3.5 stars

This has a lot of great information that’s good for beginners and those who maybe just want to learn more about it. It’s broken down into easy to understand parts and is engaging without being dry.

This original book about Ayurveda and how it all connects to women’s health was a favorite non fiction of mine this past year. I loved the photography, recipes and creative ideas and stories. I would recommend to any woman interested in holistic alternatives and anyone just interested in women’s health.

This is an intriguing idea but the set up on this ARC was very confusing. I am a stranger to this practice so I was hoping for a good introduction, like I said the setup made it difficult to really understand what the author was trying to get across.

beautiful and informative book and read.

i think it’s a wonderful book for anyone that is interested in this topic -for beginners as well as people that already have some knowledge but want to refresh or learn more.

it’s a beautiful book to look through, a nice book to look for something specific or just read the entire thing and get informed about everything.

defiantly a great one!

This was a great introduction to ayurveda, I came in with a very basic knowledge but this book was easy to follow and informative. A lot of the recipes seemed delicious and simple, but would have benefitted from photographs.

Thank you Zeitgeist and NetGalley for the electronic review copy of this great book. This is a wonderful Ayurveda based guide featuring information about Ayurveda and various foods and recipes for anything that ails you from sore throat to restless legs to migraine to everything in between. The layout is clear and the recipes are easy to follow with easy to find ingredients. A fabulous reference book to have and to gift.

I found this so informative and took a lot of notes. I love that there are food suggestions for each season (enjoyed that sweet potatoes is one of the good foods)

Would be a great physical copy to reference and go through over and over again.

Ayurveda for Women by Emily L. Glaser is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to better understand the power and potential of the ancient healing science of Ayurveda. The book provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the basics of Ayurveda, as well as a comprehensive overview of how to apply its principles in daily life. In particular, it focuses on how women can benefit from its practices. For me, the healthy gut section was my focus. Overall, Ayurveda for Women is a great resource to get you started and learn recipes.

An interesting and informative book for women interested in Ayurveda. I’m not sure that this is something I would make as a lifestyle choice, though I found the recipes to be lovely.

Interesting book explaining about Ayurveda and the power of food as medicine. There are recipes for some woman events and issues like breastfeeding, trying to conceive, digestive issues, mind and beauty. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Alternative Lifestyle Healing

Emily Glaser begin this book with a very unstandable introduction to what Ayurveda is all about. She states "Ayurveda originated in India as a medical science devoted to health and disease prevention. It sees each person as a unique expression of mind-body-spirit. Health is approached holistically by suggesting appropriate foods and lifestyle practices for enhanced well-being. Ayurveda understands that the foundation for health begins with how a woman nourishes her life force, known as prana, with fresh food, clean air, and good company."

She further states that Ayurveda is a complete medical system and why food matters, providing a list of what foods to avoid and those that are good for our bodies. She provides a great deal of helpful information, including some delicious recipes.

I begin reading this book a month ago because I've been suffering from chronic pain and taking Opioids for the past 13 years. I've gone through pain management's one-day deals and finally got into the 6-week program, and from there I was able to be "Referred" to the Alternative Medicine Department about eight months ago. This has been life changing. This book is God-Sent for me. Eating the recommended fresh foods and the healthy recipes, suc as the Creamy Zucchini Soup, Cardamom Rice Pudding, Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut Broccolini, and one of my favorite - Cinnamon Baked Pears and Walnuts. This book is filled with nutritional and delicious recipes.

The author provides recipes for specific for certain health issues, such as Buckwheat Porridge for Endometriosis, Avocado Cilantro Chutney for Hot Flashes, and many other health issues. The Spiced Coconut Vegetables recipe is recommended for Inflammation. As we know, Inflammation causes pain.

This book is for anyone desiring to live a better, healthier life, and to choose to have an alternative way of eating and living.

I like the concept of this cookbook. It is more of a self help book with recipes. There are dishes to make for each health issue you can think of. I can see keeping this as a reference book and using the recipes as needed to maximize your health.

This is the first book about Ayurveda that I've read and I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. I got very confused trying to figure out my Vata, Pitta, Kapha and I think I will have to do more research before I can properly use this book. Also, I'm not sure if the finished copy will have photos for the recipes, but I really don't like following recipes without photos, especially cuisine I'm not familiar with cooking). I did like that this book has a section with recipes to help with certain conditions and that the reader can bounce around in the book as needed.

An informative and interesting read. I’ve been curious about Ayurveda for years but found it complicated and daunting. The charts make figuring out your natural state versus an imbalance one fairly straightforward. I liked how many of the recipes were for everyone with add-ins or alterations for each dosha or dietary requirement. The well written blurbs for each recipe were upbeat and informative. The recipes are simple to make and the ingredients readily available in your larger grocery stores. A comprehensive index makes searching for a particular recipe or health issue a breeze. Highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

Interesting read for someone new to this. Recipes seemed easy to follow and had ingredients most would have/have access to.

This was a very interesting book, especially for people who are nutrition-conscious but want a non-Western focus. The recipes sounded intriguing and I loved how they were organised in function of health issues you are trying to solve or improve or foods that fit your nature. But my advanced copy did not come with pictures, I do not know how it will be in the end, but I have trouble with cookbooks without images to help me understand what recipes are supposed to look like.
I must say that despite being intrigued I will not be using that one because of this lack, my ADHD makes this kind of focus on instructions really too difficult. If you don't need pictures to cook, then this is a very interesting read.

Ayurveda for Women (The Power of Food as Medicine with Recipes for Health and Wellness). By Emily L. Glaser, RN, C.Ay. 2022. Zeitgeist (ARC eBook).

A beautifully pictured Ayurvdic cookbook with overviews of symptoms that plague women and recommended approaches and recipes based on each dosha (pitta, vata, kapha) that can help with each symptom. Overall, the work is easy to reference and provides an introduction into issues women face through all phases of their lives. There is a one-size-fits-all approach with the promotion of a plant-based diet; which is unfortunate, as my understanding of Ayurveda as an ancient practice always had a time and place for red meat, etc. The plant-based approach is not surprising considering the agendas pushed today, and in some cases, as far back as the birth of organized religion in terms of eliminations in diets. So, while there will be a lack of optimal protein for skeletal strength and longevity for some people in these recipes, there is no reason these recipes, as is, can't be beneficial to all; and, there is also no reason you can't adapt the recipes as most folks often do once they find themselves in the kitchen.

A good introduction to Ayurveda, plus a multitude of seasonal, plant-based recipes to enjoy!

Ayurveda for Women begins with an overview of the ancient practice of Ayurveda. The book then describes the three types of energies, or doshas (Vata, Kapha, and Pitta), which are present in everyone and everything. Two questionnaires help readers determine their Prakruti (dominant energy) and Vikruti (imbalanced energy). Seasonal foods to embrace and avoid are outlined for each dosha, along with dosha-specific recipes. The final section of the book provides recipes to support common ailments. 

The strength of Ayurveda for Women lies in the recipes, which are straightforward in both ingredients and cooking techniques. Pulses, grains, and seasonal vegetables take center stage, along with key spices like coriander, cumin, turmeric, and cardamom. Certain spices are essential in honoring Ayurvedic principles, so although a few may need to be purchased, they are used frequently throughout the book. Most recipes can be adapted to be dairy-free and/or vegan. 


The description calls the book an “Encyclopedia + remedies cookbook,” however the length of 208 pages feels a bit short of an encyclopedia and more like a comprehensive overview.


Of the recipes, I made Chia and Coconut Pudding, which addresses gum disease, and Mung Bean Pancakes, for arthritis. Although no one in my family suffers from these ailments, both recipes were simple to make and delicious. I look forward to trying the Classic Kitchari (mung beans and rice) for cleansing and nourishing. 


Although the recipes can easily be multiplied, due to the small serving sizes (1-2 servings) and dosha-specific (i.e. individual) spice suggestions, I would recommend this book to an individual or couple interested in learning about Ayurveda (and vegetarian) cooking.


Overall, the book provides a good introduction to Ayurvedic practices, along with a multitude of seasonal, plant-based recipes, to support overall health and well-being.


Thank you NetGalley and Zeitgeist for offering the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book I really wish I could’ve gotten into it a little bit more but I was just confused about the vata, pitta, and kappa directions. I do like the fact that the author had recipes and advice for different symptoms like flatulence, snoring and other common ailments. And I also like the fact that the author told you what foods are good for these conditions and what foods to avoid.

Even though I’ve been interested in Ayurveda for a long, long time, I only had a peripheral understanding of the basics and this book was perfect for me. It provides a solid and well laid out overview of how to define your doshas, understand your imbalances, and then how to literally feed those doshas: foods to avoid, which ones to embrace, and when. I love to cook and was really excited to find so many recipes I couldn’t wait to try. The ingredients list for each recipe is quite attainable and the instructions were very easy to follow. I really loved the simplicity of it all and everything I’ve tried so far has been delightful. If there’s one request, I would have liked to see more pictures to accompany the recipes.