5 Ayurvedic Tips To Beat The Heat This Summer

Summer 2021 is here. Long-drawn times of sunshine, beach picnics, holidays, ice-cream, watermelon, tender coconut are just some amazing stuff that you get to delight in through the summer season! As the temperature starts to soar, people undergo discomforting side-effects from the scorching heat like skin bursts, rashes, over-sweating, exhaustion, prickly heat, diarrhoea, dehydration, chickenpox, and heat stroke, which are the most common and hated problems that the season of summer brings along.

According to Āyurveda, summertime is the season of “pitta.” Pitta Doṣa is the heat energy in our body that increases the heat in our body. For us to be healthy in summer, it is essential to take enough precautions. Dr Kausthub Desikachar says a shift of season invites for a swap of routine that befits the heat. In this article, Kausthub shares five ayurvedic tips to beat the heat this summer.

Symptoms Of Pitta Imbalance in The Body

• red rashes, acne
• red, swollen eyes
• severe swelling in the joints
• acid reflux, mouth and stomach ulcers, heartburn
• nausea
• diarrhoea
• an exhausted feeling of excess heat in the body
• frustration, impatience, annoyance

So here goes the tips for you to stay as cool as a cucumber and thrive all summer long.

1.Protect Your Skin And Eyes

Avoid overexposing yourself to direct sunlight. Always cover your head and skin so that your body doesn’t get heated up, and also, you can stay away from sunburns. Apply a chemical-free sunscreen. Coconut oil is a natural source of SPF 15. Wear protective sunglasses that block at least 99% of ultraviolet rays. Sunglasses can help limit the chance of getting a cataract and early appearance of wrinkles around the eyes.

2.Give Your Diet A Hydration Boost

Ensure that you eat only foods that cool your body and relax your system from excessive heat during the summers. Load yourself with water-rich fruits and vegetables. Water-rich foods keep you hydrated and keep you away from nausea and overtiredness. Also, include tender coconut water in your diet at least thrice a week.

Water-Rich Fruits:

• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Pears
• Apple
• Plums
• Berries
• Apricots
• Oranges
• Muskmelon
• Pineapple
• Pomegranates

Water-Rich Vegetables:

• Celery
• Cucumber
• Iceberg
• Lettuce
• Tomato
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Spinach

Additionally, Āyurveda suggests adding the below foods to your diet that are excellent coolants:

• Amla
• Sabja seeds
• Sattu
• Ghee
• Ginger
• Buttermilk
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Cardamom
• Coconut oil, Olive oil
• Herbs like Ashwagandha, Brahmi, Tulsi

3.Stay Away From Spicy Foods

Avoid eating spicy food through summer as they generate heat in the body, leading to acidity and gastrointestinal problems.
Tips: Instead of chillies or paprika, add pepper to your salads and curries.

4.Wear Breathable Clothes

Wearing clothes made with a natural fibre like cotton and linen keeps the body from absorbing excess heat and supplies airflow to the skin. It is recommended to wear a cool colour palette like white, blue, green and purple to beat the heat.

5.Turn Down The Temperature Of Your Mind

As is the brain, so is the body. Getting stressed can heat your mind and so the body. The most fruitful method to soothe the mind and body is to indulge in Meditation, Pranayama, or Yoga Asanas regularly. These are natural ways to decrease the heat from the body.

Other Ayurvedic Home Remedies To Reduce Body Heat:

• Castor oil is a natural cooling agent. Applying 2 to 3 drops of castor oil over the head and the sole of your feet is an excellent treatment to get rid of body heat.
• Massaging sesame oil on the head, leaving it for 30 mins to 1 hour and taking a head bath with lukewarm water reduces heat from the body instantly.
• An age-old Ayurvedic recipe reduces the body heat: Add one Tablespoon of Almond powder, one pinch of Turmeric powder to a glassful of warm milk and drink before hitting the bed. This mixture helps reduce body heat as well as gives you a good night’s sleep.

Conclusion

Kausthub wishes his readers excellent health and a Happy Summer 2021!