Beat the Heat – Summer Food Cures

by Dr. Angela Warburton, TCM

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we look at food as having properties (hot, cold, dry, damp etc) in addition to nutritional value. Foods grown in each season have properties that help balance the body during that time. For example, summer foods have the ability to clear heat and cool the body down.

[pullquote]Typical signs of being over-heated include: fever, profuse sweating, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, wheezing, diarrhea, bloating, irritability, inflammation and headaches.[/pullquote]
Getting overheated in the hot humid summer months isn’t unusual, but by including some of the following foods and avoiding others, you can help beat the heat and cool off.

Typical signs of being over-heated include: fever, profuse sweating, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, wheezing, diarrhea, bloating, irritability, inflammation and headaches.

Foods that help to clear some of this summer heat are: watermelon, lemon, apple, pineapple, mung beans (in soup), summer squash, zucchini, alfalfa, spinach and cucumber.
If you suffer from sun or heat stroke you can use the juice from radishes or watermelon to help. Watermelon rind (the white part) can also be used to soothe sunburns.

Avoid: hot, spicy, greasy or overly oily foods, also avoid over consumption of stimulants like coffee, alcohol or sugars.

Foods can be used like medicine to help nourish and heal, so in addition to tasting great, we also feel better!