    Buffalo Milk has these Actions in Common

    Builds-stamina, Nutritive, Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothes-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Buckwheat

    Buckwheat has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Diuretic, Satisfies-stomach, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Strengthens-resolve

    LEARN MORE

  • Oats / Oatmeal

    Oats / Oatmeal has these Actions in Common

    Builds-stamina, Satisfies-stomach, Anxiolytic, Makes-you-tired, Appetite-suppressant, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Sesame Seeds

    Sesame Seeds has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Builds-stamina, Satisfies-stomach, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Pork & Stinging Nettles Soup with Alfalfa, Garlic & Shiitake

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy, Warms-head, Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Strengthens-resolve, Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Regular exercise

    Regular exercise has these Actions in Common

    Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Stimulates-energy, Strengthens-resolve

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Bath

    Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Warms-head, Anxiolytic, Cardiac-stimulant

    LEARN MORE

  • Epsom Salt Bath

    Epsom Salt Bath has these Actions in Common

    Flushes-sinuses, Warms-head, Anxiolytic, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Belly breathing

    Belly breathing has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina

    LEARN MORE

  • Breathing Exercises

    Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

    Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

    Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common

    Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Eleuthero Ginseng

    Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

    Stimulates-energy, Anxiolytic, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    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 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. John, his wife Natalie and their 7 kids live in Asheville, NC

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