An Ayurvedic Grocery Guide To Beat The Summer Heat
Are you starting to notice any shifts in your food choices?
Maybe a salad actually sounds more appetizing than it did a few months ago?
Or a smoothie now sounds like the perfect breakfast to you!?
Welcome to summer! The temperatures are rising and our body knows. This knowing runs deeper than just the sun making you sweat when you step outside to get the mail. Our bodies are connected with the flow of the seasons. We evolved with these seasons and therefore nature provides the best “antidotes” to the sweltering summer!
I asked you to reflect on your food choices because the body knows that food can be one of these “antidotes”.
Take a moment to pause and come up with 3-5 common summer foods or dishes.
PAUSE
Now notice if there's anything in common with these foods.
I’m thinking…
Watermelon
Mango
Zucchini
Berries
Cucumber
What’s a common thread with my list?
Juicy, Sweet, Cool
This makes sense right!? If you’re hot your body wants to do the opposite, cool down. These foods tend to grow in the summer months and they (and many others) contain the aspects of a perfect summer remedy. I enjoy bringing the science of Ayurveda into the conversation because it explains this same principle: opposites balance. Foods and lifestyle practices can counteract the body’s reaction to the different seasons thus balancing the body so you can function at your optimal state!
Ayurveda has six different tastes that are used to create this balance and rid toxins, for the summer season the SWEET, BITTER, AND ASTRINGENT tastes are recommended while sour, salty, and pungent tastes are to be avoided or reduced.
A great way to eat seasonally is to visit your local farmer’s market. They will be growing what’s in season so it’s a great way to #SupportLocal and support your health this summer! Another option is that if the farmers market is not realistic for you to go to search online for what's in season in your area of the world then you can search the grocery store for those items.
General Summer Season Grocery List:
Think COOL, LIGHT, SWEET, BITTER, JUICY, EASY TO DIGEST
Fruits:
+ Apples, ripe berries, melons, ripe mangoes, grapes, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, pears, dates, coconut and astringent fruit like pomegranate.
- Avoid sour fruit like unripe mangoes, sour apples, grapefruit, cranberries, sour grapes etc.
Vegetables
+Zucchini, green leafy vegetables, cucumber, asparagus, celery, cauliflower, okra, summer squash and yellow squash
-Avoid heating pungent tastes like peppers, tomatoes, raw onions, mushrooms, eggplant, radish, turnips, green chilies, garlic.
Grains
+Rice, wheat, barley, quinoa, oats, amaranth.
-Avoid millet, brown rice, buckwheat and corn.
Legumes
+Lentils, black beans, garbanzo beans, green mung beans, black eyed beans, kidney beans are all a great addition to your diet in summer.
Nuts/Seeds
+Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and soaked and peeled almonds.
-Avoid peanuts, cashews, almonds with peel, pine nuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, chia seeds, pecans, macadamia nuts, pistachios.
Oils
+Coconut oil, ghee, sunflower oil, and olive oil.
-Avoid sesame oil, corn oil, safflower oil.
Spices/Herbs
+Fennel, coriander, mint, basil, cilantro, anise, turmeric, saffron, cumin and cardamom are great way to add flavor to food
-Black pepper and garlic.
Lifestyle
STAY HYDRATED!
Cooling essential oils such as lavender and sandalwood can be added to bath water.
Use scrubs made of cucumber, aloe Vera and essential oils to clean the body naturally to get rid of grime and feel fresh.
Take cold showers (even just the last minute of your shower)!
Implement relaxing movement like yin yoga.
I believe food is our daily reminder to connect with our bodies, nature, and the greater impact we have on the world! If you are interested in learning more about how I help my clients connect with their body-mind-nature hop on a curiosity call with me this month to learn some ways you can start connecting TODAY and various ways to work with me.
With Love and a Cool Breeze ;)
- Lizzie