Cooling Foods for the Indian Summer - What to eat to pacify your pitta

If you love mangoes as much as we do, you probably wait for summer all year long. But in India, summer does not only mean mangoes. It means heat, humidity and an unhealthy craving for copious amounts of chilled beer or that third scoop of gelato. We are indefinitely drawn towards anything that will keep the heat at bay, but rarely do we think about eating cooling foods that will benefit our body from within. Rather than just eating something for a moment of respite from the heat, why not make a more informed decision about our summer diets?

Many fruits, vegetables, grains and spices have inherently cooling properties that help to reduce heat and clear toxins from the body. This dates back to historic times when people in ancient India followed the Ayurvedic way of eating, and chose their food based on dosha. According to Ayurveda, doshas are psycho-physiological elements that govern the different activities of your mind and body, and we all have three types of dosha within us – vata, kapha, and pitta. When any of the doshas are aggravated it directly affects our physical well being, so we should try to balance our doshas with our diet and lifestyle choices.

“Pitta” is composed of fire and water, and governs metabolism and transformation in the body, including digestion. It is also associated with heat and comes into effect during the summer months. When Pitta is fed a lot, it leads to excess stomach acid, heartburn, skin eruptions, and mood irritability. Following a diet that pacifies the Pitta will help in keeping this fiery element in balance.

Here’s a snippet on ways in which you can adapt your diet during the summer months to incorporate more foods that are cooling from the inside out.

Cooling foods that you should eat more of in the summer

~ Vegetables like bottle gourd and cucumber are composed of 90% water, which makes them incredibly hydrating. Their cooling properties help in releasing heat from the body, providing instant relief in the heat. They help flush out toxins and aid in digestion. Zucchini and green beans contain Vitamin C, important phytonutrients, and manganese. This protects the body from free radicals that cause ageing – which is of greater concern during the summer months when your skin is anyway more susceptible to sun damage.

Try these recipes: simple bottle gourd ceviche by the wonderful Copper + Cloves, zucchini noodle salad with sweet chili dressing.

~ Naturally sweet fruits like peaches, melons, and watermelons contain Vitamin A and C, which promote healthy skin during the summer months. Pineapple, apart from being delicious in a Piña Colada, also contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps in reducing inflammation in the body. Avocados contain the highest amount of monosaturated fatty acids that helps to remove heat and toxins from the blood. Bananas are an astringent food causing your tissues to shrink, which in turn allows the absorption of more water. Berries are alkaline in nature and contain high amounts of water; they also generate cold energy in the body and release heat.

Try these recipes: summer peach caprese salad, watermelon gazpacho

~ Leafy greens like spinach, kale and romaine help in healing your body. They have high water content, which makes them easy to digest. This in turn helps the body to preserve energy and keep you cool.

~ Fats and oils like coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, and ghee are great choices for summer months. Avoid heating fats like sesame oil and mustard oil.

~ Spices and herbs like fenugreek, fennel, poppy, cumin, cardamom, coriander, and mint drastically help in reducing the heat that the body produces internally. Some of them also help in quenching thirst, while some aid digestion.

~ Grains that are good for the summer include wheat, barley, rice, quinoa, amaranth, oats, and sorghum (jowar).

Try these recipes: barley salad with swiss chard; Moroccan couscous salad; Asian quinoa salad

~ Yogurt contains probiotics, minerals and vitamins, and is instantly cooling in the summer months.

~ Natural fruit juices like sugarcane juice, watermelon juice, wood apple (bael) juice, or coconut water are delicious and super hydrating for the body. They are full of electrolytes and essential minerals that help in replenishing all the nutrients your body loses from sweating. Their cancer-fighting and anti-ageing properties are an added bonus.

More ways to add these cooling foods to your daily summer diet

Swap the chilled cola with a bowl of yogurt or a glass of buttermilk. Add other cooling agents like cumin powder and coriander leaves to the buttermilk to enhance its flavour. You can also have a spoonful of flax seeds before having this, as flax seeds help fasten the metabolism of the body.
Citrus fruit like lemons and oranges are the easiest to incorporate and serve many benefits. Add a few slices to your regular water and put it in the refrigerator. You can also play around with different combinations like cucumber or watermelon, and add some mint leaves to it too. Hydration is the most important step during the summer months.

Have fun salad bars at home with options for leafy greens, cooling grains, fruits and vegetables. Incorporate super foods like seeds and nuts; and mix and match with spices, herbs, and various dressings. Check out our guide to making a salad for inspiration.
Use natural juices like coconut water, wood apple juice, and watermelon juice to make easy popsicles. Not only are these delicious, but also super cooling, and with no added sugar – they’re healthy too! Try this watermelon lime ice pop recipe.

Excuses are easy to make, but making these small swaps in your diet is SO much easier. These foods will help you remain cool even on the hottest of days, and keep your pitta in check – which means less heartburn, fewer breakouts, and no meltdowns this summer.