Summer is the hottest of the four temperate seasons, falling after spring and before autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice. The date of the beginning of summer varies according to climate, tradition, and culture. Summer 2019 in Northern Hemisphere will begin on Friday, 21 June and ends on Monday, 23 September Grishma (summer).
Mid-May to mid-July (approximately) is considered as Grishma (summer) season according to Ayurveda. The environment is prevalent with intense heat and unhealthy wind. The river-bodies dried and the plants appear lifeless. Agni of the person will remain in a mild state.
According to the diets and regimens mentioned in Ayurveda, it is very difficult to cope up as such things are not possible to perform and intake in the present era. So below are mentioned some diets and regimens which can be mentioned in Ayurveda followed by the diet and regimens which can be adopted by us in the present era.
Pathya (do’s) according to Ayurveda
Ahara (Diet)
- Foods which are sweet, light to digest, fatty, cold and liquids should be taken.
- Curd churned and mixed with pepper powder and sugar should be taken.
- Drinking plenty of water and other liquids, such as cold water, buttermilk, fruit juices, meat soups, mango juice, is to be practiced.
- At bedtime milk with sugar, candy is to be taken. (not for diabetic persons)
Water:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as it helps in flushing out all the toxic matter from the body. Seventy percent of our body is made up of water, thus it is necessary to keep our hydrated. Water is the major carrier of blood and oxygen to different organs of the body. It nourishes the red blood cells by providing them with nutrients.
Fruits and vegetables:
Include ample of fruits and vegetables in your regular diet. You can club lots of fruits and eat as a delicious fruit salad. Even blend some fruits to make fruit juices. Eat fruits like watermelon, peaches, plums, mangoes, grapes, pears, avocado, and berries are good to beat the summer heat. Use vegetables like - Asparagus, cucumber, cabbage, sweet potato, celery, green leafy vegetables.
The above-mentioned drinks are very soothing, cooling, nourishing, tasty and satisfactorily quenches thirst.
Food Recommended During Summer
Make sure to consume foods that cool the body and are sweet. These include Rice, buffalo's milk and ghee
Drinks Recommended For Summer
Fruit juices and tender coconut water are highly recommended.
Besides these, Ayurveda recommends a few fragrant drinks to be taken more often to cool and revitalize the body during the summer months. Ideally, these drinks must be stored in a new mud pot and consumed cold.
Vihara (daily routine)
- Remaining in cool spots.
- Stay indoors as far as possible
- Wearing garlands, very light and thin dress is recommended.
- Have an afternoon nap. It is the only ritu where Ayurveda recommends for day sleep.
- Go for a soothing walk, in the evening, near the beach or river.
- Take bath(s) with cold water.
- Light a fragrant incense inside the house
- Amid night one can appreciate the cooling moon rays with the breeze.
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Apathy (don’ts) according to Ayurveda
Ahara (diet):
Greasy and junk food:
Avoid food that is greasy, oily, and fried. The food that contains a lot of spices and pungent taste should be kept away. Do not consume stale or leftover food, as they contain harmful bacteria. Eat fresh food that is cooked just an hour before.
Cut down the drinks:
Cut down the intake of coffee, tea, or carbonated drinks. Minimize the consumption of alcohol during the summers. The carbonated drink contains acids that make you more dehydrated. Even the caffeine in coffee triggers the dehydration in your body.
Replace all these harmful drinks with buttermilk, fruit juices, coconut water, and traditional drinks- sherbet prepared from Indian gooseberry, kokum, and raw mangoes. You may also enjoy herbal tealike Mint tea, which provides amazing relaxation and stamina.
Vihara (daily routine):
- Avoid exposure to sunlight and wind.
- Exercises and exertion should be avoided.
- Extreme exercise or hard work is to be evaded
- A lot of sexual liberality and alcoholic preparations are precluded.
Let's sum up according to the present era
Do’s (pathya)
- Eat fruits like watermelon, peaches, plums, mangoes, grapes, pears, avocado, and berries.
- Use vegetables like cucumber, sweet potato, celery, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, asparagus.
- Eat fresh food that is cooked just an hour before.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day, as it helps in flushing out all the toxic matter from the body.
- Buttermilk, tender coconut water, fruit juices and traditional drinks like sharbats prepared from Indian gooseberry, kokum, and raw mangoes.
- Use herbal teas like mint tea which provides relaxation and stamina.
- Diet should be of sweet, light to digest, liquid form, milk and ghee is also good
- Gulkand (the sweet preserve of rose petals) is best known for relieving excess heat.
- Wear thin and light cotton clothes.
- Try to stay indoors in a cool place.
- Day sleep is advised.
- Use perfumes with sandal fragrance regularly
- Go for a soothing walk in the evening, near the beach or river or in the gardens.
- Cold water bath twice a day or according to the necessary.
- During night one can enjoy the cooled moon rays with a breeze.
Apathy (don’ts)
- Avoid foods that produce heat within the body like spicy, oily, fast and fried foods.
- Cut down the drinks like coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks as they contain acids, caffeine, that causes dehydration.
- Solid foods which are heavy to digest should be avoided.
- Avoid exposure to sun and wind.
- Avoid too many exercises and exertion.
- Leftover food should not be consumed as it contains harmful bacteria.
- Refrigerated food and drinks should be avoided as it tastes cold, but by the end, it triggers pitta thus producing heat in the body.
- Excessive exercise or hard work is to be avoided.
- Too much sexual indulgence and alcoholic preparations are prohibited.
- Avoid food that is greasy, oily, and fried.
