With hot sunny days and warm nights in full swing, your instincts may lean towards iced drinks, salads and other cold(ish) foods to avoid feeling warmer, or to cool yourself down.
While it’s smart to reach for hydrating, fresh foods in summer, ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems would love to remind you that balance, including temperature, doesn’t always mean cold equals good in warm weather.
In fact, you may be making yourself more sluggish, foggy, bloated or digestively disrupted by eating too many raw or chilled foods this season.
Here’s why warming foods are important for your daily ritual, even when you feel a little hot ‘n’ sweaty, and how to pair them mindfully with cooling options while supporting your mind, body and energy.
Even in the Heat, Your Digestive Fire Needs Support
In Ayurveda, digestion is governed by your inner fire, aka your agni.
When the sun is strong and temperatures are higher, your agni doesn’t necessarily mirror this external heat. Alternatively, it’s actually excessive intake of iced smoothies, raw veggie bowls and other cold foods and drinks that can weaken your digestion, especially when consumed too much or too fast.
Warm foods and spices are what help keep that digestive fire kindled as they encourage circulation, support metabolism and can even help your body better absorb nutrients from the cooler foods you do eat.
Warm or lightly cooked meals that help maintain digestive strength include stir-fried veggies with warming spices, broth-based soups and gently cooked grains (add ghee or olive oil for added support).
The Effects of Too Much Cold
While wonderful and supportive in moderation, excessive intake of cooling foods such as cucumber, iced drinks or even watermelon may lead to signs of digestive and bodily imbalance such as bloating, irregular appetite and post-meal fatigue.
You don’t have to give up your favourite cool foods (we love watermelon too!), it’s just best to pair them wisely! Think:
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Berry smoothies with warming spices (ex. cinnamon, ginger)
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Salads with warm herbal teas or cooked grains
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Warm lemon water with your cold or raw breakfast
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Warm spiced tonics for grounding post-sun
The goal isn’t restriction, it’s rhythmic eating that reflects both the season and your individual needs.
Add Sunshine in a Cup for a Sweet, Spiced Summer Ritual
Our Spiced Immunity Honey was created with this balance in mind. Made with raw Canadian honey, Ayurvedic spices and organic goji berry extract, it’s made to soothe digestion, lower inflammation and support your immune system year-round, especially when the body is navigating seasonal transitions or extremes.
With warming spices like organic turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger, just a spoonful stirred into warm water, herbal tea, or plant milk offers a grounding ritual that aligns with your natural rhythm, even on the hottest days.
Whether you're chasing sunsets or finding more stillness in the garden, let your meals and your rituals nourish you in full harmony with the season.
