ACORN

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Acorns are high in tannins, a bitter and astringent acid that irritates the digestive tract and causes constipation. However, tannins are water soluble.

ACORN SQUASH

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Acorn Squash is a nourishing, grounding vegetable whose sweetness can be the centerpiece of a hearty meal. As sweet taste is almost always cold, be sure to warm your acorn squash with mild spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, or more savory options like...

AGAVE NECTAR

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 391 likes

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Agave, the main ingredient in Tequila, has resurfaced as a health fad in recent years. Sticky and delicious agave nectar, produced from the agave plant, has been touted as a healthier sweetener because it has a slightly lower glycemic index than sugar....

ALCOHOL

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 232 likes

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Alcohol is a hot depressant. Initially, the heat combined with the relaxing qualties of alcohol dilate blood vessels, an aid to circulation. The heart, which is a naturally affectionate and social organ, predisposes one to fun and perhaps risky social...

ALLSPICE

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 443 likes

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Highly aromatic & spicy, Allspice is an ideal appetizer that refreshes the mouth. It is a delicious addition to meats and desserts, where it doubles as a digestive aid. It's taste and astringency closely resembles cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves and it...

ALMOND BUTTER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 800 likes

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Strength & Energy Building TonicLong before the agricultural revolution, humans feasted off nuts. This ancestral food is still one of the best ways to strengthen your body. Warm and creamy almonds contain more protein per serving...

ALMOND MILK

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 5 ratings, 922 likes

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Almond milk is a wonderful soothing drink that builds strength, immunity, and grounded energy. Its cool, heavy sweetness creates a sensation of stability and calm in the body, while offering easily accessible energy. For those suffering from lactose...

ALMONDS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 656 likes

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As the most widely grown tree nut in the world, these crunchy little nuggets are highly revered for building strength and intelligence across many ancient cultures. Originally native to the levant and in Northern Africa as far west as Morocco, almonds...

ANCHOVY

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Anchovies clear dampness in Chinese medicine, and resolve water accumulations. They are a spleen yang tonic, which means their warming nature helps build agni.

APPLE (COOKED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 1145 likes

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In Norse mythology, apples are said to provide eternal youthfulness. Apples appear in many religious traditions, including the bible, often as a forbidden fruit. Apples originated in Western Asia, where its wild ancestor still grows today. There are...

APPLE (RAW)

(3.67 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 401 likes

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Apples are crunchy and leave a rough feeling on the roof of the mouth, both signs of astringency. Astringency is drying. Thus raw apples provoke Vata and constipation. Cooked apples and apple sauce are more Vata friendly. They are not astringent....

APRICOT (DRIED)

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See also fresh apricots

AVOCADO

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 865 likes

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The avocado fruit grows on trees, but does not ripen until after it has been picked. It has a pear shape, and a rough, dark green to black skin with tiny bumps, which earned it the name "alligator pear". Unlike other fruits, avocado isn't sweet at all,...

BARLEY MALT

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Half as sweet as sugar, with a distinct 'malty' taste. Dark brown, thick and sticky. Produced from sprouted barley. When seeds sprout, some of the carbohydrates get converted to simple sugars.

BEEF

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Red meat strongly rebuilds deficient blood. It is especially useful in late summer and early fall. Red meat increases Pitta and Kapha. Too much red meat clogs the lymphatic system (Kapha blocking Vata in rasa dhatu), and causes blood stangation...

BEER

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 128 likes

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Beer is Cheer Few people don't enjoy a cold beer on a hot summer's day. The paradox is that beer, although bitter and refreshing to taste, heats the body up. On a hot day, that increased heat leaves you thirsty and dehydrated,...

BEETS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 677 likes

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"A tale that begins with a beet will end with the devil", wrote Tom Robbins in Jitterbug Perfume. For good reason too - cooking with red beets leaves the hands looking blood-stained. A chef who slaughters beets cannot hide - only run from the scene of...

BLACK PEPPER

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The word 'pepper' is dervied from the South Asian word 'pippali'. Pippali (long pepper) is a famous herb in Ayurveda for lung and heart conditions, and is a close relative of black pepper. The word pepper gradually came to include the unrelated New...

BLUE CHEESE

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Tangy and moldy, like gym socks but glorious all the same.

BONE BROTH

(4.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 569 likes

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Bone broth is made from bones, water and vinegar. The vinegar helps leach important minerals from the bones.

BONE MARROW / FAT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 207 likes

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Bone Marrow and bone marrow fat are the heaviest and densest of all fats. It is a strong tonic and blood builder used for debilitated clients and those who over-exert their bodies, such as athletes. It is rich in minerals.

BOTTLE GOURD

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 168 likes

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Bottle gourds feel like a cross between a cucumber and pear. They are common in Asia, but new to the United States. Bottle gourd is one of the earliest cultivated plants in the world, grown for its usefulness as a water carrying device when dried and...

BRAZIL NUT

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Brazil nuts have received recent popularity for their ability to stimulate the thyroid. This warm, rich nut won't fail to please you either. It's buttery, oily tastes is universally appreciated.

BROWN RICE

(4.75 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 410 likes

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Brown rice has a superior nutritional profile than white rice but it more difficult to digest. Brown rice is made by removing the husk from harvested rice grain but the bran layer and the germ are kept intact. In white rice, the bran and germ are...

BUCKWHEAT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 204 likes

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Buckwheat's hearty warmth hits the spot on any damp cloudy day in November. Enjoy as you snuggle up with your loved ones, or while listening to crackling logs in a wood burning stove. Smoky, nutty and earthy, buckwheat is slightly demulcent like...

BUFFALO MILK

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Difficult to digest, heavy and cold. [Ashtanga Hrdayam Su 5:23]

BUTTER (UNSALTED)

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 313 likes

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Butter increases cholesterol, which is Kapha in nature. Eat organic butter only because the toxins are concentrated as the milk is concentrated. Ayurveda recommends ghee over butter because it is lighter for digestion. Every get thirsty after eating...

BUTTERNUT SQUASH

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Winter squashes, including butternut, are eaten in the autumn after they have absorbed the sun's energy over the summer. This stored energy gives squashes a warm ojas building heartiness that can comfort you through colder weather. Where most tonic...

CACAO BUTTER

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Has a slight aroma of chocolate.

CARROT

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 737 likes

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Ancestors of the wild carrot came from Iran and Afghanistan, the center of genetic diversity for carrot. Carrots were bred from a species of wild carrot, called Queen Anne's Lace. Originally they were grown for their aromatic leaves and seeds. Since...

CASHEWS

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 3 ratings, 371 likes

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Sweet and heavy, cashews calm the nerves and satisfy your belly. The crescent shaped cashew is dense and warm, building strength and leaving you feeling sustained, particularly in cooler months. Initially crunchy, these nuts become creamy and smooth...

CHEDDAR CHEESE

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The richness of cheese promises nourishment, comfort and contentment. However, as it mixens and thickens mucus in the digestive tract with a thick, creamy layer of dairy, it bogs down digestion, and encourages candida growth. Once the richness enters...

CHESTNUTS

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Chestnuts are warm, sweet and nourishing. Their building nature is perfect for winter. Winter is a perfect time of year to strengthen your body, since your body responds better to building tonics throughout October, November, and December. Chestnuts...

CHIA SEEDS

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The word chia is a native american word meaning 'oily'. Chia seeds were an important food crop in central America. Chia seeds are one of the few seeds of the mint family consumed as a food. It is closely related to culinary sage.

CHICKEN FAT (RENDERED)

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Muscle fats ad juices are used for debilitated and convalescing patients in ayurveda. They are harder to digest than vegetable oils, heavier, and produce faster oleation in the body. Useful for dry Vata types.

CHICKEN LIVER

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Pitta has liquid element. But when Pitta symptoms appear with dryness, Vata is to blame. Deficient liver or depletion of ojas leads to dryness and inflammation. Use chicken liver to pacify Vata in the liver, moistening it, building rasa and rakta...