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Fatty Balls Recipe

FattyBalls1

In Ayurveda, fat is seen as an important nurtient because of it's role in keeping the body lubricated and hydrated. All the doshas can benefit from adding fat to their diet. You don’t want too much, but you don’t want too little either. Fat helps to fuel your brain, aids in keeping your internal organs functioning optimally, and it also helps to keep your hormones in balance.

Did you know that the human brain is made up of 60 percent fat?

A recent study from the National Library of Medicine, found that fatty acids are among the most crucial molecules that determine your brain's integrity and ability to perform. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20329590)

As always, we love getting our nutrients through whole food sources. So, when it comes to fat we are looking at things like: avocados, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, organic pasture-raised egg yolks, raw nuts and seeds, and even dark chocolate. Certain fats you want to avoid are things like: highly processed vegetable oils, butter and other meat products that aren’t organic and grass fed, non-organic nut/seed butters, and any other processed trans fats from foods like packaged baked goods, margarine, and fried foods.

In addition to fueling your brain, boosting your mood, and keeping your organs lubricated, fat is also an incredible source of energy and will keep you full for longer. That’s why these “fatty balls” are my favorite go-to snack when I’m in a hurry and need an extra boost. (if kept cool, they're a great snack for hiking/physical activity because they're filling and give you energy 😉

These are SO easy to make, contain only the healthiest ingredients, have no sugar, and are stupid good.

Fatty Balls Recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut shreds
  • 1/3 c. coconut oil, melted
  • 1/4 cup coconut butter
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup pepitas
  • 1/2 cup walnuts (brazil nuts or macadamia nuts work great too)
  • 1/2 cup almonds
  • 2 tbsp cacao nibs
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1/3 c. almond milk (optional)

*optional add ins: chia seeds, marine (or grass fed beef) collagen powder

Directions

This recipe is super simple to make. All you need is a food processor or a high powered blender.

*  Place all ingredients in your food processor. Pulse or blend on high until they reach your desired consistency. We like ours to be pretty well blended with maybe a few crunchy chunks here and there.

*  After making the batter, you may need to let it firm up just a bit in the fridge in order to form your balls (usually takes about 10 min). After that you are ready to form the balls into any size you like. Keep in mind the size you want and where you'll be consuming them.

*  This is our favorite part of the process: toppings! It’s easiest if you put the toppings in small bowls in order to fully cover the balls. (Don’t you love how many times we've used the word balls?)  We use either cocoa nibs, hemps seeds, or cinnamon (sometimes all three). But, feel free to get creative. Crushed rose petals or shredded coconut works well too.

*  After you’ve topped your balls, place them in the fridge (or freezer) again and let them get a little firm — now they should be ready to eat! For best consistency store them in the fridge or your cooler bag when on the go.
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The Secrets to Healthy Ovulation Part 2

Estrogen Dominance: Signs you may be estrogen dominant
& What to do about it

The Secrets to Healthy

Estrogen is an essential component of being a woman. It's because of estrogen that we ovulate, that we have breasts, that we have a libido, and that we maintain healthy bones and muscles. Estrogen is not the enemy. It actually regulates over a thousand genes in our bodies (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3783169/).

So, you don’t want to have too little estrogen, however, when we have too much estrogen, and not enough progesterone, it can cause a lot of unwanted symptoms.

Unfortunately, we are operating in a time where estrogen is at an all time high. Living in our environment today we are constantly surrounded by xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are endocrine disrupting chemicals that mimic estrogen in our bodies. Xenoestrogens are in artificial fragrances, pesticides, plastics, unfiltered tap water, non-organic meat and vegetables, birth control, the list goes on... In our modern industrial world, it's difficult to escape the toxic overload of xenoestrogens.

Why don’t we want to have excess estrogen?

An overabundance of estrogen can lead to a number of problems in women (and men). If not treated it can cause things like hormonal cancers, thyroid dysfunction, autoimmune disease, candida overgrowth, and even obesity. And, as we age it becomes increasingly important to make sure your estrogen is as balanced as it can be.

Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance: 

  • Depression or Anxiety
  • PMS
  • Menstrual problems (heavy bleeding or light bleeding)
  • Sore, swollen, or fibrocystic breasts
  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Weight gain (usually in the hips/thighs/abdomen)
  • Loss of libido

Estrogen is metabolized through different pathways in the liver. If these pathways are blocked it can start to cause a lot of the negative side effects mentioned above. When it comes to balancing estrogen, your liver health is key. And, in order to keep your liver happy you have to make sure that your nutrition is dialed in, your stress levels are in check, and you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep. Other common causes of estrogen excess include: Perimenopause, impaired metabolism, and obesity.

Why don’t we want to have excess estrogen?

  • Reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens: check your personal care products carefully, avoid the use of plastics, buy organic, drink clean water, take walks in preserved lands!
  • Exercise to maintain a healthy weight
  • Get off hormonal birth control
  • Reduce inflammatory foods like cow’s dairy (cow’s milk causes your estrogen receptors to be hypersensitive)
  • Limit your consumption of alcohol
  • Incorporate more ways to decrease your stress: meditation, grounding in the forest, and limiting EMF exposure
  • Maintain healthy gut bacteria: Avoid antibiotics and eat in a way the supports your microbiome
  • Eat to support the liver: greens, cruciferous vegetables, sprouted grains and legumes, healthy fats, and organic sources of protein.

Our favorite supplements for lowering estrogen:

Calcium D-Glucarate

Iodine

Banyan Breast Care Balm

Women's Support Tablets

“Healing begins when we start to live the life we really want to be living.” — Dr. Claudia Welch

It’s amazing what can happen when we choose to be open to healing. It can be difficult to stay positive, inspired, or creative when our health is feeling out of whack or weakened, but sometimes we get stuck with a “dis-ease” in the body when we aren’t truly embodying the life we are meant to be living. One of the most powerful medicines can simply be to choose the life you know you are meant to be living out. Maybe that looks like taking a sabbatical to work on the book you’ve always wanted to write, maybe it means quitting your office job to pursue wellness coaching, or maybe it simply means allowing yourself to eat that french croissant at your favorite bakery. Whatever the thing is, before you buy the next supplement, make sure to check in and ask:

“Am I getting in the way of living my best life?”

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How to do a Wintertime Cleanse

A Guide to Feeling Healthy After the Holidays

(beetroot pizza recipe included)

How To Winter Cleanse

December brings on many indulgences (eggnog, cheese, pie, the list goes on). It can often make the start of the new year feel like you’re trudging through sludge while your digestive system is trying desperately to get back on track.  As we finish up the holiday season, January is an ideal time to detox, but the fact is it’s still a busy time of year, it’s cold outside, and the long dark days can make the idea of cleansing somewhat unappealing and in most cases untenable. This is why it’s essential that we follow an Ayurvedic approach to cleansing as we move through the winter months.

While most of us don’t live in the appropriate environment to do a super strict cleanse, this specific detox is all about focusing on lots of cooked vegetables, whole grains, legumes, some fruit, and digestive herbal teas while limiting high amounts of animal products, high quantities of oil, salt, processed foods, and sugar. The main objective is to get your digestive system working properly and optimally.

This wintertime cleanse does have some elimination restrictions. Try to limit or eliminate the following:

 coffee, alcohol, gluten, added sugar, processed foods and processed oils.  

Really try to challenge yourself to completely take these foods out of your diet for the month. However, we also recognize that completely eliminating certain foods or favorites doesn’t always work for some people (and can be triggering), so if that’s you try to at least minimize these certain foods. It may be helpful to instead focus on the foods you can enjoy instead of focusing on the foods you can’t have.

Here is a sample menu of what your food intake my look like during this type of cleanse:

Morning Beverage:

If you are feeling like you really need a reboot, try having a cup of hot water with a little ginger and lemon or if you aren’t giving up caffeine completely, enjoy one cup of green tea with oat or nut milk.

Breakfast: 

Warm porridge- cooked (pre-soaked for easier digestion) with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. If you want to add fruit or a few nuts make sure to cook them with the oats for easier absorption.

Lunch: 

Cooked Quinoa with turmeric, steamed carrots & spinach, topped with Avocado

Mid-day Ginger Tea 

Dinner: 

Sprouted brown rice with a small amount of ghee and mung bean stew

Post Dinner Beverage: 

Dandelion tea, ginger tea, or Magnesium Calm for additional digestive/stress support.

It can be fun to eat in a new way. Just avoiding using excess oils or animal products can lead you to finding new ways to be more creative in the kitchen. As you can see this cleanse isn’t super restrictive. It just focuses on eating plants and revving up your digestive system. Check out this extremely healthy plant based pizza recipe! You may find that eating clean is easier than you think.

Beet Root Pizza

Canva - Beetroot Dough, Vegetables and Sprouis Pizza, Healthy Fast Food on Slate (1)

Ingredients:

1 head raw cauliflower

2 medium beets (raw & peeled)

¾ cup almond flour

¼ cup coconut flour

4 eggs

1/2 tsp sea salt and black pepper

1 tsp oregano

*You'll also need parchment paper

Directions:

Place cauliflower and beets in a food processor and blend until it turns into a fine rice texture. (You may have to pre-chop the beets a little bit). Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the flour and spices.

Mix well with your hands and then add in the eggs.

Whisk until everything is nice and combined. It may be a little wet, but you should be able to form it into a ball.

Next place on a lined (with parchment paper) baking pan and spread out evenly with your hands.

Bake in the oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until slightly golden and firm.

Remove from the oven and add your desired plant based toppings

Place back into the oven for another 10 minutes and then it'll be ready to enjoy

Need more support?

Download our digital cleanse guide for step by step instructions on how to do an Ayurvedic cleanse. Use the promocode WinterCleanse at checkout for 30% off!

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Channeling Your Inner Dolly

What Dolly Parton can teach us about Acceptance, Fame & Feminine Wisdom

Channeling Your Inner Dolly

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season we thought it would be nice to offer you a cozy read into the life and lessons from one of our favorite Shakti Mamas, Dolly Parton. If you're anything like our team, then you're probably up-to-date with the popular new podcast: Dolly Parton’s America {LISTEN HERE}, and if not then we just did you a favor (start from the beginning with episode 1).

It’s a remarkable and inspiring look into Dolly Parton’s life, career, and her impact on the South and beyond. However, what’s even more interesting to note about the series is how incredibly full of SHAKTI this woman is and how she sings to tell about it.

As mentioned in The New York times, Dolly Parton is the “saucey grandmother” of our time. She is accepting of all, she is confident, incredibly kind, and I can feel her nurturing ways just by listening to her music.

Dolly Parton is a force to be reckoned with. She grew up in the backwoods of Tennessee with her family of twelve. They were so poor that it is said her father paid for her birth with a bag of cornmeal! But, this didn’t seem to stop Dolly from going after her dreams.

Dolly Parton is a woman that embraces the fire of the feminine.

Struggling to find her way in the male dominated entertainment world, she eventually would go on to achieve more number one hits than any other female artist, of all time. And, she did this all while making friends with “the church ladies and the gays”.

Dolly has always been about acceptance and in reference to her popularity in these two (usually opposing) communities: the religious christian community and the gay community, she has stated,

“God tells us not to judge one another, no matter anyone’s sexual preference or if they’re black, brown, or purple. And if someone doesn’t believe what I believe, tough shit.”

It is so refreshing how candid Dolly Parton is. She doesn’t try to be anyone else but herself. She is proud of her roots yet she doesn’t try to hide or cover up any of the negative aspects of the troubled South. And, somehow she is able to speak her truth while still being steeped in a loving and compassionate state of being.

April 1989, New York City, New York State, USA --- Dolly Parton --- Image by © Edie Baskin/Corbis

So, what can Dolly Parton teach the modern woman in Ayurveda school?

*To be a force

*Accept everyone despite their differences

*Be fully Yourself

*Live More in a state of Joy and Thanksgiving 

*Never give up

Dolly says it best in the lyrics of the song Light of a Clear Blue Morning,

“I can see the light of a clear blue morning
I can see the light of a brand new day
Everything is going to be alright
Everything is going to be okay”

Image credit: 1st image Andy Warhal, 2nd image Illustration by Matthieu Bourel; photograph by Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images

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Adaptogenic Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Holiday Treats with a Twist

Holiday treats with a twist

Tis’ the season for gifts and treats, and who doesn’t love something slightly sweet and with a crunch!?!

This is almost too simple to even call a recipe, but a buttery crunch + dark chocolate + sea salt is a damn good combo, that’s why we want to share it anyway.

Like with our special holiday Pumpkin Pie blog, we want to offer you an alternative to the usual sweet snacks on the holiday table.

This recipe is simple and will fill the room with a little extra joy once you take your first bite. These also make a superb travel snack when you’re headed to the in-laws. With adaptogens like Maca Powder and Ashwagandha your hormones will thank you for this magnesium rich raw cocoa delight. Here’s How it’s Done:

Holiday Treats with a Twist

What you will need: 

Directions: 

  • In a medium sized pot add your coconut oil and set on medium-low heat. (You can also do this with a double boiler, but this method seems to work well)
  • Break up your chocolate bars and add them to already heated pot
  • Once the chocolate is completely melted, add the spices and the adaptogens (with the heat turned off)
  • Stir generously until the chocolate is nice and smooth
  • Add the pretzels in one handful at a time
  • Using tongs scoop them out (shaking off any excess chocolate and place them onto the parchment paper
  • Next sprinkle any toppings you like (we did coarse sea salt and coconut flakes)
  • Transfer into the freezer for about an hour

Happy Holidays ! !

Special Ingredients that we used:

Ashwagandha Powder from Banyan Botanicals

Maca Powder by Healthworks

Dark Primal Chocolate Bar by Eating Evolved 

FitJoy Gluten/Grain-free Pretzels 

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Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday Gift Guide

Tis' the season to love and to give. As we live the darkest days of the year, we all become little Santas in our own right. Making things cheery and bright with our spirit. Our entire society is based off the goodwill of neighbors and giving. Do onto others as you would have done onto you. This is where the social contract begins.

I want to touch on giving, because our culture is obsessed with shopping. Can we not buy so many presents this year? Maybe just a few. Treat your mom and your closes relatives with thoughtful presents, that's it.

Below you'll find curated love from our whole team. With love and so much joy, Merry Yuletide and Happy Hanukkah!!

Charitable Giving

There are a couple of special organizations that I want to introduce you to. They will make your heart leap with joy in a lasting way like no Amazon shipment can:

The Grandmother's Council: represents a global alliance of thirteen indigenous grandmothers whom through prayer and education offer healing for our Mother Earth and protection for the indigenous ways of life.

Thistle Farms: offers natural bath/body/home products. Your purchase directly supports women who have survived trafficking, prostitution and domestic abuse. They are made by survivors and support survivors.

She's The First: they provide support to girls who will be the first in their families to graduate from high school. 2/3 of the world's illiterate adults are women. We must spread education to women in all parts of the world to ensure equality and the survival of our species.

Compassion Collective: they support motherless children. It started in 2016 to help displaced and orphaned Syrian children and they now have a program to help homeless American youth.

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For The Readers

Check out our curated library of our favorites reads on yoga, Ayurveda, health, motherhood and more!

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The Gift of Learning

Give the gift of knowledge and wisdom with Lineage of Love Gift Cards, or pay for a friend's Ayurveda School tuition.

Gift 1 to 12 month of the our movement, yoga and holistic lifestyle membership with Lineage of Love Gift Cards.

A year-long deep dive into the heart of women's healing traditions with Ayurveda School. If you'd like to gift someone the tuition for this program, please write us at [email protected].

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Shakti School Swag

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Shakti School's Digital Workshops

Download and take these on the go with you

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For the Health Enthusiast

Gifts for the health nerds in your life

Vitamix 3500

Aqua Tru Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

Cast Iron Skillet

Stag Electric Kettle

Earth Grounding Mat

Le Creuset Signature Enamel Dutch Oven

The best sleep mask

Blue light protecting glasses

RMS Living Luminizer

Organic Make-up Signature Set

Magic Dewey Luminizer

Signature Dark Chocolate Bar

(great stocking stuffer!)

Keto Cups

(great stocking stuffer!)

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How to Stay Radiant Throughout the Winter

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At Shakti School we emphasize the importance of educating yourself as much as you can. Knowledge is power. One of the key factors in the evolution towards a more enlightened woman is her wisdom. But, just as the women of Shakti School believe inner beauty to be essential to evolution, we want to radiate on the outside too!

Radiance is achieved through the state of your emotions, it's achieved through your lifestyle habits, what you are putting into your body (the state of your gut), and what you are putting on your body.

The glow of your skin can say a lot about your health.  Our skin is actually one of our best indicators of our overall well being.

We can look at the skin to point to certain imbalances that are happening internally. However, even after the imbalances have been addressed inside the body we can still be confronted with disruptions to the skin through our external environment.

This can become especially challenging during the harsh winter months when the weather is cold, dry, and rough. If we look to the wisdom of Ayurveda we know that it is best to let the seasons be our guide, and if we apply this to how we take care of our skin it becomes a little easier to know what to do.

In the fall and winter when skin is dry and rough, we want to treat it similarly as we would treat the food we eat: nourishing and wet. Cleansing, feeding, and restoring the skin using oils that will help protect, nourish, and deeply moisturize will be the most beneficial.

There are so many beautiful products we love (see list below), but beyond the use of expensive products there is so much you can do yourself to help maintain that healthy glow throughout the dry season.

Here are a few of our favorite skin care tricks that will give you that healthy glow when you’re needing a little extra boost.

Facial & Mouth Exercises

Facial massage has amazing benefits for the skin. It can help to improve sinus drainage, stimulate your lymphatic vessels, and it can also help to prevent wrinkles. We often carry a lot of muscle tension in our face without even realizing it. In addition, a recent study on facial massage showed that it can even help to reduce anxiety and negative mood status.

Did you know that they are approximately fifty muscles in your face?!

Just the same as any other muscle in your body, getting into a regular routine of exercising those muscles will help tone and firm the muscles and additionally will help to tighten any sagging skin.

Ben Greenfield, an expert in the biohacking world, recommends these exercises for the longevity and radiance of your skin. I’ve been incorporating them into my exercise regime and have noticed some amazing benefits:

Forehead and Eye Exercises:

These strengthen the muscles around your forehead and eyes to smooth wrinkles and produce a more awake look:

  1. Put your index fingers about a centimeter above your eyebrows, above the middle of your eyes, and apply gentle pressure. Close your eyes while trying to raise your eyebrows up against your fingers. Repeat 10 times.
  2. Make peace signs using your index and middle fingers and place your middle fingers where your eyebrows start above your nose and your pointer fingers at the end of your brows. Gently push your fingers up and down while flexing your facial muscles to move your brows up and down, simultaneously. Do 3 sets of 10.
  3. Close your eyes and with your eyelids relaxed, lift your brows with your index fingers. Keep your eyes closed while lifting, stretching and strengthening your eyelids, and hold for ten seconds. Repeat 10 times.

Mouth Exercises:

These will strengthen the muscles around your mouth and jaw and give you better control of facial movements.

  1. Smile big and press your fingers against your cheeks to hold it in place. Close your lips halfway and hold for ten seconds, then close lips fully and hold for ten seconds, using your fingers to resist each movement.
  2. Hold your mouth, teeth and lips tightly closed, then separate your teeth as much as you can while keeping lips closed. Slowly move your lower jaw forward as far as you can and hold for five seconds. Return jaw to the original position and repeat five times.
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Dry Brushing

Dry Brushing is a great way to facilitate the skin’s ability to naturally detox. It sweeps away dead skin cells, improves the appearance of the skin, and encourages lymphatic drainage. I’ve also found that it leaves me feeling more energized.

How to Dry-Brush — It's best to use on dry skin before you take a bath or shower. Start at your feet and work your way upwards. Brush in a circular motion always in the direction of your heart. This will help increase blood flow throughout the body. Try to brush for at least 3 minutes working your way up to 5 minutes. After showering make sure to lather yourself in some kind of amazing moisturizer or use your dry brush right before Abhyanga. (See our favorite products below)

Abhyanga

The practice of Abhyanga has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda. It's an lymphatic massage usually done with infused oils. It improves circulation, gives you softer and more toned skin, helps to strengthen bodily tissues, lubricates your internal organs, joints and bones, and has even shown to improve vision. It also leads to better sleep! For best results try it before a bath at the end of the day.

Choose your favorite oil (warm oil is ideal) and start by massaging your legs and working your way up to the neck and even your scalp if you would like. Massage every part of the body. Use long strokes for your limbs and short circular strokes for your joints and your abdomen. Spend a little extra time on your feet. There are so many nerve points in our feet that are associated with our entire body (including our face).  After you’ve finished do some easy breathing or meditate while the oil soaks in (about 5-10 minutes). Afterward, wash off the excess oil in a bath or hot shower.

Red & Infrared Light Therapy

Red and infrared light is an incredible tool for healing and for anti-aging. It helps to improve the circulation of oxygen-rich blood in the body, helps the body’s collagen to unwind, boosts collagen production, promotes faster healing, and has amazing pain relieving benefits. When you use red and Infrared light therapy it mimics  the heat you feel when you are exposed to the sun, so it’s also a great aid in melatonin production.

Sleep & Managing Stress

Getting proper sleep and managing your stress levels is going to do wonders for your skin. When we aren’t getting an adequate amount of sleep we jeopardize the body’s natural ability to repair itself.

Stay Away from Synthetics

It is truly simple. If you wouldn’t eat it, do not put it on your skin! Make sure to read your labels and look for words like: bpa free, paraben free, free from synthetics, toxins, or fillers, and free from artificial fragrances. It’s also good to get into a habit of checking your own products at home to make sure everything is up to date and not expired.

Create Your Beauty Regimen

Now that you’ve got some helpful practices to start incorporating into you skincare routine let’s get into how you can create the best beauty regime for that lasting life-giving glow.

Cleanse

We like to wash in the morning and the night, but depending on your skin type you may only need an evening Wash. Cleanse your face with warm & your favorite oil cleanser. Oil cleansers are amazing. They help to cleanse the skin without drying the skin out. This is especially good for the longevity of your skin. Cleansing will also help get rid of any sweat, bacteria, or environmental toxins that may have accumulated on your skin’s surface.

Hydrate

Use a misting toner to keep your skin cells plump and hydrated. This will help to protect against dehydration and will also contribute to skin regeneration, smoothness and elasticity.

Nourish/Moisturize 

Our favorite way to moisturize the skin is with oil. A high quality oil will actually help to prevent congestion, moderate inflammation levels, and will also protect the skin from environmental toxins.

Protection

Vitamin D is SO important. We love our sunshine, but it’s also important to protect the skin from overexposure. Using a zinc oxide daily sunscreen will be super helpful in delaying aging and promoting long term happy skin.

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Banyan Botanicals: (Shakti School insiders get 10% off their order with the promo code SHAKTI10)

Paavani Ayurveda Skin Care: (Shakti School insiders get a discount with the promo code GHEESPOT)

RMS Beauty:

Marie Veronique:

Henné Organics:

Plus these two that we love:

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Blending Ancient Modalities with Modern Day Health Trends

Ancient Perspectives on Modern Day Health Trends

In the modern health world, what is considered healthy or not is constantly in flux. One day eggs are good, the next day they’re bad. One day going vegan is the answer to longevity, and the next day animal fat is the key ingredient to health.

So, What the F**k are we supposed to eat??

It has become increasingly difficult and more confusing than ever to know what diet is individually appropriate. What will give us the results we want? What is suitable to maintain long term health? With the growing number of "diets", nutritionists, wellness coaches, health professionals and biohackers, everyone seems to have a different take.

It’s common for them to use language such as:

  • This diet will make you really healthy
  • You’ll live a really long time
  • This xy or z will make women really skinny, or will help men to build muscle & virility
  • If you don’t eat “this way,” you’ll suffer
  • Here’s the scientific proof that this nutritional approach is “right”

Of course we want to be healthy, strong, and at our ideal body weight. It’s okay to desire to look and feel well, but these types of statements can often be misleading. If we are already in a vulnerable place of feeling unwell, it’s easy to go down the Google-search rabbit hole. This can snowball into attaching yourself to a particular diet that might not actually be suitable to your specific needs or the imbalances at hand.

Perhaps one of the most unique things we can learn from the ancient teachings of Ayurveda is that there is no one standard diet. Each and every one of us has a unique constitution, lifestyle, and background and therefore what will work best for us will be highly individualized.

A good approach in determining the best meal plan that works for you is to first understand what the different diets out there are, decide what resonates with you, what the benefits are, what are the potential side effects, and then how can you fine tune the diet to be appropriate to your specific constitution. Another way to look at would be to ask the question: What would Ayurveda say? 

This may sound like a lot of work, but luckily we’ve given you a head start. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most current health trends, and how using an Ayurvedic approach can lead to a more balanced plate.

Keto

The ketogenic diet is made up of eating mostly fats, a moderate amount of protein, and a very minimal amount of carbohydrates. Eating a high amount of fat and very few carbohydrates will cause your body to go into ketosis. Ketosis a metabolic state where your body burns fat instead of carbs (or glucose) for fuel. This can be very beneficial for certain types of bodies. Especially if it is applied as a short term protocol or in cyclical manner.

Who would benefit from a ketogenic diet? 

If you are insulin sensitive, struggling with high levels of inflammation caused by the “standard American diet” (that is if you are eating high amounts of white sugar and flour), or if you’re looking for a quick reset and you can tolerate high amounts of fat and protein this diet could be helpful. It’s interesting to note that the ketogenic diet was actually developed as a treatment for epilepsy in 1921 by Dr. Russel Wilder, MD, of the Mayo Clinic. He and his team determined that this particular diet could stop seizures and also slow the rapid growth of a lethal brain tumor. This shows that eating in the ketogenic style is and should be used as a therapeutic treatment and not as a long-term plan.

Who is it not suitable for?

If you are undergoing any type of extreme stress, extreme Vata imbalance, or hormonal issues (thyroid regulation or menstrual irregularities) this diet can have some serious negative long-term effects including mood disorders, increased cortisol levels, and it can even lead to weight gain. So, it’s best if this diet is approached with caution, especially for women. As women, we need a certain amount of carbohydrates to produce enough estrogen in order to keep our cycles regular. As Lara Briden, Doctor of Naturopathic medicine, points out in her findings, in a clinical trial on the ketogenic diet for women, 45 percent of the female participants lost their periods within six months.

What would Ayurveda say? The ketogenic diet may have some benefits and could be used as a short-term treatment for some, but too much fat and too much animal protein is hard on your digestive system. We know that animal protein takes longer for the body to digest therefore it sits in your gut longer creating more TAMAS that the body has to deal with later. Going full Keto is similar to carnivore-heavy diets, focusing on consuming large amounts of meat with little to no grains, legumes, or fruit.  In Ancient Ayurveda, grains, legumes, and fruit are actually more Sattvic and are the foods that are essential to creating health and balance.

Whole 30

The Whole 30 diet is somewhat similar to a ketogenic approach, but not quite as extreme with the limited carb intake. The diet consists of eating meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and fats. While eliminating foods such as dairy, sugar (including natural sweeteners & alcohol), all grains, and legumes. The idea is that you will only be consuming whole and unprocessed foods.

Who would benefit from this diet?

If applied short term the Whole 30 diet is suitable and especially appropriate for someone who is insulin sensitive (that is if you didn’t go overboard with the fruit) or if you are targeting certain health goals.

What would Ayurveda say? 

Similarly to the ketogenic diet, it may be beneficial to some and could be used as a short term treatment, but again too much fat and too much animal protein is hard on your digestive system. Ayurveda is also a big proponent of utilizing all the food groups. Any time we completely eliminate multiple food groups for long periods of time you could be setting yourself up for more imbalance.

Veganism

Eating a vegan diet is the complete abstinence from all animal products. The idea is that you are 100% plant based: No dairy, meat, eggs, or any other animal products are permitted. Veganism is often a popular dietary approach in the Yoga community due to the ethical reasons of Ahimsa (non-violence).

Who would benefit from this diet? 

Anyone who is consuming meat from the US industrial farming industry would highly benefit from this diet. If you are unsure where your meat products are coming from chances are it is best to avoid them. The current industrial meat industry is having detrimental effects to the environment, to our digestion, our cardiovascular health, joint health, and is the root cause of many other inflammatory diseases. Adapting a vegan diet would also be beneficial for anyone experiencing high levels of inflammation or extreme Pitta disorders. 

What would Ayurveda Say? 

Similar to all the diets mentioned, whenever you completely eliminate a food group it’s possible you may experience more imbalance. One of Ayurveda’s key ingredients for medicine happens to be an animal product: ghee. Ghee is suitable for all the doshas. It helps to assist in digestion, it keeps your organs and your joints lubricated, it aids in healthy skin, and has many other beneficial properties. There are also many nutrients missing from a vegan diet that would then need to be supplemented if this diet were applied. These nutrients include:

    • zinc
    • iodine
    • vitamin A
    • iron
    • vitamin D
    • vitamin K2
    • coenzyme Q10
    • choline
    • Omega 3
    • vitamin B2
    • vitamin B6
    • vitamin B12

So, while there are some people that may benefit from a vegan diet, unfortunately many of us perform better by adding a small amount of high quality animal protein to our diets. Additionally, in reference to the ethical reasoning for eating a plant-based diet we can best understand this by looking to the Hindu philosophy of Ahimsa - nonharming.

How we can practice Ahimsa in our day to day life has so much to do with feeling healthy, clear, and whole. In order to show up as our best selves, this could mean that we need to incorporate animal products into our diets at certain times of the year in order to maintain balance. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who probably teaches and lives most in the philosophy of Ahimsa has recently adopted the utilization of meat into his diet. Perhaps the best way to approach Ahimsa is NOT with hard and fast dietary rules, but with the question - “How can I do the least amount of harm?” And, “How can I contribute to care-taking the earth/sustainability with my food choices.”

Our diet is truly at it’s best when we are able to eat food in a way that makes it medicine, and promotes a healthy ecology for us all.

Good Food

Conclusion

For many of us in the health and food world, what we eat can often be so intertwined with how we identify ourselves. This can become especially dangerous when the diet we may identify with is no longer serving us. What I have found to be the most helpful is to avoided extremes, be gentle with yourself when discovering what foods are and aren’t contributing to your overall well-being.

Try to keep in mind that your food should be your medicine. Michael Pollan, a famous journalist and food writer truly said it best, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Everyone is unique and therefore the foods they choose to eat should be unique to their specific needs. Read scientific articles, but be your own scientist. Try an elimination diet to see how certain foods affect you, don’t be too dogmatic, and allow yourself to flow with the fluctuations of life: the seasons, the moons, and your own internal tides that are constantly in flux.

Some other takeaways:

  • If you are feeling overwhelmed, work with a health professional/a food coach to help you determine what diet is best for you.
  • When choosing which grains and legumes to consume it’s always best to choose organic, local, and wild when possible. It’s also important to soak grains & legumes and take care in cooking them properly.
  • Be especially cautious when buying animal products. Make sure what you are choosing is coming from a good source: organic, grass fed, local, or wild-caught when choosing fish.
  • Be kind to yourself, practice surrender in order to listen to what your body may be asking of you.
  • Avoid over criticizing other sister’s food choices. We can never know the path of another. Food is our medicine.
  • No matter what foods you are eating, try to eat with joy and gratitude. Our mental and emotional state has far more sway than we know over our physical state. Happiness and thanksgiving increases your body’s ability to digest anything.

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