How to Make Quinoa with Mint, Cilantro & Red Onion

SERVINGS: 4

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 30 MINUTES

MEAL: LUNCH-DINNER

STYLE: WESTERN

PREPARATION: BOILED

EAT IN: SUMMER, SPRING

FOR OCCASION: DINNER-PARTY, CLEANSE

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Spring Waterworks

The songs of the birds, buzzing bees and blossoming daisies in spring tempt us outdoors. The sun warms our skin and creaky bones after a long winter. Coming out of winter, our bodies are making some big changes like shedding winter fat.

The warmer weather indicates to your body that we won't need our extra February insulation, triggering a release the fats into your bloodstream. The fatty, thick, enriched blood bogs your circulatory system and respiratory tract. Enriched blood is called sweet blood in Ayurveda. It causes water retention and mucus congestion. You may notice more saliva this time of year, bad breath, a persistent sore throat, or flu like symptoms. Your lungs may feel heavy and the mind sluggish.

Spring Allergies: Myth or Fact?

Flowers bloom all summer long, yet in the spring a single grain of pollen triggers a flood of mucus. Pollen in the air is beyond our control. Heavy, fat-enriched blood predisposes us to more mucus production. Reducing fats and heavy foods during the spring can mitigate our response to pollen. Fat metabolism tends to aggravate the liver, increasing inflammation and immune sensitivity. Cilantro calms our immune sensitivity to pollen. It is hypoallergenic and cools the liver.

Mint refreshes the mind, disperses dullness and lifts the fog. It breaks up mucus and fluid stagnation in the lungs, throat and sinuses. Mint and cilantro are both diuretics with the potential to drain excess water via the urinary tract. Raw onions have a cleansing effect on the liver and a laxative effect in the GI. Wild onions, a common weed, are a great addition to the spring time menu.

What is a Spring Fever?

"Spring Fever" is the new energy, vitality and vigor we associate with the warmer spring weather. Literally, the fever comes when spring weather warms your blood, dilating blood vessels in the arms and legs. As the sap starts to run in the maple trees, circulation improves to your extremities, effectively ending the season of winter hibernation. The arms enjoy the additional blood, and crave physical activities such as gardening or spring cleaning. Outdoor activities also ignites protein cravings. Quinoa, a grain, can satisfy protein cravings. It is a complete protein often appearing on super-foods lists.

Extra blood in the extremities translates to less blood for digestion. Mint and onion stimulate a waning spring appetite and quinoa is easy to digest. On warm days, a release of fluid buildup from moving blood can cause the hands and feet to swell. As diaphoretics, mint and onion both cause sweating that cleanses the skin and disperses swelling in the hands and feet.

Contraindications

Raw onions may be too intense and pungent for sensitive digestive tracts. In that case saute onions until they are translucent. Mint, an inspiring herb, could potentially scatterbrain a Vata person. Mint and cilantro, both diuretics, may be too drying for Vata.

WHAT IS QUINOA WITH MINT, CILANTRO & RED ONION?

A refreshing recipe with mint may be just what your body is asking for to combat spring-time allergies. It's also perfect to whip up for a spring picnic because it's light and won't spoil while you're out enjoying the sunshine.

This dish essentially serves up a mix of grain with fresh, zesty herbs. Inspired by tabbouleh, it substitutes clearing mint for parsley, and light, protein rich quinoa for wheat. Raw onions add crunchy texture. Give this zesty recipe a try, or mix it up a little with your own ingredients and let us know how it goes!

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.

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn 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 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 LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD
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? Learn 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 SOUR ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic. LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR BITTER ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Subtaste: 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
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Quinoa with Mint, Cilantro & Red Onion 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. Digestion: Quenches Thirst QUENCHES-THIRST An herb or substance that relieves thirst. SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS , Appetizer APPETIZER Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat. SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: 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 Mind, Stress & Sleep: Strengthens Resolve STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE Increases determination and courage by reducing stress and building strength. SEE ALL 'STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Crown STIMULATES-CROWN Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Front Of Brain STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS , Dopaminergic DOPAMINERGIC Dopamine lifts mood, but also reduces prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and lutenizing hormone (LH). SEE ALL 'DOPAMINERGIC' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Stimulates Energy STIMULATES-ENERGY This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS , Refreshing REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized. SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' 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 , Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Diaphoretic DIAPHORETIC An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin. SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS , Refreshes Skin REFRESHES-SKIN Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin. SEE ALL 'REFRESHES-SKIN' FOODS / HERBS Respiratory-Health: Flushes Sinuses FLUSHES-SINUSES An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus. SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS , Soothes Throat SOOTHES-THROAT Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat. SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS Immune System: Anti Inflammatory ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems. SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS , Flushes Membranes FLUSHES-MEMBRANES Herbs in this category stimulate mucus membranes to release fluids, flushing them out. SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-MEMBRANES' FOODS / HERBS , Immune Calming IMMUNE-CALMING Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions. SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS Heart & Circulation: 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 , Alterative ALTERATIVE Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter. SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS Kidney & Urinary: 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 Liver & Gallbladder: 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 Weight Loss: Hypolipidemic HYPOLIPIDEMIC Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells. SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' 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 , Coumarin COUMARIN Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory. SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS , Aromatase Inhibitor AROMATASE-INHIBITOR Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen. SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS , Rutin RUTIN Rutin is a flavonoid with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Commonly used to treat conditions such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure. SEE ALL 'RUTIN' FOODS / HERBS , 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 , Saponins SAPONINS Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant). SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' 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 , Sodium, 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 , Rosmarinic Acid ROSMARINIC-ACID Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid. SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS , Iron IRON Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells. SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS , Zinc, Sulphur, Sulfated Polysaccharides, Soluble Fiber, Phytates PHYTATES Phytates prevent absorption of nutrients. They are commonly found in all seeds, including nuts, grains, and beans. Sprouting greatly reduces phytate content, as well as long, slow cooking with vinegar. SEE ALL 'PHYTATES' FOODS / HERBS , Folate, Magnesium MAGNESIUM Helps muscles relax. Laxative. SEE ALL 'MAGNESIUM' FOODS / HERBS , Fats, Polysaccharides, Carbohydrate

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Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.