Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion School
Increases These Qualities (Gunas)
Ayurveda helps you assess how you feel through the 20 main therapeutic feelings or qualities called gunas. Through the gunas you can articulate, experience and develop sensitivity to the signals your body sends you. Imbalanced gunas are the root of your imbalances. Every guna has an opposite which balances is (i.e. hot balances cold). You create balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite guna.
The 6 Tastes
Taste has meaning in Ayurveda, and brings physical and emotional changes to your body. Taste is experienced on the tongue and is your body's reaction to foods much in the same way that your emotions are mental reactions to experiences. 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? Food and herbs with the following tastes could aggravate your symptoms.
The Three Doshas / Body Types
Your body type shows how your strengths, as well as how your body typically goes out of balance. It also shows how your body responds to the environment. Your body type is comprised of certain qualities and affects every part of you - your physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. This is because your body type is based on how your body uses energy. Ayurveda has 3 body types (doshas), called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata spends energy. Pitta burns energy. Kapha stores energy. Vata people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Pitta people tend to be hot, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Kapha people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion.
HAS THE FOLLOWING
ACIDIFYINGAn herb that creates an acidic pH in the blood chemistry.
OJASOjas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after lon-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness.
SATTVICSattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness.
AIRResembles air (vayu) in quality - highly mobile, drying, light, cold, subtle, rough.
EARTHResembles earth (prithvi) in quality - heavy, dense, solid, stable, hard.
WATERResembles water (ap) in quality - fluid, sticky, soft, heavy, stable, cool.
RED-BLOODRed blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels.
STOMACHICAn herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.
ANTACIDHerbs that neutralize acidity in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach in particular.
SPLEEN-TONICAn herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.
|Cleanse and Detox|
DETOXICANTAn herb that eliminates or metabolizes toxins from the body.
|Energy Vitality Strength|
NUTRITIVEAn herb that is strengthening and nourishing.
|Heart & Circulation|
ALTERATIVELiterally, an herb that restores the proper function of the body. In practice, alteratives are usually blood cleansers and blood chemistry balancers. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.
BLOOD-TONICAn herb that produces more blood cells in the body or otherwise strengthens blood. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.
OPTHALMICBenefits the eyes.
REFRIGERANTAn herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.
STYPTICA herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used to stop bleeding.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORYReduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.
|Liver & Gall Bladder|
LIVOTONICAn herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias.
CHOLAGOGUECholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the gall bladder for improved digestion.
|Skin Care & Beauty|
SKIN-TONICAn herb that strengthens and nourishes skin, improving tone, color, moisture and complexion.
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Poop3+ bowel movements a day, Bloody stools, Diarrhea, Explosive elimination, Pencil stool - thin & long, Shiny / oily / fatty stools, Soft Stool, Stool entirely liquid, no solid pieces, Tarry black stools, Yellow stool
Reproductive HealthAbortion (Past), Painful menstruation
DigestionAcid Reflux, Burning abdominal pain, Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulosis / Diverticulitis, Duodenal Ulcer, Food allergy, Gastritis, H pylori infection, Hiatal Hernia, Hyperacidity, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Malabsorption, Metallic Taste in Mouth, Pain above belly button, Pancreatic Insufficiency, Receding gums, Sharp abdominal pain, Sores inside mouth, Sour Taste in Mouth, Ulcerative Colitis, Vomiting Blood, Wheat Intolerance, Yellow teeth
SkinAcne - general, Bruise easily, Easily hot, Pale Skin, Psoriasis, Rashes, Red/flushed skin, Sensitive to Poison Ivy, Skin sensitivity to chemicals, Sun damage/burn, Sun sensitivity
Blood and CirculationAnemia, Autoimmune Disorders, Blood light in color, Enlarged Spleen, Flushes Easily, Gall Bladder Removed, Heat aggravates, Hepatitis (Past/Current), Hot Flashes, Irregular heartbeat, Jaundice, Liver Sore, Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), Sensitive to Alcohol, Sensitivity to bright light, Stinging Eyes, Sweat often, Teeth marks on tongue edges, Yellow eyes / sclera, Yellow tongue coating, Yellowish skin
Mind Stress SleepAnger, irritable, ambitious, analytical, At odds with family, At odds with local community, Conflict makes me angry, irritable, Dizzy / Light-headed, Easily insulted / sensitive, Feel rejected / unliked / unappreciated, Forgetful / spacey / distracted, Migraines, Sharp language
Kidney Bladder UrinaryBladder infection, Urinary Tract Infection
Weight LossHashimoto's Thyroiditis
DietIrregular Thirst, Moderate pace, goal oriented activity
About the AuthorJohn Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.
John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.