Ayurvedic Tips for Balancing Pitta as Summer Approaches
With summer approaching, balancing Pitta dosha can help busy mums stay cool, calm, and energised, avoiding the common signs of Pitta imbalance like irritability, overheating, and skin issues. Especially the Australian summer can be very hot and humid so being able to balance the dosha and keep cool is essential to be able to function well in the heat.
Ayurveda offers gentle tips to harmonize the body and mind during the warm months, prioritising diet, lifestyle, and self-care rituals. Here’s a guide to keeping Pitta in balance this summer.
Cooling Foods to Soothe Pitta
I love the summer fruits and all the great vegetables available. It’s a great way to toss together a lovely fruit salad for afternoon snack or an easy salad together with some protein source for dinner. In summer you don’t feel like eating too heavy food and opt for a more lighter easier digested diet. Here are some great tips of what to include to stay cool.
Incorporate Hydrating Fruits and Vegetables: Focus on water-rich foods like cucumbers, melons, leafy greens, and celery. These foods keep the body hydrated and help reduce internal heat.
Sweet and Astringent Tastes: Prioritize foods with sweet, bitter, and astringent flavours, which naturally cool and balance Pitta. Sweet fruits, cooling grains like rice and barley, and herbs like cilantro and fennel can support your body in handling the heat.
Avoid Spicy, Salty, and Sour Foods: These tastes tend to increase heat, so try limiting hot spices, salty snacks, and sour fruits like tomatoes and lemons.
Stay Cool and Hydrated
I learnt early on moving to Australia that you always carry around a water bottle with you as it gets very hot. Even young kids like my daughter was taught in daycare and school that having your water bottle with you and drinking this to stay hydrated is key in the heat. Sometimes water can just feel a bit boring so to make it a bit more tastier you can add some lemon or lime slices in it. Even freezing berries in ice cube trays is a fun thing to add to the kids water bottle. If you want to mix things up, here are some other beverages that will keep you hydrated this summer.
Cooling Herbal Drinks: Sipping herbal teas like mint, chamomile, and hibiscus, or flavoured water infused with cucumber and mint, can keep you refreshed throughout the day.
Coconut Water: Known for its hydrating and cooling properties, coconut water is a perfect natural drink to beat the heat and balance Pitta.
Avoid Ice-Cold Beverages: Although they might seem refreshing, ice-cold drinks can disrupt digestion. Opt for room-temperature or slightly cool drinks instead.
Develop a Gentle Summer Routine
As summer here in Australia gets very hot, I like to start my mornings early before it gets too sunny. I try to do my exercise early morning and stay away from the extreme heat outside in the middle of the day. As a Vata dosha, high temperatures and dryness can cause dehydration and dry skin so it’s important for people with excess vata to prioritise moisturising foods, lots of fluid early bedtime routine. Here are some further tips to balance Pitta this summer.
Early Morning Routine: Engage in Pitta-pacifying practices like meditation, pranayama (breathing exercises), and gentle yoga early in the morning before the day heats up.
Cooling Yoga Poses: Focus on calming, grounding poses like Tree Pose, Child’s Pose, and Moon Salutations, which support the mind-body connection and reduce heat.
Prioritize Rest and Relaxation: Pitta types often have high energy, but pushing too hard can lead to burnout. Incorporate moments of rest and mindfulness into your day.
Ayurvedic Skincare for Pitta
The summer heat, swimming and spending hours in the sunny weather will all take its toll on the body. Moisturise your skin is key to look and feel good to avoid flaky, dry and irritated skin. Why not take some mamma me-time every week and look after your skin by creating your own self-care home spa. These are some things you can include in your routine.
Cooling Oil Massage (Abhyanga): Using cooling oils like coconut or sunflower oil for a gentle self-massage before a shower helps soothe and hydrate the skin.
Aloe Vera and Rosewater: Both have natural cooling and anti-inflammatory properties, making them ideal for reducing Pitta-related skin irritations. Apply aloe vera gel or rosewater mist to the face for a refreshing boost.
Sandalwood Powder: Add sandalwood powder to face masks or bath water for its soothing and anti-inflammatory effects on Pitta-prone skin.
Practice Mindfulness and Stress Relief
Summer and the hot temperatures can be exhausting and make you tired. We also spend more time outdoors socialising, doing sports and having fun at the beach. This is all great but also create stress and exhaustion. Looking after your mind is important. Taking some time out for daily meditation or breathing exercises help calm the mind and reduce Pitta-associated stress and irritability. Try spending time near natural bodies of water or under shaded, green areas. Nature’s cooling energy can help ground and balance Pitta.
Sleep Routine for a Pitta-Pacifying Night
Having a good nigh sleep is so important especially in summer when we are so active. The days are longer and we want to do so much but having a sound, relaxing sleep is crucial to feel good and energised the next day. If you have trouble sleeping try to wind down with some chamomile, peppermint, or liquorice tea that can be relaxing and cooling before bed. Ensure your room is cool and dark supports restful sleep, essential for rebalancing the mind and body. Having a regular sleep schedule such as going to bed around 10 p.m. supports Pitta balance and allows for deep, restorative rest.
Incorporating these Ayurvedic practices into your summer routine can help you balanced, allowing you to stay calm, grounded, and hydrated even on the hottest days. By focusing on nourishing foods, soothing self-care, and mindful relaxation, you can support both your body and mind to feel refreshed and revitalized. Embrace these simple tips to move through the season with balance, so you can fully enjoy the warmth and energy of summer.
