How to work with summer to heal your gut

One of my favorite things about summer is its carefree simplicity. Fresh fruits and vegetables are more affordable and taste better. The digestive fire is higher, so it is easier to eat raw food. In fact, raw foods are cooling, so they help to maintain your body’s balance in heat.

And when you work with the season, it can become one of the best times of the year to heal your gut. It is important to remember to reduce inflammation. And it is ideal for building strength and restoring life.

In Ayurveda, summer is the season of Pitta or fire. Pitta is associated with heat, transformation, digestion, metabolism and tension.

Balanced Pitta supports healthy digestion, strength, sharp focus and vitality. When Pitta is high, it can manifest as inflammation, “fast” or acidic digestion, and skin problems. If internal Pitta is high, you will also feel emotional, irritable or depressed.

Some of the most common pitta-related concerns are:

• Inflammation
• IBS-D and loose stools
• Acid reflux and excess stomach acid
• Acne, rosacea and other inflammatory skin diseases
• Anger, frustration and nervousness

You can think of these as separate concerns. But from an Ayurvedic point of view, all these “says” are interrelated. Cooling down excess internal heat is the most important way to relieve them.

Why summer offers a unique opportunity for healing.

Many people struggle with low digestion during the colder months. This can manifest as bloating, food sensitivities, poor digestion or low energy. During summer, your digestive fire naturally gets stronger. If you use this to your advantage, you will be healthier all year round.

Summer can be a powerful season to regain strength. It is also easier to calm other Vata and Kapha symptoms.

• Vata types feel warmer, earthier, and calmer. It’s easier to put on some weight if needed.
• The hood also heats up easily, especially during exercise. Warmer weather is helpful for weight loss if needed. The extra sunlight will make you feel lighter and more inspired.
• Pittas, you need to make sure the heat doesn’t derail you. This is the most important time of the year to make sure your symptoms run away with you.

Many foods that are more difficult to digest in winter become easier to tolerate in summer.

As your digestion becomes stronger, you can gradually expand your food list. When you think about it the long term benefits are awesome. This means eating more healthy foods, especially fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Avoid eating junk foods that wreak havoc on your system, even if you can tolerate them now.

Summer is the perfect time to support your gut and build vitality. It’s easier to do this before the colder months return!

Liver, inflammation and keeping the blood clean

Summer is also an important period for liver support.

Too much pitta can build up in the blood and contribute to inflammation in the body. Supporting your liver helps to process body heat. This, in turn, reduces inflammation.

It’s amazing how simple foods and herbs can make a real difference.

Dandelion tea and dandelion greens are classic examples. They are naturally bitter, which is one of the flavors that helps balance excess Pitta. Bitter foods are also good for Cafas. They can be a delicious addition to your plate. Note: Vata types only do slightly better with bitter taste.

In particular, regular consumption of bitter foods helps to support the body’s natural cleansing processes. A simple way to eat them is in a salad with a salad, fruit such as orange slices or grapes, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Three flavors that balance Pitta

Ayurveda recognizes six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent. To balance Pitta in summer, the most supportive tastes are:

1. Sweet
2. bitter
3. Caller

A small amount of salty taste can also be helpful, especially if you sweat.

During hot weather, it’s wise to go easy:

• Sour and acidic foods (including alcohol and anything fermented)
• Spicy or spicy foods
• Overheating foods such as fatty meats, salty snacks and anything fatty

Hydration is more than just drinking water

Getting enough ounces of water each day will not automatically hydrate you. When your body is dry, like in the morning, it doesn’t absorb water as efficiently.

A more efficient method is:

• Drink water throughout the day. Drink regularly, not in large quantities at the beginning and end.
• Support hydration with electrolytes as needed.
• Go easy on frozen drinks.

Cold drinks may feel refreshing at the moment, but they can slow down the digestive fire. Your body has to work harder to bring it up to body temperature.

Why does Pitta still need some salt?

Salt is generally not one of the main flavors used to balance Pitta. But we all need a little salt! If you’ve eliminated packaged and restaurant foods, you may need to add some.

As the temperature rises and sweat increases, the body loses minerals and electrolytes. This is one reason why low salt intake is important. It helps replace what you lose through sweat. It also supports healthy hydration as it helps your body retain water.

This is why too much salt is not good for Kapha types who retain water very easily. If your feet or toes swell in the heat, you don’t need salt at all.

Simple homemade electrolyte drink

• 4 cups of filtered water
• Juice of 1 lemon or lime
• 1/8 tsp mineral-rich salt, such as sea salt or real Redmond salt
• A small amount of fruit, such as pineapple, orange, watermelon, or cucumber (about 1/4 cup)
• Optional: a few mint leaves or a teaspoon of maple syrup. Yum!

Blend everything in a high speed blender. Drink throughout the day, especially during and after outdoor time or exercise.

When the doshas are out of balance, we become sensitive to heat and cold. Many people think that they simply cannot stand the heat or the cold. And if you’re very sensitive, you might not like either.

When your body is back in balance, life becomes easier. Foods become easier. It becomes easier to tolerate temperature changes. You have more energy for the things you love.

The goal is not to eliminate discomfort. This is to build resilience so your body can more easily respond to the world around you.

Ready to stop guessing and learn how to work with your body this summer, not against it? Summer 5-day gut-brain recovery will help you based on the natural advantages of the season. It includes:

• Simple, non-food activities you can do every day in minutes
• Offering delicious recipes
• A new way to understand your symptoms.

I want to hold you join us.

Holly Blazina is a monthly blog contributor at Universe Wellness. You can learn more about his work as a spiritual healer Here.

Connect with Holly about The Wellness Universe and follow her Facebook and Instagram.

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