One of the secrets to the longevity of the Asian community is that they have always paid close attention to the seasons, particularly the availability of specific foods. And until the 1950’s, most people around the world also were subject to what the seasons provided. With the inventions of refrigeration, global transportation and chemical preservatives, we now have any kind of food we want, at our fingertips, all year long. And while that might seem like a good thing, it actually can be detrimental to our health, because our bodies are designed to eat according to the seasons. Let’s dig a little deeper into this concept.
The first thing to consider is that eating seasonably means that the food is fresher and more nutrient dense. Even though we all like to eat strawberries year round, the best time to eat them is when they can be purchased directly from the local farm, shortly after being harvested. Crops that have to be shipped are generally picked early, then artificially ripened with chemicals. And studies confirm that fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients when they are allowed to ripen naturally on the vine, tree or bush.
In East Asian Medicine, there is the belief that the earth provides the perfect foods for the perfect environment. In the winter months, warming foods are more readily grown and available. And during the summer months, you will find cooling foods in abundance. So if you’re eating warming foods during the hot summer months or cooling foods during the cold winter months, you are setting your body up for disease.
Cooling foods are those foods that are known to help regulate the body’s temperature on the inside when things get too hot on the outside. It has been known for centuries that combining diet, acupuncture and herbal medicine can bring balance into one’s life. The balance of yin (cooling) and yang (warming) is what keeps the body functioning optimally.
Cooling foods have nothing to do with the actual temperature of the foods, but rather the thermodynamic energy they give off. If you are trying to combat the heat of summer (yang), then you will want to consume cooling (yin) foods. By eating cooling foods will start to decrease the heat within the body. But you also need to be aware of your body’s constitution and any underlying issues you may have. For example, someone who suffers from hypothyroidism will have a tendency to feel cold all the time and if this person indulges in too many cooling foods, they can actually cause gut dysbiosis and possibly a summer cold.
As summer can be a rough few months for many people in the Midwest, it’s good to know what specific cooling foods are. This list is not all encompassing, but it gives you a good idea. And as a general rule of thumb, most fruits and vegetables tend to be thermodynamically cooling in nature. Cooling foods include apples, avocado, bananas, berries (all kinds), cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, coconut, cucumber, grapefruit, grapes, lettuce, nectarines, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, soy, eggplant, squash, zucchini, kidney beans and fermented foods like sauerkraut.
When you find cooling foods that you enjoy and want to use to fuel your body, be sure to eat light meals. Eating too much, too fast will not allow the cooling foods to work as efficiently. When too much are eating too quickly, it actually causes circulation to be impaired. And one of the ways that cooling foods help keep the body temperature regulated is via the blood. When the blood circulates at a slower rate, it takes longer for the body to cool down. Instead of large meals during the summer months, eat smaller meals more often to feel your very best.
The other thing to remember is that hydration is vital during the fiery summer months. Making changes to your diet and incorporating more cooling foods can help you feel so much lighter and balanced. Eating many of the foods above will work to keep you hydrated, but it is not enough. You must make it a point to drink your water. And even though it seems counterintuitive, sipping on some hot chrysanthemum tea is another great way to keep the body cool (think circulation).
If you don’t know what your constitution is or you’re interested in finding out more about how food can help you heal, please contact us. Breaking down your East Asian Medical diagnosis is just part of what we do for our patients. Dietary therapy is also very important and something we take quite seriously at Zen Penguin Wellness. You might be surprised how much the foods you’ve been eating are contributing to your overall health, in ways you never thought possible. Give us a call and get started today.