Blissful Summer with Ayurveda

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Ayurveda advises to match the diet and regimen in accordance with season for a healthy long life. Grishma Ritu (Summer) constitute the months from May- July . As the sun rays becomes more powerful during this period, the body feels as if squeezed(wrung) with increasing atmospheric temperature. This in turn weakens Kapha day by day, and strengthens Vata. 

Seasonal Diet for Summer

• Taste recommended during summer is ‘sweet taste’
• Have light, unctuous and cool food, more in liquid form
• Eat more vegetables
• Sip room temperature/cool water with slices of cucumber in it. Intake of coconut water is also advised
• Drink herbal teas- mint, chicory, dandelion and hibiscus
• Enjoy fresh fruits- Apples,Avocados, Berries, Cherries, Grapes, Lime, Mangoes, Pomegranates, Melon, Pineapples, Plums, pears etc
• Grains- Barley, Rice, Basmati and wheat
• Legumes- Soy beans, Mung beans, Black beans, Split peas
• Oils- Coconut oil, Sunflower oil and olive oil
• Avoid too spicy food, in order to garnish flavour moderate use of basil, coriander, mint, lime, fennel, cardamom, parsley etc are advised
• Dairy products- Whole milk , cheese, ghee, butter                                                                                                                                                                Seasonal Regimen 
• Practice Abhyanga daily with coconut oil or sun flower oil, it helps in calming the nervous system and cooling the body
• Wear cotton clothes
• Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep daily and try to go to bed early like around 10 pm .
• To prevent the rays of the sun from damaging your skin, apply a good herbal sunscreen lotion (preferably containing Aloe Vera) on exposed parts of body.

How to minimize skin damage during summer?

Cleanse the skin properly using rose water when you are back home from sun.  Take 1 tbsp of unboiled milk, dip a small pad of cotton wool in this and rub on the face gently. Leave this on for 15 minutes and then wash with cold water. 

Herbal Pack for Summer

Mash a Papaya and mix it with few drops of fresh lime juice and apply it over the cleansed skin for 15-20 minutes. Then wash the skin alternatively with warm and cold water. Do this twice a week and your skin will be moist and fresh during summer too.

Apply Aloe gel before going to bed.

Follow these tips and you will be able to have cooler summer!