The Fires of Summer – Cooling from Within.

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  Cooling Summer Soup
  with Sesame and Chia Loaf

We are well and truly in the midst of the summer. The long days and balmy nights beckon us out into our gardens, terraces and entice us to spend time enjoying the warmer days and the temperate nights.

But for some of us, the summer sun can be tough on our systems. Although you love the summer days, and the energy that is abundant during these months, you find that you are seeking out the shady spots, turning your sweat beaded brow into any hint of a breeze or longing to immerse yourself in a cool shower – anything to give you some respite from the heat.

Why is it, that although you love the sun, you find yourself wilting like a weary flower under its force?

If the element of fire burns strongest in you, your physiology already has plenty of metabolic heat. You tend to be a passionate person, who is driven and motivated to push forward with ideas and projects. You have a competitive edge that drives you and an innate ability to focus on single objectives. However on the flip side, you can be hot-headed, stubborn and can find it hard to calm down. These are just some of the traits found in those with a strong fire element. Fire dominant types can also be prone to inflammation in the body, heartburn and headaches and other maladies related to an imbalance of heat in the system.

So how can we keep our internal inferno in check and make sure we enjoy the summer without overheating?

Adopting lifestyle practices especially during warmer months that increase the cooler elements within us, can help us to cool down from inside out. When we recognise the way we work and start to do things that work in support of our unique systems, we can enjoy the summer sun, without it compromising our energy or our health. If you know you are Pitta dominant, or you simply want some great ways to stay cool this summer, then try a few of these tips:

1. Spend as much time outdoors as you can, enjoying nature in the mornings and evenings when its cooler
2. Try to avoid stimulants such as strong coffee, excess alcohol or hot spicy food (cooler spices can help you stay cool!).
3. Wear cooling colours like blue, white or lilac.
4. Massage the body with oils like mint, rose or lavender in a base of cooling coconut oil.
5. When it’s hot try to avoid strong exercise, and choose a less stimulating pursuit such as walking, swimming, yoga, fishing etc.
6. Try to avoid conflict. For example if you know a topic of conversation makes you feel impassioned it maybe best to write about it in a journal to explore your feelings, rather than to engage in a debate with others which could easily take you from calm to vexed in a matter of moments. This gives you space for cool reflection, without allowing the fuel of a heated conversation to increase your emotions.
7. Choose foods, which you know, make your stomach feel calm. Most fruits help to cool the system, and gently cooked vegetables will be easy to digest. Naturally sweeter food will have a cooling effect on the body such as fresh summer fruit, cooked rice, or sweet herbs like fennel or liquorice.

Here is a recipe for my favourite cooling summer soup. Served with a warm crusty home-made loaf, it will cool you down and treat those taste buds too! 

Cooling Summer Soup

1 cup of white butter beans

½ cup of pre-soaked almonds ( 6hrs)

1 cucumber – peeled and diced

generous sprig of fresh mint

½ cup of organic apple juice

Filtered water ( to desired consistency)

Place butter beans, cucumber and mint into blender.

Peel the soaked almonds and add to mix

Pour in apple juice and turn on the blender.

Slowly add water until you reach the consistency you desire.

Chia and Sesame whole-wheat loaf

3 cups whole-wheat flour

10 gms yeast

1 ¼ cups room temp (tepid) water

pinch salt

pinch sugar

For the topping:

Milk to glaze

1 tsp ( approx.) of chia seeds

1 tsp ( approx.) of sesame seeds.

Mix flour and salt in bowl. Sprinkle yeast into tepid water and stir. Leave for a few minutes to show a few tiny bubbles. Just before you begin to add to the flour, sprinkle a pinch of sugar to assist the yeast.

Slowly add the water mixing well to form a dough.

Knead very thoroughly – until the dough increases it elasticity.

Leave in a warm place until the dough rises to about double.

Place dough in a greased loaf dish.

Brush with milk and sprinkle with chia and sesame seeds

Bake in a warm oven at 180 for about 30 mins.

Wishing you good health, clarity and calm, and most of all love ❤