Ayurveda on 5 Super Summer fruits

It’s summer time of the year. Ayurveda calls summer season as ‘Grishma Ritu’. As the sunrays become more powerful, the body feels as if squeezed with increasing atmospheric temperature. This in turn weakens the Kapha day by day and strengthens Vata.

Ayurveda is called as the science of life because it gives great importance to preventive aspect of health. If you notice the ancient classical textbooks on Ayurveda, the initial chapters have been devoted for the daily regimen and seasonal regimen.

What Ayurveda has to say about Summer?

· Salt, Sour and pungent tastes should be avoided

· Rigorous exercises and too much exposure to sunlight should be avoided

· Preference should be given to sweet taste

· The food should be light, unctuous and cool in properties

· Cold water should be used for taking shower

· Intake of alcoholic beverages should be forbidden

· Diet should include white rice, watery meat soup, water flavored with camphor powder or trumpet flower, churned spicy yoghurt, milk, leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits etc.

What are the ideal fruits for Summer?

1. Mango – As per Ayurveda, ripe mango is heavy, pacifies Vata , is sweet and sour in taste and increases Kapha and Virility.

2. Grapes – Ayurveda considers grapes as the best among fruits. It is aphrodisiac, improves vision, and keeps the bowels clear. The sweet taste makes it ideal for Summer season. It is heavy, unctuous and cold in properties. It pacifies Vata and cures bleeding disorders, bitter taste of mouth, cough, fever, alcoholic intoxication and emaciation.

3. Pomegranate – It is sweet in taste and pacifies tridoshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They are stomachic, light, unctuous, constipative, appetizer and carminative in action.

4. Water Melon – They are extremely hydrating and best suited for season. It cools the body and pacifies Pitta. It should not be combined with any other food items and is better to be eaten alone.

5. Plums – They are sour in tast, vitiate Pitta and Kapha. It pacifies Vata and is a laxative. It’s heavy for digestion and hot in potency. In addition, Plums are store house of nutrients and cures digestive problems.

Fruits are summer super fruits and are healthy for digestion and assimilation. Fully ripened, fresh fruits appropriate to season can act as nectar. As per Ayurveda, fruits with above mentioned qualities gets immediately digested and converts to Rasa (one among the 7 tissues). It increases the Ojas (energy and vitality) and provides immunity. Remember to go for organic fruits from your local market

Our body's 60% is composed of water and for proper health, staying hydrated is absolutely necessary.