wellness / Recipes
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Body, Mind + Spirit By Morgan Kulas
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CHICKPEAS The chickpea (or garbanzo bean, Bengal gram or Egyptian pea) is a staple in the plantbased diet. A legume that many can tolerate, it is a key ingredient in chana masala and beloved hummus. Chickpeas are a good source of protein, dietary fiber and potassium. Cooking them has been proved to increase protein digestibility for many folks. Chickpeas are sweet, astringent and cooling therefore decreasing pitta (sometimes increasing vata and kapha).
CARDAMOM Cardamom is a sweet and warming spice that is used medicinally and favorably in cooking. It assists in synchronizing sugar and water metabolism, promotes healthy circulation and minimizes nausea. Most people love the taste and smell of cardamom and therefore use it to comfort and calm the
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Photos by Morgan Kulas
FIVE HARMONIOUS FOODS TO BALANCE
oment to moment, we are adapting spontaneously to our environment — navigating work, relationships and an ever-evolving socio-economic landscape. Without really knowing it, our bodies are in an abiding process of regeneration. The definition of healing is to become whole again. Yoga and Ayurveda are healing sciences grounded in the mysterious reality that our bodies are in a persevering practice of balance. The Sanskrit word for this is sattva. Sattva means harmony, and it is the aim of our daily sadhana, or spiritual exercise. There are three ways we take in prana, or life force energy: through breath, food and sensory input/output. Pratyahara is the first stage in Patanjali's eight limbs of yogic meditation, and it means to nourish the senses. We can apply this same idea to the way we breathe and the food we eat. The intention is to nourish and restore a soft, peaceful balance to our system. When I think about eating a sattvic diet, I liken it to eating a heart-based diet. What is possible when you eat food that makes you feel more connected to the earth and to your spirit? In Ayurveda we recognize that everyone is different, so eating a heart-based diet is going to be unique to you. In general, Ayurveda encourages fresh, seasonal and simple foods for ultimate vitality and wellbeing. Let’s look at five of them here.
