If you’re at all familiar with the microbiome and gut-brain connection, then you know our gut and how we eat is enormously important in mental well-being.

Ayurveda has been preaching this since the beginning of time!

According to Ayurvedic science, every type of food has different qualities and effects on the body. Every food has the potential to be medicine or poison depending on the circumstance and dose.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, food sensitivities or intolerances are mainly a result of low digestive capability. No food is inherently bad, not even the foods that get such a bad rap in our modern day living like dairy, gluten, soy, etc. Yet how we often process these foods can cause a lot of digestive harm long-term.

When we consume high quality food and heighten the quality of our digestion, food allergies and inflammation have the potential to become obsolete. With less inflammation in the gut, your gut bugs have the potential to repopulate happier and healthier and send feel-good neurotransmitters to your brain!

Sounds good to me 😉

You can increase and boost your digestive capability (called agni), through

• Eating seasonal, local foods
• Adding the appropriate herbs and spices to your meals
• Eating lunch as your biggest meal, and eating lightly for breakfast and dinner
• Avoiding iced water while drinking
• Eating until you are full, and not beyond that point
• Eating while in a relaxed and calm headspace

When considering building our Agni to support mental wellness, there are really two main things to know/consider.

1. How well we digest affects our mood
2. Our mood affects how well we digest.

Knowing this, it becomes clear how inter-related eating well and feeling well are.

With that, I’d like to share one of my favorite recipes for Kapha season (springtime). I enjoy having this treat as a light breakfast or dinner. Super simple, so delicious, and packed with nourishment for the brain and body.

ADAPTOGENIC MANGO CARDAMOM LASSI🤤

Ashwagandha ✨ is an adaptogenic herb that is known for its incredible ability to support the stress response and conserve energy. This is a wonderful herb for insomnia, anxiety, and immune health.

Cardamom ✨ is a digestive herb that can decrease nausea and indigestion. It also can help detox the kidneys and urinary tract, lift depression, and prevent colds and flus.

Raw, local honey ✨ is the only sweetener that works well with Kapha dosha (the earth element, which is heightened in springtime). In Ayurveda, it’s said taking a little bit of honey every day helps to scrape toxins and fats from the tissues of the body. You may have also heard of the benefit of having a spoonful of local honey every day for seasonal allergies and immune function! 🍯

ADAPOGENIC MANGO CARDAMOM LASSI RECIPE

𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔
– 1 ripe mango
– 1/2 cup milk of choice (I used almond milk)
– 1 cup plain yogurt of choice (I used unsweetened cashew yogurt)
– 1-2 tsp cardamom
– 1 tsp ashwagandha
– 1 tbsp raw, local honey
___
𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
🍯Add ingredients to blender
🍯Blend until well combined
🍯Serve with a dash of cardamom on top! Enjoy 😋💗

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