Summer is a time of beach trips, vacations, picnics, sundresses, longer, warmer days. According to Ayurveda, the seasons are connected to the doshas or the mind-body types. The hot summer months are considered “pitta season.” The pitta dosha is characterized by physical heat, a fast metabolism, and strong digestion. In order to balance the fierce, fieriness of the pitta dosha and season, Ayurveda recommends consuming cooling foods – Pitta Balancing Summer Smoothies. Examples of cooling foods include mint, coconut, pineapple, and aloe. This smoothie recipe combines these ingredients, creating the perfect blend to enjoy on a hot summer’s day to feel restored and refreshed.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of coconut milk or water
- 1 cup of frozen or fresh pineapple
- ½ frozen banana or ¼ of an avocado (use banana for a sweeter taste or use avocado for a low-sugar version)
- 1 handful of spinach
- 2 tablespoons of fresh mint
- 1 tablespoon of fresh aloe juice
Directions:
Combine all ingredients into a blender until fully liquefied. Add ice if desired.
Benefits of these ingredients
- Coconut milk: [1] and other coconut products are rich in medium-chain fatty acids to that support a healthy metabolism and hormone function. Additionally, healthy fats help nourish the skin, which is important when balancing the pitta dosha, as a pitta imbalance can contribute to redness and inflammation in the skin. Coconut milk helps to soothe this inflammatory response.
- Pineapple: [2] pineapple contains digestive enzymes that help the body break down and absorb the nutrients found in food. Like all other fruits and vegetables, it is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, as well as copper and magnesium.
- Spinach: [3] Leafy greens are great sources of fiber and water. Eating foods that are high in water content helps hydrate our cells and facilitates the digestive process, helping to prevent constipation.
- Fresh mint: [4] Mint is a calming and soothing herb that helps combat indigestion and inflammation.
- Aloe juice: [5] Aloe vera is nourishing to the skin. During the summer months, it is important to nourish the skin as our exposure to the sun increases. Furthermore, aloe vera is rich in antioxidants, which helps fight against free radicals.
[1] https://draxe.com/coconut-milk-nutrition/
[2] https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/pineapples.html
[3] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/spinach
[4] https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-mint.html
[5] https://draxe.com/aloe-vera-benefits/
