A heat wave strikes and suddenly your stress levels skyrocket for no apparent reason. You become irritable and agitated at the littlest things. You check the calendar; no it’s not that time of the month.

Why the sudden shift in disposition and what can you do about it? 

According to Ayurvedic medicine, we all contain the elements of space, air, fire, water and earth within us (defined by your Ayurvedic body type). During the summer, an increase in heat can throw those of you with a lot of internal fire off kilter. To manage this effect, you can consume foods, which have a cooling effect on the body.  Try out some of these easy heat-busting remedies below. 

Cucumber water

• Add cucumber slices to a pitcher of water
• Feel free to add mint!
• Enjoy!

Strawberry smoothie

•  8 ounces of water
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• A dash of honey
• Blend until smooth 

Watermelon smoothie

• 4 cups seeded watermelon
• 4 ice cubes
• Blend until smooth

No frills option:  Make yourself a salad with cucumber, tomatoes, and broccoli and add a mild spice called tumeric for an extra chill out punch. 

Try these out and let me know what you think!

For more information on Ayurvedic medicine and determining your Ayurvedic body type check out the book Perfect Health, by Deepak Chopra.

Stacy Slawitsky turned to yoga and mindfulness as a means to relieve the stress of a demanding job at a Big 4 Accounting Firm. Her passion to share the benefits of these practices with others led her to start ZenConnect. She conducts corporate yoga, meditation classes and stress management workshops for employees throughout the Boston area.