Foods to Favor for Summer

The summer season has these characteristics: heat, long days of bright sun, and sharp intensity. These are all attributes of pitta dosha (fire and a little water), which is why summer is considered in Ayurveda to be a pitta season. And, even though some climates are also humid this time of year, the cumulative effect of intense heat is to dry things out, so summer is also considered dry.

According to Ayurveda, our bodies heat up over the course of the summer season. The effects of this heat can show up as skin irritations, rashes, hay fever, and disrupted digestion. If you suffer from any of these, it is likely that your body has accumulated excess heat. If you can cool and release the hot, sharp qualities of summer from your body, you will enjoy the summer season more.

Thankfully, if you look to what is fresh in your area, you can cool the heat by eating what nature provides best this season.

• Favor foods that are sweet, bitter and astringent as these will cool the body. ENJOY COCONUT, CUCUMBERS, GREENS, FRESH VEGETABLES, GREEN SMOOTHIES, COLORFUL SALADS, BASMATI RICE, QUINOA, MINT, CILANTRO.
• Reduce foods that are pungent, sour and salty as these will create more heat in the body. REDUCE COFFEE, SALTY CHIPS, SALSA, HOT SAUCE, PICKLES, ALCOHOL, RED MEAT, CHEESE.

For a list and links to healthy seasonal recipes, click here. 

Here's a visual of foods to favor and foods to avoid in the summer: