Eat for the Season- Summer Gazpacho

The ancient Indian science of Ayurveda is centered around the idea that our bodies are connected to nature and that our well-being depends on maintaining harmony with the rhythms of the seasons.

It is actually  intuitive to eat with the season. If you think about eating an ice pop on a snowy day, it doesn't sound too appealing. If you think about hot soup on a 100 degree day, that also would probably not be something you'd crave. 

Eating according to what is seasonal and intuitive can help restore balance to your body, and going against what is intuitive can have a negative impact on your health, possibly weakening your immune system, causing weight gain, and changes to your skin and hair.

During the summer, heat is the theme, not just outside, but inside your body too. As heat builds, it is important to keep your foods  light and include lots of herbs and foods rich in antioxidants. Also, drinking lots of water and consuming hydrating foods like cucumber and watermelon is key to overall better health at this time of year. People with health conditions like Cystic Fibrosis are more prone to dehydration, so adding extra water along with these water-filled foods is beneficial.

I love the challenge of coming up with recipes that use seasonal produce and, for the summer, I want to share this healthy Green Gazpacho recipe inspired by Ayurveda. 

If you like the more traditional Tomato Gazpacho, check out the recipe and tons of nutrition info in my Facebook group, The Goodness Connection. 

Summer Green Gazpacho

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 cups organic baby spinach or arugula

2  organic celery stalks, chopped

3 cups organic chopped cucumber

2 cups chopped fresh Basil

6 drops doTERRA Lime essential oil or 2 Tbsp lime juice

1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 cup water

1/4 cup full fat canned coconut milk

1/2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper

2 Tbsp raw pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds (optional garnish)

Place all ingredients in high speed blender and blend until smooth. 

Garnish with additional diced cucumber and pumpkin seeds.