News — summer

According to the seasonal cycles, summer is considered to be Pitta season, where the energetic principles of Fire and Water are strongest. It is during that summer when the Pitta dosha, inherently driven by solar force, is most present, as it is made up of the Fire and Water elements. Time for healthy beverages, sunbathing, and swimming! This combination is really rather complimentary. Pitta exists as water or oil (in the body)—which protects the tissues from the fire aspect. Pitta is the principle of transformation and heat; it is responsible for all chemical and metabolic conversions in the body that create...

The cucumbers in this recipe are good for counteracting the heavy properties of yogurt, breads, and even pastas. In Ayurveda, the summer season is a time for fresh, cooling, sweet fruits and fresh flowers! Cucumbers are a good summer food and they are also thirst-relieving. Ayurveda finds cucumber to be sweet, astringent, and cool. It balances Pitta and Vata but increases Kapha. For Kapha folks, you can eat this with extra hing and mustard seeds. It is a diuretic and good for urinary tract infections.  This yogurt dip, called cucumber raita, is considered tri-doshic, versatile and can be used as a...

During the summer season, the elements of Fire and Water (and the Pitta dosha) run high. This is the time when we experience the hot, light, liquid, sharp, oily, and mobile qualities of the season and as the heat waves roll through and our air conditioning isn't quite getting the job done we are more likely to feel irritable, frustrated, angry, impatient, jealous, and short-tempered. Learning how to cope with seasonal changes is essential. We may develop heartburn, acne, fever, skin rash, foul smelling sweat, headaches, and acidity during the summer season. But . . . summer is a time for...