Why You Shouldn’t Drink Green Smoothies During Winter + What to Eat Instead

Originally published in Yogi Approved.

Our diets must change according to the season. In the summer, nature provides us with hydrating, refreshing foods like watermelon and leafy greens because they naturally cool us down.

In the fall, we all crave pumpkin-spice everything because our bodies require more grounding, warming ingredients.

In the winter, we want warm bowls of chili because our bodies need more hot and spicy ingredients to heat them up from within. Fascinating stuff, right?

Green juices are all the rage in the yogi community. They’re delicious and nutritious. But are these popular green smoothies and juices good for us all year round?
According to Ayurveda, the world’s oldest health system and the subject of my upcoming book The Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda, the answer is no.

Here’s the Ayurvedic breakdown of seasons and their corresponding Doshas:

Dosha is the Sanskrit term for energy and is used to classify the various mind-body types. Our bodies change with the season.

In the hot summer months, we become more heated, which is related to the Pitta fire Dosha.

In the cool fall months, our bodies become more cool and dry, which is related to the Vata wind Dosha.

In the chilly winter months, our bodies become more cold and damp, which is connected to the Kapha Dosha.

If you don’t know your Dosha type, take the free Discover Your Mind-Body Type quiz here.

So what happens when we maintain our green juice/smoothie habit all year round? Our health actually begins to suffer.

It starts by feeling cold . . . all the time. Then you may feel bloated, gassy and/or constipated.

These are all Vata imbalances, caused by too much air-energy within the body. Green juices are extremely cooling in property and drinking them year-round depletes the digestive fire, which not only leads to digestive issues but also hair loss, dry skin, anxiety, insomnia and other Vata-related issues.

Instead of a cooling green juice or smoothie, warm up your greens in a blended soup!

You’ll get all the veggies you need but in a warming, easy-to-digest way. On top of that, adding spices make the nutrients more easily absorbed by your body, giving you more bang for your buck.

Here’s your new go-to recipe for a chilly winter night when you’re craving something sweet and green:

 

Sweet n’ Green Sweet Potato Kale Soup

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 sweet potatoes, baked
  • 2 large handfuls kale, washed and chopped
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 garlic clove
  • ½ inch ginger root
  • 1 tsp. pink himalayan sea salt
  • 1 tbsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. turmeric

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Combine all ingredients in a food processorand blend until smooth
  2. Remove and pour into a small pot over the stove. Cook over medium heat for 7 minutes or until hot
  3. Serve immediately and enjoy! Option to add lemon, hemp seeds, almonds or a drizzle of tahini on top!

Enjoy this warming, healthy soup and receive the full health benefits of eating in season the Ayurvedic way. To learn more about Ayurveda, read Everything You Need to Know About Ayurveda. Stay toasty!

 

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