Summer is a time to slow down, eat less, drink more and make an effort to stay cool. Use cooling foods, get up early, avoid working outside during the day and having arguments with others. Additionally, it is best to wear thin cotton clothing and avoid any synthetic material.

On hot days, take a cool shower, go swimming or jump in a cold Jacuzzi!

Dietary  guidelines for the summer

Avoid heating foods such as onions, garlic, cinnamon, chili and root vegetables in large amounts. Eat more leafy greens and less starchy and heavy foods.  Enjoy light grains like white basmati rice, barley, quinoa or millet. Eat small portions of light beans like the azuki, mung or black bean.  Enjoy sweet fruits such as mangoes, grapes, berries and the best summer fruit, melons.

Ayurveda guidelines for the summer

The Pitta (i.e. warmer body temperature) body-type (prakruti) needs to follow the Pitta reducing diet (a cooling, anti-inflammatory diet) strictly during the summer months to avoid overheating and becoming irritable.  The Kapha (i.e. heavier and slower) body-type will do best on only two meals a day with just fruit for breakfast and large vegetable salads with each meal.  The Vata (i.e. usually thin and dry) body-type is the least affected by the summer heat, as the Vata tends to be naturally cold and dry.  However, the Vata must drink additional liquids during the summer to avoid dehydration.  All body-types will benefit from lighter meals with more raw vegetables and seasonal fruit during the summer.

Cleanse in the summer

• Kapha body-type have a 24 hour water and tea fast weekly to keep from becoming lethargic and to manage weight.
• Vata body-type  fast by having a single light meal of vegetables, basmati rice with mung beans (kitcheri) per day with vegetable juices and lots of liquids for a few days each month.
• Pitta body-type Drink only Pitta pacifying vegetable juices, water, teas and eat whole fruit for a couple of days each month.

The summer is the optimal time of the year to cleanse the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract as well as flush out kidney stones. Please contact Khabir if you want more specific information about how you can stay cool in summer, lose weight or address your specific health conditions.