Understanding Summer's Impact on Body and Mind
Summer is a season of heat and intensity, bringing longer days and stronger sunlight that can shift how we feel in both body and mind. As temperatures rise, the body works harder to stay cool, often leading to dehydration and increased internal heat.
These changes can increase stress responses like cortisol, which may leave us feeling more tired, irritable, or out of balance. In Ayurveda, this reflects the influence of pitta season, where excess heat can impact not only energy levels, but also hormones and mood—making it especially important to support balance during the summer months. [1]
Key Takeaways
- Summer heat makes the body work harder to stay cool, raising cortisol and leaving us tired, irritable, or out of balance.
- In Āyurveda, this is pitta season — excess heat that impacts not just energy, but hormones and mood too.
- Cooling foods are the first remedy: bitter and astringent vegetables, light grains like quinoa and basmati rice, sweet fruits like melons and grapes, and light proteins like mung beans and tofu.
- Reduce anything sharp, acidic or oily — summer discomfort comes from adding heat to heat.
- Lifestyle matters as much as food: gentle, noncompetitive movement, no midday sun, room-temperature (never iced) water, and no overscheduling.
- Try moon bathing instead of sunbathing — time outside when the sun is low keeps pitta calm.
- Daily cooling rituals help: coconut oil massage before bathing, mild yoga and meditation, and loose cotton or silk clothing.
- Adaptogens like eleuthero (studied since 1947) and amino acid–rich moringa support steady, sustained energy through the season.
- Slowing down is the theme — the body maintains balanced energy, hormones, and mood when it isn't forced to fight the heat.
Blending Traditional Wisdom with Modern Ayurvedic Practice
Both traditional and modern Ayurvedic voices come together in recognizing that summer's intense heat can significantly impact energy levels, hormones, and mood if the body isn't properly supported.
Kate O'Donnell's Modern Ayurvedic Approach
Kate O'Donnel, an Ayurvedic Practitioner, brings Ayurveda into a modern, accessible light—blending ancient wisdom with practical, everyday living. She ever so eloquently describes summer as:
"Refreshing foods that lighten the body and keep the system cool…will alleviate discomfort from the hot, sharp, oily qualities of heat and humidity. The summer recipes harness the bitter taste of fresh greens to cool the blood, the astringency of season fruits to tone the tissues, and mildly sweet foods…balance fire in the digestive tract". — Kate O'Donnell, Ayurvedic Practitioner
She suggests introducing foods and activities that are cooling, neutralizing, slow and relaxing while reducing anything that is sharp, acidic or oily.
Cooling Foods for Summer Energy and Hormone Balance
In order to combat the dropping energy levels that can wreak havoc on our hormones and our mood during this season, she suggests favouring vegetables that are bitter and astringent, such as:
- zucchini
- broccoli
- leafy greens
- celery
- green beans
- fennel root
She also advises us to incorporate light, neutral grains, such as:
- quinoa
- white basmati rice
- barley
as well as sweet and neutral fruits including:
- grapes
- pomegranates
- melons
- limes
As far as protein goes, she recommends cool and light proteins like mung beans, tofu, and lean white meats and fish for non-vegetarians.
Summer Lifestyle Guidelines to Protect Your Energy
When it comes to attempting to combat the stress that summer can bring on our hormones and mood, we cannot forget to address lifestyle guidelines that will help with dropping energy levels that occur in the summer. Kate O'Donnell suggests:
- practicing moderation in choosing activities and avoiding overscheduling yourself.
- She encourages engaging in noncompetitive exercises like swimming, moderate yoga, and walking.
- She guides us to stay out of the midday sun, but to enjoy time in nature.
- She counsels us to spend time outside when the sun is lower in the sky or to try moon bathing instead of sunbathing.
- Drinking room temperature or cool water, not cold or ice water, and taking cool baths and showers will also help to keep our hormones in check [2].
Vasant Lad's Classical Ayurvedic Perspective on Pitta Season
Vasant Lad, an Ayurvedic physician who represents a more classical Ayurvedic perspective, explains that summer is hot, bright and sharp - the season of pitta. Thus, the main recommendation for everyone is to keep cool and not allow the pitta dosha to become aggravated.
To combat this, Vasant Lad recommends:
- In the morning, as part of your daily routine, rub 5 to 6 ounces of coconut oil or sunflower oil on your body before bathing. Coconut oil is calming, cooling, and soothing to the skin.
- He recommends doing some mild yoga exercises and quiet meditation twice a day. Good postures for summer including the Fish, Camel, Boat, Cobra, and Cow pose.
- As for our bedtime routine in the summer, he suggests going to bed a little later, around 11 PM or midnight but at the same time everyday.
- He encourages us to rub some coconut oil on your scalp and the soles of your feet for a cooling effect before going to sleep.
- Vasant Lad even advises us as to what we should wear in the summer. He recommends wearing cotton or silk clothing, as it is cooling, light, and allows the skin the breathe. Loose-fitting clothes are best as they permit their air to pass through and cool the body [3].
Following these tips and tricks from these Ayurvedic gurus will definitely help improve our mood in the summer and help keep our hormones balanced.
What Both Ayurvedic Experts Agree On
Overall, both Kate O'Donnell and Vasant Lad highlight how important it is to slow down and stay cool during the summer months. Whether through lighter foods, calming routines, or mindful daily habits, their guidance focuses on helping the body process heat without becoming overexerted.
By making intentional choices—like eating more cooling foods, avoiding pushing yourself too hard, and taking time to rest—it becomes much easier to maintain steady energy, balanced hormones, and a more consistent mood throughout the season.
Adaptogens for Sustained Energy and Vitality
Eleuthero: A Time-Tested Adaptogen for Energy and Stamina
Since it was first studied in 1947, eleuthero has been valued as an adaptogen that helps support healthy energy and stamina levels. Traditionally used for centuries, it's known for helping the body stay energized and maintain endurance, making it a popular choice if you are looking to naturally support sustained energy throughout the day. [4]
Moringa: Amino Acid–Rich Support for Consistent Vitality
Another important adaptogen that aids in maintaining consistent energy levels is moringa. Moringa is a well-known plant valued for its ability to support healthy energy and stamina levels. Naturally rich in amino acids, it helps the body maintain energy and supports overall vitality.
As an adaptogenic herb, moringa helps promote balanced, sustained energy throughout the day, making it a great option for supporting consistent vitality and endurance. [5]
Natural Support for Energy and Hormonal Balance
Thankfully, using OSH Wellness Hormone & Mood Support is an easy way to naturally support healthy energy and stamina levels throughout the day. With eleuthero and moringa both included in it, this blend helps promote steady, sustained energy while supporting overall balance in the body.
It's an easy addition to a daily routine for anyone looking to feel more energized and maintain consistent endurance. This product will certainly help you combat those plummeting energy levels with the summer heat!
Final Thoughts: Staying Balanced Through the Summer Heat
Overall, summer can have a much bigger impact on how we feel than we realize, especially when it comes to energy, mood, and hormones. By paying attention to simple things—like eating lighter foods, staying cool, and not doing too much—we can support our body through the heat.
Adding gentle support, like adaptogens, can help keep energy consistent. With a few slight adjustments, it's easier to feel balanced and enjoy the season a lot more.
Resources
- Summer Guide – Banyan Botanicals [1]
- The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook: A Seasonal Guide to Eating and Living Well - Kate O'Donnell and Cara Brostrom [2]
- The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies - Vasant Lad [3]
- Eleuthero: The History and Benefits of This Adaptogenic Herb [4]
- Moringa Benefits & Uses | Ayurvedic Herb Guides – Banyan Botanicals [5]
