Elgi Ultra’s guide to summer eating the Ayurvedic way

Discover foods that ease the winter Kapha and pacify the summer Pitta dosha

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A holistic approach to wellness through strengthening the being, both the mind and body is achieved by understanding your body type, the seasonal changes, choosing the right foods, practicing yoga, breathwork and meditation.

Ayurveda prescribes to the belief that every person’s body type can be classified into one of three doshas. Kapha, Pitta and Vatha. Doshas or the fundamental bio-element also dominates with the seasons in nature. Winter-spring months are Kapha season, spring to summer months are Pitta season and summer through fall, the Vatha season.

Basic classification of the 4 doshas in Ayurveda:

Doshas	Season	In Balance	Imbalanced
Kapha: Energy that controls growth. Supplies water to all body parts, moisturises skin and maintains the immune system.	Moon/rain: Late winter. Early spring	Mind: Love, nurturing, compassion, patience Body: Builds, strengthens, nourishes, lubricates, protects,	Mind: Greed, envy, grudges, attachment Body: Congestion, obesity, allergies, lethargy, sinus problems
Pitta: Energy that controls metabolic systems including absorption, nutrition and the body’s temperature	Sun/heat: Late spring/summer	Mind: Intelligence, memory, discrimination Body: Metabolism, digestion, eyes, blood, skin, brains and heart	Mind: Anger-hate, controlling, hot-temper Body: Acid-reflux, ulcers, heart burn, acne, migraines, endometriosis
Vata Energy that controls functions of movement: including blood circulation, breathing, blinking and heartbeat)	Wind: Autumn/ Early Winter	Mind: Creative, spiritual, Tranquillity Body: All movements, blood flow, nerve impulses, fast action, emotions	Mind: Fear, anxiety, stress, worry, poor memory Body: Hyperactivity, dry skin, constipation, gas, arthritis, osteoporosis, PMS

Source: Various online resources

Basic classification of the 4 doshas in Ayurveda:

Doshas

Kapha:
Energy that controls growth. Supplies water to all body parts, moisturises skin and maintains the immune system.

Season

Moon/rain:
Late winter. Early spring

In Balance

Mind: Love, nurturing, compassion, patience

Body: Builds, strengthens, nourishes, lubricates, protects,

Imbalanced

Mind: Greed, envy, grudges, attachment

Body: Congestion, obesity, allergies, lethargy, sinus problems

Doshas

Pitta:
Energy that controls metabolic systems including absorption, nutrition and the body’s temperature

Season

Sun/heat:
Late spring/summer

In Balance

Mind: Intelligence, memory, discrimination

Body: Metabolism, digestion, eyes, blood, skin, brains and heart

Imbalanced

Mind: Anger-hate, controlling, hot-temper

Body: Acid-reflux, ulcers, heart burn, acne, migraines, endometriosis

Doshas

Vata
Energy that controls functions of movement: including blood circulation, breathing, blinking and heartbeat)

Season

Wind: Autumn/ Early Winter

In Balance

Mind: Creative, spiritual, Tranquillity

Body: All movements, blood flow, nerve impulses, fast action, emotions

Imbalanced

Mind: Fear, anxiety, stress, worry, poor memory

Body: Hyperactivity, dry skin, constipation, gas, arthritis, osteoporosis, PMS

Source: Various online resources

Ayurvedic medicine revolves around bringing a balance to the elements when the changing seasons and improper diet, can cause imbalances in the body and thereby in the doshas.

Our focus through this article is between winter and summer seasons. We discuss, winter or the Kapha season and the transition to summer or the Pitta season and how to choose the right nutrition and lifestyle.

For instance during winter (Kapha season), the body has a tendency to store Kapha. In the spring and early summer months, the heat eases the Kapha out. This is a good reason why so many people end up with a flu during this time. During summer (Pitta season), it is important to prepare you body to deal with the releasing Kapha and tackle the summer Pitta.

Kapha Season
Ayurvedic diets have always suggested eating seasonal fruits and veg and those that are indigenous to the land.

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During the Kapha season, try to avoid heavy or watery fruits and vegetables like watermelon, gourds, cucumber, zucchini, avocados, bananas, dates etc. Avoid heavy carbohydrates like oats porridge, pasta, rice pongal, heavy cheesy pastas or heavy puddings. You can eat astringent fruits including apples, berries, pomegranate etc. Most vegetables are great except the ones that have a high water content. You can add an occasional indulgence like a spiced chai, lassi etc.

If you feel, heavy or lethargic, it is time to look into your diet and correct it.

Pitta Season
In Summer, from end of April to June or even mid-August depending on where you live in India, it is essential to keep the body cool and not aggravate the Pitta.
Below are a few do’s and don’ts:

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It is recommended to regularly massage your scalp and body with cooling oils. You can opt for ayurvedic oils or choose pure coconut or olive oil. Massaging your navel with a few drops of oil and your feet with a teaspoon of ghee at bedtime also helps bring down the body heat.
In summer, the agni or fire element in the body, disperses to keep our body cool. It is important to fuel the fire element. Eating small, light and easy to digest foods and keeping active is a great way to do this. Avoid iced and aerated drinks, choose cooling milk or yoghurt based beverages instead. Indulging in the occasional ice cream is also great in summer.
Go easy on root vegetables and tubers, choose greens, kale, peas, beans, broccoli and cabbage. Any kind of gourds and heavy watery vegetables are good for summer.

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Opt to have fresh salads in the afternoon and light proteins with cooked vegetables at night. Fruits are great in the mornings and mid-mornings.
Stick to light white meats in summer, including fish, seafood and chicken.
Indulge in citrus and seasonal fruits; limes, oranges, melons, pineapples, mangoes
Include legumes and pulses in your diet in summer.
Stay away from refined sugar as this adds heat to the body. Substitute with raw sugar or maple syrup.
Practice yoga and breathing exercises to stretch, strengthen the core, lungs and the immune system.