Cooling Food / Sheeta Virya
Cooling Food
(Cold, Kapha, Energy, Taasir, sheeta Virya).
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| Staying Cool Balancing Pitta Dosha |
"Cooling foods are wonderful for balancing Pitta dosha."
A common misconception between hot and cold foods is that while a food which is cooked hot is considered to be hot and refrigerated food is considered to be cold. But the potency of food has no relation with the prevailing temperature of the food. Ice cream, for instance, will induce heat in the body, despite being cold in temperature.
Whether to eat heating or cooling foods depends on many factors, including the time of year, your Ayurvedic constitution, (Vata, Pitta or Kapha) and your current state of imbalance.The kind of food we consume has a great impact on our health. Food can be classified into 'hot' and 'cold' categories. This concept is based on the internal nature of the food product. These cooling foods, if included in the summer diet, can easily pacify body heat and restore balance in the body.
"Get Your Energies Right"
Introduction
Potency, Energy, Taasir,Virya is the effect of certain food on the body. Essentially it is believed that the body must not accumulate too much of any one type of energy. If it does it leads to several disorders.
The two basic energy are Kapha and Pitta and they increase or decrease at certain times of the 24 hour cycle of the day, seasons and the human lifespan. Foods and people have pitta and Kapha energies themselves, making it important to know the taasir of the food you eat so you can balance your energies.
Kapha energy peaks at night time, in winter and during childhood.
Pitta energy is found in the afternoon, in summer,and in the youth and middle age of the human lifespan.
Cold foods help in feeling more nourished, strong and steady. They help in build-up of fluids in the body. However, eating cold foods can impart a sense of heaviness in the body. They are harder to digest and can negatively impact the immune system.
Hot and cold foods are based on the internal nature of the food product which would have diverse effects on the three body types (vata, pitta and kapha) as classified in Ayurveda. This classification of food as hot and cold or its innate characteristics is referred to as "Virya" or potency. It simply tries to assess whether a particular food item has a cooling or a heating effect inside our body which in turn has an impact on our metabolism and digestion.
What about cold food?
Delayed digestion, frequent bout of Flu, cough and fever may be the cause due to excess consumption of cold food.
Simply one should try to assess whether a particular food item has a cooling or a heating effect on body, which in turn has an impact on our metabolism and digestion. It is essential to note that consuming foods without considering one's body type and ignoring this distinction between hot and cold could have adverse effect on our health and make us more susceptible to diseases.
- Hot food helps in improving digestion and circulation.
- Cold foods are known to provide nourishment and strength to the body.
- Each body type will be affected in different ways.
"Cold foods helps clear a toxins and in turn provide soothing effect over the body."
The nature of the body type plays a major role in guiding us about the kind of food we should be eating. In case of one consumes excess of hot food the amount of heat that body produces increases. It also causes a burning sensation and the Pitta dosha increases. This can lead to trouble in our digestive system. loose motions, skin rashes and even boils.
Pitta is one of the three psycho- physiological elements that govern the different activities of mind and body. Composed of fire and water. Pitta dosha governs metabolism and transformation in the body, including digestion. Pitta is associated with heat, and its effects are specially felt during the hot summer. from July to October. Whether you have a lot of pitta in your constitution or not you need to pay attention to pacifying pitta in summer.
Signs of aggravated pitta includes : excess stomach acid, heart burn, ulcers in mouth, skin eruptions and irritability. Following a pitta pacifying diet can help keep this fiery element in balance.
Food temperature :
Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita suggest that foods should not be kept for long after eating. Foods are best eaten hot. This is because cold food might be a little difficult to digest and assimilate. They result in more debris and residue.
Right foods for each body type as per Ayurveda :
Pitta -
People who are dominant in Pitta should avoid fried and spicy food. They should have more mint, melons, mangoes, cherries, avocados, cucumber smoothies and coconut puddings. They should include leafy greens in their salad like dandelions, kale and arugula.
"Cold foods are known to provide nourishment and strength to the body."
Tonic for Pitta
- Amalaki
- Aloe vera
- Shatavari
- Licorice
- Lotus seeds
- Bala
Taste
Sweet, bitter and astringent is cooling.
Sour, salt , pungent is heating
What are benefits of cooling foods in Summer
- They aid in the process of detoxification in the body. Removal of toxins (ama) is essential to maintain the health of a person.
- Cooling food pacify the body heat and hydrate the body in summer.
- By balancing the aggravated dosha they help to restore the balance in the body and the mind.
- Cooling food in summer boost the digestion and strengthen gut health. They also enhance the immunity power of the body.
Cooling Food
Lettuce
Green vegetables
Nature is very kind enough to provide seasonal vegetables and fruits for our convenience. This is the vegetables which gives coolness in summer.
Sweet, bitter and astringent : Bitter vegetables : Karela, Cabbage, carrot, cucumber, broccoli, zucchini, and asparagus are pitta pacifying.coriander. Germinate Seeds . Lady's finger, Peas, Potatoes, Sweet Potato.
Gourd Vegetables
Tinda (Round Guard)
Lauki (Bottle gourd)
Pumpkin
Kerala (Bitter Gourd)
It also helps manage blood sugar levels. Low calorie contains a phytonutrient called charantin, folic acid, (rich source of vitamin C) , Beta carotene, iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese.. It is anti-inflammatory and is prescribed for diabetes because its chartin helps balance blood sugar by improving insulin efficiency. The folic acid improves hemoglobin and it is good for skin conditions such as acne. It is good for pancreas.
This helps in prevention of various diseases boost bone formation in the body and heals wounds quicker.I
Pointed Gourd / Parwal
White Pumpkin / Petha
Petha is good for acidity.
Cucumber
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| Cool As Cucumber |
It acts like a diuretic and good for burning micturation. Cucumber or Kakdi are rich in cooling minerals. Cucumber contains mineral like potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine. It also contains carbohydrates, proteins , fats and A, B, C and E vitamins. Never peel the skin of cucumber. Its benefits are numerable.
- Minerals are balanced.
- Kidneys will function efficiently.
- Constipation is relieved.
- Juice of cucumber is useful for application on the face to remove pimples and stains there after.
- Pacifies the heat and burning sensation of the body
- Mouth ulcers and acidity are relieved.
- Joint pain is taken care off.
- Take carrot juice with cucumber juice and spinach juice all together to keep up the health of the hair and skin.
- There is potassium in cucumber, hence heart diseases won't occur.
- Eat cucumber with skin, so problem of teeth, gums and bad breath can be solved.
- Dandruff and hair fall will be prevented with the use of cucumber as a salad, juice etc. Apply juice of cucumber, if one has any problem of nails.
- Cucumber is a store house of minerals and vitamins.
Mushroom
Vegetables like mushroom, are easy to digest in summer months due to their inherently cold nature.
Leafy vegetables
All leafy vegetables except Sarso ka saag.
Fruits
Water Melon
Musk Melon
Banana
Banana is natural antacid.
Banana : Its taasir is high in kapha. Kapha people should it in moderation and everyone should avoid it at night.. Again in winter, banana are best avoided by kapha people.
Papaya
Fig / Anjeer
Raisins / Munakka
Almond Soaked & Peeled
Custard Apple
Sweet Grapes
Fresh Coconut
Amla
Amalki (Emblica officinalis) is a potent rejuvenetor that nourishes the tissue and removes toxins. It has an anti- bacterial and astringent property, which helps increase immunity and protects the body from various infections. Amla has a soothing effect on Pitta body type.
Avoid drinking Amla juice at night due to its cold potency and astringent taste.
Dosage : Take 1 tsp of Amla powder with water twice daily.
Cereals
Barley, Rice, Wheat, and Choker Bran)
Rice
Rice : The taasir is Kapha in nature making it unsuitable for Kapha people. It should be eaten in moderation during cold whether, and avoided at night in any season.
Rice is a cooling food for stomach and intestine and highly recommended for the conditions described as pitta (hot) in Ayurveda.These conditions are inflamed stomach lining, gastro intestinal ulcers, gall bladder or kidney stones, amoebiasis and liver disorders. For loose motions and stomach infections : Rice water with pinch of salt. Amoebiasis : Rice and Mung Khichadi with turmeric (Turmeric is anti- inflammatory.) Liver Disorders : Rice Khichadi, Rice water, Rice idli and rice with vegetables.
Barley (जौ )
Barley : Its nature is cooling or Kapha but unlike other Kapha foods , it does not lead to weight gain. Barley is recommended if you suffer liver disorders (pitta disorder).
Cool Barley : Barley is prescribed for all inflammatory disorders of the body due to excess pitta. Use regularly as cereals. Barley is available as hulled barley, pearly barley, barley flour and barley water beverages.(king of summer drink). Eat it in Roti mixed with wheat flour for the right consistency. It is good if you have weak digestion. Or eat as a porridge with milk and sugar for children and minus sugar for weight loss A dish of vegetables, lentils and barley is also good to eat.
Wheat
Wheat : This grain combines two natures - Pitta (warming) and Kapha (increases weight). It causes discomfort in summer unless it is mixed with barley.
Pulses
Mung.
Spices
Coriander, Cardamom, Fennel
Cooling foods in Summer
The best cooling foods for summers are the ones that are light to digest and help to pacify the body heat. Foods rich in Madhura (sweet), Snigdha (unctuous), Sheeta (cold), and Drava (liquid) Rasas are the best cooling agents in Grishma Ritu or the summer season.
Barley Sattu
Sattu is a flour, usually made from BARLEY. It is extremely effective in keeping the body hydrated and balancing the electrolytes in the body. It gives instant energy and is considered a super food. Highly rich in fiber, Sattu drinks are one of the best cooling agents in summers. You can also consume Sattu in the form of porridge and paranthas.
Sweets
All sugar containing sweets.
Dairy Product
Cold milk, Ghee, Yogurt a cooling food
Cold Milk
Freshly prepared Curd
(An invitation to Sinus)
Curd and Processed cheese : Very high kapha, which means for instance that feeding it to children (who are in the age of Kapha. At night (the time of Kapha) is asking for trouble. Doing such a thing could lead to Kapha disorders such as cold, cough, phelgm, blocked sinuses and lung infections
It keeps the body cool.
Curd has very high Kapha, so feeding it to children at night is asking for trouble.
Organic Cow's Ghee
Hydrating Foods
To combat the intense heat of summers, keeping the body hydrated and refreshed with natural sources is extremely important. Food with high content of water cools down the body heat and rejuvenates the body effectively. Fruits such as watermelon, berries, peaches and mango are some of the best hydrating and cooling foods you can eat during summers.
Cooling Liquids
Milk Shakes
Butter Milk / Chaas
Coconut Water
Keeping the body hydrated is the key to restoring the balance of the body and mind in summers. Liquids such as fruit juices, buttermilk, coconut water and mint water not only hydrate the body but also pacify the aggravated heat inside the body. Their cooling abilities make them one of the best inclusions in the summer diet.
Sugarcane Juice
Wheat Grass Juice
Bottle Guard Juice
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe vera juice reduces acidity and gas and hydrates the colon from inside.
Kokam Sharbet
Amala & Mint Juice
Sweet Rose Lassi
Rose petal lassi makes a refreshing lunch time beverage.
Water
Summers aggravate the fire element and bring dryness to the body. The best way to calm down the aggravated fire is water. Drinking plenty of water keeps the body hydrated and helps the body to cool down in intense heat. It also boosts digestion and aids in the detoxification process in the body.
Having a diet based on the season is extremely important to keep your physical and mental health in balance. Summers aggravate the body heat. Cooling foods that pacify the heat and cools down the body systems are essential in summers. Ayurveda recognizes these foods based on the taste (Rasas) present in them. Include cooling foods in summers to combat the intense heat and keep your body hydrated.
Sweet Fruit Juices
Bael Sherbet
It cools the body. Bael pulp is soothing for intestine. Bael is good for stomach.
Rose
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| Rose Gulkand |
Khus Sherbat
Herbs
Triphala
To be consumed 1/3rd of teaspoon twice a day in powder form. It cures excessive pitta. Triphala removes excess pitta via colon.
Shatavari
To be consumed 1/3rd of teaspoon twice a day in powder form.. It cures excessive pitta. Shatavari also reduces stress
Neem
Sweet Basil Seeds or Sabja Seeds
Honey
It is sheetal (cooling) so used for skin and blood disorders.Honey normalizes pitta.
Spices
These helps in secretion of various digestive enzymes in pancreas that aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Clove
Fennel Seeds
Cardamom
Sandalwood Powder
Chandan Paste also cools the body. Chandan preparation are used for treating headaches and oily skin.
Coriander Leaves
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| Coriander is Cool |
This enhances the taste and flavours of the eatables. There are medicinal qualities in coriander leaves. It contains A,B and C vitamins and iron.
The juice of coriander leaves and honey (each 1 spoon) is to be mixed and taken before sleeping at night. The following disorders are relieved.
- The disorder of lungs.
- Heart problems.
- The ear nose and eye problems.
- Prevent T.B and asthma
- Drop 2 drops of coriander juice in the eyes and the problem of eyes are cured.. Coriander leaves are not to be cooked. They should be used in salads or to decorate eatables. Therefore the vitamins are saved.
Kamdudha Rus
Kamdudha ras is cooling food that has sheeta virya so it is very useful in Pitta roga.
Pravalapanchamrita
Pravalapanchamrita balances Pitta dosha.
Non Vegetarian
White part of egg,
Minimize Yogurt, sour cream, citrous fruits,
Reduce hot Spicy such as Cayenne, dried ginger and mustard seeds..
Favor foods that are liquid rather than dry, and cool or Luke worm rather than hot.
Lentil soups flavored with organic pitta churna make a nutritious pitta pacifying meal.
Drink lots of room temperature and cool water and sip 2-3 cups of Organic Pitta Tea. During the day. Organic pitta tea contains cooling spices and rose petals, renowned for cooling down the mind, body and emotions.
Fresh fruit juices and the water from the young coconuts are wonderful pick-ups on warm sultry day.
At bed time stir some Organic Rose Petal Spread into milk that has been boiled and cooled for a soothing beverage.
Good Eating Habits
To keep digestion efficient and to keep pitta dosha from getting aggravated it is important to follow good eating habits.
Don't skip meals specially breakfast. If you want a light breakfast , try stewed apples and pears.For heartier meals to start a day, follow the stewed fruit with some sweet cooked cereals.
Eat lunch as close to noon as possible. Lunch should be your heaviest meal of the day. Including 2-3 servings of vegetables, whole grains, lentils and fresh cheese. Drink a glass of Sweet Rose Petal Lassi or Digestive lassi flavored with cooling mint and cilantro or coriander.
If you need to go out in the sun when it is hot, don't do it on empty stomach. Eat a sweet juicy pear and a spoonful of Organic Rose Petal Spread to help reduce photo-sensitivity.
Oil
Coconut oil
Sunflower oil
Herb that heal
The Acid-Balance nutritional supplement can help put out the fire inside if you experience excess stomach acid.
The Liver Balance formula helps maintain liver health and keep digestion and bile production balanced.
Organic Premium Amla Berry is specially balancing for pitta. It helps replenish vital nutrients that are depleted by excess heat stress and over work.
What about cold food?
Delayed digestion, frequent bout of Flu, cough and fever may be the cause due to excess consumption of cold food.
Simply one should try to assess whether a particular food item has a cooling or a heating effect on body, which in turn has an impact on our metabolism and digestion. It is essential to note that consuming foods without considering one's body type and ignoring this distinction between hot and cold could have adverse effect on our health and make us more susceptible to diseases.
Raw Onion
Raw Onion has a cooling effect.
- Hence in heat problems such as fever, onion juice is rubbed on the palm and feet.
- Juice of onion cures cholera, dysentery and diarrhea, one can add coriander juice with it. A spoonful of onion juice with honey three times a day would cure cold, bronchitis, hiccups tonsil and cough.
- Though onion is cooked, its food values do not diminish.
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