Now that summer is here, it’s time to enjoy the outdoors in the sun! Of course, hydration is topic number one right next to the SPF! It may be your first instinct to grab a frosty cold glass of ice water after some time in the heat…..but wait Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices caution with ice cold beverage! According to TCM theory, we ought to balance our systems. Introducing too much cool can put the body out of balance and cause damage to the digestive functions.
Watermelon is a valuable summer fruit prized for its cool essence and according to TCM, it can cool the body and relieve summer heat and dehydration. Each juicy bite is over 90% water and packed with vitamins A, C, potassium (your electrolytes) and amino acids. In addition it can be used topically to relieve sunburns! So next time you are packing for a day at the beach, don’t forget to include some fresh watermelons!
Additional foods to liven up your summer dishes and that fall under the cool category are:
mint, endive, arugula, bitter melon, cilantro.
Not sure if this food is right for you? We invite you to schedule a consultation. A big component of TCM is nutritional guidance and creating a food lifestyle that helps you thrive!