As the official beginning of summer is approaching, temperatures are already heading upwards. The lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer can be a delight if we stay cool. According to Ayurveda, sizzling summer weather can cause Pitta dosha—the metabolic principle that governs health and metabolism—to increase in our body. Heat rashes, ulcers, acid indigestion, irritability and anger are just a few problems caused by too much Pitta.

Try these tips to beat the heat and feel your best during the Pitta season, which lasts from June to October.

DIET

Eat More:

Cool foods and drinks. (But avoid ice-cold or carbonated drinks, as these inhibit digestion, which tends to grow weaker in the summer.)

Fresh, organic foods and pure water.

Sweet foods such as milk, cream, wheat products, rice, sweet and ripe fruits, and sweeteners like raw sugar (in moderation).

Astringent (dry) foods such as beans, split mung dal, broccoli, cauliflower, apples, pears, and pomegranates.

Bitter foods such as romaine lettuce, endive, spinach and other leafy greens.

Eat Less

Oily, heavy foods.

Eat less food in general. You’ll likely find that your digestion naturally slows down in warm weather, to counter the rising heat of the environment. You’ll feel healthier if you eat lighter during the summer months.

Sour foods, such as yogurt, sour milk, cheese, tomatoes, vinegar and sour grapes.

Pungent (hot) foods, such as chili pepper, salsa, cayenne, ginger, onions and garlic.

Salty foods.

LIFESTYLE

Do

Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Opt for light colored, natural fabrics like cotton and linen.

Stay hydrated! Room temperature drinks are ideal. Pure water, tepid herbal teas and coconut water will help refresh the entire physiology.

Keep the temperature cool when you are indoors.

Take it easy in the summer. It is the season to relax and enjoy nature’s beauty.

Avoid the mid-day sun. Evening walks are highly recommended.

Enjoy cooling aroma oils such as lavender, sandalwood, and rose.

Don’t

Over-exercise. You’ll want to choose milder exercise and avoid getting overheated. Cooling sports like swimming are ideal.

Sunbathe for long periods. The noonday sun can be damaging during the summer months.

Avoid caffeinated drinks. Caffeine is both stimulating and dehydrating.

Consider switching to coconut oil for your morning massage. Coconut oil is cooling by nature.

Remember, these are general tips that address the basic principle of reducing Pitta dosha in the summer months. Consider getting an Ayurveda consultation in order to receive individualized recommendations that address your specific imbalances and concerns.

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Every year almost a billion pounds of pesticides are sprayed in fields and orchards across the US. Even with the the growing demand for organics, 85% of cropland relies on herbicides. While this rampant use of pesticides increases the heatlh risks for our entire population, the most far reaching effects are on our children. John F. Kennedy once said, “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” Clearly today’s farming practices are putting our future at risk.

Last month, two studies were released that looked into the effects of pesticide exposure. One found a drop of one-third in normally formed sperm in men with high levels of pesticide. The pesticides were specifically linked to the consumption of “conventional” (non-organic) fruits and vegetables. This is not the first study to suggest a link between pesticides and male infertility.

The second study linked a one-third higher rate of autism to children of mothers who had been exposed to pesticides while pregnant. In this case they looked primarily at spray drift from agricultural fields.

A senior researcher at MIT, Stephanie Seneff, PhD, declared at a conference last December, “At today’s rate, by 2025, one in two children will be autistic.” Dr. Seneff noted that the side effects of autism closely mimic those of glyphosate toxicity, and presented data showing a remarkably consistent correlation between the use of Roundup on crops (and the creation of Roundup-ready GMO crop seeds) with rising rates of autism.

These studies join a myriad of previous studies that link pesticides to a variety of acute and chronic health problems, including asthma attacks, respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and dizziness. Because these symptoms appear similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as “the flu,” they are often misdiagnosed. And because many pesticides are fat-soluble, they can remain in the body for years. Multiple scientific studies link pesticides to cancer, birth defects, nervous system disorders, and immune deficiency

Many researchers feel that kids today are sicker than they were a generation ago. A growing body of scientific evidence points to pesticides as a reason why. Researches point out that “Children are not ‘little adults’.” Children’s vulnerability to pesticide exposure is increased by their greater cell division rates and early stage of organ, nervous, reproductive, and immune system development. In addition, pesticide concentrations in their fatty tissues may be greater because their fat as a percentage of total body weight is lower.

What can be done to protect our children — and our children-to-be?

GO ORGANIC

The first thing anyone who is a parent or is thinking of becoming a parent should do is to start buying organic food. Most grocery stores these days have an organic section. If you cannot afford to go completely organic, at least get to know the “Dirty Dozen”. These are fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues. By choosing organic versions of this food or by avoiding these foods completely, you can reduce your pesticide consumption by almost 80%.

The Dirty Dozen

Apples

Strawberries,

Grapes

Celery

Peaches,

Spinach

Sweet bell peppers

Nectarines

Cucumbers

Cherry tomatoes

Snap peas

Potatoes

DRINK PURIFIED WATER

It is a pretty well established fact that we have pesticides in our tap water. Pesticide residues leach into our water supply from farms, neighborhood homes and city parks. Filtering water is not the same as purifying it. Research your options for clean, pure water.

AVOID ADDING CHEMICALS INTO YOUR HOME AND GARDEN

There is a reason why the market for organic clothes, furniture, paints, building materials and household cleansers has exploded. Conventional cotton farming takes up 3% of the world’s farmland and uses 10% of the world’s pesticides. Most non-organic fabrics (for clothing and furniture) undergo significant processing that involves petrochemical dyes, formaldehyde to prevent shrinkage, volatile organic compounds, dioxin-producing bleach and chemical fabric softeners. Again, do your research, especially if a baby or young child is in the house.

INVEST IN YEARLY PANCHAKARMA TREATMENTS

While the traditional detoxification and purification treatments of Ayurveda may not be the advised for children, anyone planning on conceiving should consider a 6-month purification plan that includes these pesticide-removing treatments. Panchakarma is the only proven approach to removing fat-soluble chemicals from the body. Research has shown that a 5-day course of treatment can remove 50% of toxins such as DDT, PCBs and dioxins from the body.

The Raj has offered an Ayurvedic Pre-Conception program for over 20 years. The program involves very specific diet and lifestyle recommendations, herbal formulations and Panchakarma treatments. For more information, contact The Raj Ayurveda Health Spa:

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Last week I discussed the debate over eating vegetables raw or cooked. According to Ayurveda, this decision is best made with an understanding your body type, level of imbalance, and quality of digestion.

It also turns out that certain vegetables only offer their full nutritional value when they have been cooked. Whether or not you are a raw food enthusiast, it is good to know how to get the most out of your vegetables.

It is important to note that when I refer to cooking vegetables, I am usually referring to steaming for 4 or 5 minutes. Mushy, over-cooked vegetables are not going to provide many healthful nutrients. Boiling vegetables removes many important minerals and nutrients.

Cooking vegetables reduces the mass of the vegetable, concentrating more nutrients with less bulk. Bitter greens like spinach and kale are generally more edible when cooked, because cooking also eliminates the oxalic acid, which interferes with calcium absorption.

Cooking significantly improves the digestibility and bioavailability of starchy foods such as potatoes and yams, squashes. This is also true with grains, and legumes.

Green beans always need to be cooked until soft otherwise they are actually toxic. Raw beans are poisonous because they contain prussic acid, which is deactivated only by cooking.

Cooked carrots, spinach, asparagus, cabbage, peppers supply more antioxidants, such as carotenoids and ferulic acid, to the body than they do when raw,

Mild heating, such as steaming, appears to improve the extractability of beta-carotene from vegetables, and also its bioavailability. Beta-carotene absorption can be as low as 1-2% from raw vegetables such as carrots.

Lycopene in tomatoes is thought to be responsible for reducing the risk of some cancers and heart disease. Studies have shown that the absorption of lycopene is greater from cooked tomatoes. However cooking tomatoes can destroy other vitamins, so it is good to include raw tomatoes in one’s diet as well as cooked tomatoes.

Steaming asparagus ignites its cancer-fighting potential.

If you have any questions about which form of vegetables is best for you, check with an Ayurveda expert in your area. Ayurveda pulse assessment will reveal what kinds and forms of vegetables will be most helpful in creating a healthy balance for your mind/body system. Ayurveda recognizes the unique differences of each individual. In order to correctly determine our optimal requirements it is important to understand our level of balance and imbalance. For information on Ayurvedic consultations, visit The Raj Ayurveda Health Center

www.theraj.com