Summer is synonymous with cold drinks, days by the pool and frozen desserts. It’s all about beating the heat. However, foods that seem like chill choices may have the opposite effect. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there exist ‘warming foods’ and ‘cooling foods’. It’s not just the nutrients in a food but also the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ of certain foods that can make you feel better and/or cool you down or warm you up? And it has nothing to do with the temperature at which they are served!
According to TCM, each food has an energetic property of yin or yang. These are thought of as complimentary pairs that are constantly shifting in relationship to one another. An easy ways to think about it: Yin is to yang as night is to day…quiet is to busy…and cold is to hot. It is believed that we absorb yin (cold) or yang (hot) energy from the foods we eat and that medical and or bodily conditions are manifestations of these yin-yang imbalances. This means that we can heal ourselves by correcting our imbalances with the appropriate yin-yang foods. So finding foods that have a cooling effect on the body will not only make you feel literally cooler but they also clear heat and toxins from the body.
If you want to beat the heat, skip the ice cream and reach for these in-season eats to cool down your body naturally.
1. Cucumber
Being “cool as a cucumber” might actually have some weight to it. Cucumbers are incredibly hydrating, and staying adequately hydrated during the hotter months is crucial. Snack on cucumber slices and hummus, or if you’re truly desperate for some heat relief, a green juice with lots of cucumber and lemon is a great way to stay hydrated and cool. Either way, you’ll reap the benefits.
2. Watermelon
No day at the beach is complete without some fresh slices of watermelon. In the summer, cooling foods like watermelon can act like internal A/C, while in the winter, warming foods like meat, spices, and root vegetables can act like an internal space heater. So indulge in some icy cold watermelon and do yourself a favor by cooling off and hydrating yourself.
As a general rule, the higher the water content in a food, the more likely it will keep your temperature down. Watermelon is chock-full of water, which slows down digestion and takes less energy from the body.
3. Peaches
Originally cultivated in China, peaches are another cool, seasonal pick. Not only are they delicious this time of year, but they also contain vitamins A and C, which promote healthy skin, and at 35-50 calories a pop, they make the perfect healthy dessert.
4. Apples
Pair apples with peanut butter for the perfect snack that will cool you down and fill you up. Apples contain about 4g fiber for around 95 calories. They also contain a type of soluble fiber called pectin, which has been found to stop hunger in its tracks and aid in weight loss.
5. Pineapple
Along with banana, spinach, kale and cucumber, pineapple makes for a great green smoothie booster. In fact, all of these ingredients are considered to be cooling, so blend away! Pineapple is also the only known source of an enzyme called bromelain, which is credited for reducing inflammation in the body.
6. Leafy Greens
Is there anything that leafy greens can’t do for your body? Spinach, kale, collard greens, and romaine take the nutritional cake for healing and helping your body. Since greens have a high water content, they’re easy to digest. This means your body doesn’t have to work as hard, which saves you energy and keeps you cool.
7. Lemons
Citrus has an incredible cooling effect on the body and also promotes detoxification. Everyone knows how important it is to drink a ton of water every day, but plain ol’ H2O can be boring. Time and time again experts recommend adding lemon to your water not only for its skin and immune-boosting benefits and detoxifying qualities, but because it actually encourages you to drink more water overall.
8. Zucchini
Zucchini is actually a type of summer squash that can range in color from yellow to a dark green. In addition to containing vitamin C and important phytonutrients, zucchini is a great source of manganese. This mineral can help protect your body from free radicals (particularly of concern during the summer months when you’re more susceptible to sun damage) and also promotes collagen production and healthy bone tissue growth.
9. Hot Peppers
You read that right! Spicy foods can make you sweat, which provides a cooling sensation. Peppers are often consumed in countries close to the equator because they are perceived as cooling foods primarily because they influence the body when you perspire, and through evaporative cooling, you feel cooler. It doesn’t cool you to the core, but it cools the skin.
And if you thought ice cream was your go-to Summer cooler, here’s a fun Summer fact!
It turns out the fat content in ice cream actually makes your body warmer. Foods that contain more fat, protein, and carbohydrates often heat the body up a little bit during digestion. The sheer temperature difference gives a cooling sensation, but when your body starts to digest, you feel warm because your body has to provide energy to digest that food product. Fat is notorious for moving slowly through the digestive system so it takes more energy to digest that fat. Anytime you are putting more energy through the system, whether it be digestion or weight lifting, your body has a tendency to heat up.
So spend some time at your local Farmer’s Markets looking for delicious ‘cooling’ foods this Summer to keep the heat at bay.
