Selfcare Tips for June

The days are longer and warmer, children are out of school, and we turn our attention to summer activities, such as vacationing, pool parties, picknicks, and barbecues. To stay cool and healthy this June, follow some of these selfcare tips.

Selfcare Tips for June

Diet

With the summer heat, you’ll want to focus on smaller, lighter meals, because they’re easier on your digestion, especially during the heat of the day. Choose from any of these seasonal foods. 

• Fruits that are in season now in the northern hemisphere include all sorts of berries, cherries, apricots, coconut, grapes, limes, mangoes, cantaloupe, melons, pineapple, rhubarb, and pomegranates.

  
  

• Include vegetables like avocado (although technically a fruit), cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, okra, zucchini, summer squash, peas, spinach, tomatoes, and potatoes.

  
  

• Lighter grains include barley, rice, basmati, risotto, and wheat.

Basically, you want to avoid heavy and heating foods, such as spicy foods, aged cheeses, onion, garlic, ginger, and mustard seeds.

Herbs

Choose herbs with cooling properties to help balance excess heat, such as mint, coriander, cilantro, fennel, rose petals, hibiscus, hops, licorice root, raspberry leaf, and aloe vera.  Ayurvedic herbs that pacify Pitta (the dosha associated with fire and heat) include brahmi, neem, shatavari, and manjistha.

Lifestyle

• Have a consistent sleep schedule and wake up at sunrise or before. 

  
  

• Exercise during the cool parts of the day, such as early morning or at night; and avoid strenuous exercise during the day’s heat. If you practice yoga, incorporate calming and cooling yoga postures (asanas), like Child’s pose (Balasana), Gate Pose (Parighasana), Half Lord of the Fishes (Ardha Matsyendrasana), Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana), and Reclined Spinal Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana).

  
  

  

• Stay hydrated!  Hydration is important for regulating your body temperature, and improving cognition, mood and sleep. Drink cooling beverages, like water, coconut water and herbal teas; but avoid iced drinks because they can weaken your digestive fire (agni).

  
  

• Protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US.  So, wear sunglasses, a hat, breathable clothing, and use a natural sunscreen.

  
  

• Practice Abhyanga or self-massage with cooling oils such as coconut oil or sunflower oil. 

Stay cool and enjoy the beginning of summer.