Spring will hit India in April, when many people start to feel the heat and look for shade or cold water to get cool. Hot temperatures cause people to have an ‘off’ feeling in their bodies; they become thirsty, tired, and cranky. Ayurveda states that people should eat according to the seasons – generally meaning eat foods that are light and juicy – and gives examples of beverages that will cool down a person. People also usually eat melons, cucumbers, and buttermilk during the hot season to help keep their bodies cool and in balance. The purpose of this article is to talk about foods you would eat to cool down a person and then to offer practical Ayurveda remedies for decreasing the amount of misery you may feel during the summer.
Ayurvedic Wisdom About Cooling
If you grew up in India, you probably know that there are a lot of really great ways to help keep cool when summertime comes around. For example, soaking fennel seeds in a cup of water overnight or putting a clay pot in your home that keeps your drink cold. These are just some of the many simple techniques that the Indian culture has been using for centuries as a way of staying cool during the summer months!
India has always said summer produces heat (in pitta), we should eat (pitta cooling) foods to counteract (or cool down) this heat created by the summer months.
Symptoms resulting from too much heat (pitta), including redness of skin (rashes), heartburn, irritability, etc. The short & simple solution – Eat light and fresh & eat foods that are usually considered “cooling” (from Ayurveda).
Most families will have familiar remedies in their homes. For example, Ash Gourd Curry, Watermelon slices, and Barley Water are all examples of cooling foods that are regularly consumed. Ayurveda refers to these small adjustments collectively as Ayurvedic Cooling Foods.
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Best Cooling Foods for Summer
All families have unique ways to survive May and June. Some people find success by storing fruit bowls in the refrigerator, while others will drink a regular amount of buttermilk at mealtime. Ayurveda agrees that both of these foods are excellent choices for staying cool during intense heat.
Cooling fruits and vegetables
You can cool down fruits and vegetables during the hotter summer months by consuming them as they are or extracting juice from them. When consumed as a food item, watermelon, muskmelon, or a watermelon-musk melon juice all have the same purpose, which is to provide your body with both water and glucose/electrolytes to help rehydrate and recharge you.
The other summer food item that is often eaten is cucumber, which typically comes sliced with a bit of salt, and meets the same cooling criteria. A simple bottle gourd curry would be another good choice for cooling down after a full day in the heat; however, it would be considered more of a cooling food than a glass of cool water.
Dairy & Natural Foods
If you ask a grandmother around the world about great traditional foods to meet a person’s nutrient needs, and how to care for our bodies will find many of the same things – buttermilk with roasted cumin is one of those staples! Coconut water (with no other additives added) has its own fan club; it is well known to replace lost salts from consuming sweat more effectively than any other beverage currently available in a bottle. Finally, some have been told over the years that having a bowl of curds with your meal provides probiotics, etc.
Herbs and Ayurvedic Remedies
Examples of various methods include soaking coriander seeds overnight, then grinding them to add to recipes; mint used in chutneys (often served to accompany meats or lentils); and eating fennel seeds after meals (they’re very refreshing!!). All three can be included in everyday habits of ayurvedic “cooling” foods, which help with digestion and provide an internal cooling effect.
Cooling Foods for Summer
| Category | Examples | Benefits |
| Fruits | Papaya, Pineapple, Pears, Grapes | Hydrating, rich in vitamins, light on digestion |
| Herbs/Spices | Cardamom, Cumin water, Aloe vera juice | Soothes digestion, reduces bloating, natural body coolant |
| Traditional Drinks | Sugarcane juice, Jaljeera, Bael sherbet | Replenishes electrolytes, improves digestion, refreshing during summer |
| Vegetables | Okra, Lettuce, Spinach, Zucchini | Cooling effect on the body, high in fiber, balances heat |
| Dairy & Others | Paneer, Ghee (small amounts), Fresh cow’s milk | Adds strength, balances acidity, nourishes tissues |
Why You Should Choose Cooling Foods This Summer, Especially Ayurveda
I have to admit, Ayurveda believes in the importance of eating foods that balance out the body’s internal heating mechanism the most. This principle further explains that certain foods can affect your health and the quality of life you live. Below are some of the foods that can heal your Pitta Dosha.
Get Seasonal Fruits
Watermelon is an excellent way to eat a seasonal fruit in the summer; however, there are many other seasonal fruits that you can eat in the summer. In addition to being delicious, the majority of these fruits have a high water content, which helps in cooling the body down. Seasonal fruits are therefore a good way to calm your Pitta Dosha and hydrate your body, as they will help to neutralize the effects of the extreme heat.
Choose Cooling Vegetables
Increasing your intake of greens such as cucumbers and celery will help improve your body’s ability to cool itself naturally through sweating. Veggies represent a great source of water plus many other nutrients, including vitamins plus antioxidants. Great additions to your diet for summertime are also all of these vegetables, which can easily be used to make delicious meals, including shakes, salads and cold soups.
Summer Diet Schedule – Practical Tips from Ayurveda for Cooling Effect through Food
This Ayurvedic daily routine can help you stay cool during summertime while losing weight through your diet:
Breakfast
Watermelon and muskmelon, which are over 90% water, are great for breakfast or any time of day because they rehydrate you after a night’s sleep. Also, according to Ayurveda, these fruits and vegetables are cooling and help settle the heat (pitta) in your body.
Lunch
Rice paired with bottle gourd (lauki) and buttermilk has been a summer staple for generations. This combination is so easy to digest (hence gives quick energy). It will help get rid of excess heat in the body (burdened by lauki). In addition, buttermilk will keep the good bacteria in the stomach healthy and working effectively.
Afternoon
No tea or coffee in the afternoon; instead, make a refreshing drink of lemon and mint (with honey if desired). The lemon will help replace the salt lost through sweat and provide an excellent cooling effect for the stomach.
Dinner
Khichdi provides the perfect option for dinner because it’s light but filling. Adding fresh coriander chutney adds more cooling benefits due to its antioxidant properties and mild bitterness, both of which are good at counteracting excessive amounts of heat in the body.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned cooling ayurvedic solutions for a refreshing summer could work wonders for you. As an Ayurvedic doctor, I must say that all these remedies have proven effective for my patients. But if you wish to diagnose your health and discover more such Ayurvedic remedies, then you should choose Arooda Ayurvedic Clinic.