Cooling Cucumber Smoothie With Cumin

I noticed this summer, especially during my hot Bikram yoga workout, that I had been opening up quite a few electrolyte packets and adding them to my water to keep me hydrated.

I was on the lookout for a good whole food-based electrolyte rather than the store-bought packets. Coconut water obviously tops the list as the natural Gatorade but it does contain quite a bit of natural sugars.

One day I blended together cucumber and cumin. Cumin seeds are anything but ordinary when it comes to health benefits. And the combination of the two was magically delicious!

Benefits of Cumin Seeds

• • Cooling to the body
  • Balances Pitta dosha
  • Excellent source of minerals – iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc, and magnesium
  • Good amounts of B-complex vitamins
  • Enkindles the metabolic or digestive fire

I added some pear and ginger to my cucumber smoothie. With just a few ingredients – cucumber, pear, ginger, and cumin – I was able to create something healthy and nutritious. I would strongly recommend using Persian cucumbers for this drink as it blends well with cumin flavor.

Cooling Cucumber Smoothie

Makes one serving

• 2 Persian Cucumbers
• 1 Green Pear
• 1/4 inch grated fresh Ginger
• 1 – 2 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp Sweetener (optional – if cumin taste is too strong for you)
• 1 cup of Water

Blend away and enjoy! A juice version of the Cucumber Smoothie also tastes good. Make sure you drink this right away, as cumin tends to make the drink bitter if it sits on the counter for too long.

This Cucumber Smoothie has been working really well for me in my hot yoga class. I have 2 cups of this drink two hours before my class and really feel my body is optimally hydrated to sweat it out in the torture chamber!

Give it a try!

Photo: JeevaLifestyle.com