Good Ole’ Summertime
The summer season is associated with heat and activity. People are coming out of hibernation so to speak. Summer is a time for expansion of the spirit as opposed to winter’s contraction Therefore to properly resonate with the season that we are experiencing, we should be eating foods that are “COOLING” to the system. This would mean eating foods that contain large amounts of water and potassium because they are vasodilators, and as such, open up the blood vessels, keeping your system cool despite the heat. Potassium rich foods usually grow closer to the equator for this very reason. Some summertime food suggestions are as follows:
- All summer squashes, including watermelon
- All Green Leafy Vegetables such as collard, kale, turnip spinach, watercress
- Fresh Salads chewed well and if not eaten as a meal, always at the end of the meal
- Fruits high in potassium such as oranges, bananas, pineapples, mangos, papaya, cucumbers, coconut and coconut oil
- Watermelon eaten or juiced is highly recommended because it “clears out” kidney toxins accumulated by heavier winter eating.
- Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, peppers— although all in the nightshade family– if there was a time to eat them it would be summer
- Long grain brown rice, cous cous, quinoa—all light “feathery” grains
- Chick peas, Hummus, Tabouleh Salad, Tahini
- Believe it or not, coffee is a vasodilator- grown around the equator belt
- A minimum 96 ounces of water per day in order to remain hydrated
- Don’t eat heavy meals late at night
- Try to eat less meat and Barbecue, as meat in itself is too heavy for summer
- Drink less soft drinks (32 glasses of alkaline water to neutralize one Coca Cola)
- Drink less ice tea (tannins in tea are rough on the kidneys)
- Alcohol, wheat, and believe it or not ice cream, all create heat in the body by overloading the Liver.
- Young Living’s oil “Idaho Tansy” is an excellent insect repellent. YL’s Peppermint and Lemon Essential Oils also serve as an excellent summertime “cool down” when inhaled.