Recipe: Ojas-buidling Dessert
Ojas is the Sanskrit word for ‘vigor’ or ‘vitality.’ It is a subtle concept of immunity that cannot be directly measured. As a blood test can tell you the level of white blood cells in your system which show presence or absence of infection, there is no Ojas blood test to test how healthy or depleted you are.
Signs of good Ojas include:
• Waking up feeling rested
• A feeling of lightness in the body while also feeling grounded
• A zest for life that fills you with purpose and passion
• Strong immunity so you rarely get sick
Signs of depleted Ojas include:
• Having a hard time waking up and sustaining energy
• Heaviness in the body and mind
• Lack of enjoyment for life
• Chronic disease states & frequent colds
Causes of Ojas depletion include:
• Undernourishment
• Too much sexual activity
• Too much exercise
• Long-term stress
• Disturbed Agni
• Wasting diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, etc.
What builds Ojas?
• Love and laughter
• Good quality nourishment from organic, whole, fresh foods
• Spending time in nature
• Yoga, pranayama, meditation
• Proper amount of sleep
• Spending time with loved ones
Our Education Director, Kim Valeri Povey, shares her favorite Ojas-building recipe. The qualities of Ojas are sweet, heavy, unctuous, cool, and smooth, so Ojas building foods embody these qualities.
Ojas Pudding
makes 2 servings
Cook time: 10 minutes
• 4 cups of whole milk
• 1/4 cup of uncooked white basmati rice
• 1/4 cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped, or golden raisins
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds or chopped unsalted cashews
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/4 tsp tulsi (Holy basil)
• 1 saffron thread (optional)
• pinch of salt
Heat rice and milk together, cook on low heat for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. Add fruit, nuts, and ground spices and cook for another 5 mins. Add a pinch of salt and serve warm