How are you staying cool these days? Are you wearing loose cotton fabrics, practicing Sheetali Pranayama several times a day, relaxing outside under the cool moonlight, swimming in refreshing water, or taking exhilarating, anti-inflammatory cold showers?
When it's so hot and humid out, how can we cool off internally? One way is to eat foods that are in season. Nature knows what we need to survive and thrive over the year, so choosing foods that are available fresh- right now- can help you maintain equilibrium during hot summer days. Today I'm sharing a few tasty and simple recipes from Kate ODonnell's Everyday Ayurveda cookbook and John Immel's Joyful Belly. The recipes are quick, refreshing for all the doshas, and easy on the digestive tract (which can feel "closed for the season" when it's hot out). Try them and see how you feel afterward.
By the way, fruit can often create a sour effect in the stomach when mixed with other foods, so it's best to eat fruit an hour before other foods or as a stand-alone dish (sorry, yogurt)!
Berry Salad (serves 1)
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup chopped strawberries
1 tbsp dried cranberries
2 tbsp pomegranate juice
In a small bowl, toss the fruits together with the liquid and let stand for 20-30 mins. Serve by itself as a light meal.
Ginger Basil Limeade (serves several)
1/2 cup basil
2-inch fresh ginger
1 whole lime
2 tsp raw sugar
Use a fine grater to make about 1 teaspoon of lime zest. Juice the lime. Chop ginger into chunks. Add 1 cup of water to a blender with ginger, lime juice, lime zest, raw sugar, and a small handful of fresh basil leaves. Blend until smooth. Combine ginger-lime juice with an additional 3 cups of water in a pitcher. Garnish with fresh basil. Chill and serve. (Salt the rim of your glass to create a satisfying mocktail).
Peach and Strawberry Smoothie (serves 2)
1/8 whole lemon (sometimes I switch for a lime)
1 whole ripe peach
1 cup strawberries
1 cup water
Puree all ingredients until a smooth consistency is reached. This is not a heavy milk and banana-based smoothie. It's light, hydrating, and refreshing on hot days. My teenager gave it a thumb's up and said "This is good".
Enjoy, stay cool, and let me know how you liked these recipes. I love hearing from you.
If you want to refresh your knowledge of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas just click here.
XO Elyce
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