College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Watermelon & Basil Smoothie


5.00 out of 5 stars 4 ratings, 546 likes

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5.00 out of 5 stars
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"Delicious and Easy to Prepare- it's a great summertime treat! I've made it several times."
- Lynn Maio Sarasota, FL

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How to Make Watermelon & Basil Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

2 c
1 tbsp

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

Puree basil & watermelon in a blender and serve chilled. Use seeds and all if your blender is powerful enough to grind them (watermelon seeds are edible). Alternatively, you can strain the seeds after blending.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Watermelon invites children and adults alike to step out of the heat and enjoy a refreshing treat on a summer day. Full of delicious juice, watermelon cools your body and restores balance to overheated blood.

Late June and early July is the perfect time of year to enjoy watermelon. Its sweetness is restorative for heat induced fatigue. Its cold nature and betacarotene calms your liver, easing frustration. In the summer, your heart beats faster to regulate body temperature, an effect called heart heat in Chinese medicine. Watermelon's calming effect on your spirit relieves the restlessness and impulsivity of too much heart heat.

A touch of basil's bitterness paradoxically brings out watermelon's sweetness. The earthy aroma of basil enhances subtle flavors in watermelon, a gourd after all. Basil's pungency adds zest for a exciting finish.

Reduce Water Weight, Puffy Skin, & Swelling

On hot, humid days you might feel puffy and swollen, especially if your lymphatic system is congested. Even your ankles will get swollen with the heat. Those who suffer from puffiness and water retention will be happy that watermelon's diuretic properties dry out your blood (due to potassium) and reduce summer swelling. As it purges extra fluids from your body, watermelon leaves you feeling light and refreshed.

The dryness and low calories in this festive fruit are ideal for those trying to lose weight. Watermelon also has a surprising ability to reduce insulin resistance.

Note: Summer swelling is called damp heat in Chinese medicine. Ayurveda describes damp heat as the hot, sour, spreading, & liquid nature of pitta.

Cleanse Your Urinary Tract

The more you sweat, the less you pee. Your risk for urinary tract infections (UTI) and bladder stones increases with summer heat. As you sweat more, urine thickens to a dark yellow. When it sits too long in your bladder urine becomes turbid. The foul, and often sour smelling urine irritates the bladder and urinary tract. Concentrated urine also forms stones more easily.

Watermelon flushes and cleanses your urinary tract by its diuretic action. Its cooling quality reduces inflammation. Pay attention to the color and quantity of your urine. When you notice it has returned to a light yellow color and is more copious, you will know that you are reducing your risk of a urinary tract infection this summer.

Be sure to drink lots of water when cleansing your urinary tract with watermelon. Although an exuberant slice of watermelon might be a tempting way to relieve dehydration, due to its diuretic effect watermelon's juiciness only quenches thirst temporarily. Dry Vata types should exercise caution with watermelon, and be careful to restore electrolyte loss as well.

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 Watermelon & Basil Smoothie Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Watermelon & Basil Smoothie' 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 Watermelon & Basil Smoothie

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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LIQUEFIED

ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED

CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY

LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

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

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

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
Kapha pacifying Pitta pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Vata aggravating

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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot and oily with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body. Vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
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

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Watermelon & Basil Smoothie
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)
Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

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

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Refrigerant

REFRIGERANT

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

SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS

,
Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' 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

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

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. Generally, liver tonics are oily, cool, sweet, mildly sour, or contain beta-carotene.

SEE ALL 'LIVOTONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Aphrodisiac

APHRODISIAC

Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health.

SEE ALL 'APHRODISIAC' 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

, Vitamin C

Foods with a Similar Nature to Watermelon & Basil Smoothie

  • Watermelon

    Watermelon has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Livotonic, Blood-tonic, Refrigerant, Alterative, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Chickweed

    Chickweed has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Refrigerant, Diuretic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Dates (dried)

    Dates (dried) has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Livotonic, Blood-tonic, Alterative, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cranberry

    Cranberry has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Alterative, Livotonic, Blood-tonic, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Pomegranate

    Pomegranate has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Livotonic, Blood-tonic, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Carrot

    Carrot has these Actions in Common

    Livotonic, Diuretic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Grape

    Grape has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Alterative, Diuretic, Aphrodisiac, Livotonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Saffron

    Saffron has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Blood-tonic, Livotonic, Diuretic, Aphrodisiac

    LEARN MORE

  • Pomegranate Molasses

    Pomegranate Molasses has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Livotonic, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Flower / Bee Pollen

    Flower / Bee Pollen has these Actions in Common

    Diuretic, Aphrodisiac, Internal-detoxicant, Blood-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cranberry Juice

    Cranberry Juice has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Livotonic, Blood-tonic, Diuretic

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Watermelon & Basil Smoothie

  • Dandelion Root

    Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Livotonic, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Amalaki

    Amalaki has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Aphrodisiac, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Yellow Dock

    Yellow Dock has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Cleavers

    Cleavers has these Actions in Common

    Refrigerant, Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Guduchi

    Guduchi has these Actions in Common

    Livotonic, Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Anantamul

    Anantamul has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-tonic, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Bhumyamalaki

    Bhumyamalaki has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Livotonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cornsilk

    Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Ashokarishta - Menstrual Tonic

    Ashokarishta - Menstrual Tonic has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Blood-tonic, Diuretic, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE

  • Shilajit Tonic

    Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

    Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative

    LEARN MORE

  • Echinacea

    Echinacea has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

View Other Healthy Recipes for Summer

This recipe is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer recipes here.
VIEW ALL SUMMER RECIPES MORE PITTA / KAPHA RECIPES
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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.

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Comments & Impressions of 'Watermelon & Basil Smoothie'

Do you like 'watermelon & basil smoothie'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'watermelon & basil smoothie'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 4 ratings, 546 likes
Sign in to review or comment

susan atkinson Goatstown, COUNTY DUBLIN
2014-06-29
“How many leaves would 2tbsp. of basil be? Do you mean chopped basil? Thanks Susan"
Kimberly Kubicke Asbury park, NJ
2016-08-08
“Yes, 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh basil."
Lynn Maio Sarasota, FL
2017-07-13
“Delicious and Easy to Prepare- it's a great summertime treat! I've made it several times."
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