Seasonal Ayurvedic resets are nothing like the stark restrictive diets or serious juice cleanses you read about in wellness lore. Instead, they’re juicy. nourishing little pauses in our daily lives designed to help our nervous systems and digestive systems reset, to let go of what no longer serves us, and to gather the vitality to spring forth into our lives with vibrance, clarity and enthusiasm.
And so it’s really no surprise that a protocol like this would leave space for a sweet little bit of cake, like this Simple Cinnamon Chai Bread.
Traditional Ayurveda recommends a kitchari mono-diet during ritusandi (the changing of the seasons,) for the ease of digestion and the soothing nature of such a straightforward ritual. For some constitutions, this is still the best way to observe and prepare for seasonal change. But for others, perhaps with greater energy needs, or for the sheer change of textures and as a means of amplifying our nutritional intake in an easy-to-digest way, including other simple foods is welcome and wise. And this is where this little “cake for a cleanse” comes in.
Our bodies are remarkably intelligent and incredibly hard-working. Day in and day out, they process all kinds of inputs—distinguishing what’s beneficial, and what’s not and doing their best to eliminate any harmful substances alongside routine metabolic waste.
These days, this barrage of inputs is almost incessant; our bodies are inundated with a never-ending barrage of stressors from environmental toxins, processed foods, unresolved emotions, and psychological stress, to name a few.
Inevitably, as we try to “digest” it all, we accumulate some degree of toxicity—which, over time, can build up in the system, deposit in the tissues, and compromise our health. This is to say that all bodies can use a break from time to time.
This is precisely the idea behind an Ayurvedic cleanse: to slow the flood so that the body can rest, recuperate, and repair itself. Amazingly, when the deluge of inputs slows, your body will immediately take advantage of the lull to do some profound cleaning.
To initiate our bodies’ natural responses to cleanse, repair, and restore, we typically eliminate foods that challenge digestion and threaten the balance of the microbiome; specifically commercial meat, dairy, gluten, refined sugar, and caffeine to name a few. But this leaves many lovely grains, pulses, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and even unrefined sweeteners that help to nourish the body as it does it’s good work. And so while the ancient Ayurvedic texts don’t outline “cake” in the cleanse protocol, a simple reading of the ancient rules of how to cleanse reminds us that sometimes cake IS the medicine.
Is so tender, just a bit crunchy from the sprinkle of cinnamon and sesame atop it, and just sweet enough. Sultry, creamy and satisfying while being light – the best kind of decadence! And, this precious little cake is delightfully gluten-free, without any added gums or fillers (VICTORY!) It’s sweetened exclusively with coconut sugar, a natural and unrefined sweetener loaded with minerals and vitamins. And it’s made tender by the addition of coconut oil and eggs, both of which help to lubricate the channels and nourish the body. The cake comes together without fancy equipment, and maybe even with ingredients that you already have in your pantry (see the recipe notes!) It’s a lovely treat in the middle of your spring or fall reset, warmed gently and slathered with a bit of ghee and a pinch of salt.
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