Ojas is a Sanskrit term that can be translated as “vigor” or “essence of vitality”. It is the vital energy that rules our immunity, strength, and happiness, and Ayurveda teaches us how to rebuild it through diet choices. Ojas is the refined substance produced after digestion, once all seven dhatus—the tissues responsible for the functioning of the systems and organs of the body—are fed and nourished. It influences everything from our immunity, digestion, physical strength, and the health of our skin to our spiritual inclination, sleep, and mood. Ojas is a pure substance, said to be accumulated from properly digested, prana-rich, and nourishing food. The qualities of ojas are sweet, heavy, unctuous, cool, and smooth, so it makes sense that ojas-building foods (like avocados and bananas) would embody those qualities. The highest ojas-building foods include dates, almonds, ghee, and raw cow’s milk. Ample sleep, following a daily routine, and practicing meditation and yoga are some of the ways to build ojas. When in plentiful supply, ojas can help to ward off physiological stress and disease brought on by pathogens.