Tips for Hot Summer Days​

Health & Wellness    |    Posted By Jenny Griffith

Hi Soul Searchers... Happy SUMMER! WEEEEEE!

Heat, intensity, and light... Summer is here! The summertime is run by fire and water, also known as the pitta dosha. Pitta expresses itself as the body’s metabolic system. It governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, body temperature- all transformation. That means summer is the time when visionary, expansive, creative, wild and passionate energies rule.

All the kapha that accumulated in the body during Spring, begins to flow out; the Sun becomes warmer and the warmth of the Sun begins to dry up all that Kapha. Hence the kapha evaporates from the body. Since pitta governs metabolism, we notice our metabolism and agni (internal fire) revs up with our body heat.

SIGNS OF EXCESS PITTA...

Heartburn, excessive body heat and sweating, skin rashes, acne, excess stomach acidity, peptic ulcers, early graying, fever, inflammatory diseases, pain, indigestion, excessive hunger, jaundice, burning sensations, burning eyes, diarrhea, and sore throats. Anger, criticism, and irritability are emotional symptoms generally worsened in hot weather or in the afternoon. Feeling as if your a victim, prone to outbursts, and quit easily when you don’t get your way.

PITTA SEASON DIET

During the summer, our bodies naturally crave light foods and small meals that are easy to digest because the digestive fire—a strong source of internal heat—disperses in order to help keep us cool. Being fully present with your meals while savoring the flavor and texture of your food will help minimize the risk of overeating.

Summer is a time to favor the sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes and to relish in cool, liquid, even slightly oily foods. This is the best time of year to enjoy fresh fruits and salads. All unrefined sweeteners except honey and molasses are cooling and can be enjoyed in moderation during the summer months.

In the way of beverages to beat the heat, enjoy cool or room temperature water infused with mint or lime and a little raw sugar, a sweet lassi, cooling herbal teas such as peppermint, licorice, fennel or rose. Iced drinks are best avoided; they disturb the digestive fire and create toxins in the body.

Go easy on sour or unripe fruits, aged cheeses, and heating vegetables and spices such as carrots, beets, radishes, onions, garlic, ginger, and mustard seeds. Try to avoid extremely spicy foods like chilies or cayenne pepper altogether. Also, keep in mind that raw vegetables (as in salads) will be better digested if they are eaten at lunch, rather than at dinner.

YOGA

Allow your routine to be guided by relaxed effort: move gently, fluidly, and gracefully, keeping the gaze soft and the breath stable. Cultivate a calm inner awareness rather than pushing yourself to maximum capacity with precision and sharp muscular effort. Check yourself frequently to ensure that you’re not straining in your practice. Focus on creating a sense of groundedness and flow rather than becoming static in the poses.

Try this Moon Salutation to cool down during the summer...

Lastly...

Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.

Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits.

Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.

-Gandhi

Love,

Jenny