It’s Pitta season! Summer is here, and with it comes all the fun of summer vacations, weekends at the beach, Fourth of July fireworks, and poolside cookouts.

But in the midst of all the fun and festivity, are you finding yourself to be a little more impatient, easily frustrated, or angered? Maybe some road or pedestrian rage? Perhaps you are sleeping lighter, not that hungry during the day, a little dizzy, and more easily fatigued? Maybe you are becoming more prone to acne, aphthous ulcers, reflux, rashes, migraines or even may have experienced a summer diarrhea?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, don’t blame yourself or be confused about what’s happening: it’s not you, it’s your Pitta!

Just as we are aware of the importance of eating local, seasonal food so that we connect with our environment and receive its benefits, so we need to cultivate our awareness of how the changing seasons can affect our doshas and how we can fend off summer ailments by adjusting our diet and lifestyle.

Summertime surrounds us with the qualities of Pitta — hot, sharp, oily, light, spreading, liquid, and fleshy smelling — and in keeping with the Ayurvedic principle that “like increases like,” summer increases these pitta qualities in you.

So, what’s the solution to our summertime woes?

Simple! Opposites balance. Things that are cool, dull, dry, heavy, dense, and fragrant will balance and pacify Pitta. Pick out clothes made of natural, breathable fabrics that will keep you cool and dry, and choose colors such as blues, greens, whites, and pastels. Pitta loves beauty, and will be pleased by the sight and smell of fresh flowers in the house. Taking an early morning or late evening stroll through parks and gardens with cooling fountains will also make your Pitta very happy. Pitta is easily overheated, so remember to stay in the shade during the warmest part of the day (11 am – 4 pm).

How about our diet? Because summer time is dominated by the fire element, just focus on the tastes that don’t contain fire. Those are sweet, bitter, and astringent. So far, so good?

Now, before we go too far in pacifying Pitta, let’s not forget to mind our Vata, which has a few key opposing qualities to Pitta that can be aggravated by overzealous Pitta-pacification. Almost all of us with our busy, stressful lives already have some Vata aggravation that we don’t want to exacerbate further. So let’s focus on a taste that is good for both: sweet! The sweet taste is cooling and grounding which makes it a particularly good choice for both Pitta and Vata in the hot, light summer, when Vata can tolerate some cooling.

Sweets! Hmm, now that doesn’t sound so bad as a summer remedy! But, before you start loading up on dessert, I don’t mean refined sugar. In addition to the natural, simple sweetness of fresh fruits, Ayurveda reminds us to consider the subtle, grounding sweetness of root vegetables, whole grains, fresh dairy, and meats.

Bitter and astringent foods are also excellent Pitta pacifiers; be careful, though as these have a tendency to aggravate Vata. The less Vata you have to work with, the better you’ll do with these two. Amongst sweet, bitter, and astringent foods, look for things with dull and heavy qualities that will balance both Pitta and Vata, keeping us even tempered, grounded, and sleeping well throughout the summer.

So what does all this mean in practical terms? Now is a great time for coconuts, avocados, limes (instead of lemons), asparagus, beets, fennel bulbs, bitter leafy greens, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, zucchini and other summer squashes, to name a few.

Don’t forget to stay hydrated and cool! Refresh yourself internally with some coconut water, lime-aid, peppermint tea, or (of course) good old water and refresh yourself externally with a spray of rose, lavender, or peppermint water.

It is best to avoid sour foods, which are potent Pitta-provokers and will compound the hot, light qualities of summer. For example, fermented foods such as miso and tempeh have sour tastes and are better saved for the fall. Similarly, the pungent taste is hot and light; though small quantities of pungent foods are good for stimulating Agni, moderate to high quantities will throw your Pitta and Vata out of balance. Also, be moderate with salt due to its hot and oily qualities, and always favor rock over table salt.

Be careful with nuts. Their strongly oily quality is often Pitta aggravating. Soaked, peeled almonds or almond milk are the best nut choices for the summer.

Also, pass on the sharp, heating qualities of hard liquors and go for a refreshing  beer or white wine. (Great! That’s what many of us crave anyways on a hot summer afternoon.) If you really want an occasional cocktail, go for it, but try to balance the spirits by picking cocktails mixed with cooling mint, basil, or rose.

Maybe this one is obvious, but avoid red chilies. If you really can’t resist a bit of spice this season, cool it down with plenty of cilantro or avocado.

Last but not least, let’s talk about coffee and chocolate. As much as we love the complex, roasty aromas of these bitter beans, they can aggravate all three doshas due to those same stimulants that make coffee so many people’s morning perk of choice. Also, coffee’s heavy, oily quality is infamous for suppressing Agni during a season when it is already low.

But, really, a summer without coffee or chocolate? Remember that Ayurveda teaches us to seek balance in all things. Though you should restrict your consumption of these tasty treats to small, occasional doses, you can make the most of those opportunities by choosing a Pitta-balancing, cooling preparation. For example, instead of an espresso shot, order a latte which balances the hot, sharp qualities of the espresso with the cool, dull, sweet properties of milk. Instead of a spicy chile chocolate brownie, go for the mint chocolate chip ice cream. There’s nothing like an occasional couple spoons of midday ice cream to really calm Pitta and it shouldn’t disturb your Vata or Agni too much. So there you have it: Ayurdoc’s orders! (Though that’s probably the only time you’ll hear me recommending anything iced.)

And on that sweet note, here’s to a great and healthy summer!

– Nisha.

P.S.: Want to achieve an even finer balance this season? Schedule some time with me to make the most of what Ayurveda has to offer. Together, we can create a program customized to your particular constitutional needs. Therapies like virechana (a cleansing herbal preparation), which clears excess Pitta from the system, must be tailored to each unique constitution. Your internal Agni also needs attention and support during the summer, when it gets shunted from the digestive tract to the extremities to protect your vital organs from exposure to too much heat. This causes poor appetite and digestion during summer months, which are also best addressed through a personalized plan. You can reach me by email at 2nishak@gmail.com.

Balancing Your Summer