Cucumber & Coconut Cooler

How to Make Cucumber & Coconut Cooler

SERVINGS: 1
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 0 MINUTES
SKILL LEVEL: EASY
MEAL: DRINK, LUNCH-DINNER
PREPARATION: PUREE, RAW, SMOOTHIE, JUICE
EAT IN: SUMMER

INGREDIENTS

SKILL LEVEL: EASY

2 tbsp	ALOE VERA JUICE / GEL
1 tsp	MINT
1 c	COCONUT WATER
1/2 c	CUCUMBER
1/4 whole	LIME

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

Follow directions on aloe vera bottle for correct dosing/ qty. Blend ingredients for thirty seconds or until smooth. Mix in raw sugar to taste.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Refresh yourself this summer with a Cucumber & Coconut Cooler. Ever hear the phrase, "Cool as a cucumber?" Cucumber is known as an herbal refrigerant, which means it naturally cools you down. Coconut water also cools while rebuilding electrolytes. Sip on this all-natural beverage (perhaps under a palm tree?) and notice your eyes soften, your skin cool, and your mouth water. You'll feel calm, cool, and collected after a glass of this revitalizing mocktail.

Chill Your Pitta

As summer reaches its height, signs of pitta abound. Irritability, sleepless summer nights and exhaustion all point to an overheated, pitta-aggravated mind and body. You may also notice soft stools or irritated bowels, dehydration, heat rashes as well as yellowing of the eyes during the blistering summer months. Choosing cooling ingredients can help you combat the pitta-aggravating environment! Aloe vera, cucumber, and coconut are all considered cooling in Ayurveda for their ability to tame heat and high pitta in the body. Aloe vera specifically soothes internal irritation and calms heat-induced inflammation. All together, the ingredients in this drink create an ideal summertime beverage: Cucumber & Coconut Cooler.

Pass the Cucumber, Please!

When you're feeling a little hot and bothered, cucumber is a natural refresher will alleviate your thirst, cool your body, and freshen your breath. Its jade green skin recalls a pleasant afternoon under your favorite shade tree. Moisturizing & cooling, a single slice is restorative, helping you mellow the summer heat.

Detoxify Your Blood

As cucumbers calm your eyes and cool down your liver, you may feel the pressure in your arteries decreasing - cucumber's diuretic nature has been used to reduce blood pressure, water retention, and detoxify the blood for ages. Its cooling & soothing nature aids urinary, bladder, and kidney function. Those who suffer from gout will be pleased to know that cucumbers aids removal of uric acid from the blood. Aloe vera is a cholagogue that cleanses the liver of any stored heat. Aloe vera is also a gentle laxative, which both cleans and cools your GI.

Altogether Cucumber & Coconut Cooler is Pitta pacifying due to its cooling qualities. It is Kapha pacifying due to its light qualities. To help make this drink more supportive for Vata individuals, remove Aloe Vera.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Cucumber & Coconut Cooler Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Cucumber & Coconut Cooler' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Metabolic Nature of Cucumber & Coconut Cooler

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

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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?
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SOUR

ABOUT SOUR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic.

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DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
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PACIFIES

AGGRAVATES

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
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PACIFIES

CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

AGGRAVATES

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

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SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

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Other

Subtaste:

Bland Negative Calorie,

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.

SEE ALL 'AROMATIC' FOODS / HERBS

Moves Energy:

Downward

DOWNWARD

Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles.

SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS

Tissue (dhatu):

Blood Plasma Lymph

BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph.

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Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Cucumber & Coconut Cooler
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)

Digestion:

Quenches Thirst

QUENCHES-THIRST

An herb or substance that relieves thirst.

SEE ALL 'QUENCHES-THIRST' FOODS / HERBS

Appetite Suppressant

APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT

Suppresses hunger without causing weight gain.

SEE ALL 'APPETITE-SUPPRESSANT' FOODS / HERBS

Bowel Health:

General Laxative

GENERAL-LAXATIVE

Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives.

SEE ALL 'GENERAL-LAXATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Cleanse & Detox:

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Wakes You Up

WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Crown

STIMULATES-CROWN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area at the top of the head.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-CROWN' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:

Refreshing

REFRESHING

Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Refreshes Skin

REFRESHES-SKIN

Flushes the lymphatic system to cool, awaken, and revive the skin.

SEE ALL 'REFRESHES-SKIN' FOODS / HERBS

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

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Respiratory-Health:

Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Immune System:

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

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Heart & Circulation:

Rebuild Electrolytes

REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES

Substances that increase your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes help you retain water, keep your palate moist, and truly quench your thirst.

SEE ALL 'REBUILD-ELECTROLYTES' FOODS / HERBS

Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions.

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Opthalmic

OPTHALMIC

Benefits the eyes, vision tonic.

SEE ALL 'OPTHALMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Liver & Gallbladder:

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Weight Loss:

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS

, Potassium, Fats,

Coumarin

COUMARIN

Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory.

SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

, Vitamin K, Glutamine,

Rutin

RUTIN

Rutin is a flavonoid with anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Commonly used to treat conditions such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure.

SEE ALL 'RUTIN' FOODS / HERBS

Salicylates

SALICYLATES

Salicylates relieve inflammation, are anti-cancer, and antidiabetic, but some are allergic to it.

SEE ALL 'SALICYLATES' FOODS / HERBS

Rosmarinic Acid

ROSMARINIC-ACID

Inhibits autoantibodies from binding to TSH receptors in the thyroid.

SEE ALL 'ROSMARINIC-ACID' FOODS / HERBS

Polyphenols

POLYPHENOLS

Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants seen in many fruits and vegetables. There are more than 8,000 types.

SEE ALL 'POLYPHENOLS' FOODS / HERBS

Aromatase Inhibitor

AROMATASE-INHIBITOR

Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen.

SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS

Flavonoids

FLAVONOIDS

Flavonoids are a colorful type of polyphenol. As all polyphenols, they have a strong antioxidant effect. Many flavonoids have an anti-inflammatory, and/or antiallergen effect.

SEE ALL 'FLAVONOIDS' FOODS / HERBS

Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

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Foods with a Similar Nature to Cucumber & Coconut Cooler

Lemon

Lemon has these Actions in Common
Diaphoretic, Quenches-thirst, Refrigerant, Alterative, General-laxative, Refreshes-skin, Wakes-you-up, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing
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Lime

Lime has these Actions in Common
Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Diaphoretic, Quenches-thirst, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, General-laxative, Refreshing
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Aloe Vera Juice / Gel

Aloe Vera Juice / Gel has these Actions in Common
Appetite-suppressant, Hypolipidemic, Soothes-throat, Alterative, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, General-laxative, Refreshes-skin
LEARN MORE
Acai

Acai has these Actions in Common
Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Cholagogue, Refreshing, Anti-inflammatory, General-laxative, Refrigerant, Appetite-suppressant, Quenches-thirst
LEARN MORE
Cilantro

Cilantro has these Actions in Common
Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Alterative, Diuretic, Refreshing, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Refrigerant
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Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Appetite-suppressant, General-laxative, Stimulates-energy, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic
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Red Leaf Lettuce

Red Leaf Lettuce has these Actions in Common
Cholagogue, Opthalmic, Wakes-you-up, General-laxative, Refrigerant, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy
LEARN MORE
Burdock Root (Gobo)

Burdock Root (Gobo) has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Diaphoretic, Hypolipidemic, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Cholagogue, General-laxative
LEARN MORE
Coffee

Coffee has these Actions in Common
Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Wakes-you-up, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy, Appetite-suppressant, General-laxative, Stimulates-front-of-brain
LEARN MORE
Daikon Radish

Daikon Radish has these Actions in Common
Cholagogue, General-laxative, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Refreshing, Anti-inflammatory, Diuretic, Stimulates-crown
LEARN MORE
Mint

Mint has these Actions in Common
Refreshes-skin, Stimulates-energy, Diaphoretic, Refreshing, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-crown, Wakes-you-up
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Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Cucumber & Coconut Cooler

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common
Quenches-thirst, Refreshing, Refrigerant, Alterative, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Wakes-you-up, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Opthalmic
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Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common
Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic
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External Breath (Bahya Pranayama)

External Breath (Bahya Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown
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Goldenseal

Goldenseal has these Actions in Common
Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Opthalmic
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Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown
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Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, General-laxative, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-crown
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Punarnava

Punarnava has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Alterative
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Bhumyamalaki

Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in Common
Diuretic, General-laxative, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue
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Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common
Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic
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Shilajit Tonic

Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common
Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Stimulates-energy, Wakes-you-up, Alterative, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic
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Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common
Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic
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Comments & Impressions of 'Cucumber & Coconut Cooler'

Do you like 'cucumber & coconut cooler'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'cucumber & coconut cooler'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 2 ratings, 346 likes

Fiona Pereira Mississauga, ON

2016-07-12

“In what way does cucumber aggravate Vata?"

Like Reply

Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ

2016-07-13

“Cucumber and Vata are both cold. Cucumber is also a diruetic which increases Vata's dryness."

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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