How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

These small, red beans are powerhouses of nutrition and bursting with zinc, magnesium, iron and potassium. Their high iron content replenishes the blood for those with iron deficiency anaemia. Adzuki beef stew is especially blood building for women after menstruation. Their slightly yang nature confers strength and builds energy, supporting efficient function of the kidney and reproductive system. While many beans cool your metabolism, Adzuki is more neutral, leaving a pleasant warm feeling in your gut.

High fiber cleanses the small intestine of toxicity as it leads to bulkier stools and a more satisfying elimination the next morning. The high fiber also reduces cholesterol. Meanwhile, adzuki is slightly diuretic, flushing and cleansing the urinary tract and kidneys of toxic heat. They also assist in clearing blood stagnation and reducing swelling.

Beans contain saponins in order to protect themselves from insects. However, these saponins inhibit protein digestion, resulting in stagnation and production of gas in the bowels - a whole lot of discomfort. The good news is that Adzuki beans are less "musical" as compared to other kinds of beans, so you can consume them safely without fear of public embarassment! Individuals who are blessed with a robust digestive system should be able to digest beans without gas formation.

About Adzuki Beans

Adzuki beans are known to have originated in China where they are used extensively in traditional medicine. They are a staple in the macrobiotic diet and very popular in Japan, second only to the soybean in terms of consumption and popularity.

Buying & Preparation

Adzuki beans can be purchased dried, canned, powdered or in form of a paste. Traditional Ayurveda does not recommend consumption of canned foods. However, canned Adzuki beans are lighter on the system and easier to digest. Sprouted beans are even better in terms of ease in digestion.

Cooking Adzuki Beans

Adzuki beans take less time to cook than other beans. However, the best way to cook dried Adzuki beans is by way of soaking them overnight. Drain the water, rinse the beans and add fresh water for cooking. Place on the stove and bring to a boil in a pot with a lid. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer, keeping the lid slightly open. You can add a pinch of baking soda to soften the beans. Click here for more cooking tips.



Adzuki beans have a sweet, nutty flavor that makes them a popular ingredient in Asian dessert recipes. A common preparation is to boil Adzuki beans with sugar and mash them into a soft red bean paste, used as a filling in many desserts or pureed with coconut milk in adzuki ice-cream. Adzuki beans may also be fermented or sprouted for more savory preparations, and are often paired with seaweed (kombu) and fish in soups. The powder may be mixed into sticky rice preparations garnished with black sesame seeds.

SERVING SIZE: 1/4 c

SPECIES: Vigna angularis

FAMILY: Fabaceae

EAT IN: SPRING, SUMMER

Metabolic Nature of Adzuki Beans

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 HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY DIFFICULT ABOUT DIFFICULT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIFFICULT
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	Subtaste: Bland BLAND Bland means doesn't have much taste. In Chinese medicine, bland taste refers to afood without little macronutrients, such as cabbage, radish or bok choy. SEE ALL 'BLAND' FOODS / HERBS Tissue (dhatu): Muscle MUSCLE Muscle tissue (Mamsa Dhatu) includes muscles and ligaments. SEE ALL 'MUSCLE' FOODS / HERBS , Red Blood RED-BLOOD Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels. SEE ALL 'RED-BLOOD' FOODS / HERBS Affinity: Bowel Poop Elimination Family: Fabaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Adzuki Beans 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. Bowel Health: High Fiber Laxative STRONG 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 , Constipative CONSTIPATIVE An herb that binds stools / stops diarrhea. When used in excess, these herbs and foods can cause constipation. SEE ALL 'CONSTIPATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , General Laxative MILD GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives. SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Satisfies Stomach STRONG 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 Heart & Circulation: 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 , Styptic STYPTIC A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used topically as a hemostatic to stop bleeding, or to reduce secretions. SEE ALL 'STYPTIC' 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 , Dries Mouth DRIES-MOUTH Makes the mouth feel dry, or pasty. SEE ALL 'DRIES-MOUTH' 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 Strength, Muscle Health: 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: 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 , Iron IRON Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells. SEE ALL 'IRON' FOODS / HERBS , 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, Saponins SAPONINS Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant). SEE ALL 'SAPONINS' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Adzuki Beans

Mung Bean

Mung Bean has these Actions in Common

Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, Constipative, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal)

Yellow Lentil (Toor Dal) has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)

Red Lentils (Masoor Dal) has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Chickpea (Garbanzo)

Chickpea (Garbanzo) has these Actions in Common

High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Pinto Beans

Pinto Beans has these Actions in Common

Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Black Beans

Black Beans has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Fava Beans

Fava Beans has these Actions in Common

High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Butter Bean

Butter Bean has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

White Navy Bean

White Navy Bean has these Actions in Common

General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach, Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Kidney Beans

Kidney Beans has these Actions in Common

Constipative, Hypolipidemic, Styptic, General-laxative, Nutritive, High-fiber-laxative, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Adzuki Beans

Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Constipative, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Muscle-tonic

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Hypolipidemic, Blood-tonic, Constipative, Diuretic, Dries-mouth

LEARN MORE

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, General-laxative, Muscle-tonic, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Arjuna

Arjuna has these Actions in Common

Styptic, Constipative, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Blood-tonic, General-laxative, Nutritive, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Muscle-tonic, Nutritive, Blood-tonic

LEARN MORE

Triphala Guggulu

Triphala Guggulu has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, General-laxative, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Agrimony

Agrimony has these Actions in Common

Constipative, Diuretic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Almond Oil

Almond Oil has these Actions in Common

Muscle-tonic, Nutritive, General-laxative

LEARN MORE

Bhumyamalaki

Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, General-laxative, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Ashoka

Ashoka has these Actions in Common

Constipative, Diuretic, Styptic

LEARN MORE

Impact of Adzuki Beans

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.

TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION

How did Adzuki Beans affect your temperature?

1	10	13	4	0
Much colder	Slightly colder	Same	Slightly warmer	Much warmer

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your sweat quantity?

2	3	21	2	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the color of your tongue body?

7	5	0	16
Paler	Redder	Bluer	No Change

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your appetite/hunger?

11	15	1	1	0
Much less hungry	Slightly less hungry	Same	Slightly hungrier	Much hungrier

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your digestion speed?

1	4	6	13	4
Much faster	Slightly faster	Same	Slightly slower	Much slower

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

TOXINS

How did Adzuki Beans affect the amount of gas & bloating?

0	0	10	13	5
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your stool smell?

1	2	14	10	1
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

Tongue: How did Adzuki Beans affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?

0	2	13	12	1
Much smaller	Slightly less	Same	Slightly larger coating	Much larger

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the color of your tongue coating?

1	6	2	6	13
Yellower	Browner	Grayer	Whiter	No Change

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your urine smell?

1	1	20	6	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?

0	2	22	4	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Many more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your sweat smell?

1	3	23	1	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

HYDRATION

How did Adzuki Beans affect your urine frequency/quantity?

1	2	20	4	1
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the cracks on your tongue?

0	12	11	5	0
Larger/longer/more cracks	Slightly more	Same	Slightly less/smaller/shorter	Much less

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

NERVOUS-SYSTEM

How did Adzuki Beans affect your energy levels?

6	7	9	6	0
Much less energy	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more energy	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your muscle tension?

0	5	13	10	0
Much less tension	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more tension	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your anxiety?

1	7	14	4	2
Much less anxiety	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more anxiety	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the stillness of your tongue?

1	26	1
More still	No Change	More Trembling / Jittery

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

DIGESTION

How did Adzuki Beans affect the amount of gas & bloating?

0	0	10	13	5
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your appetite/hunger?

11	15	1	1	0
Much less hungry	Slightly less hungry	Same	Slightly hungrier	Much hungrier

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your digestion speed?

1	4	6	13	4
Much faster	Slightly faster	Same	Slightly slower	Much slower

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

TONGUE

How did Adzuki Beans affect the cracks on your tongue?

0	12	11	5	0
Larger/longer/more cracks	Slightly more	Same	Slightly less/smaller/shorter	Much less

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

Tongue: How did Adzuki Beans affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?

0	2	13	12	1
Much smaller	Slightly less	Same	Slightly larger coating	Much larger

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the color of your tongue body?

7	5	0	16
Paler	Redder	Bluer	No Change

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the stillness of your tongue?

1	26	1
More still	No Change	More Trembling / Jittery

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the color of your tongue coating?

1	6	2	6	13
Yellower	Browner	Grayer	Whiter	No Change

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

STOOL

How did Adzuki Beans affect your stool smell?

1	2	14	10	1
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your stool consistency?

1	4	9	8	6
Much softer	Slightly softer	Same	Slightly harder	Much harder

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your stool frequency/quantity?

6	7	11	3	1
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your stool color?

1	3	2	3	19
More yellow	More gray	More green	More orange	Same

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your stool lightness?

1	4	16	6	1
Much lighter	Slightly lighter	Same	Slightly darker	Much darker

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

URINE

How did Adzuki Beans affect your urine frequency/quantity?

1	2	20	4	1
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?

0	2	22	4	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Many more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your urine clarity?

6	18	4
More cloudy	Same	More clear

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your urine smell?

1	1	20	6	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your urine lightness?

0	2	19	7	0
Much lighter	Slightly lighter	Same	Slightly Darker	Much Darker

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

SWEAT

How did Adzuki Beans affect your sweat smell?

1	3	23	1	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your sweat quantity?

2	3	21	2	0
Much less	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

SYSTEMIC

How did Adzuki Beans affect your anxiety?

1	7	14	4	2
Much less anxiety	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more anxiety	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your temperature?

1	10	13	4	0
Much colder	Slightly colder	Same	Slightly warmer	Much warmer

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your energy levels?

6	7	9	6	0
Much less energy	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more energy	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

How did Adzuki Beans affect your muscle tension?

0	5	13	10	0
Much less tension	Slightly less	Same	Slightly more tension	Much more

Total Responses: 28 Study ID:1 (2021-01-14 - 2021-02-17)

Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.