This entry was originally posted on Sustainable Table’s Daily Table blog.
Today’s tip: Eat in harmony with the summer season.
Eating in line with the season is beneficial for your health and fits perfectly into sustainable living. The bounty of the summer provides exactly what you need to participate.
Summer generously grows a colorful variety of food that will supply a wide array of nutrients to your body. If you cook according to summer’s hotness – preparing raw foods, sauteing quickly (on a high heat) or steaming/simmering for a short amount of time, it will help your body adapt to the heat. Certain foods are considered “cooling” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), perfect to get through a hot summer day – salads, sprouts, fruit (especially watermelon, lemons and limes), cucumbers and tofu to name a few. Eating heavy food, such as meat, eggs and an excess of nuts in the summer season can contribute to sluggishness (but don’t worry, these “heavy” foods can help in other seasons!).
Another suggestion from TCM is to stay away from items that are too cold (difficult to do on a hot day when tempted with ice cream!) as they are contracting and will hold in sweat. Your body needs to sweat to keep balanced -stick to warm liquids and warm showers if you can. TMC even suggests adding some spice to your meals, fresh peppers and ginger, to help your body cope with the outside temperature.
Read more about TCM and the seasons in this wonderful book by Paul Pitchford, Healing with Whole Foods.
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