Five Fantastic Spring Vegetables
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Despite all the snow and cold, spring is in the air and spring vegetables are in the shops! Here are some fantastic foods to enjoy at this time of year.
First, asparagus. Steamed, braised, roasted, or mixed into a soup, rice or pasta recipe, asparagus spells spring nourishment and deliciousness. And it’s a vegetable that is good for all three doshas. Its combination of sweet, astringent and bitter tastes make it ideal for pitta, while vata finds it easy to digest. Gently steamed, it will lighten kapha. The steroidal saponins in asparagus make it a good food for lactation and a great aphrodisiac as well. Rich in potassium and antioxidants, asparagus contains vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, folate, cancer-preventing glutathione, flavonoids and polyphenols. It is tonic, nervine and rejuvenative and good for the heart. You can blend asparagus and incorporate it into a face mask to help treat acne and reduce wrinkles. You can also rinse your face with the water you used for steaming asparagus. Eating asparagus is good for your complexion too.
Second, artichoke, a sweet and astringent vegetable that, again, is pretty tridoshic. My ideal spring meal definitely contains both asparagus and artichokes. Artichoke helps lower cholesterol, assist weight reduction and support the liver and gallbladder. It is incredibly rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. You can make a tea from artichoke leaves or stalks to ease gastritis symptoms and help with liver problems. Or you can drink the water that you used for steaming the artichoke. Artichoke tea may also help balance blood sugar and lower blood pressure. Although it may seem like a luxury, artichoke is so good for you, that it’s worthwhile to include one artichoke a week into your diet when they are in season.
Third, spring brings fenugreek greens. You can buy them at your local Indian market or grow them yourself as sprouts or microgreens. These bitter greens have a unique flavour and are high in antioxidants and fibre, as well as Vitamin C, Vitamin A and beta carotene. They help lower blood sugar and cholesterol and alleviate symptoms of arthritis. Including fenugreek leaves and sprouts in the diet is also beneficial for lactation. In India, methi leaves, as they are called, are used in parantha recipes for a tasty snack or breakfast. I like to make a fresh chutney from fenugreek leaves, but often I just toss them into the kichari, where they add a great flavour. For a face pack to remove blemishes, blend some fenugreek leaves with water or milk and apply to your face. You can also apply fenugreek leaves blended in vinegar to your hair as a remedy for dandruff.
Fourth, baby arugula is in season now. These too are delicious bitter greens that you can have in salad or mixed into a pasta dish. According to ancient Roman teachings, arugula is aphrodisiac. As well as being a great source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, beta carotene and Vitamin C, arugula is rich in antioxidants and cancer-preventive glucosinolates.
Finally, as the snow melts off your garden, you will see baby dandelion leaves appearing. Enjoy these leaves in salad while they are still young and tender, and very delicious. Dandelion greens are used in herbalism for bladder, kidney and liver problems, as well as to ease menstrual concerns, support lactation, improve digestion and strengthen the immune system. You can make a poultice of fresh dandelion leaves for bruises, cuts and abrasions.
Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.
Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!
