Health and Diet Tips for the Summer: How to Clear Heat and Bring the Body Back into Balance Internally
One of the core pillars of Chinese Medicine is to live according to our external environment in order to maintain homeostasis and a regulated circadian rhythm. This involves adjusting our eating habits to align with the seasons. As we are currently in the peak of Summer, here are some seasonal practices you can incorporate into your lifestyle.
Summer is the Fire Element
One of the foundational theories in Chinese Medicine is the concept of the Five Elements, which include wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Summer corresponds to the fire element and is strongly associated with Yang energy, which represents heat,
warmth, activity, and outward movement.
During the summer months, when the fire element is at its peak, it’s the perfect time to embrace outward growth. Consider waking up earlier and going to bed later, dedicating time to creative pursuits, staying hydrated, and enjoying activities like
swimming or visiting the beach to immerse yourself in cool water. Make space for fun and playful activities that nurture your inner child.
Summer Related Health Problems
With the Fire element dominating the summer months, an imbalance in the mind, body, or spirit can lead to summer-related health issues. Common signs and symptoms during this season may include:
- Insomnia and sleeping difficulties
- Excessive perspiration and sweating
- Anxiety, irritation and easily angry
- Heartburn
- Heat palpitations
- Mood disorders such as depression or mania
- Speech issues such as stuttering, rapid speech or excessive talking
Nutrition Tips for Summer; Foods That Clear Internal Heat
During summer, your diet should prioritise hydration and support digestion. Focus on consuming light, cooling foods while avoiding heavy, rich, or fatty dishes. This approach helps prevent overheating, maintains fluid balance, and reduces the risk of common summer health issues. The foods to include are watermelon, pineapples, oranges, pears, kiwi and lemons.
This is the perfect time to have light salads and incorporate foods such as cucumbers, lettuce, sprouts, spinach, snow peas. Also, seafood is considered cooling too.
The foods to avoid are red meat, oily fried foods, spicy foods, or meals that contain a large amount of onions, garlic or pepper should be minimised in the summer.
It’s also crucial that very cold temperature foods such as ice-cream, smoothies or icy-cold drinks should also be avoided because they can cause the digestive system to slow down, causing indigestive symptoms.
The drink that is recommended in the summer time is plenty of water! You may add slices of cucumber or lemon to further enhance the cooling properties. In terms, of hot beverages, I would suggest cooling teas such as peppermint, green tea, chamomile, mint, lemon balm, hibiscus or chrysanthemum. Coffee is considered very warming, and should be minimised in the summer time.
Do you need help with your health & wellbeing this summer?
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This blog post was written by Dr. Wendy Le.