Principles of Summer Wellness

Water, Water, Water

Hydration is everything. Drink lots of pure, fresh water. The sun pulls the moisture from your pores, so it is important to rehydrate. Reach for hydrosols, or aromatic floral mists, to keep the skin quenched and spirits calm. Cool liquids help to pacify Pitta, but avoid too many carbonated or iced beverages, as they risk upsetting your digestion and extinguishing your digestive fire! Swimming is wonderful for soothing Pitta and resetting an overstimulated nervous system. Seek out a lake or river to refresh in wild water or sink into a cool bath or foot soak.

Choose Cooling Foods

Balance the dominant fire element with cooling, moistening foods. Favor sweet, bitter, and astringent flavors and try to avoid excess sour, salty, and pungent flavors. Summer eating is about celebrating the abundance of fresh, light, and juicy foods. Choose the ripe, sweet fruit that may be in season, like melons and berries, while avoiding unripe sour fruit. Reach for vegetables like cucumbers, tender greens, and zucchini; dairy products like milk and ghee; and grains like oats and rice. Coconut is a favorite cooling fat. Limit spicy and overly heavy dishes. Instead, opt for preparing food with cooling spices such as mint, coriander, cumin, fennel, and cardamom to balance Pitta.

Chill

Summer seems to hold an increased expectation for doing, a pace that, coupled with the hot temperatures, can lead to us overextending ourselves and taxing our adrenals. Balance your work and play schedule in a mindful way, paring down negotiables and embracing opportunities for rest and relaxation.