This is the drink we’ve been reaching for all spring. Once you try it, you’ll understand why.
There’s an ancient practice called Ayurveda that teaches us to eat and drink with the seasons. And according to that wisdom, spring is the time to wake the body up. All winter long, we tend to slow down. We crave warmth, comfort, heavier foods. That natural heaviness has a name in Ayurveda: kapha. Think of it like the energetic equivalent of winter itself. Dense. Slow. A little stuck. It serves a purpose in the cold months. But when spring arrives, we don’t need it anymore. We need to move it out. Pilates is here to help you get your circulation pumping and your lungs cleared out. What better pair to Pilates than a green tonic to help clear your digestion out.
That’s where bitter comes in.
Bitter flavors like leafy greens, citrus, and fresh ginger are nature’s way of telling the body it’s time to clear out and lighten up. They support digestion, stimulate circulation, and help shake off that heavy, sluggish feeling that tends to linger even after the weather warms. You don’t need to know a thing about Ayurveda to feel the difference. You just need one good glass of something green.
**Ingredients**
– 1 cup kale leaves, stems removed
– 1 English cucumber
– 2 apples, cored
– 1 thumb fresh ginger, peeled
– Juice of half a lemon
– Up to 1/2 cup water
**Directions**
1. Wash all produce and cut into chunks your blender can handle.
2. Add the kale, cucumber, apples, ginger, and water to a high speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth.
3. Pour through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag into a large bowl to remove the pulp.
4. Stir in the lemon juice.
5. Serve immediately or chill for up to 24 hours.
Fuji apples bring the most natural sweetness so that’s usually our pick. If kale is not your thing, spinach gives you milder flavor. And if you have a high powered blender, skip the straining step entirely. You’ll keep more fiber that way.
Make it. Sip it slowly. Feel it work.
Curious about Ayurveda, read here where we’ve touched on this topic before.
