The Summer Diet

     Summer is usually hot and everyone is more active.  You need a diet which keeps you cool and light.  We are very fortunate that nature provides us with such luscious fruits and vegetables to eat at this time.  The gardens and orchards are full.  A diet of primarily raw fruits and vegetables, organically grown is ideal.  This will help you feel lighter, aid in weight loss, and keep your energy strong.

     Foods have yin and yang qualities.  Yin is a general category for passivity, contraction, and the feminine energy.  Things that are cold, moist, slow-moving or even stationary are said to be in a yin state.  Yin is at nighttime, when life slows down and sleep occurs.  Water and the moon are yin and thus connected with the feminine in nature.  The earth and all of space is yin also.  Yang is a general category for things in a state of activity, aggressiveness, and expansion.  Fire is yang.  All things that are hot, dry, and fast-moving are yang.  The daylight hours, during which there is  much activity, is yang.  Time is yang and the sun is a great ball of yang.  Yang is considered the masculine principle in nature.  Thus, time and the sun are associated with the masculine energy.

     Fruits are the most yin followed by vegetables. They are wet and cooling, which are qualities of yin.  Proteins, fats and complex carbohydrates are more yang.  So during the summer, eat lots of fresh fruits and juices, multicolored salads and vegetables, some seeds, nuts, and grains, and fewer dairy products and meats.

     Obviously, if you are doing more physical outdoor work or getting lots of physical activity, you need to eat more food.  Fruits are good in the morning, early afternoon, or as a nighttime snack, and vegetables then can be eaten more in the latter part of the day.  If you eat a heavier meal, you should do this in the middle to late afternoon and rest for a couple of hours.  This will give you overall better evening energy and sleep, plus more complete digestion than eating nearer to bedtime.

     Here are a few good breakfast ideas.  If you like feeling light, have just a couple of pieces of fruit, fruit juice, or tea in the morning.  A richer breakfast might include a small bowl of yogurt with one or two sliced pieces of fruit, such as banana, pear or apple.  You could also choice to have a few nuts, raisins, with a touch of honey or agave nectar.

     If you need more help with your summer diet, make an appointment with a holistic nutrition counselor.  They will be able to assist you with your summer diet and make it tailored to fit your individual needs.

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Brilliant!