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The other day we were at lunch, in this beautiful outdoor Italian restaurant right next to a rice paddy field.

And it was sweltering hot.

I’m basically sticking to my chair, so I get up to go to the restroom and the second I open the door – I’m hit with this blast of air con – and I kid you not, I jumped up on the sink counter top… and just sat there.

I’m thinking, you know what – if anyone walks in right now… they’ll understand!

Living in Singapore, and now Bali – I’ve learned how to live with the heat. Granted, sitting on a bathroom sink was not my finest moment – but the heat can have you acting a little crazy sometimes.

So it’s a good idea to have some summer tips to keep your cool… and I’ve learned a few new ones!

In Bali, Ayurveda is a prominent practice, it’s based on the belief that our overall sense of wellbeing and stability, is dependant on the delicate balance of our mind, body and spirit.

Ayuverda is about having the tools  bring yourself back into balance when and where you need it

Have you heard of it before?

According to this ancient practice – the summertime is considered Pitta Season, associated with fire. And when your Pitta is in balance, you are productive, passionate and full of energy.

But when your Pitta is cranked up…. that internal heat leads to inflammation, sensitivity, breakouts, rashes, indigestion, heart burn, fatigue, intolerance and a fiery temper.

So – if you don’t want to loose your cool – here are two ways that you can keep your Pitta in balance and actually enjoy the summer season!


Cooling Foods for Hot Summers

If you were to go to an Ayurvedic clinic, they would give you a comprehensive breakdown of what to eat and what to avoid when you’re feeling off balance.

As a guideline, during the summer you want to avoid foods that aggravate your system and increase your internal heat and you want to favor foods that cool down and calm your body.

Minimize:  

hot, spicy foods, sour foods and overly salted foods. Chilli, vinegar, grapefruit and basically anything on a bar snack menu would be off the menu this season.

Increase:

  • sweet: sweet fruits, sweet potato, most grains, milk. Sweet foods are cooling and satisfying. It calms an aggressive system.
  • bitter: kale, collard greens, dark chocolate. Bitter foods are exceptionally cooling. It relieves itching and burning and supports digestion.
  • astringent: lentils, beans, chickpeas. Astringent foods are drying. It counters excessive sweat and oil.

Cooling Scents for Hot Summers

Your sense of smell has a direct link to your brain and emotions. You can be instantly transported into a different place simply with a scent. When your Pitta is spiked – bring it back down into balance with sweet, uplifting, cooling and pretty scents…

A really good idea is to make a Pitta Cooling Spray, to keep with you at all times. When ever you feel hot, lethargic or irritated – spritz yourself and instantly feel yourself cooling right back down…

Here in Bali they say “Bali, no stress” That’s how this spray will make you feel. Here’s how you make it :

ingredients: 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon vodka or rubbing alcohol,
15 drops peppermint essential oil, 9 drops lavender essential oil

Peppermint Oil is uplifting and cooling

Lavender Oil is calming and soothing

directions: mix all the ingredients together in a sprayer mist bottle. Spritz on as a body and room spray.


Join the conversation

What do you do to stay cool in the summer and enjoy this beautiful season? I’d love to hear your tips! 

If you like this article, hit the share buttons so that your friends can feel happy and cool too!

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