Summer is Pitta Season - What Can We Do About It?

Do you suffer in the heat of summer? As summer temperatures skyrocket, many of us see signs of increasing pitta dosha in the body and mind - especially if you already have a constitutional type dominated by Pitta. A Pitta disbalance can manifest itself in many forms and they are not all very pleasant:

• Excessive hunger
• Slight irritability
• Increased desire for control (of situations and people)
• Impatience
• Reddened skin
• Stomach problems
• General overheating

Luckily, Ayurveda has some solutions to these problems. With these tips, you bring your Pitta levels back into balance quickly.

Drink enough

The body needs liquid, otherwise, it cannot produce enough sweat to cool you down quickly. This means we need to stay hydrated. The best way to stay hydrated is to drink fresh still water (not too cold, otherwise you will feel even warmer). For more flavour, you can use coconut water or different teas to reduce pitta.

Adjust your diet

In Ayurveda, the food we eat can be considered medicinal too. A Dosha-disbalance is could be a result of a change in diet. Pitta is naturally oily, spicy and hot. So we had best avoid foods that enhance those qualities. These include sour, salty, spicy and fatty foods.

Instead, choose foods that have the following qualities:

• Cool
• Bitter
• Astringent
• Sweet
• Dry

Avoiding dairy products (except for milk, butter and ghee) is also a good idea. Sweet fruits like cherries or coconuts are optimal, but sour fruits like grapefruit and lemons should be avoided.

Furthermore, eating regularly is recommended. Do not miss meals and do not eat too late in the evening.

Avoid the sun

This is easier said than done in the summer, but we should try to avoid the sun as much as possible. Otherwise, the UV rays can further increase our Pitta levels. The sun's rays are strongest between ten o'clock in the morning and two o'clock in the afternoon, so plan all your outdoor activities (eg gardening) in the morning or in the evening. If you do need to go out in the sun, make sure to wear protective clothing and cover your head.

Skin care

Too much Pitta can be expressed by the body through irritated skin. This means that we need to cool the skin to reduce pitta. This can be accomplished via a daily oil massage with coconut oil. Rose water is also cooling.

Keep your emotions in check

Emotional stress or suppressed emotions can increase Pitta. Is there something going on in your life that is increasing your stress levels? If so, try to work through this or avoid the stressful situation. Often it helps to talk about frustrating situations, especially with the person who is causing them. Address your problems directly or ask for help with them.

Relax

Sometimes, all we need to do to reduce Pitta is simply relax. Light exercise can be really helpful for destressing- try easy swimming, walking, or yoga. This helps to leave the stress of everyday life behind.

Spending time in nature is also proven to reduce stress and free the mind and soul. Meditation can also help lessen excess pitta.

We hope you've enjoyed these simple but effective tips for reducing excessive pitta.