Summer changes everything, from our fashion choices (open-toes whenever possible) and workout schedules (early morning run!), right down to when and what we want to eat.
The body reflects what’s happening outside. Meaning what flies in February is very different than what nourishes your body on a long and sweaty summer day. And your food choices and meal times need to shift with the seasons.
Want to make sure you’re not living on beef stew and bean salads come Memorial Day weekend? Here’s how experts say you should eat in the heat.
1. Cool foods rule.
Ayurveda, the 5,000 year-old healing science, is all about balance, so cooling foods and beverages are your friend in summer—especially if you’ve got any signs of excess heat in the body, like heartburn, inflammation, and flushed skin. Salty, spicy, and sour foods are heating, while mint and cilantro, cucumbers and celery with high water content, and dark greens tend to cool the body. A great green juice to drink in the summer would include pear, fennel, kale, some mint, and maybe a bit of lime juice.
Ayurveda, the 5,000 year-old healing science, is all about balance, so cooling foods and beverages are your friend in summer—especially if you’ve got any signs of excess heat in the body, like heartburn, inflammation, and flushed skin. Salty, spicy, and sour foods are heating, while mint and cilantro, cucumbers and celery with high water content, and dark greens tend to cool the body. A great green juice to drink in the summer would include pear, fennel, kale, some mint, and maybe a bit of lime juice.
2. Eat sweet.
No, not Ben & Jerry’s. Sweet fruit, on the other hand, is fair game. It’s extremely balancing to anyone with an abundance of Pitta—the fiery of the three Ayurvedic doshas (constitutions). So go ahead and load up on it. Berries are a good choice, as is watermelon, which is super light and hydrating.
No, not Ben & Jerry’s. Sweet fruit, on the other hand, is fair game. It’s extremely balancing to anyone with an abundance of Pitta—the fiery of the three Ayurvedic doshas (constitutions). So go ahead and load up on it. Berries are a good choice, as is watermelon, which is super light and hydrating.
3. Pick your alcohol wisely.
Summer is the season of outdoor cocktailing and we're not out to deny anyone that pleasure. But, the same Ayurvedic principles that apply to food also apply libations, which means any drink with a slightly sweeter taste is your best bet for boozing in balance. And instead of a salty, sour (i.e. heating) margarita, enjoy a mojito full of cooling mint.
Summer is the season of outdoor cocktailing and we're not out to deny anyone that pleasure. But, the same Ayurvedic principles that apply to food also apply libations, which means any drink with a slightly sweeter taste is your best bet for boozing in balance. And instead of a salty, sour (i.e. heating) margarita, enjoy a mojito full of cooling mint.
4. Respect your body’s rhythms.
A lot of people experience diminished appetites when temps soar and that’s totally fine. If you’re not hungry, don’t force yourself to eat. Enjoy lighter meals. Be careful not to skip important nutrients or meals altogether, just don’t feel compelled to eat something hearty just because the clock’s telling you to do so. Listen to your body.
A lot of people experience diminished appetites when temps soar and that’s totally fine. If you’re not hungry, don’t force yourself to eat. Enjoy lighter meals. Be careful not to skip important nutrients or meals altogether, just don’t feel compelled to eat something hearty just because the clock’s telling you to do so. Listen to your body.
5. Now is the season for local.
When you’re en route to your weekend getaway and notice a perfect-looking farm stand, stop! Enjoy summer’s abundance! Snack on watermelon and freshly-picked tomatoes. Use freshly cut herbs and micro-greens for salads. Not only does nature provide beaucoup de cooling foods at just the right time (think summer squash, snow peas, and cauliflower), they’re super nutrient-dense. Those micro-greens have seven times more antioxidants than the adult versions.
When you’re en route to your weekend getaway and notice a perfect-looking farm stand, stop! Enjoy summer’s abundance! Snack on watermelon and freshly-picked tomatoes. Use freshly cut herbs and micro-greens for salads. Not only does nature provide beaucoup de cooling foods at just the right time (think summer squash, snow peas, and cauliflower), they’re super nutrient-dense. Those micro-greens have seven times more antioxidants than the adult versions.
6. Electrolytes are your friend.
The more you sweat, the more electrolytes you need—but not from fluorescent sports drinks. Try using sea salt (for sodium), drinking lots of green juices for magnesium, and sipping cucumber juice and coconut water, for a “potassium infusion.”
The more you sweat, the more electrolytes you need—but not from fluorescent sports drinks. Try using sea salt (for sodium), drinking lots of green juices for magnesium, and sipping cucumber juice and coconut water, for a “potassium infusion.”
7. Enjoy meals with friends.
It might not sound like a direct dietary rule, but it’s important for anyone struggling with too much fire inside—which can leave you feeling cranky and feisty—to enjoy leisurely meals with loved ones. One of the Ayurvedic treatments I would prescribe is joy and pleasure. Plus, it forces you to eat mindfully, rather than scarfing meals on-the-go, which is always a good thing.
It might not sound like a direct dietary rule, but it’s important for anyone struggling with too much fire inside—which can leave you feeling cranky and feisty—to enjoy leisurely meals with loved ones. One of the Ayurvedic treatments I would prescribe is joy and pleasure. Plus, it forces you to eat mindfully, rather than scarfing meals on-the-go, which is always a good thing.
~Thanks to Well + Good.
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