MARCH FOOD OF THE MONTH: ARTICHOKES

Bridge Ayurveda
Mar 14
3 min read

Taste: Astringent, Sweet
Temperature: Cooling
Post-Digestive Effect: Building
Dosha: Pitta & Kapha Pacifying (only mildly aggravating to Vata due to diuretic effects, is sometimes thought of as tridoshic)
Qualities: Cool, Dry, Light, Clear
Properties: Diuretic (stimulates urination), Laxative (stimulates bowel movements), Hepatoprotective (protects the liver from damage), Cholagogue (stimulates bile release and production from liver/gall bladder), Appetite Suppressant (reduces feelings of excessive hunger)
Best flavor combos: asparagus, bay leaf, basil, carrots, capers, celery, fennel, leeks, lemon, mint, olives, olive oil, parsley, peas, pine nuts, rosemary, spinach, thyme, tarragon (think artichoke + fresh herbs, lemon, leafy greens, pine nuts, and olive oil - sounds light, clearing, and delicious right - find out why below :))
Season: best consumed in Spring - March - May. They do have some fall seasonality (September - November) although they are best in spring - read below to find out why.

I love artichokes, and I get excited for their season to come around.

You know why?

Because it is pretty awesome to see such a potent pitta & kapha reducing food come around RIGHT at the time our bodies need it (March - May).

Why do our bodies need it right now?

Because March is prime Kapha aggravation season. You are more likely to feel slow, sluggish, lower motivation, heavy, mucus-y, weight gain, and wanting to cleanse and focus on your health. If you are a Vata, you probably feel alleviated, calmer, happier, and all of those negative things I just mentioned - very minimally, because they actually ground you.

Our bodies are nature and deeply connected to these cycles of nature. Right now, vata is alleviated, kapha is aggravated or heightened in most bodies, and pitta is accumulating in the background - just waiting to strike and bring you rashes, high hunger, liver issues, and burnout in the summer.

This gives artichokes the absolute perfect timing because...

they are known to protect the liver & gall bladder (from the same family as milk thistle which is one of the best herbs for the liver), promote cleansing in the body, reduce excess liquid in the body (think mucus, edema, water weight - artichoke has diuretic effects), and stimulate bowel movements (high fiber), thus eliminating excess toxins in the bowels/ body overall.

AKA - Pitta AND Kapha pacifying. By eating them, you feel better NOW and PREVENT issues to come this summer. Win - win.

Most people think of artichoke hearts when they think of artichokes. The hearts are great, but if you are buying in jar or can form from the store - make sure they are not stored in vinegar - this will be aggravating for all doshas. It is easy to find them stored in water. You do NOT want to consume the hard parts or the prickly hairs (the choke of the artichoke) from the center.

I like to pair artichokes with some kind of carminative spice such as bay leaves or fennel, just to prevent any gas or bloating that may come from those who have vata-type of weak digestion. I also like to pair them with a fresh herb and leafy green such as fresh basil, parsley, or arugula, to bring out their cleansing, light, and gently stimulating nature (perfect for Spring).

If you are wondering how to cook and prepare an artichoke - check out this 10-minute YouTube video: https://youtu.be/3BZR_rUHPuk?si=dfdTLyTfnT3qfGcI (this video is not me talking about artichoke, I just think it's a great informative video about how to cook/ prep/ eat whole artichokes).

Check out some fabulous Spring artichoke recipes we have right here in the kitchen (they are some of my favorites)!

References

"Artichokes" Joyful Belly Ayurveda, Artichoke Benefits (Ayurveda Insights) - Joyful Belly College of Natural Health Sciences. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Page, K. (2014). The vegetarian flavor bible. Little, Brown and Company.
Smith, Vaidya Atreya. Ayurvedic Medicine for Westerners: Volume 3 – Clinical Protocols and Treatments in Ayurveda. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2013.

ASPARAGUS ARTICHOKE TART

KALE & QUINOA SALAD

SPRING QUINOA SALAD

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