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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Amaranth Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Amaranth: Hot Cereal with Tamari, Ghee, Agave & Black Pepper

Since Amaranth is lighter and dryer than wheat or corn, it is an ideal grain for Kapha dosha. It is a perfect alternative to oatmeal in the spring diet. Although light, it is still satisfying. It is perhaps the ideal comfort food.

Its light & dry qualities dry up excess mucus and Kapha dampness, which benefits the lungs and respiratory system. Its dryness can dry up mucus congestion in the respiratory system. Amaranth is also a diuretic.

It does not contain any gluten and is safe for those who are gluten intolerant. Amaranth contains 30% more protein than rice, and four times as much calcium as wheat. It is recommended for people with anemia because it is high in iron (blood building). It is also high in manganese and magnesium (a muscle relaxor).

Amaranth is a cereal of contradictions. It is soft but crunchy, sweet but dry. It energizes but at the same time relaxes the muscles. It is especially soothing and cooling to the eyes, which is evidence of its Pitta reducing effects. At least one client reported, "It makes me feel bright and alert." It has a relatively neutral to warm temperature effect overall.

Amaranth may suppress appetite because of its astringency, which seems to absorb all moisture from the mouth. It is easy to digest for most individuals, although some kapha individuals will report, "The gooeyness of amaranth felt heavy on my stomach. I felt full very fat." Amaranth bulks up the stool, but may also dry out stools as well. As a stool binding agent, it can relieve diarrhea in some individuals.

About Amaranth

Amaranth represented up to 80% of the caloric intake of the Aztecs before the Spanish conquest. Amaranth tastes somewhat like corn, but is somewhat less sweet. Others have described the taste as nutty, like bacon or wood, or slightly bitter. It is soft, yet due to astringency leaves a rough sensation on the mouth.

Cooking Amaranth

Amaranth is a versatile grain that works well in soups, as a breakfast porridge, or mixed with other grains and served with rice. It improves with seasoning due to its neutral taste. It is easy to cook. It can be popped like popcorn and mixed with honey, nuts and raisins. To balance the dry astringency, oily, sweet, sour and salty ingredients are often paired with amaranth. Amaranth requires alot of water in cooking, and must be fully cooked to be digestible.

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Is Amaranth Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Amaranth' 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.

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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.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c

SPECIES: Amaranthus L. spp.

FAMILY: Amaranthaceae

MEAL: BREAKFAST, LUNCH-DINNER

STYLE: LATIN-AMERICAN

PREPARATION: BOILED, ROASTED, STEAMED

EAT IN: SPRING, SUMMER

FOR OCCASION: BUSY-DAY, CLEANSE, ON-THE-MEND, TRAVEL-FRIENDLY

Metabolic Nature of Amaranth

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	DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT
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	ASTRINGENT ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT 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 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 AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Moves Energy: 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 Tissue (dhatu): Blood Plasma Lymph BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph. SEE ALL 'BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH' FOODS / HERBS , Red Blood RED-BLOOD Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels. SEE ALL 'RED-BLOOD' FOODS / HERBS Subdosha: Pitta Alochaka Affinity: Bowel Poop Elimination, Cleanse And Detox, Energy Vitality ENERGY-VITALITY Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha. SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS , Muscle Health Family: Amaranthaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Amaranth 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: Appetite Suppressant APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain. SEE ALL 'APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS Bowel Health: High Fiber Laxative HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The large size of the stool stimulates peristalsis so the stool can pass more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydr SEE ALL 'HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS Mind, Stress & Sleep: 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 , Relaxes Eyes RELAXES-EYES Eases tension in eye muscles, so the eyes feel less strained, often by supporting the liver. SEE ALL 'RELAXES-EYES' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Satisfies Stomach SATISFIES-STOMACH Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach. SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS , Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS Skin Care & Beauty: Soothing SOOTHING Calms and alleviates irritation, discomfort or pain in a particular region. SEE ALL 'SOOTHING' FOODS / HERBS , 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 Respiratory-Health: Clears Sinuses CLEARS-SINUSES Cleanses sinuses by draining excess mucus, allowing for clear, easy breathing. SEE ALL 'CLEARS-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS , Decongestant DECONGESTANT An herb that reduces mucus production often by restricting blood flow to mucus membranes. SEE ALL 'DECONGESTANT' FOODS / HERBS Heart & Circulation: 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 , 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 , Hemostatic HEMOSTATIC An herb that stops bleeding. SEE ALL 'HEMOSTATIC' 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 Strength, Muscle Health: Relieves Tension RELIEVES-TENSION An herb that releases tightness, constriction, and rigidity in a muscle. SEE ALL 'RELIEVES-TENSION' FOODS / HERBS , Muscle Relaxant MILD MUSCLE-RELAXANT Herbs that relax muscles. Helpful for chronic pain or tension as well as healing from physical trauma. SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-RELAXANT' FOODS / HERBS , Muscle Tonic MUSCLE-TONIC Herbs that strengthen and tone muscle tissue. Helpful for people recovering from long term illness and debility, or after a sprain. SEE ALL 'MUSCLE-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS Constituents: Betaine STRONG 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 , 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 , Carbohydrate, Iron IRON Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells. SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS , Magnesium MAGNESIUM Helps muscles relax. Laxative. SEE ALL 'MAGNESIUM' FOODS / HERBS , Manganese, 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 , Protein, Selenium

Foods with a Similar Nature to Amaranth

Popped Amaranth

Popped Amaranth has these Actions in Common

Soothing, Blood-tonic, Demulcent, High-fiber-laxative, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Relieves-tension, Alterative, Clears-sinuses, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, Decongestant, Hemostatic, Muscle-tonic, Relaxes-eyes

LEARN MORE

Pumpkin

Pumpkin has these Actions in Common

Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Relieves-tension, Appetite-suppressant, Nutritive, Satisfies-stomach, Muscle-relaxant, Relaxes-eyes, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Jackfruit

Jackfruit has these Actions in Common

Soothing, High-fiber-laxative, Nutritive, Demulcent, Muscle-tonic, Satisfies-stomach, Hemostatic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

LEARN MORE

Sorghum Flour

Sorghum Flour has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Nutritive, Blood-tonic, High-fiber-laxative, Relaxes-eyes, Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Hemp Seed

Hemp Seed has these Actions in Common

Satisfies-stomach, High-fiber-laxative, Nutritive, Muscle-relaxant, Relaxes-eyes, Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

LEARN MORE

Buckwheat

Buckwheat has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Muscle-relaxant, Nutritive, Blood-tonic, Muscle-tonic, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Dates (dried)

Dates (dried) has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Diuretic, Nutritive, Blood-tonic, High-fiber-laxative, Demulcent, Muscle-tonic

LEARN MORE

Almonds

Almonds has these Actions in Common

Muscle-relaxant, Nutritive, Blood-tonic, Muscle-tonic, Satisfies-stomach, High-fiber-laxative, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

LEARN MORE

Cassava Root / Yuca

Cassava Root / Yuca has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Appetite-suppressant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothing

LEARN MORE

Beets

Beets has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Muscle-relaxant, Relaxes-eyes, Alterative, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Satisfies-stomach

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Amaranth

Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Relieves-tension, Soothing, Alterative, Demulcent, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive

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Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Soothing, Alterative, Demulcent, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive

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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Relieves-tension, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant

LEARN MORE

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed

Oats, Fresh Milky Seed has these Actions in Common

Relieves-tension, Soothing, Blood-tonic, Muscle-relaxant, Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive

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Self Massage

Self Massage has these Actions in Common

Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Relaxes-eyes, Relieves-tension, Soothing

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Cornsilk

Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Demulcent, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Nutritive, Soothing

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Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Muscle-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Relaxes-eyes, Relieves-tension, Demulcent

LEARN MORE

Motherwort

Motherwort has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Relieves-tension

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Clears-sinuses, Decongestant, Diuretic, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

LEARN MORE

Shirodhara Treatment

Shirodhara Treatment has these Actions in Common

Soothing, Muscle-relaxant, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Relieves-tension

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Vata Shirodhara Oil

Vata Shirodhara Oil has these Actions in Common

Relieves-tension, Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Relaxes-eyes

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Impact of Amaranth

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.