05/04/2021
Summer coolers & Ayurved!
Our lifestyle and diet according to Ayurveda, must follow the natural pattern of seasons (Ritu), this helps us stay in harmony with nature. This is known as Ritucharya in Ayurveda. When the temperature is high, we sweat a lot and the body loses electrolytes and fluids. This causes exhaustion and a feeling of tiredness throughout the day.
Summer is considered a Pitta season. Characteristics of Pitta such as hot, oily, sharp and pungent are abundant in summers. Hence we should adjust our diet to accommodate for the changes in weather, and drinks are an important part of our diet. People of Pitta Prakriti should especially choose their diet more carefully.
Here are some ayurvedic drink tips to restore electrolytes lost through sweat and stay cool all summer.
1. Cooling Drinks
Delicious drinks and sherbets are a great way to cool your body on a hot summer day and restore essential nutrients. Tender coconut water, melon juice, aam ka panna, thandai, sattu sherbet and cucumber mint juice are full of health benefits and can be enjoyed in summers. Jiva Amla Juice is a rich source of Vitamin C and balances Pitta Dosha and gives you a cooling and refreshing feel.
2. Substitute your regular tea with herbal teas
Herbal teas do not have caffeine and contain lots of anti-oxidants. It also provides more health benefits and cause less heat in the body compared to caffeine containing drinks like regular tea or coffee. Substitute your regular tea with herbal teas. Herbal Tea is a good suggestion which contains Arjuna, Liquorice (Yastimadhu), Cinnamon (Dalchini), Fennel (Saunf), Indian Pennyworth (Brahmi) and many other rare herbs which strengthens your heart, brain, liver and nervous system.
3. Enjoy your meals with buttermilk
Buttermilk has special significance in Ayurveda. It is known as ‘Takra’ and used for Takradhara Panchakarma therapy. Commonly it is known as Lassi or Mattha. Buttermilk is a Sattvic food in Ayurveda, it is cooling in nature and pacifies Pitta especially when sugar is mixed with it. So beneficial is buttermilk that it is said demi-gods long for a sip of it. Buttermilk is Laghu (light and easy to digest)