Gunas of Food - Dry vs Moist

In Ayurveda, each food has a different guna (quality) that affects our body and mind. One of the ten guna pairs is dry and moist.

Highlights:

• Foods with pungent, bitter, and astringent rasas (tastes) are dry.

• They fire up the agni and pacify kapha and pitta

• The salty, sour and sweet rasas (tastes) are moist.

• Moist food tends to strengthen and lubricate the body.

According to Ayurveda, all foods have certain qualities (gunas) that have varying physical and therapeutic qualities on the body and mind. Let’s talk about the Dry (Ruksa) and Moist (Snigdha) gunas.

Dry Foods fire up the agni (digestive fire) and also pacify the pitta and kapha dosha. But, when eaten in excess, it can cause the body to get dehydrated and weak. Foods with the pungent, bitter and astringent rasas (tastes) are dry.

Try this Amla Pickle.

Ingredients

• 1 kg Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

• 2 tsp Lime juice

• 1 ½ kg gur (jaggery)

• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Method

• Prick all the amlas with a fork and submerge them in water.

• Add the lime juice to the water and let it soak overnight.

• Wash the amla well the next day.

• Add them to a pot with water and allow them to cook till they turn transparent and tender.

• Remove from the gas and drain.

• Combine the lemon juice and gur with 6 cups of water and cook.

• Add the amla, bring to a boil and then allow it to simmer for 4-5 minutes.

• Once cool, store in an airtight container.

Moist foods lubricate and strengthen the body. But, if eaten in excess, it can cause weight gain and accumulation of ama (toxins). The salty, sour and sweet rasas (tastes) are moist.

Try this Strawberry Coconut Smoothie.

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut milk

• 2 dried anjeer (figs)

• 6-7 strawberries

• A few pudina leaves (mint)

• 1 ½ tsp chia seeds

• Honey to taste

Method

• Blend all the ingredients together and enjoy!

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