With our summer temperatures getting up and over 100 degrees throughout the country, it’s only natural to look for ways to cool down and quench the inferno.
Blazing Heat
Couple of my fav’s:
Follow the Yogi’s~
Traditional ayurveda suggests consuming foods that bring down the body’s internal temperature. Cool peppermint tea, grapes, cucumbers, watermelon and water from the young coconut are top on the list. Nature provides these in abundance during this season for a reason!
Mint Mist~
Peppermint Hydrosol(Mentha x piperita) is the ‘King of Cool’. I like to store a mister in the refrigerator. Spritzing throughout the day is divine & super refreshing.
Loving it Raw~
Keeping summer meals focused on foods with a high water content(raw) is another helpful hint to keeping light, free and breezy. One of my all time loves is from Sarma Melngailis & Matthew Kenney’s book Raw Food Real World; Bunny Spice Shake.(reprinted with permission from author, Sarma Melngailis)
Always Ready for Bunny Spice!
Recipe:
1 cup carrot-ginger juice(run carrots through the juicer with a thumb-size knob of fresh ginger root)
1 cup almond milk
2 cups frozen diced banana
Pinch of ground cinnamon
In a blender, puree all the ingredients until smooth.
This shake is the bomb! It is like swirled ice cream through a straw and has never failed to delight any of my guests.
A little side note: If you are ever in the NYC area, Sarma’s restaurant, Pure Food and Wine is a hot spot for raw foodies. My favorite item on the menu is the Mint Chocolate Sundae-fresh mint, raw cashew cream & gobs of raw cacao….truly a work of art!
Agua Purificada Por Favor~
Ahhhh....Refreshing! (Photo by Sandra Engler)
Stay hydrated with lots of fresh water and/or homemade herbal sun tea. It’s fun, pretty and effective to float cucumber slivers, muddled mint and/or slices of citrus in your brew. Keeping a full pitcher ready in the fridge is a surefire way to encourage imbibing.
Essential Oils That Know How to Chill~
Diffusing essential oils known for their cooling abilities is quick, easy, and another way to wipe the sweat off your brow in a flash.
Original Recipe~
Sweet Orange(Citrus sinensis): 27 drops
Lavender(Lavandula angustifolia): 10 drops
Peppermint(Mentha x piperita): 8 drops
Palmarosa(Cymbopogon martini var. motia): 5 drops
Place the above quantities in a clean, dark glass bottle(15 ml with orifice reducer). Add the appropriate number of drops from your created “stock blend” to your diffuser and turn on.(styles differ, see your manufacturer’s suggestion).
Of course loose, breathable clothing, avoiding direct mid-day sun, and a nice gust from multiple fans are obvious ways to beat the heat too. And if all else fails, I go jump in the Lake!
My Favorite Spot for a Dip~Canandaigua Lake
Until next time,
Breathe Joy…
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There is something really beautiful and profound in simplicity. In today’s world where more is generally perceived as better, it’s nice to pare down to basics, go deeper and establish a relationship with each essential oil. Taking the time to ‘get to know’ your essential oils will not only give you more aromatically pleasing blends, but an opportunity to create successful healing remedies as well.
