Ayurveda Tips to Stay Cool in Summer

Summer is upon us, bringing heat and humidity. When you are thirsty, your first impulse is to grab a soda pop over a glass of ice, but you shuldn't. According to ayurveda, ice-cold foods and beverages disrupt the digestive power (or digestive fire) called agni. Agni, can be compared to burning logs. If we dump cold water over burning logs, the fire goes out.

When you start avoiding or cutting down on ice-cold drinks, you will notice that your stomach is less bloated and puffy and there is greater ease in handling hot weather.

One of the best ways to cool your body temperature is to drink lots of water(drink at least 7-8 glasses of pure spring water a day) and cooling ayurvedic drinks to restore electrolytes lost through sweat and stay cool in sweltering summers.

Summer is considered a Pitta season. Characteristics of Pitta such as hot, oily, sharp and pungent are abundant in summers. Ayurveda recommends avoiding excessively salty, sour, and spicy foods, and including more sweet, bitter, and alkaline-tasting foods in your diet during this months.

Bathe Twice a Day and Wear Light Clothes

In summers, you can bathe twice a day to wash away sweat and keep your body cool. Wear light clothes during summers since dark coloured, tight or synthetic clothes increase body temperature.

Limit your salt consumption

Sea salt (Samudra Lavana) that we commonly purchase provokes Pitta and increases body temperature. Rock salt (Saindhava Lavana) is considered to be the best salt in Ayurveda. Whenever possible use rock salts in your salads, sherbets, juices and cooling drinks. Also, try to avoid fast foods since it contains a lot of salt and lacks nutrition.

Stay away from alcohol

Summer can get you dehydrated and if you decide to drink alcohol and will increase the symptoms.

No strenuous exercise

If you do strenuous exercise, your body will get overwhelmed. To keep your body in shape, Ayurveda says you should do simple exercises like breathing exercises, walking and light cardio.

This are some ayurvedic drinks recommended for summer:

• Gooseberry(Amla) juice:

Along with its multiple health benefits, amla is also considered to be an excellent summer coolant. Amla juice can keep the body cool and protect it from the effects of hot winds.

Take out the seeds from 2 goosberries and cut into small pieces. Grind these pieces in the grinder with little water and make a paste. Mix this paste in 1 cup water and sieve it. Add 2 tea spoon honey or a pinch of black salt into the juice and drink it fresh.

• Buttermilk:

Ayurvedic buttermilk(Takra):

Is cooling nature and is highly recommended for summer heat. It is light and easy digest, while also being able to counter dehydration effectively.

Mix 1/4 part curd with 3/4 part water, and add a pinch of salt, crushed or grated ginger, mint leaves, coriander leaves, and cumin seeds.

Grind all of this together and filter.

Consume the filtered liquid.

• Tender coconut water:

Tender coconut water is filled with natural electrolytes, which help in relieving summer-related ailments, such as exhaustion and acidity.

Tender coconut water goes well with all fruits, when made into a mocktail.

You could even make it into popsicles, adding juices from other fruits as well.

A mixture of tender coconut water, lemon juice, and salt and sugar to taste is an excellent remedy for exhaustion.

• Lime juice:

Lime juice is regarded as one of the favourite summer drink as it is cooling and helps relieve thirst. It also helps flush out toxins from the body and maintain the body’s pH balance.

• Cucumber juice:

Cucumber has high water content and is low in calories and fats. It is effective for cooling down the body in summer, while also being diuretic and aiding in detoxification.

• Pomegranate juice:

Pomegranate helps balance the three doshas in the body and has a cooling energy. It helps reduce body heat and controls thirst.

• Rosewater:

It also contains the sweet and cooling properties like other drinks and helps balance pitta dosha in summer.

• Raw mango juice:

Drinking aam panna or raw mango juice prevents the loss of essential minerals due to excessive sweating in the summer.

Mix one small cup of fresh mango pulp, one glass of milk, and half a glass of water.

Add sugar or powdered jaggery to taste, if required.

Grind all of this together, and it is ready to serve.

Barley Water:

This has been proven to be a wonderful cure for pedal edema, as well as preganancy-related and urinary ailments.

Add 2 glasses of water and a pinch of salt to 1 tablespoon of barley rice.

Bring the water to a boil or cook in a pressure cooker - the barley rice should be completely cooked.

Filter out the liquid and serve.

Claudia Montano

Holistic and Alternative Therapist

Angelic Life Coach

In person and online consultations.

1 905 5816006

E-mail: whitelotuswellnesscentre@hotmail.com

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