Stay cool during this summer
The leisurely summer months are here! This includes… sipping lemonade by the pool… enjoying picnics with friends… evening walks…and loads of ice cream!!
However, BEWARE… while you enjoy all these summer activities, you need to consider their side effects.
The sun rays are very powerful during the summer months. According to Ayurveda, summer represents qualities like hot, fiery, intense, sharp and penetrating.
The increasing heat outside increases the heat in the body, which decreases the moisture levels in the human body. Furthermore, the Kapha levels decrease in the body, while the vata and pitta levels increase.
Read more about the different doshas affecting your body
An increased pitta during the summer months leads to hot flashes, sunburn, exhaustion or even a disturbed digestive system. Emotionally, an increased pitta leads to impatience, egoism, irritation, anger or jealousy.
So, it is important to cool your body and mind when the temperatures rise during the summer months.
Learn how to balance the pitta during the summer months.
Try these ayurvedic health tips to stay cool this summer:
STAY HYDRATED:
The intense heat during the summer saps the moisture
from your body. Though you may be tempted to reach for the cold drinks and ice
creams, they often mess with your digestive fire and affect your gut health.
Instead, opt for refreshing and cooling drinks at room
temperature, like freshly-squeezed fruit juices, barley water, or a lemonade,
with salt, mint, black pepper and a dash of sugar!
Indulge in coconut water, lassi, buttermilk and
aloe vera juice.
AVOID caffeinated drinks, carbonated drinks and
alcoholic beverages.
EAT COOLING FOODS:
During summer, your digestive Agni is very low. So, you must eat light and easily digestible foods, like cold soups and salads.
Focus more on the pitta-pacifying sweet and astringent foods like leafy
greens, cucumber, coconut, watermelon, pineapple, etc.
Meats, fish and poultry can be garnished with parsley,
cilantro, mint, basil, dill, cardamom, cumin, alfalfa greens etc., for easy digestion.
Summer is the best time to indulge in milk and
dairy products like ghee, buttermilk and butter.
Consume easily digestible grains like quinoa, basmati
or jasmine rice, and legumes like mung dal.
AVOID fermented foods, red meat, pungent or sour
foods.
EXERCISE ROUTINE DURING THE SUMMER:
Exercising is a fun activity during the summer as
you can go out and enjoy the sun. Take up many outdoor activities like tennis, football, badminton, etc.
Exercise only during the early mornings (before 10 am)
or in the late evenings.
Take a 15-min walk at sunrise, when the gentle sun rays fall on your body. This will stimulate your pitta and increase Vitamin D
production in your body.
Hiking along the forest trails, water bodies or in the
nature can soothe your mind and body.
Indulge in summertime activities like swimming
or strolling in the moonlight.
Many Yoga exercises like gentle bends, twists,
forwards bend and arm balance asanas can help you stay cool during the summer months.
Many meditation or pranayama activities like Shitali
Pranayama cools the body and decreases the pitta dosha
AVOID overexertion and exercising during the daytime
in summer.
AROMATHERAPY:
The summer gardens are filled with sweet-smelling
flowers like rose, jasmine, lavender and honeysuckle.
Surround your living spaces with a bunch of flowers
and green shrubs, as they cool the areas.
Using essential oils of lavender, sandalwood, rose, jasmine,
etc. can also soothe your frayed nerves during the summer.
Rosewater is especially considered soothing. You can
use rose petals in your bath or spray rose water in your house for the best effects.
Using rose toner on your soles, neck and face can rapidly cool your body.
Add 2-3 drops of the above essential oils to your bath
water before taking a bath. Use the below spitzer to cool your surroundings.
Cooling Spitzer:
Distilled water – 15 ml
Rose hydrosol – 15 ml
Jasmine essential oil – 6-8 drops
Lavender or chamomile essential oil – 4-6 drops
Add the above ingredients to a glass bottle and mix
well. Use as needed.
COOL YOUR SKIN:
Wear loose, flowing and light clothes that are made
from natural breathable fibres like jute, linen, hemp and cotton. Try to wear
clothes in pastel shades, blues, greens, white, grey etc.
Anoint your skin with a sandalwood paste to cool the
body temperature.
Take a cold water bath, if possible, during the summer
months.
After your bath, moisture the skin with a mixture containing equal parts of coconut and castor oils.
Rubbing coconut oil on your
soles before going to bed is an effective Ayurvedic tip to cool the body during
the summer months.
Rub aloe vera gel on your body if you develop sunburns
or rashes
OTHER LIFESTYLE PRACTICES:
Tweak your lifestyle routine to stay cool during the summer months.
You can go to sleep a little later in the summer,
i.e., after 11 pm, when the temperatures drop and the heat is dissipated.
Sleeping under the moonlight relieves your stress
levels.
Use light and flowy curtains in the bedroom which are
sprayed with a cooling spritzer.
Try to stay indoors during the daytime, when the sun
is at its peak
Avoid stressful situations, heated arguments, and long commutes during the summer months, as they are very aggravating.
Avoid sleeping in an air-conditioned room as the AC
saps all the moisture from the room and your body, causing dehydration. Switch
to a water cooler or a fan during the summer.
Avoid having too much sex as it drains your body and
can cause stress.
Avoid consuming leftovers or stale foods as they can
contain harmful bacteria.
Summers are the best time to pack your bags and head
to a hill station for your break.
Bottom Line:
The summer months are a lot of fun where you can spend time with your friends and family, enjoy the leisurely swims and evening walks.
The pitta that gets aggravated during the summer can be kept in check by doing
everything in moderation.
Incorporate the above tips into your regular routine
to stay cool during the summer months.
Read More:
- Ayurvedic Treatment Based on Diet
- Balance Your Vata During This Monsoon
- Balance Your Pitta in the summer
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