Summer in Ayurveda

In the fullness of summer, with the ripening of fruit and change of weather in the direction of dosha Pitta, our needs change just the same. Considering flavours that harmonize Pitta, this season we opt for sweet, bitter and astringent‏‏‎ ‎foods. Of course, this is reflected in the availability of these flavours in nature - fruits, which in the spring were mainly sour and tart, ripen and take on sweetness. Due to the rising temperatures outside, spicy meals no longer serve us as well as they used to in the springtime. We pay special attention to this when Pitta is the dominant dosha in our own body, but also on hotter days.

Summer is the only time of the year when in Ayurveda it is no longer recommended not to drink colder drinks - although of course in moderation during meals, as it can still disturb the digestion. We focus on food that is cool, heavy and oily – these can be salads, e.g. with fish, halloumi cheese, eggs, new potatoes, or with sauces based on mayonnaise, as well as asparagus, string beans, broccoli or cauliflower with melted butter, nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, real honey, unpasteurized dairy products and a lot of fresh fruit‏‏‎ ‎that dominate this season: cherries, raspberries, gooseberries and blueberries. According to the recommendations of Ayurveda, we always eat fruit separately from other meals! This is due to the completely different processes required to digest fruit and other types of food - digesting raw fruit is not such a simple matter (especially if we are not fully healthy), so eating such right after a heavy dinner can bear fruit (😆) of unfavourable fermentation in the stomach/intestines.

Summer Pitta is a time of activity, creation, intense driving force. However, this type of imbalance can lead to digestive ailments such as heartburn and diarrhoea. The skin may become red or break out. Too much Pitta is any inflammation in the body. We can minimize these fiery ailments with the help of the above tips, as well as using the elements of Earth, Air and cool Water - that is, spending time at the lake, sea, in forests or in the mountains. It is no coincidence that summer is the time when we usually have some free time and willingness to enjoy such pleasures! At home, we can try refreshingly cool showers, and outside the periods of the greatest heat, we can feel the wind in our hair thanks to rollerblading or cycling trips. It is also worth taking care of mouth health and removal of toxins through the morning practice of coconut oil pulling – basic info on that can be found at the end of this post.