AYURVEDIC "TIC TACS"
Fennel has a way of knowing when it needs to either heat us up or cool us down, which is why it's one of the best herbs for strengthening agni without aggravating pitta. Fennel also increases mental alertness, relaxes the digestive tract, alleviates gas and indigestion, moves lymph, freshens the breath, and tastes delicious.
Ingredients:
1 cup fennel seeds
Instructions:
take 1/2 cup of fennel and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until toasted
take the other 1/2 cup of un-toasted fennel and combine with the toasted fennel
shake, bless, enjoy
these make great presents!
DIGESTIVE FIRE-BOOSTER
Ginger is known for easing stomach discomfort, relieving gas and bloating, stoking our digestive fire, improves assimilation and transportation of nutrients to targeted body tissues, may be therapeutic for joint discomfort, motion or air sickness; and for clearing the microcirculatory channels to facilitate better absorption of nutrients and better elimination of wastes. Lime encourages secretions in the digestive tract and salivary glands. These secretions improve taste, digestion, and regular elimination.
If you are feeling bloated, have a heavy feeling in your stomach, feel like you aren't digesting your food properly, or don't have an appetite, try eating this throughout the day - especially before meals. If you find that you’re not hungry for your meals, yet you know you haven’t eaten and you really should have some hunger, then try having a slice of this about 10mins before a meal. You can prep this ahead of time and keep it in a container on the counter or in the fridge and use as needed.
Ingredients:
raw ginger
lime or lemon (if lemons tend to upset your stomach, go with lime)
Instructions:
peel and cut the ginger into bite sized pieces (the size is really up to you)
squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice over the ginger
sprinkle a little sea salt
bless and enjoy!
CCF TEA
Cumin, coriander, and fennel tea (CCF Tea) supports healthy digestion, absorption, and elimination. It helps the body break down toxins in the GI tract and stokes the digestive fire (agni).
CCF tea, which stands for Cumin, Coriander, and Fennel tea, is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy known for its various health benefits. Here are some of the key benefits of CCF tea according to Ayurvedic principles:
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Digestive Support: CCF tea is renowned for its ability to aid in digestion. The combination of cumin, coriander, and fennel helps in the assimilation and absorption of nutrients and eases digestive discomforts like gas, bloating, and indigestion.
Detoxification: This tea is considered a gentle yet effective detoxifier. It assists in flushing toxins out of the body, particularly from the urinary tract, liver, and kidneys.
Balancing Doshas: CCF tea is known for its ability to balance the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) in Ayurveda, which is essential for maintaining health and well-being.
Boosts Metabolism: The ingredients in CCF tea are believed to stimulate the metabolism, making it an excellent drink for those looking to maintain a healthy weight.
Reduces Inflammation: With its anti-inflammatory properties, CCF tea can help reduce inflammation in the body, which is often the root cause of many health issues.
Improves Skin Health: The detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties of this tea can also contribute to clearer, healthier skin.
Enhances Immune Function: The combination of these three spices is known to strengthen the immune system, making the body more resilient against infections and diseases.
Calming Effect: CCF tea has a calming effect on the mind and body, helping to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Regulates Blood Sugar: Especially beneficial for those with diabetes or metabolic issues, CCF tea can help regulate blood sugar levels.
Benefits of Cumin
* Stimulates agni (digestive fire)
* Flushes out ama (toxic waste)
* Relieves congestion
* Contains antioxidants and iron
* Soothes inflamed mucous membranes
Benefits of Coriander
* Improves digestion
* Increases digestion and absorption
* Aids indigestion
* Calms muscle spasms
* Reduces inflammation
Benefits of Fennel
* One of the best herbs for strengthening agni without aggravating pitta
* Increases mental alertness
* Relaxes the digestive tract
* Alleviates gas and indigestion
* Moves lymph
Ingredients:
1tsp cumin
1tsp coriander
1tsp fennel
4 cups of water
Instructions:
Boil water, add spices, turn heat to simmer, cover + steep for about 10 minutes or until spices sink to the bottom
Strain and drink throughout your day
Store your tea in a thermos, as this is meant to be consumed warm
PURCHASE TEA HERE (use discount code “LISA” at checkout)
STEWED APPLES
This is such a delicious start to the day! A cooked apple supports digestion, stokes agni, lowers acidity, boosts immunity, and provides a gentle daily cleanse for the digestive system. According to ayurveda, most disease begins in the GI tract - so if we have a strong and balanced digestive system, we can prevent most disease.
Ingredients:
1 apple, cubed
1 tsp ghee (optional)
1 tsp cardamom
5 cloves
1/2 tsp fennel
soaked dates, raisins, or prunes (optional)
Instructions:
peel + cube the apple
in a pan or pot, add all ingredients and enough water to cover (if you add a bit more, the water is actually a delicious drink to enjoy after eating your apples)
stir + cover until apples are soft
put in pretty bowl, bless, eat, enjoy!
Pineapple + Prune Smoothie
Prunes have the ability to build beneficial bacteria in the colon and pineapple has more digestive enzymes than any other fruit. In Ayurveda, we never consume fruit with another food and we also avoid cold or iced drinks as much as possible. However, pineapple is the exception. This smoothie is also consumed at room temperature.
Serves 2
Ingredients:
one pineapple
10 prunes, soaked over night in 1-2 cups of water
2tsp cardamom
Instructions:
chop pineapple into small chunks to blend
add cardamom, prunes, and the water you soaked them in
blend, bless, and enjoy!
Turmeric Milk
Turmeric is excellent for our joints, works as an anti inflammatory, helps detox the liver, and the list goes on... Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen, meaning that it can help your body manage stress (if you don’t have it on hand, you can simply omit it for this). Over the last few years, turmeric drinks have become popular, but they don't always have the fat that is needed for the turmeric to make its way into our tissues. Turmeric needs a fat, like milk, in order for us to benefit from it. You should also sprinkle a bit of black pepper into anything with turmeric in it as it's said to help activate its healing properties in our body.
In Ayurveda, cows milk is traditionally consumed over any other type of milk substitute. Cow's milk is the only substance that can immediately penetrate and carry nutrients to all tissues in our body (we have 7 layers, or "dhatus" which are: plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow and reproductive fluid). In this world at this time, we can't always obtain milk from a cow that has a name, is taken care of, and is loved. This is the ideal way to receive cow's milk. You can learn more about ahimsa dairy and organizations that keep cows loved and well here:
Govardhan Eco Village
Gita Nagari Eco Farm
Enjoy turmeric milk right before bed or at any time during the day. It may be a bit filling, so I sometimes drink it instead of dinner on days when I've hate a later, bigger lunch.
Ingredients:
1 cup milk or milk substitute OR 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ashwagandha (optional)
pinch black pepper
maple syrup (optional) to sweeten
Instructions:
Mix everything into milk and bring to a boil
Add optional maple syrup to sweeten
Bless + Enjoy!
Kitchari
Kitchari, a traditional Ayurvedic dish made from a blend of split mung beans (or dal) and basmati rice, seasoned with various spices and often cooked with vegetables, is considered a staple healing food in Ayurveda. It's especially valued for its ability to support digestive health and detoxify the body. Here are several reasons why kitchari is often recommended:
Easy to Digest: The combination of mung beans and rice in kitchari creates a complete meal that is extremely easy to digest. This characteristic makes it ideal for giving the digestive system a break while still providing essential nutrients and energy. For people with digestive issues, consuming easy-to-digest meals can help reduce symptoms like bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort.
Balances Doshas: In Ayurveda, it's believed that balancing the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) is key to good health. Kitchari is considered a tridoshic meal, meaning it helps balance all three doshas, making it a safe and beneficial choice for nearly everyone, particularly for those with digestive imbalances.
Detoxifying Properties: Kitchari is often used in Ayurvedic cleansing practices because of its ability to detoxify the body, including the digestive tract. The spices used in kitchari, have natural detoxifying properties and support the body's internal cleansing processes.
Healing Spices: The spices used in kitchari are not only detoxifying but also have specific healing properties that can aid digestion.
Nutrient-Rich: Despite being simple and easy to digest, kitchari is nutritionally dense, providing a good balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, along with vitamins and minerals from the vegetables and spices. This ensures that even when one's diet is simplified to aid digestion, the body still receives necessary nutrients for health and healing.
Promotes Agni (Digestive Fire): Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of a strong agni or digestive fire for overall health and well-being. Kitchari is believed to stimulate agni without overburdening the digestive system, which is crucial for the effective processing and assimilation of food, and the prevention of ama (toxins) accumulation.
RECIPE:
Ingredients:
1 cup split yellow mung dal (soaked for 4-8 hours or overnight)
1/2 - 1 cup basmati rice
1 cup or more mixed vegetables cut into bite-sized chunks
1-2 inch fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
3-4 tbsp ghee or flaxseed oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp of a mix of cumin, coriander, fennel (I prefer to use the whole seeds)
1 pinch hing (asafoetida) - optional
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp salt
4-5 cups water
1 lime
1/2 tsp cayenne (optional)
cilantro leaves (optional)
Instructions:
Wash the split mung dal + rice
In a large pot on medium heat, add ghee, mustard seeds, hing, cumin, coriander, fennel
Once the seeds pop, add the split mung dal, rice, turmeric, cayenne, ginger, salt and stir until the spices blend
Pour in water and bring to a boil
Let the water boil for about 5 minutes then turn the heat down to low/medium and cover
When the rice and daal start to look tender, add the vegetables
cook for about 25-45 minutes
serve with chopped cilantro leaves as garnish
bless + enjoy!
You will see different variations of kitchari everywhere. Try them all and see what works for you. I personally have had to play around with my timing on when to add the vegetables. It's also said that the longer it's cooked on low heat, the tastier it gets.
You may add more water for a more soupy texture or less for a thicker meal.
Rose + Fennel Tea
According to Ayurveda, rose balances one of the subdoshas of pitta that governs the heart and emotions. It helps us heal from past traumas. It's cooling while it also kindles agni. Be sure to get rose that is safe to take internally. I love these from Divya's Kitchen
Fennel is able to stoke our agni while also cooling the body.
Ingredients:
12 oz water
1 tbsp fennel seeds
1-2 tbsp rose petals
Instructions:
boil water
take off heat
add roses + fennel
steep 5-10 minutes
bless + enjoy
