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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Blueberry Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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"What does 'pacifies' and 'aggravates' actually mean? Pacifies means reducing and aggravates means increasing, right?..."

- Daniel O'Keeffe full start review

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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 Blueberry: Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Pop a few blueberries in your mouth and you'll notice reduced agitation, a relaxing sensation in the eyes, and cool feeling in your skin. These visceral signs are your personal cue indicating blueberries' beneficial effect on your liver, and their cooling, pitta pacifying nature.

Brain Health

Like a cool breeze, or sitting in your favorite shade tree, this indigo hued pearl brings a restful reprieve to an overheated mind. It calms your thoughts, moves energy downward and inward, and encourages a more passive demeanor. Several studies extol blueberries nourishing effects on the brain that are consistent with its pitta pacifying nature. It has been shown to minimize age-related memory loss, have an anti-inflammatory effect on your nerves, and offer benefits in Alzheimers. According to James Joseph, PhD, leading scientist at the Laboratory of Neuroscience at Tufts University, "When it comes to brain protection, there is nothing quite like blueberries. Call the blueberry the brain berry."

Liver Health

Blueberries (and berries in general) protect the liver. A diet rich in berries reduces liver enzymes by as much as 23 percent (Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010) . High liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase or ALT) are a sign of liver cell injury. Regular consumption of blueberries in particular also led to a reduction in liver size, indicating improved liver function (University of Michigan). Blueberries also reduce levels of inflammation in blood. Blue, red & purple berries are high in beta-carotene, which stimulates your liver.

Dark colored fruits are rich in flavonoids, which support blood vessels. Blueberries in particular support health eyes. They are very high in antioxidants, which prevent aging and cancer. Blueberries contain oxalic acid when eaten raw. Avoid overconsuming blueberries if you tend to get kidney stones.

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Is Blueberry Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Blueberry' 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: Vaccinium Cyanococcus

FAMILY: Ericaceae

MEAL: BREAKFAST, SNACK-DESSERT

EAT IN: SUMMER

Metabolic Nature of Blueberry

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	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 EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY
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	SOUR ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic. LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR 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	Tissue (dhatu): Red Blood RED-BLOOD Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels. SEE ALL 'RED-BLOOD' FOODS / HERBS Affinity: Heart Circulation Blood Family: Ericaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Blueberry 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. Mind, Stress & Sleep: Antidepressant ANTIDEPRESSANT Herbs that lift feelings of depression, benefit the mind and improve mental function. SEE ALL 'ANTIDEPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS , Brain Tonic BRAIN-TONIC An herb that strengthens the brain and thereby enhances memory or other cognitive functions and improves mental stamina or stability. SEE ALL 'BRAIN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS , Improves Focus IMPROVES-FOCUS Reduces scattered thoughts. Creates a steady mind. Includes herbs that relax (for Vata) and herbs that stimulate (for Kapha). SEE ALL 'IMPROVES-FOCUS' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Refreshing REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized. SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS , Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' 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 , Anticarcinogenic ANTICARCINOGENIC Herbs that inhibit or prevent the activity of a carcinogen or the development of cancer. SEE ALL 'ANTICARCINOGENIC' FOODS / HERBS , Antihistamine, 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: Antioxidant STRONG 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 , Refrigerant STRONG REFRIGERANT An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions. SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' 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 , Blood Thinner BLOOD-THINNER Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation. SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS , Opthalmic OPTHALMIC Benefits the eyes, vision tonic. SEE ALL 'OPTHALMIC' FOODS / HERBS , Blood Tonic MILD 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 Kidney & Urinary: Kidney Tonic KIDNEY-TONIC An herb that strengthens the kidneys. SEE ALL 'KIDNEY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS , Urinary Tonic URINARY-TONIC An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection. SEE ALL 'URINARY-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS Liver & Gallbladder: Livotonic LIVOTONIC An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene. SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS Weight Loss: Lowers Blood Sugar LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR An herb that lowers blood sugar. SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS Other: Immune System Constituents: Aromatase Inhibitor AROMATASE-INHIBITOR Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen. SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' 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 , Polyphenols POLYPHENOLS Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types. SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS , Resveratrol RESVERATROL Antioxidant frequently used for anti-aging. Protects airways and blood vessels. Anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic. SEE ALL 'RESVERATROL' FOODS / HERBS , Soluble Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K

Foods with a Similar Nature to Blueberry

Cranberry

Cranberry has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Antihistamine, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune-calming, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antidepressant, Blood-thinner, Improves-focus, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Acai

Acai has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Anticarcinogenic, Brain-tonic, Nutritive, Alterative, Antidepressant, Improves-focus, Refreshing, Anti-inflammatory

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Pomegranate

Pomegranate has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Opthalmic, Antioxidant, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Strawberries

Strawberries has these Actions in Common

Anticarcinogenic, Improves-focus, Refreshing, Alterative, Antioxidant, Kidney-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Immune-calming, Livotonic

LEARN MORE

Grape

Grape has these Actions in Common

Brain-tonic, Nutritive, Antioxidant, Immune-calming, Opthalmic, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Anti-inflammatory

LEARN MORE

Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Antioxidant, Brain-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Immune-calming, Anticarcinogenic, Blood-tonic, Lowers-blood-sugar

LEARN MORE

Cherry

Cherry has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Livotonic, Anticarcinogenic, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Antidepressant, Improves-focus

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Hibiscus

Hibiscus has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Refreshing, Anticarcinogenic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant, Antioxidant, Opthalmic

LEARN MORE

Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anticarcinogenic, Brain-tonic, Alterative, Antioxidant, Immune-calming

LEARN MORE

Watermelon

Watermelon has these Actions in Common

Lowers-blood-sugar, Blood-tonic, Nutritive, Alterative, Livotonic, Refrigerant, Antioxidant

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Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Blueberry

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic, Improves-focus, Lowers-blood-sugar, Nutritive, Alterative, Opthalmic, Anti-inflammatory, Refreshing, Antioxidant, Refrigerant

LEARN MORE

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Nutritive, Anti-inflammatory, Urinary-tonic, Anticarcinogenic, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Blood-tonic

LEARN MORE

Brahmi - Gotu Kola

Brahmi - Gotu Kola has these Actions in Common

Improves-focus, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Blood-tonic, Brain-tonic

LEARN MORE

Ginkgo

Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Blood-thinner, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant

LEARN MORE

Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common

Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Kidney-tonic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Urinary-tonic, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory

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Licorice Ghee (9oz)

Licorice Ghee (9oz) has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Anticarcinogenic, Immune-calming, Livotonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu)

Licorice Root (Yastimadhu) has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Anticarcinogenic, Immune-calming, Livotonic, Nutritive, Refrigerant, Alterative

LEARN MORE

Hawthorne Berry & Flower

Hawthorne Berry & Flower has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Blood-thinner, Immune-calming, Improves-focus

LEARN MORE

Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Immune-calming, Lowers-blood-sugar, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner

LEARN MORE

Ginseng, Chinese

Ginseng, Chinese has these Actions in Common

Improves-focus, Nutritive, Antidepressant, Antihistamine, Brain-tonic, Immune-calming

LEARN MORE

Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common

Anticarcinogenic, Antidepressant, Blood-tonic, Improves-focus, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory

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Impact of Blueberry

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.