cooling down from the inside out
that's a lot of heat.
how to manage the heat building in your body -- through what you eat and drink
written by june, moondog yogaa lot of time for heat to accumulate. let's talk about how we can manage this heat through your choice of beverage and foods.
when we talk about heat and how it presents itself in the body and mind, you will hear the term pitta. pitta represents the elements of fire and water. some qualities of pitta are hot, dry, spreading, and sharp (penetrating/quick).
left unchecked, this heat leads to aggravation in essence -- inflammation. making it more challenging for the body to release when we move into the cooler months of fall and winter.
signs that heat is building in the body
- heat: prickly heat, breakouts, rashes, itchy skin
- dryness: dryness of skin, itchy skin
- sharpness: acidity or loose stools
- short emotional fuse
as heat is building in the body it liquifies things and your stools will be loose. this is the time to take notice and start reducing the heat in your body. conversely, heat in your body dries out the water (think of a piece of wood). you may notice your stools being more dry and harder to pass.
so, acidity in the stomach and stool, dryness and irritation of the skin, and a short fuse, irritability, and perhaps even less patience are all signs it's time to address the increasing heat. left unchecked, this heat leads to aggravation in essence -- inflammation. making it more challenging for the body to release when we move into the cooler months of fall and winter.
food: favor the cooling superstars
melons, cucumbers, zucchini, black grapes, dark plums, pomegranate. herbs such as mint, cilantro, fennel, and cardamom. switch from lemon to limeade.
dark leafy greens have a bitter taste and are cooling foods. great time for hummus or any other bean. switch to coconut milk and/or oil.
decrease onions and garlic -- they build heat. i know, i know. i am italian after all!
dark black grape juice, coconut water, coconut milk in soups and chia puddings.
go to softer, lighter cheeses -- brie, goat or sheep cheese, mozzarella, even feta -- as opposed to hard sharp cheeses, which are more heating.
dark leafy greens have a bitter taste and are cooling foods. great time for hummus or any other bean.
drinks: ayurvedic recipes for staying cool
aloe cooler
a couple of ounces of aloe into water, coconut water, or pomegranate juice -- or aloe vera juice on its own. alternate ratio: 1/4 cup of aloe juice added to a quart of water.
coriander basil cooler
bring 2 cups of water to a boil. reduce to medium heat and add 1 Tablespoon coriander seed. cook for 3 minutes uncovered. turn off heat and add 4–5 sprigs of fresh basil. cover and steep for 5 minutes. strain into a container. add 1–2 tsp lime juice and 1 tsp sweetener (raw sugar, simple syrup). can be served warm or cool.
lime electrolyte water
to 1 quart of water add 1 tsp something sweet (raw sugar, maple syrup, or simple syrup), 1 Tablespoon lime juice, and a pinch of pink salt.
rose petal tea
boil 1 quart of water for 10 minutes. remove from heat and add 1 tsp of rose petals. steep for 5 minutes. strain and enjoy.
bonus: rose water is really good for the skin -- try a rose water spray for your face and body.
simple hack: add a slice of cucumber, a sprig of mint and/or lavender, or a cardamom pod to your water in place of lemon.
ayurvedic fall rejuvenation with june
what we do now matters. the heat we address this summer is the same heat that -- left unchecked -- makes it harder for the body to shift when fall arrives. june's 3-week fall rejuvenation course is designed for exactly that transition.
september 24 – october 15, 2026 · $150 · registration closes september 16
register here or visit the course page to learn more.
start small. swap the lemon for cucumber. make the lime water. your body will notice.
light your lamp & you light the world --
june and the moondog team