“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates
In ancient times all around the world, before the creation of medicine, there was food. Food was for nourishment, food was for pleasure, and food was for healing. How? Because food actually has internal and medicinal properties that can balance our bodies within, and also provide balance between the body and the environment. One way to do this is through the properties of food, namely how “hot” or “cold” a food is; and no this actually has nothing to do with how the food is prepared! Regardless if a food is served cooked or raw, it naturally has properties that make it a certain “temperature”.
This being the summer, we’re obviously at a time where the environment is very hot, and also very damp. This can lead us to generating imbalances in our Qi that are also “hot” in nature. If we do catch a cold, it’s usually marked by sore throats, sweats, and yellow phlegm. We also “hot pain” conditions like rheumatoid arthritis flare up more often, or the condition of “summer heat” that we talked about last week. Heat also can unsettle the spirit causing bouts of insomnia, dream disturbed sleep, or general feelings of anxiety/stress accompanied by hot flashes or the tell tale “red in the face”.
While modalities like acupuncture, herbs, massage, qi gong, yoga, and meditation are great interventions to combat the heat, it’s still important to maintain our health at home. So, today I’m going to give you a few foods that are “cool” in nature, along with a few recipes to help keep things cool.
Fruits: Apple, Banana, Citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit), Kiwi, Pear, Starfruit, Persimmon, Watermelon (any melon!)- Vegetables: Alfalfa, Asparagus, Celery, Cucumber, Eggplant, Green Leafy Veg (spinach, kale, chard), Lotus, Mushroom, Tomato, Watercress, Winter Melon
- Grains: Barley, Buckwheat, Millet, Mungbean, Soybean/Tofu,
- Meat/Dairy: Clams, Crab, Rabbit,
- Beverages: Chrysanthemum Tea, Green Tea, Peppermint Tea
Cooling Meals:
Morning Smoothie: 1 cup coconut water, 1 cup frozen pineapple, 2 cups kale, 1 cup green grapes, 1 scoop protein powder.
- Grain Free Veggie Pasta: boil a grain free noodle (quinoa, corn, rice), then saute some green leafy vegetables, peppers, mushrooms. Top with tomato and and avocado. The avocado and pepper are neutrual, and will protect your digestive system from getting too cold. If you want to add a meat, stick with seafood or chicken which have neutral/warm properties.
Season with coconut oil & garlic salt.
- Watermelon Salad: mix together some mixed greens of choice, add in some diced watermelon. heirloom tomato, cucumber, and avocado. Season with feta cheese, mint, olive oil, and salt/pepper.
Every bit of food we put into our body affects our state of balance and health, and many conditions can be alleviated or exacerbated based on our diet. In addition to pairing foods with the climate, it’s also important to know your general constitution so you can find out what foods are best for you. Talk to one of the Stream Point Practitioners if you would like to learn more!
