Keeping Cool This Summer With Ayurveda

In Ayurveda the idea of agni, the digestive fire, is key to health and well-being. Individual seasons seem to be a bane or blessing to different constitutions, yet with a little knowledge and a few tips for self-care, you’ll find yourself enjoying and engaging in your life year round in a whole new way

Early summer’s (May 15-July 15) warming energy is ideal for Kapha(earth) and Vata(wind) as the warmth and slight moisture provides balance for these two cool-blooded constitutions. It is harder on Pitta (fire), who is already 'warm-blooded'.

Agni, or the digestive fire, is typically low but steady in Kapha constitutions and irregular in Vata. Pitta has very high digestive fire, so its best to select and prepare summer foods in ways that will maximize their benefits for each individual.

For all constitutions it is best to eat the largest meal at noon which is the Pitta time of day. The Pitta times of day run from 10am to 2pm and 10pm to 2am). In the daylight hours that Agni or digestive fire, is highest and it is easiest to assimilate our food at this time. Make sure you are not eating after sunset, especially as a Vata or Kapha as that creates more sluggishness in the sytem.

Kapha stays balanced by eating what the season provides in salads and other raw vegetables. These are best cut and served room temperature. As with building a fire, Kapha’s digestive fire is like the log that burns into a set of large, consistent hot embers. Too many big pieces added too quickly may smother the fire. So chew well, take your time and notice the sense of satiation as it develops. Limit the amount of heavy oils and overly sweet foods. Limit cheeses and ice cream and mayonnaise filled dressings. Limit sweet, salty and sour. Avoid iced drinks.
The tastes of pungent, bitter and astringent will keep the home fires burning.

Vata has irregular agni which may be thought of as a patchwork of embers at the bottom of the hearth. They need to be tended and nursed along so they don’t go out. “Kindling” is the way to build up the fire, so you may wish to consider a five or six small meals throughout the day rather than three large meals. Some Vatas also find a few digestive bitters in a small amount of water taken 30 minutes before each meal a wonderful way to strengthen and prepare the fire for the new fuel that’s on the way. Vata needs to take care when it comes to raw foods. Steaming or lightly braising food suits Vata better as these light cooking methods make the food easier to break down and assimilate. Vata will do best with the tastes of sweet, salty and sour. For all the fruits that are available, Vata will do better when they are nice and ripe and a bit sweeter. Avoid iced drinks.

This is a more challenging season for Pitta. Pitta may take plenty of the raw foods that the season offers as their Agni is more like a roaring fire on top of a bed of embers. Pretty much whatever is thrown on will be thoroughly consumed. What Pitta needs to watch for is managing the fire so it doesn’t burn down the house! To this end Pitta does best with plenty of cool, raw foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent. Pitta can get away with iced drinks and ice cream better than the other doshas, but you are still best saving them for high noon in the hottest part of the summer than as a regular part of your life. Make a bit of ice a treat rather than the rule. A nice cool pomegranate juice will go a long way to helping Pitta keep their cool. Rose and raspberry tea is a nice soothing summer concoction for Pitta as well. Pitta needs plenty of fluids as they will sweat more profusely than Vata or Kapha and need to make sure they keep themselves replenished. Coconut milk and and coconut fruit are good for regulating Pittas high heat. Coconut oil can be use by Pitta for self-massage as well during the summer months.

In each dosha balancing section various tastes are mentioned. Here are some examples of foods that represent those tastes:

Sweet taste includes: Milk, butter, sweet cream, wheat, rice, honey, ripe fruits

Sour taste includes: Citrus and unripe fruits, pomegranate, yogurt, tamarind

Salty taste include: Salt, pickles, (vinegar combines sour & salt)

Bitter taste includes: Leafy greens (collards, mustard) burdock root, turmeric

Pungent taste includes: Hot peppers, ginger, clove, mustard, radish, black pepper

Astringent taste includes: Lentils, crucifers, cilantro, quince, asparagus, some apples

If you feel the need to eat something that isn’t quite in your dosha's best interest,using a bit of cooling spice can help the body digest it more readily. Try a little toasted sesame seed ground with a pinch of salt or a bit of toasted cumin seed ground with a pinch of salt. A handful of fresh herbs from right out of the ground can also add just the zip you’re looking for and keep you in a balance as well. Try keeping a window box with cooling parsley and cilantro as well as dill oregano and basil and you’ll be set for summer!