Flavors of Heat

The heat has begun. I'm so happy to be able to spend the days outside in the sun. I was raised in the South of the United States, basking in balmy 100 degree days. We've finally hit the mid-80s in Albuquerque. I'm happy we've made it. 

With that, I can see my natural food cravings have begun to shift, and how certain foods that were great in the cooler months, now sit weird in my stomach. It's amazing what a little self-awareness can do to your body. 

Let's explore the flavors of the summer, and how we can truly enjoy the best of the summer days ahead. 

The beauty of Ayurveda lies in the inherent intuition that it brings from nature. Our body ebbs and flows with the rhythms of nature. As the weather gets warmer, our internal body temperature increases along with it.

• There is a natural craving for lighter foods--there's no longer a need to hunker down and eat heavy foods. 
• There's a desire for cooling the body. 

The question to ask is how can we use food as a way to fuel our bodies for the heat and fun? Luckily Ayurveda has the answers to all of these questions. 

Below are some great ways that we can utilize food as an ally for our health and wellness, all while enjoying the sweet times of summer. 

Flavors: there are certain flavors we want to focus on when it comes to combatting heat. In Ayurveda there are a total of 6 flavors--sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. In the summer time we want to focus in on sweet, bitter, and astringent. So, what does this look like? 

• All 3 of these flavors have a cooling after-effect on the body. This allows for the body to not over heat every time we eat. 
• Think of greens, cucumbers, rice, quinoa, and fresh fruits and veggies! All great foods that incorporate these flavors. 
  

Qualities: think of lighter foods. The heat of the summer months and heavy foods generally don't get along. Heavy foods will just make you more and more sluggish. 

• We want to look at eating lighter. Although the heat may be up, our central digestive fire actually decreases a little. This makes it the perfect time to eat those salads and raw foods. 
• If you're a meat-eater, think of favoring lighter meats such as fish and chicken. 
  
• Try avoiding overly fatty foods. Again, fat can be heavier for our bodies to digest. 

Times of Day: If you can shift to having a larger meal at lunch time, and a lighter dinner--this combo will be the best! Lighter dinners allow our bodies ample amounts of time to actually digest the food we are eating, allowing our bodies to truly rest and recuperate while we are sleeping. Plus, our digestive capacity is strongest during the lunch hours, making it the best time for larger meals. 
Hydration: As lovely as summer is, it can be incredibly depleting. Hydration is KEY to stay healthy and vibrant this summer. Easiest way to remember how much to drink: 1/2 your body weight in ounces, plus an extra cup for each caffeinated/anti-hydration drinks. 

Don't let the summer get the best of you. You make the best of summer! Let nature be your ally. Let food truly nourish you. Eat whole, and be happy!