Ayurvedic Recipes & Tips

Ayurveda Recipes

Ingredients

150g pistachios divided
400g Medjool dates* chopped
2 tbsp tahini**
1 tsp cardamom I used East End
1 tsp cinnamon I used East End
1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
Pinch of salt

Grams to Cups Converterhttps://www.thecalculatorsite.com/cooking/grams-cups.php

Prepare

Dry toast the pistachios in a pan for 5-7 mins.
Roughly chop 100g of the pistachios to use in the filling. Blend the remaining 50g into a fine crumbs in a food processor to use later for the coating.
Add the chopped dates and tahini to the same pan used for toasting the pistachios. Heat and mash with the back of a wooden spoon until you have a smooth paste.
Take off the heat and fold in the spices, cocoa, salt and pistachios.
Roll out into a long log over a piece of baking paper, sprinkle the ground up pistachios onto the baking paper and roll the long over it to coat.
Freeze for 30-60 mins to make it easier to slice.
Slice into discs and enjoy.

Pistachio Ayurvedic Benefits

Taste (Rasa): Sweet (Madhura)

Attributes (gunas): Heavy (Guru) and Unctuous/Oily (Snigda)

Virya (Potency): Heating

Dhatu (Tissue): nourish blood

Vata: Balance

Pitta: Aggravated in excess

Kapha: Aggravated in excess

Nourishes the Tissues (Dhatu Vardhana): Pistachios are considered an excellent tonic (Balya) for building up tissue strength, muscle mass, and bodily vitality.

Herbs that Calm

Ashwagandha

The Ayurvedic herb helps to balance and regulate cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone. Typically taken as a capsule or tincture. Reduces anxiety and fights fatigue.

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Holy Basil

It is an adaptogen that supports the adrenal system and helps regulate cortisol production.

Often consumed in tea. Promotes a sense of calm and builds emotional stamina.

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Chamomile

Lemon Balm

This herb contains an antioxidant called apigenin, which binds to certain receptors in the brain to promote sleepiness and reduce anxiety. Consumed generally in steeped tea, and extract in capsules. Supports digestion, soothes a nervous stomach, improves sleep quality.

Photo by Yaroslava Stupnytska on Unsplash

Lemon Balm

Passionflower

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm increases levels of the calming neurotransmitter GABA, helping to reduce tension and anxiety.

The mint family herb can be taken as a tea, capsule or tincture. Eases nervous tension, soothes digestive issues and improves sleep quality.

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Passionflower

It increases the production of GABA in the brain to calm overactive neurology activity acting as a gentle sedative. Often consumed as a tea, capsules or tincture. Relieves general tension and nervous restlessness as well as a sleep aid.

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Valarian Root

Passionflower

Helps to increase the amount of GABA in the brain and can be effective for sleep and longer-term use with sedative effects. Often used for insomnia.

Capsules and tinctures are best due to its strong smell.

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Ayurvedic Tips for Fall

Fall is Vata Season

Fall has the characteristics of being dry, windy, erratic, cool, subtle, and clear. It is also a time to slow down, become more quiet and favour simplicity.

Begin to bring in warmth, oiliness, deep nourishment, closeness in relationships, stability, greater routine, and groundedness.

Foods Best for Fall Season

Start to add foods with more protein, fat, warming, spices, and served hot.

Foods with sweet, sour, and salty tastes which are mushy and soft topped with ghee or oil.

Cooked grains are beneficial like oatmeal, tapioca, cream of rice, cream of wheat.

Add in more cooked or steam vegetables, soups, and stews (grounding and moisturizing.

Meat and eggs are balancing, as well as, nuts and seeds.

Fruits-cooked apples, avocados, dates, grapefruit, grapes, citrus fruits (sour-heating).

Vegetables-beets, carrots, pumpkins, winter squash, sweet potatoes, onions and garlic.

Grains-brown Rice, quinoa, wheat, basmati rice, and amaranth.

Legumes-kidney beans, mung beans, toor dal, urad dal.

Dairy Products-butter, buttermilk, cheese, cream

Oils-almond oil, ghee, olive oil, and safflower oil.

Sweetners-honey, jaggary, maple syrup.

Spices-anise, black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, rosemary, ginger, turmeric.

Meats (warming)-beef, pork, chicken, and duck.

Fall Nourishing Activities

Daily Abhyanga (self massage) with warm sesame or almond oil before bathing.

Perform exercises which are slower and are grounding.

Instigate more routine in your life with eating, sleeping, exercise, and other activities.

Allow more time for rest to calm the nervous system and reduce travel and unfamiliar situations.

https://www.saumya-ayurveda.com/post/9-vata-rejuvenating-practices-for-fall