Why Change?
Recently, a teenager named Jason read the summer tips on my website and called me with many questions. I jokingly called him “Curious George” because he was curious about everything! He wanted to know why Ayurveda recommends changing our food, clothing, and exercise routine with every season. He had never heard of such a thing before.
I explained to him that Ayurveda is the wisdom of healthy living. Its first goal is to preserve health and prevent disease. We achieve this by creating balance with the changes in Mother Nature.
Nature changes with every season, so we need to change with it. Following Ayurvedic Ritucharya—a seasonal routine—is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay healthy. Remember, your health doesn’t depend only on medicines. It also depends on what you eat, what you do, what you wear, how you think, and how you live every day.
Why Avoid Salty, Sour Foods, and Hot Spices?
During the summertime, temperatures rise and the heat element, known in Ayurveda as Pitta dosha, becomes predominant.
Salty foods like chips, crackers, and pretzels, sour foods like tomatoes and salsa, and hot spices such as chilies and excess garlic can increase body heat even more. That is why Ayurveda recommends limiting these foods during the summer months.
Instead, favor cooling foods such as fresh salads, seasonal vegetables, fiber-rich grains, lean proteins like fish and chicken, sweet juicy fruits, and yes—even an occasional scoop of ice cream. These foods help cool the body and keep it in balance during the hottest season of the year.
Why Wear White, Light Blue, or Light Green Clothes?
Ayurveda looks deeper into every aspect of healthy living—even the colors we wear.
Dark colors such as black, dark blue, dark green, and red absorb more heat from the sun, making us feel hotter. White and other light colors, such as light blue and light green, reflect heat and help us feel cooler.
Cotton clothes are also ideal during the summer because they allow the skin to breathe and absorb perspiration naturally.
Why Change Your Exercise Routine?
Just as your diet changes with the seasons, your exercise routine should change too.
Early morning or evening walks, gentle jogging, and swimming are naturally cooling activities that help reduce excess body heat. On hot summer days, it is better to avoid strenuous exercise during the middle of the day when temperatures are highest.
There is a saying: “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sail.”
Ayurvedic seasonal routines help us do exactly that. We cannot control the changes in nature, but we can balance those changes by adjusting our lifestyle.
Have you noticed how fragrant white jasmine blossoms bloom during the summertime? Their cooling fragrance is one of Mother Nature’s nurturing ways of helping us stay in harmony with the season.
Follow Ayurveda and enjoy a healthier, more balanced life!
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”