College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Potatoes With Spinach Soup


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5.00 out of 5 stars
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"I made this for friends and it was very well received on a cold february evening. "
- Robin Schweizer Landenberg, PA

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How to Make Potatoes with Spinach Soup

INGREDIENTS

2 whole
2 tbsp
1 clove
1 lbs
1 tsp
1/4 tsp
1/4 tsp
2 pinch

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

Sauteed the chopped onion in the sunflower oil. Add garlic when onions turn clear. Add remaining ingredients. Fill to the top of the vegetables with water. Bring to a boil then lower heat and simmer, covered, until potatoes are soft.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Spinach is heating but potatoes are astringent and cooling. Turmeric opens up circulation bringing heat to the extremities for Kapha dosha.

WHAT IS POTATOES WITH SPINACH SOUP?

Simple, direct and bold. Turmeric is optional but a great addition if you have it.

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 Potatoes with Spinach Soup Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Potatoes with Spinach Soup' 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 Potatoes with Spinach Soup

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

LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT HOT

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

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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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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AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating Pitta aggravating Vata 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
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

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

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 and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Potatoes with Spinach Soup
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)
Burns Toxins

BURNS-TOXINS

An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them.

SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' 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

,
Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' 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

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

,
Warms Chest

WARMS-CHEST

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

SEE ALL 'WARMS-CHEST' FOODS / HERBS

,
Irritates Throat

IRRITATES-THROAT

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

SEE ALL 'IRRITATES-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

,
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

,
Antioxidant

ANTIOXIDANT

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions.

SEE ALL 'ANTIOXIDANT' 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

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
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

,
Saponins

SAPONINS

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

SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium, Phosphorous,
Betaine

BETAINE

Used to reduce homocysteine in the blood, which supports proper liver function and prevents fatigue and blood clots. Improves muscle stamina and weight loss.

SEE ALL 'BETAINE' FOODS / HERBS

, Carbohydrate,
Magnesium

MAGNESIUM

Helps muscles relax. Laxative.

SEE ALL 'MAGNESIUM' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin C,
Salicylates

SALICYLATES

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

SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin E, Vitamin K,
Calcium

CALCIUM

Calcium nourishes bones and muscles. A muscle cell is activated when calcium enters the cell. It relaxes when the calcium is secreted.

SEE ALL 'CALCIUM' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin A, Folate,
Iron

IRON

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

SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS

, Soluble Fiber, Sulphur, Sulfated Polysaccharides, Polysaccharides, 5a Reductase Inhibitor,
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

Foods with a Similar Nature to Potatoes with Spinach Soup

  • Horseradish

    Horseradish has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Cholagogue, Flushes-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Wasabi

    Wasabi has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Warms-chest, Cholagogue, Flushes-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard

    Mustard has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Flushes-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Irritates-throat, Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Hemp Seed

    Hemp Seed has these Actions in Common

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

    LEARN MORE

  • Daikon Radish

    Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Flushes-sinuses, Diaphoretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Garlic

    Garlic has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Sedative, Cholagogue, Irritates-throat, Diaphoretic, Makes-you-tired

    LEARN MORE

  • Garlic (raw)

    Garlic (raw) has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Cholagogue, Flushes-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Warms-chest, Antioxidant, Cholagogue, Blood-tonic, Flushes-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Potato

    Potato has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Antioxidant, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Potatoes with Spinach Soup

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashwagandha

    Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative, Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Builds-stamina

    LEARN MORE

  • Blue Vervain

    Blue Vervain has these Actions in Common

    Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative

    LEARN MORE

  • Osha

    Osha has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Mahasudarshan

    Mahasudarshan has these Actions in Common

    Burns-toxins, Cholagogue, Diaphoretic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Hops

    Hops has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Sedative, Cholagogue

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Shower

    Hot Shower has these Actions in Common

    Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Warms-chest

    LEARN MORE

  • Hot Bath

    Hot Bath has these Actions in Common

    Warms-chest, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses

    LEARN MORE

  • Sit in the Sauna

    Sit in the Sauna has these Actions in Common

    Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy

    Encourage a Sweat / Sweat Therapy has these Actions in Common

    Diaphoretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Burns-toxins, Cardiac-stimulant

    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.
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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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Comments & Impressions of 'Potatoes With Spinach Soup'

Do you like 'potatoes with spinach soup'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'potatoes with spinach soup'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 318 likes
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Sally Bond Chapel hill, NC
2013-01-23
“Hi John - This recipe looks right up my alley! I have a question about the spinach. If it's "heating" then why is it contraindicated for Kapha dosha? [Likewise, why are "cooling" potatoes good for Kapha dosha?] Thanks! Sal"
Robin Schweizer Landenberg, PA
2015-02-13
“I made this for friends and it was very well received on a cold february evening. "
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