How to Make Banana Smoothie with Lime and Cardamom

SERVINGS: 1

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES

COOK TIME: 0 MINUTES

MEAL: SNACK-DESSERT, DRINK, BREAKFAST

STYLE: WESTERN

PREPARATION: RAW, SMOOTHIE, PUREE

EAT IN: SUMMER

FOR OCCASION: KID-FRIENDLY, CLEANSE, GAME-NIGHT

How Can Banana Smoothie with Lime and Cardamom Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Summer time has arrived, and with all the fun comes sweltering heat as well. Fresh, ripe fruit like bananas are the earth's pure nectar that will keep you cool & replenish your fluids on a hot day, refreshing and energizing your entire body. Bananas and coconut water are both electrolyte-rich and can prevent summer dehydration and exhaustion. A perfect afternoon snack or morning treat.

Replenish Energy & Quench Your Thirst

You have spent a long hot afternoon tending your garden or chasing the kids and you're feeling parched. Nothing sounds more appealing than a cool thirst-quencher and this banana smoothie with lime and cardamom will do just the trick. The lime in this recipe is an instant lift. Lime's cool, sour, and juicy qualities stimulate both salivary and digestive secretions, which help to restore fluids, providing you with that overall satisfied, refreshed and cleansed feeling.

Sometimes, no matter how much water you drink, your body still feels thirsty. Simple water lacks the electrolytes your body needs to rehydrate. Without electrolytes, your kidneys simply can't hold onto your water. Instead, your vital fluids are quickly lost in your urine. Often, the best remedy for dehydration is a revitalizing balance of electrolytes and water.

Bananas are the ideal delight on a hot summer afternoon for restoring electrolytes. If you are feeling a little sluggish, banana's natural sugars will restore your energy levels as well. Coconut's amazing ability to rehydrate you was recognized in WWII, where coconut water was actually used for blood transfusions.

Calm Your Tummy

With its creamy, moist, sticky and soft texture, bananas have long been recommended to soothe intestinal irritation. Summer heat depletes protective mucus in the GI and overstimulates bile production in the liver, irritating your intestines. Soothe your discomfort and pacify excess heat with the unctuous banana. Bananas help to stimulate mucous production in your gut, which has an anti-acid and soothing effect on your stomach. Due to its sour and alkaline qualities (acidic in taste yet alkaline in effect), limes balance blood PH level, cooling your hot summer blood and relaxing the eyes. Lime is also considered a blood purifier.

Bananas are heavier and harder to digest than most other ripe fruits. When spiced up with lime and cardamom, two natural digestive aids, this super fruit is lighter and easier to digest. Stimulating cardamom also adds a delicious flavor element to this smoothie and is paired beautifully with banana and lime. Cardamom's aromatic perfume opens your pores, encouraging you to sweat, your body's natural way of keeping cool.

Feed Your Muscles

Do you ever feel tight cramps in the back of your legs, often called "charlie horses?" Muscle cramps are a common sign of low potassium, electrolyte, and hydration levels. If your muscles are weak, tired, or fatigued on a hot summer day, consider muscle nourishing foods that restore your electrolytes like banana. Muscles depend on electrolytes for contraction as well as relaxation. Electrolytes, especially sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, help your muscles function at optimal levels. Bananas are rich in potassium, plus their nourishing natural sugars fuel the strength your muscles need to help you work and play. So peel yourself a ripe banana, drop one in a smoothie, pull up a beach chair, and enjoy!

Body-licious

Banana's beauty benefits are varied and bananas are considered one of nature's natural moisturizers. They impart luster on skin and hair, and whether enjoyed as a culinary delight or used directly on your body (yes, even the banana peel), you will experience soft, smooth and glowing skin.

WHAT IS BANANA SMOOTHIE WITH LIME AND CARDAMOM?

A great summertime drink!

WHY SHOULD YOU EAT AYURVEDICALLY?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Foods that supplement your specific body type’s needs and digest easily create your menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

LEARN MORE

Is Banana Smoothie with Lime and Cardamom Good for Me?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Banana Smoothie with Lime and Cardamom is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

MEDICINAL QUALITIES

INCREASES Increases These Qualities (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main states (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which states are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every state has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite state. Learn More	EASY ABOUT EASY GUNA Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY HEAVY ABOUT HEAVY GUNA Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY COLD ABOUT COLD GUNA Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD GOOEY ABOUT GOOEY GUNA Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion. LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY CLEAR ABOUT CLEAR GUNA Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama. LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR LIQUID ABOUT LIQUID GUNA Liquid is identified by thin fluids (low viscosity). LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUID
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	SWEET ABOUT SWEET GUNA Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types People tend to get sick, over and over again, due to similar causes and habitual imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	EFFECT Sattvic SATTVIC Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness. LEARN MORE ABOUT SATTVIC , Alkalizing ALKALIZING An herb or food that makes the urine more alkaline (higher pH). This herbal action can be helpful for a number of inflammatory conditions. LEARN MORE ABOUT ALKALIZING , Ojas OJAS Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness. LEARN MORE ABOUT OJAS , Prana PRANA Prana is the Sanskrit word for vital life energy, similar to Qi in Chinese Medicine. Many herbs stimulate your energy, or improve the flow of prana through your body. Generally, prana needs to be increased in spring after a sleepy winter. LEARN MORE ABOUT PRANA TYPE Fruits SUBTASTE Aromatic AROMATIC Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues. LEARN MORE ABOUT AROMATIC COLOR Yellow

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Digestion	Quenches thirst QUENCHES-THIRST An herb or substance that relieves thirst. LEARN MORE ABOUT QUENCHES-THIRST , Appetite suppressant APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain LEARN MORE ABOUT APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT , Antacid ANTACID Herbs that neutralize acidity in the gastrointestinal tract, the stomach in particular. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTACID , Appetizer APPETIZER Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat. LEARN MORE ABOUT APPETIZER , Carminative CARMINATIVE Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. LEARN MORE ABOUT CARMINATIVE , Antispasmodic ANTISPASMODIC Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, colic or IBS. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTISPASMODIC
Energy Vitality Strength	Stimulates energy STIMULATES-ENERGY This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs LEARN MORE ABOUT STIMULATES-ENERGY , Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITIVE
Heart & Circulation	Refrigerant REFRIGERANT An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions. LEARN MORE ABOUT REFRIGERANT , Rebuilds Fluids REBUILDS-FLUIDS Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids. LEARN MORE ABOUT REBUILDS-FLUIDS , Rebuild Electrolytes REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst. LEARN MORE ABOUT REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES
Liver & Gall Bladder	Livotonic LIVOTONIC An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVOTONIC
Lung and Sinus	Demulcent DEMULCENT Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane. LEARN MORE ABOUT DEMULCENT
Mind, Stress & Sleep	Brain Tonic BRAIN-TONIC An herb that strengthens the brain, thereby improves either mental function, stamina, or stability. LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAIN-TONIC
Skin Care & Beauty	Antipruritic ANTIPRURITIC Antipruritics are herbs that inhibit itching that is often associated with itching skin conditions such as sunburns, allergic reactions, eczema, psoriasis, chickenpox, fungal infections, insect bites, or contact dermatitis (as in poison ivy exposure.) LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTIPRURITIC