Have you noticed that everyone gets short tempered and more irritated as soon as the temperature goes above 80? People are impatient in lines, short with each other, and annoyed for no reason. While some people can attribute it to bad days, hormones or poor bringing up, Ayurveda explains it differently: Heat-aggravated Pitta.- Rub coconut oil on the soles of the feet and hands before going to sleep.
- Do five rounds of sitali breathing three times a day. It is cooling for the body and calming for the mind.
- Exercise in the early morning; never in the middle of the day. Avoid excessive activity during midday heat as it can be draining.
- Put cold cucumber slices on your eyes, and rest for five minutes if your eyes are burning or dry.
- Keep a regular routine, and try to go to bed around 10 pm. Pitta increases 10pm-2am, and bright light from the computer or cell, loud music or too much activity will aggravate Pitta even further.
- Eat more foods that are sweet, bitter, astringent and cooling such as salads, smoothies and fresh fruit.
- Eat less food that is spicy, sour, salty or hot. Avoid hot peppers, fermented foods (yogurt, pickles, wine, miso) and acidic foods (citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee, vinegar).
- Add mung beans, dark greens, cilantro, broccoli, cabbage, celery, seaweed, snow peas, summer squash and bitter gourd to your grocery list, as they are very cooling.
- Sip coconut water or add cucumber slices to water.
- Enjoy fresh ripe berries, melons, apples, apricots, grapes, peaches, pears and ripe plums.
Nadya Andreeva is a wellness coach and yoga instructor helping busy people create a balanced and manageable approach to staying healthy and energized in stressful environments. Using the ancient wisdom of ayurveda, yoga, and mindfulness, Nadya helps her clients learn how to listen to their bodies and to understand its language. Finding your own wellness guru who can guide you through diet and exercise challenges is the most sustainable approach to life-long wellness, in Nadya’s opinion. She holds an MA in Organizational Psychology from New York University and a Wellness Coaching certification from Wellcoaches.
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