Break out the tevas and Green Heart Juice tank tops! Summer is officially here. As the weather heats up and the sun comes out to play more frequently, summer activities tempt frequent fun. Gardens flourish and humidity rises.
While you’re out enjoying the exuberance of June, it’s important to take care of your body. Read these Ayurvedic-based tips taken from Joyfull belly School of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion for keeping balanced in June (if you would like to read more specifics about your specific Ayurvedic Dosha, visit the article here to read more in-depth).
Your body carefully calibrates and adjusts itself to each season. Part of each seasonal adjustment is a natural change in diet. Our bodies internally reflect the weather we’re experiencing and with every one degree rise in body temperature, the heart beats an extra 10 beats per minute! A flushed face in summer is your sign that the heart is pumping extra hard to keep you cool. Organic, fresh juice and plenty of water is a great way to cool down.
June purges water from the body as the weather heats up. Everyone needs to be mindful of water intake and electrolyte balance. Depletion, dehydration, and an overworked liver can leave you sleepless and with a restless mind. If you find yourself tossing and turning, restore your electrolytes.
In June and throughout the summer, it’s ideal to eat in the cooler hours of the early morning and late evening. Lunch, during the hottest time of the day, can be light this time of year. Eat easy-to-digest, simple meals. Digestion (agni) is lowest in the summertime as most of the excess blood for digestion is allocated to the skin. The body works to push heat out of the core toward the extremities to keep cool. If your face is red and flushed with blood due to the summer heat, it is a sign that you may not have enough blood available for digestion. In that case, cool down before you eat.
In June, keep your diet easy, cool and light. Simple sugars such as those found in fruits can replenish summer exhaustion.
Cool, fresh salads and juices are a go this time of year. Cucumber is juicy, light, cool and bitter – providing a perfect summer diuretic and coolant. Get your cucumber with our Easy Greens.
Smoothies and juices are a sweet refreshing way to rehydrate. Keep it simple with five ingredients or less.
Sip our juices to replenish your electrolytes, restore your energy, and enliven your spirit when heat leaves you dragging. Coconut water is especially cooling and a great way to replenish electrolytes as well. Power Shots mixed with coconut water is an energizing, immune-supporting treat!
Eat up astringents like legumes and raw veggies. Whatever is ripe and for sale at your farmer’s market is optimal for June dining. Top your salads with light and astringent sprouts to add an enlivening crunch. Enjoy easy to digest proteins such as sweet peas, green beans, white flaky fish and quinoa.
Acid reflux is common this time of year, so it’s best to avoid heavy fats and carbohydrates which overburden digestion in hot weather. Instead, opt for small amounts of cooling fats such as coconut oil and avocado. Artichoke, cherries, blueberries and honeydew offer the support your liver needs in June. Try our HeartBeet or Alkalizer for liver support.
Sour taste, with the exception of ferments, can help keep you cool in summer. A wedge of lemon or lime in a glass of water opens pores and dilates capillary beds in the skin, helping you release heat and keep cool. So sip some local juice and chill this summer!
