8 Tips to Keep Cool in Summer; Stay Healthy!
Keep cool and stay healthy this summer with these 8 Ayurvedic tips.
1. Eat Pitta Pacifying Foods
Eat foods that cool your body and give you relief from excessive heat. Load up on water-rich fruits like watermelon, pears, apples, plums, berries and prunes. Don’t forget vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cucumber.
2. Avoid Foods That Heat You Up
Avoid foods that induce heat in your body and become hazardous. Avoid sour fruits like citrus fruits, beets and carrots. Limit the intake of garlic, chili, tomato, sour cream and salted cheese to avoid hampering your system. Eat more salads as they are cooling, especially when eaten for lunch. Try avoiding dark meats as they heat up your body.
3. Eat at The Right Time
Always eat when your digestive fire is at its strongest, which is during lunch (mid-day). Missing your lunch during summer is equal to upsetting your pitta dosha which makes you feel irritated and cranky.
4. Bring Coconut Oil to Your Rescue
In the morning, as a part of your daily routine, rub coconut oil on your body before taking a bath. It gives a calming, cooling and soothing effect to the skin. You can use sunflower oil as an alternative.
5. Make Use of Cooling Oils
Bring sandalwood, jasmine and khus oils to your rescue. Not only do they exude a soothing aroma, they also are known to have cooling properties.
6. Avoid Strenuous Exercise
It is always good to exercise early in the morning, the coolest part of the day. Engaging in vigorous exercise during other parts of the day may heat up the body only to cause harm.
7. Avoid Hot Drinks or Hot Water
Hot beverages will invite an upset pitta dosha. Therefore, choose to drink beverages at room temperature to balance it.
8. Avoid Ice Cold Drinks
Ice cold drinks only inhibit digestion and create toxins, also known as ama (undigested) in the body. Your body has a digestive fire that is responsible for converting food into energy. Chilling it is almost like putting out the digestive fire, causing various health problems.
Try these ancient tips to keep cool and beat the heat. Happy Summers!