Keeping your cool serves you in so many ways. If your body systems do not need to put primary attention on keeping you cool, then you have energy for important actions like your digestion. In Ayurveda health begins in the gut. The goal of Ayurveda is perfect digestion of food and emotions.
You might think that feeling overheated is just an inconvenience, but there are health affects that can add up over time. As I wrote about in the June issue, when your body becomes overheated, your metabolism slows to cool you. When metabolism slows you have incomplete digestion and weight gain. An overheated body can also invite heated emotional frustrations and outbursts.
So get your cool on with some mouth-watering drinks. A cooling Ayurveda drink can make regular occasions special and special occasions festive and without alcohol. Alcohol and sugars in general are very heating. Here's your bonus, the ingredients of these drinks are not only cooling, they are nourishing and healing as well.
Live with radiant intention and be well. Rhonda
|
Pomegranate Juice with Lime and Aloe
 1 tsp Aloe Vera Gel1 whole lime - juiced
1 cup pomegranate juice
2 tsp raw sugarMix all ingredients and enjoy on a warm day.  Aloe is very cooling, reduces inflammation, supports fat digestion and cleanses the liver. Aloe is known as th great Pitta Pacifier. Aloe supports healthy skin by drinking aloe gel or by smearing it on your face. Taking aloe orally (about 1-2 teaspoons daily) is purported to reduce wrinkles by increasing collagen production. Having your own aloe plant is the best way to go. Aloe is high in natural vitamins and minerals. Limes are acidic in taste but alkaline in effect. We want an alkaline diet to provide an optimal healthy internal environment and prevent receptivity to cancer, osteoporosis and myriad other conditions. Lime increases the flow of bile which aids in fat digestion. Lime is very cooling and cleansing and reduces inflammation. Limes can also brighten your smile by preventing tartar buildup on your teeth with a light bleaching effect. Recipe from Joyfulbelly.com
|
|
Cool Drinks
Cooling fruits and spices make refreshing and nutritious summer beverages.
Spicy Coconut Smoothie Water and meat from one young coconut 2-3 Medjool dates pitted and chopped  1/8 tsp ground cardamom
Blend all ingredients
Watermelon- Mint Smoothie
2-3 cups diced seeded watermelon
4-5 sprigs of fresh mint (1 for garnish)  Blend to a smooth puree
Note: Is watermelon hydrating?Think again. We think watermelon is very hydrating but it is not. Watermelon is cooling and is a great diuretic. Watermelon performs the important task of keeping your urinary system flushed and healthy especially during hot, muggy weather, but do not rely on it for hydration. Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily. Coconut water is hydrating.
|
|
Should You Ice Your Drinks in Summer?
In Ayurveda room temperature or just slightly cooled (as the temp of water when kept in a basement) drinks are the best way to go year round.
Ice cold drinks weakens your digestive fire (agni) and your body has to work harder to handle the food you eat. This is a formula for weight gain and ama build-up, So "no ice please."
|
|
Classes in Kalamazoo and Oak Park, IL
There are no classes over the summer. See you in the fall.
|
Rhonda Egidio Ph.D., provides Ayurvedic assessments of primary health concerns, diet, sleep and lifestyle and offers Ayurvedic recommendations. It's a good idea to get a baseline assessment to help you to apply Ayurveda knowledge in a customized way to your particular needs. Check out assessment and session options.
Rhonda Egidio, 269-345-2991
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mint LimeAde
Sweet mint limeade is a refreshing, cooling digestive aid for the lazy dog days of summer.
1/4 whole peeled lime
1 tsp mint
1/4 tsp raw sugar
1 C water
Mix all in a blender.
Lime improves digestive function while cooling and grounds Vata. Raw sugar brings ethereal mint back to earth also grounding Vata.
|
Menstrual Self-Care
We want to understand how our bodies work--well, not just work,but how they thrive. Banyan Botanicals is a company of many caring individuals. They just produced smart, new educational material called " Guide to Menstrual Self-Care". This lays out the differences in understanding and managing healthy menstruation based on dosha influences. Banyan is also offering 20% off selected products especially for women's cycles and transitions if any of these meet your needs: Women's Cycle NourishWomen's Cycle EaseHealthy BonesWomen's Natural TransitionWomen's SupportUse the promotional code AFWOM14 at checkout. Discount expires July 31, 2014
|
|
Ayurveda information shared here is for general educational purposes and is not intended to substitute for medical or psychological advice. Please consult with a qualified medical professional in these matters.
|
Anti-Bullying..from the Mouth of Babes
Every once in a while an amazing experience happens on "Britain's Got Talent". This rap song on anti-bullying written and performed by two boys is one on those completely enthralling moments. They fused the harsh truth of bullying with a sweet hopeful message. Their construction is genius. This is one for the heart strings. They are called Bars & Melody.
|
|
|
