Capomo – Nature’s Superfood

Tattva’s Herbs is pleased to announce that we will be adding a new coffee alternative and superfood product coming soon! It is called Capomo (sometimes referred to as Maya Nut or Ramon Nut) and is packed with antioxidants, protein, minerals, vitamins and more! Capomo is not only excellent for human consumption, but the harvesting of the nut employs and empowers women who are dedicated to replanting and conserving the forests where it is from.

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Capomo is harvested in a very unique and compelling manner. The Maya nuts are collected by hand from the jungle floor once they have fallen from the trees. Collection happens daily, in the early morning before the animals have a chance to feed on them. Once the nuts are collected, they are dried in the sun for 2-3 months, at which time they are ready to be roasted and prepared for human consumption.

Capomo (Brosimum alicastrum) is in the fig family and was the staple food for pre-hispanic cultures. This superfood contains numerous nutritional benefits. It is one of the richest plant sources of amino acids which, among many others have been shown to positively affect mood and contentment. It is also high in protein, fiber, calcium, potassium, folate, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, B, C and E, while at the same time it is low in fat and calories.

In addition to the many health benefits of Capomo, it is beneficial for all of the surrounding people, animals and all forms of nature in the areas in which it grows. Capomo empowers and employs more than 600 rural and indigenous men and women who have formed 25 different autonomous businesses to produce and market Maya Nut products.

The Maya Nut Institute is an admirable example of a group that teaches workshops and trains local women in the production and marketing of capomo throughout Mexico. Animals enjoy the taste and health benefits of the Maya Nut plant as well. Traditionally, pigs, horses, cows and bats have been known to gain valuable nutrition from the leaves and stems of the tree and have even been shown to increase milk production in cows by 1-2 liters per day. The people involved in harvesting Capomo are also deeply dedicated to reforestation. In fact, there have been over 1.5 million Maya Nut trees planted since 2001.

To read more about the Maya Nut Institute click here.

The following is an excerpt written by Dr. Leslie Korn in “Capomo: Good Cheer from the Gods”

“Every part of the Capomo tree is nutritious and beneficial to humans, animals and the environment. The leaves may be eaten like spinach, the sap is nutritious, and the seeds are like potatoes when boiled and delicious with honey. The sap from the tree is sweet and serves as a traditional drink known to increase mother’s breast milk.”

She goes on to add, “Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are responsible for repairing cells, stimulating antibodies to fight bacteria and viruses, and to carry oxygen throughout the body. They also make our brains work and our synapses, snappy. Capomo’s special quality is that it provides significant levels of all the essential amino acids (“essential” means amino acids that can only be supplied via food). It is especially high in methionine, which helps the liver process fat and toxins, and tryptophan, an amino acid that is energizing and relaxing, as it lifts the mood. Capomo is high in fiber, calcium, potassium, folate, iron, zinc, protein and vitamins A, B, C and E. The seeds when roasted for café or boiled for bread have the protein equivalent of eggs. Too many cups (4+) of Café de Capomo have been known to cause the “jitters” in some people. The flour is nutritionally superior to any other flour and is ideal for people with gluten sensitivity.

Four-footed animal friends; pigs, cows and horses also love capomo. Cows fed capomo leaves produce 1-2 liters more milk per day than cows fed on pasture. Bats love the thin-skinned fruit around the “nut” and after eating it, drop it to the ground so we may prepare it for roasting café de capomo or grinding into flour.”

Read more here

We want to know what you think! Let us know below – your feeback is appreciated!

The Background of Ayurvedic Medicine

Taken from “The Yoga of Herbs – An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine” written by: Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad

SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND

In order to understand the Ayurvedic approach to herbs, one must understand the basic system of Ayurveda, which is a complete healing science, including the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of life.

The ancient seers of India envisioned two fundamental principles behind existence: Purusha, the Primal Spirit, the principle of sentience of consciousness; and the Prakruti, or Great Nature, the principle of creativity. The union of these two, Spirit and Matter, produces all things.

Yet these two are also one, the primordial Two-in-One, Consciousness and its creative, executive force, Shiva-Shakti. Within all things is essence, individuality, consciousness – the Purusha.  Within all things is also the power of manifestation, the capacity for creative enfoldment – Prakruti.

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From these two great forces in their initial coming together is born Cosmic Intelligence, Mahat, which contains the seeds of all manifestation. Inherent in the Mahat are all laws of nature.

The Cosmic Intelligence also exists in the human being as the intelligence in the individual. As such it is called Buddhi, the means of awakening, developing fully which one becomes enlightened, a Buddha. Buddhi is our capacity for perception, our ability to discern the real from the unreal. But this intelligence, in its evolution into material forms, may give rise to the ego, the sense of separate self, or Ahamkara. It is the principle of division as it is only our sense of a separate ego that divides us from the unity of life.

In turn, the ego gives rise to the conditioned mind or conditioned consciousness called Manas, which, as our sense of self-consciousness, creates a protective thought-field around itself in which we become bound.

Finally, this links us up with the collective unconscious called Chitta, the storehouse of thoughts of all limited mentalities. Through the Chitta we remain under the influence of latencies, compulsions and drives of the earlier stages of evolution, going all the way back to the animal realm and before.

Ayurveda aims at a life in harmony with Cosmic Intelligence, whereby our own intelligence is perfected, so that through it we can return to unity with nature; and through nature our true self and spirit, the Purusha. This is the spiritual background of Ayurveda, which is the same as that of Yoga, and the basis of Ayurvedic psychology.

This requires the awakening of intelligence wherein we go beyond the rule of the ego. The ego is the basis for all deviation from nature. Health is natural, Prakruti. Disease is artificial, Vikruti. Hence, most diseases, except those natural to the course of time, are from the psychological imbalance born of unnecessary self-consciousness.

Turmeric, the Awesome Anti-Oxidant

An excerpt from “Turmeric – The Ayurvedic Spice of Life”, written by Prashanti de Jager M.S.

The curcuminoids as an anti-oxidant compound are:

  • 5-8x stronger than vitamin E
  • 3x more powerful than Grape seed or Pine bark extract.
  • More powerful antioxidants than Vitamin C, eugenol (from cloves), capsiacin (from cayanne) and BHT, a standard food preservative.
  • Especially potent at scavenging the hydroxlyl radical, the most reactive of all oxidants.

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This means Turmeric is good at:

  • Keeping you feeling and looking young
  • Protecting you from mutating cells, tumors, cancer.
  • Preventing and removing oxidized cholesterol thereby preventing heart attacks.
  • Reducing acute (injuries) and chronic inflammations (arthritis)
  • Reducing pain associated with inflammation
  • Preserving food.

Anti – Aging

Everybody knows that oxygen is essential to life as we know it, but it can give rise to several reactive oxygen species (ROS) in normal metabolism. Normally the body can deal with these ROS but if there is an overload of them due to pollution, etc. or if there is an inability to deal with them due to genetics or weakness, then they can rapidly cause decay, breakdown, disease, rapid aging and death. Oxidation by free radicals can damage cells and DNA and thus is the major player in aging and a part to some extent of every chronic disease known. As rust is oxidized steel so aging is oxidized cells. Just as you wash the dirt and salt off your car to keep it from rusting, you surround your cells with anti-oxidants to wash away the oxidizing species of molecules. Proteins, lipids, and DNA are the parts of the cell most susceptible to damage by oxidation.

Of course, oxygen isn’t bad, it is the most needed nutrient to us, but reactive oxidizing molecules get out of hand. Actually one of the ways that our immune system destroys pathogens is to blast them with an oxidizer like Hydrogen Peroxide which rusts their little bodies within seconds. Most of the oxidants that we need protection from these days are a result of our modern day society: cigarettes, food additives, smog and pollution. Stopping oxidation stops a part of the aging process. Again, turmeric is considered to be the strongest antioxidant against the hydroxyl molecule, which is the most reactive of the oxidants. The phenolic nature of the Curcumins lend to Turmeric’s anti-oxidant activity.

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Prevention

Curcuminoids scavenge and neutralize free radicals and what is more amazing, they can prevent them from happening. One way that they do this is by blocking the oxidizing capabilities of metals. They protect the cells and chromosomes from cell damage.

Chronic Disease

Do you a chronic disease or know someone who does? Oxidation by free radicals is linked with virtually every major chronic disease as well as with aging in general. There are many diseases directly associated with ROS production.

There are three ways to remove ROS. One is with anti-oxidants like Vitamin C and E and Curcumin. A second way is with certain enzymes which engage with the ROS and destroy its ability to react. Turmeric, a great anti-oxidant, has been shown to increase the number and activity of ROS destroying enzymes. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the liver are increased by turmeric. These studies indicate that dietary Turmeric lowers lipid peroxidation by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.

Food Preservation

Turmeric preserves food 3 times better than the common synthetic preservative BHT. This has been known for thousands of years in India, where refrigeration is only getting somewhat common in the cities since the early 1990′s.

Daily Doses

Daily use of Turmeric is required to maximize its antioxidant properties. Experiments to study the mechanism of action and curcumin indicated that the presence of curcumin was essential for the inhibitory effect, as removal of curcumin resulted in restoration of cytochrome P450 activity and the levels of [3H] – B(a)P-DNA adducts to control values. For protection against anti-oxidants, it has to be there daily.

Not just the Curcumins

The curcuminoids. which are oil based, or lipophilic, and not dissolvable in water, are not the only anti-oxidants in Turmeric. This is evident since the water extract of Turmeric is also a strong anti-oxidant. Turmerin: a water-soluble antioxidant peptide from turmeric is found to be an efficient antioxidant, DNA-protectant, and antimutagen. Turmeric at 182 nM offers 80% protection to membranes and DNA against oxidative injury. ROS-induced arachidonate release and the mutagenic activity of t-butyl hydroperoxide are substantially inhibited by Turmerin. Tumerin is not toxic.

Click here for the best quality Turmeric Curcumin extract.

Agni and Plants

An excerpt from The Yoga of Herbs – An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine

by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad

Ayurveda views the health of the body as the functioning of a biological fire governing metabolism. It is called agni. Agni is not simply a symbol for the power of digestion. In the broader sense, it is the creative flame that works behind all life, building up the entire universe as a stage by stage unfoldment of itself, which, thereby, contains within itself the key to all transformations.

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Agni is present not only in human beings but in all nature. It has a special ab

ode in plants, which contain the agni of photosynthesis. When agni is strong, food is digested properly, toxins of various kinds, largely from undigested food particles, (called ama in Ayurveda), accumulate and breed disease.

Plants contain agni, through which they digest sunlight and produce life. Herbs can transmit their agni to us, their capacity to digest and transform, and this may augment our own power of digestion, or give us the capacity to digest substances we normally cannot. The agni of plants can feed our agni. Through this interconnection, we join ourselves with the cosmic agni, the creative force of life and healing.

The agni from plants is magnetically attracted by its opposite nature to the negative life-force of the ama, or various toxic accumulations in our body. The result is their neutralization and a restoration of harmony.

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Herbs can be used to supplement agni and thereby restore our autoimmune system. This restores the power of our aura, which is nothing more than the glow of our agni.

By their very nature the fight herbs and spices can feed agni, directly strengthening the basic energy of the body-mind, allowing for the right digestion, not only of food but also experience.

 

Gotu Kola – “Food for the Brain”

gotu-kola-2010Gotu Kola is known in Ayurveda as “food for the brain” and is regarded as perhaps the most spiritual of all herbs.  It is a rejuvenative nervine that has been used for centuries in traditional Ayurveda, and also in Chinese medicine for various nervous disorders. As a brain tonic, it is said to maintain and promote healthy focus and memory. This amazing herb is used as an aid for meditation that is said to balance the two sides of the brain.

Gotu kola has a positive effect on both the mind and body, as it is said to maintain healthy circulatory functioning and blood flow, resulting in the ability to promote healthy healing of scars, wounds, and burns.  Medical practitioners have used Gotu Kola as an aid to treat such various ailments as depression, lethargy, urinary tract infections, Alzheimer’s disease, insomnia, anemia and anxiety. In Sri Lanka people noticed that elephants, renowned for their longevity, munched on the leaves of the plant. Thus the leaves became known as a promoter of long life.

The optimal process for concentrating Gotu Kola is called supercritical extraction. This organic method uses up to 200 pounds of fresh herb sap to create just 1 pound of super concentrated Gotu Kola extract. Prior to processing, all of the sap is tested for heavy metals and other impurities that would render it unsuitable for refining.

Carbon dioxide (just like the carbon dioxide used to carbonate sparkling water) is used in place of chemicals or alcohol to reduce the raw tree sap into the pure extract. The extract is then recombined with raw herb to create a product so pure that the heady fragrance is still present. This careful process results in an exquisite formula that delivers simplicity, purity and incredible potency all at once.

Click here for Tattva’s Herbs Gotu Kola

Shilajit – A Brief History

Shilajit bottleTo locate the origins of Moomiyo or Shilajit, one would have to go back at least 2500 years to the time of the ancient Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle. He proposed and accurately described the first procedures for the use of Moomiyo and its preparation in grape juice, honey and milk. Glorious emperors of the past like Alexander the Great, Tamerlane, and Chinghiz Khan added Moomiyo to the ration of their Generals, personal guards and special units. The compound was always a mystery – one that yielded unprecedented results praised and honored by the Emperors, Sultans and Kings at all times. Only the richest of the nobles could afford it.

 Little was known about this high mountain herb/mineral compound in the West until the early 1990′s when Russian scientists brought it to the western world after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian Black Anabolic, or mumie (pronounced Moomiyo) is a potent adaptagenic herbal complex. The effects of Shilajit include activation of the growth processes on the cell-molecular level in all organs and body systems (Blood, liver, myocardium, skeletal muscles, lymphatic system, central and peripheral nervous systems, skin and hair, and gastrointestinal tract).

To date, several hundreds of research investigations have been conducted on Moomiyo, showing it has a strong ability to stimulate the body’s immune system. Moomiyo helps build white blood cells, called macrophages. The macrophages job is to destroy and digest foreign material in the body. This means that when strengthened with Moomiyo, white blood cells can ingest more bacteria, microbes and other alien cells that the body generally doesn’t know how to deal with. Scientists also discovered that Moomiyo increases the production of Interleukin (IL-1), a protein that is released by the macrophages and has important immune system enhancing properties. Shilajit is well known for renewing vitality. It has the ability to increase the core energy responsible for sexual and spiritual power, the same force that is withered by stress and anxiety.

The people of the Tajikistan area of Russia routinely use Moomiyo in their foods. Their life spans are above the world average by 10-15 years. Russian scientists can only attribute this to their daily consumption of Moomiyo. In the last three decades Moomiyo also found its niche in the National Bureau of Cosmonauts for its impeccable reputation as an agent that facilitates a strong immune system, sound health and fast recovery to the astronauts during and after long space journeys.

In sport, Moomiyo is prized for its significant tonic and growth-promoting effects on both physical and mental processes. Moomiyo plays one of the leading roles in the restoration programs of the national and Olympic-level athletes. It has been used by the Russian military and sports establishment for nearly four decades, supposedly for increasing strength and muscle mass as well as for its recuperative powers. In studies conducted at various universities in Russia, Moomiyo was found to improve workload (weight x repetition) by as much as 15-27% and improve recovery time. A budget of almost 6.5 million dollars was allocated by the Soviet government to the USSR National Sport Committee for research and application of Moomiyo in sports during the preparation of athletes for the 1988 Olympic Games in Moscow. What’s the best way to use Moomiyo to yield maximum results in sports? The result will be a fast and easy recovery, a more efficient adaptation to training, and of course muscle gain, making it popular among athletes world-wide. It can be effective at preventing age-related hormone-dependent disorders, and correspondingly should be considered as a nutrient for noncompetitive athletes over the age of thirty who still participate in fitness programs. High content of bio-active instances appears to be responsible for Moomiyo’s outstanding anti-inflammatory and healing effects. It is very beneficial at reducing joint soreness of the knees, shoulders and elbows of weight lifters.

Brief analysis of the region where Moomiyo is coming from is astonishing. Thousands of diverse plant species and herbs are found in isolated areas of Central Asia. The region is home to over 6500 different plants, over half of which are not found anywhere else on Earth. It is this great variety of highly bio active material, combined with the region’s climatic conditions (temperature, light and moisture), that contributes to the development of Moomiyo. The general character of this region facilitated the formation of specific plant forms enriched in oils, alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, chlorophyll, carotenes, flavonoids, etc., each serving as a valuable raw material for many modern pharmaceutical and food industries. This diversity of plant materials causes a unique variety of wild animals in the region, which differ from animals of other parts of the world by a richer content of micro-elements and biologically active compounds in their organs and muscles.

Coming back to its origination high in the mountains, Moomiyo has been referred to as “mountain tear”, “mountain blood”, and “balsam of rock”. It is the digest of many floras at the crest of the mountains under very special conditions that produces the Moomiyo extract. It is very rare, and can be accumulated only twice a year. To collect just a small portion of pure Moomiyo one would have to contribute many months of hard work to the process. But, of course, the result will justify this investment.

Shilajit Moomiyo is obtained from rocks in the Altai region. It is a form of mineral that drips from the cracks of the rocks during hot weather.  Basically, it is the decomposition of plant matter in the rocks that has been compressed , for tens of thousands of years in the past.  The bio-transformed plant matter is extruded from the rocks by geothermal pressures. It is collected in raw form for further purification. Walking high in the mountains, a thick rich paste seen oozing out from the rocks in the towering cliffs is Shilajit. Humus is formed when soil microorganisms decompose animal and plant material into elements usable by plants. Plants are the source of all our food and humus is the source of plant food. Unlike other soil humus, Shilajit humus consists of 60 – 80% organic mass. Shilajit will “flow” out from between the cracks in the layers of rock during the summer when the temperature of the mountains gets warm enough and the Shilajit becomes less viscous. The native people then climb the mountains, repel down cliffs to collect this powerful substance, known as Shilajit.

Click here for Tattva’s Herbs Shilajit. 

Ashwagandha – “Powerful Rejuvenator”

Ashwagandha bottleAshwagandha (ashvagandha, ashwagandha) is called Rasayana, which means “Powerful Rejuvenator” in Ayurvedic terminology.

Supplement Uses: Ashwagandha is sometimes referred to as Indian Ginseng. It has rejuvenative properties that produce energy, which in turn helps the body to calm down and sleep. Thus it helps the body address a stress-related condition rather than masking it with sedatives.

Herbal Actions: Recent research points out that Ashwagandha may be the best herb to take to maintain normal adrenal levels. Caffeine, nicotine, processed foods and processed sugar all take their toll on the adrenal glands and leave the victim fatigued, depressed and often bewildered as to what to do with themselves.

One of the special properties of Ashwagandha is that it will enhance “Ojas”. In Sanskrit, Ojas literally means “vigor”. According to Ayurvedic theory, this positive life vitality is the most subtle, refined level of the physical body and, in fact, is like the sap of one’s essential life energy. This balanced life force is the end result of a healthy diet which is properly digested. It is responsible for a healthy immune system, reproductive processes, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind and sense of well-being, allowing consciousness to flow within the body. With decreased vitality, we are less in touch with ourselves and more prone to weakness, fatigue and to experiencing a sense of disharmony. Energy depletion can be caused by the stresses that surround us in modern everyday life. Ashwagandha is known to relieve the body from these stress-related weaknesses by specializing in the building of balance and energy in the brain and rejuvenating the body, thus maintaining a healthy balance of physical zest.

Ashwagandha can also be a natural training aid and its use is becoming popular in sports and athletics. When you train hard, you walk a very fine line between overtraining and training just enough. Even in perfect circumstances, training by itself is a stress on the body. To get the maximum performance from your muscles, you require just the right amount of training coupled with appropriate rest and recovery periods. Overtraining means too much cortisol which leads to the consumption of muscle protein by the body and thus performance suffers. Endurance athletes who train heavily, such as long-distance runners and cyclists, are very prone to infections, as excess cortisol produced in response to the heavy training load suppresses the immune system. It can also lead to muscle and tendon tears because the muscles are weakened due to protein loss under the influence of cortisol.

Supercritical (Co2) Extraction Info: We are pleased to present our new Supercritical Organic Ashwagandha. Tattva’s Herbs’ Ashwagandha combines the wisdom of Mother Nature with the very latest technology known as supercritical extraction. This state of the art technology delivers a very pure extract that is both full spectrum and extremely concentrated at the same time. It is so pure that you can actually smell the qualities of the original herb in the extract, and you are greeted with this aroma when you open a bottle. It is sweet and powerful. There is simply no other extraction method so effective that you can actually smell the purity, fragrance and essence of the herb. This is a testimony to the great care that goes into the selection of the herbs and the supercritical extraction process itself. To give you an idea of the potency and concentration of the extract, we can often use as much as 200 to 250 pounds of fresh herbs to produce just one pound of supercritical extract. All of the herbs are grown on organic farms and selected with the greatest of care. The supercritical process produces an exceptionally broad representation of the herbs’ active constituents, which oftentimes traditional methods of extraction cannot even begin to extract. Furthermore, the supercritical process does not use any chemical solvents at all. Instead, it utilizes safe and environmentally friendly carbon dioxide, the same carbon dioxide that is found in your sparkling water.

Finally, the supercritical extract, post-supercritical extract (PSE) (a water-soluble extract), and the raw whole herb are combined to create our herbal formula. The finished product is superior in terms of both freshness and breadth of active constituents. It delivers the full spectrum of the herbs with a potency that cannot be surpassed. In addition, all of the herbs are independently tested for heavy metals and other contaminates. The result is an exquisite formula that delivers simplicity, purity and incredible potency all at once.

Ashwagandha Side Effects: Just as every coin has two sides, Ashwagandha too has its side effects. Although it is said that Ashwagandha side effects are virtually non-existent, there are some symptoms that have been observed in individuals during case studies.

The powder can be slightly hard to digest, and can cause some abdominal heaviness and flatulence, especially in those persons who have weak digestive systems. Occasionally there will be slight nausea or stomach upset when first taking the herb, whether in powder or liquid form. The relaxing properties of ashwagandha can sometimes be perceived as a slight drowsiness. Therefore, one taking any type of sedative medications should avoid taking ashwagandha until its effects are known.

Contraindications, Toxicity, Cautions, and Safety: As with all dietary or herbal supplements, you should inform your health care professional that you are using this product. Women who are pregnant or nursing are advised to consult with a physician prior to use. To date, no side effects have been reported with Ashwagandha.

Vegetable-Rice Casserole

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4 cups cooked brown or white basmati rice

1 ½ cups broccoli flowerets

1 medium carrot, sliced

1 medium parsnip, sliced

1/3  cup cashews

1 bunch spinach or kale, chopped

2-3 medium tomatoes, cut in eighths

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup bread crumbs

1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese **

½ cup parmesan cheese **

1 tsp. salt

¼-½  tsp. hing (asaoefetida) *

2 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped fine

¼ tsp black pepper

*Hing is an Indian spice that is used in place of garlic in Vedic cooking.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the tomatoes and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, parsnips and spices, cook another few minutes. Combine all ingredients (except ½ cups grated cheese) in a large bowl and stir gently. Transfer to a 2 quart (minimum) casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Remove lid and bake another 10 minutes. Best  when served immediately.

 ** What Many of Us Don’t Know About Cheese **

Rennet is a complex of enzymes produced in any mammalian stomach, and is often used in the production of cheese. Calf rennet is extracted from the inner mucosa of the fourth stomach chamber of slaughtered young, un-weaned calves.

There are non-animal sources for rennet that are suitable for consumption by vegetarians. There are many sources of enzymes, ranging from plants, fungi, and microbial sources, that can substitute for animal rennet. Cheeses produced from any of these varieties of rennet are suitable for lacto-vegetarians to consume. Since more and more people have become aware of this fact, many cheeses are labeled whether the enzymes are from animal, vegetable, or microbial sources.

A Vegetarian Diet & Yummy Stuffed Pepper Recipe

There are many people who have turned to a vegetarian diet, not only for health reasons, but also for the ethical issues that are brought up by the eating of meat.  Many famous writers, musicians, actors and other well known people have written or spoken on the topic, as diet plays a big part in our lives. For now we will just quote a couple, and remember to check out our recipes- they are all meatless, healthy and delicious.

The Russian author Leo Tolstoy became vegetarian after giving up the sport of hunting. He advocated “vegetarian pacifism” and felt that there was a natural progression of violence that led inevitably to war in human society In his essay “The First Step” Tolstoy wrote that flesh eating is “simply immoral, as it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to moral feeling-killing….man suppresses in himself, unnecessarily, the highest capacity-that of sympathy and pity towards living creatures like himself-and by violating his own feelings becomes cruel.”

“ I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals”

- Thoreau

Today’s recipe : Stuffed Tomatoes or Peppers

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4 large tomatoes or peppers

2-3 cups peeled and chopped mix of red, gold, & sweet potatoes

2 Tbsp. ghee or coconut oil

2-3 Tbsp. sour cream or yoghurt

2 cups kale, swiss chard or spinach chopped

1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

1 tsp. black mustard seeds

1tsp salt

Pinch or two of hing (aseofetida)

1/4 -1/2  tsp. black pepper

½ tsp turmeric

¼ tsp. coriander powder

1 tsp fenugreek seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice the tops off the tomatoes or peppers, scooping out the insides. If using tomatoes, the inside can be added to the filling. Put in a greased baking dish.

In a skillet heat the ghee or oil, adding the mustard seeds, hing, pepper, sesame seeds and fenugreek. Cook for a minute until the mustard seeds pop. Add the potatoes, cover and fry on medium for about 10 minutes. The rest of the ingredients can be mixed in and cooked for a minute more so they all blend together.

Fill the tomatoes &/or peppers to the top and bake for approx. 15 minutes. Garnish with parsley or fresh cilantro and serve warm in the fall/winter seasons, or cold in warmer weather.

 

 

Chyawanprash – The “Ageless Wonder”

 Give your immune system a Boost with Chyawanprash.

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Love that Jam!

Chyawanprash, (pronounced CHA-WON- PROSH) is a traditional Ayurvedic herbal jam made in a base of Amalaki fruit. Amalaki fruit – or “Amla” is the richest source of vitamin C known to man. It is often called the “Ageless Wonder” due to its remarkable rejuvenative properties and its ability to promote vigor, vitality, and youthfulness. This powerful herbal jam is rich in antioxidants, and is known to have phenomenal and profound effects on numerous systems within the body, including: respiratory, nervous, and circulatory systems. While providing energy and vitality to all the cells of the body, it both nourishes and strengthens the immune system. In Ayurveda, Chyawanprash is the most respected and well known “rasayana” of all, (sanskrit word describing an “elixir of life”). This time-tested remedy is certainly remarkable, and a true pillar of a healthy lifestyle. Today it is praised with the same esteem that it was over 4,000 years ago. Literally thousands of years of experience and knowledge are combined in the preparation of Chyawanprash, which makes it one of the most widely recognized and highly respected of all of the Ayurvedic formulas. It serves to gently balance the nervous system, the mind, the respiratory system and helps to promote healthy elimination.

Tattva’s Herbs’ Chyawanprash is formulated from a traditional recipe that contains nearly 50 herbs, including Ashwagandha, pippali, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon and many other well known herbs and spices in a base of clarified butter and honey. Our formula contains no herbicides, pesticides, chemicals or artificial fillers. This energizing formula is slightly warming, and thus helps to promote healthy digestion and stimulates the metabolism. It is suitable and safe for people of all ages, adults and children alike.

Chyawanprash is the supreme anti-stress and anti-aging formula, but is also extremely effective in preventing the common colds and coughs that plague so many of us. If you are one of the many people who are affected by the common work environment, where daily exposure to many people and all of their germs keep you in a constant state of coughing, sniffling and general low energy – Chyawanprash could be especially helpful for you. Taken on a regular daily basis this amazing tonic has the ability to improve all aspects of health. Most people report that they are no longer bothered by nagging coughs and colds. Many people report that their skin clears up and they look younger than they have in years. Almost all users report that they feel a tremendous amount of new energy and vigor. This is due to the synergy created by combining over forty of the most powerful Ayurvedic herbs in a meticulously prepared base.

Chyawanprash  is traditionally taken as a snack on crackers or bread, as the flavor is like a spicy jam, but it can also be taken alone, one teaspoon, one to three times per day. We have also heard of people adding a dose to their protein shake, fruit or vegetable juice, smoothie, or even adding it to coffee or tea as a morning treat – there are endless possibilities with almost countless benefits!

Click here for Tattva’s Herbs Chyawanprash