Summer health and how to maintain it

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Why should your natural habits be any different during the summer than your health at other times of the year? Of course, good nutrition should be employed at all times. However, as each season rolls around, there are special considerations during that period. For instance, in summer, one should pay particular attention to digestion. The body does not need heavy goods for fuel like it does during the wintertime. Therefore, the lighter, easily digested fruits and vegetables are the preference of the body during the warm months. Fruits are nature’s desserts and should satisfy even the most stubborn sweet tooth. Whip up a fruit slush in your blender using a variety of fruits and a few ice cubes, and then freeze the mixture in ice cube trays or other containers for a natural juicesicle.”

You may want to arrange a tempting medley of colorful fruits on a platter and then take plain yogurt and add honey and cinnamon to taste and a dash of lemon juice. Stir together and use as a natural and delicious fruit dip, or sauce for fruit salad. (Because of the digestive enzymes required it is suggested that melons be eaten alone, without the addition of other fruits or foods. However, who would want anything else after indulging in a big irresistible slice of sweet, juicy melon?)
Of course, you do not want to spend your summer days slaving over a hot stove, and this is why cool salads are so wonderful. The barbecue may beckon, but keep in mind that any meats cooked over an open fire, especially those that are charbroiled are highly carcinogenic and it is in your best health interest to create a veggie burger, instead. Take a whole grain bun and spread with natural mayonnaise, fresh alfalfa sprouts, some thinly sliced Jack cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, red onion, and bell pepper, and you will never miss the meat! Add a fresh salad – whether leafy green macaroni, potato or any number of other tasty ones to complete your outdoor cuisine. And remember, when you get a yen for liquid..a refreshing glass of fruit juice or peppermint, red raspberry leaf or chamomile tea with a touch of lemon and honey will quench your thirst far better than any synthetically colored and flavored beverage.
How do you handle the summer snacking urge? Well, when everyone else is indulging in those greasy, high- sodium crunchies, why not take advantage of the bounties of nature and make “zucchini chips”? Dry thin slices of zucchini until they are chips and then shake some natural herb seasoning (salt substitute) over them. For a sweet treat, try eating home-dried banana chips.
While you are enjoying the great outdoors, what do you do about those nasty biting, dracula-like insects which like to feast on YOU? Well, folklore says they do not bother people who ingest a high quantity of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Foods rich in thiamine include brown rice, whole wheat, oatmeal, and most vegetables. These pests really seem to dive into people who indulge in sugary sweets (another mark against refined sugar products!). White sugar also depletes the body of all B-vitamins, which are vital to stood health.
For those who may travel where the water or food ma be suspected of harboring parasites or strange microbes, it is wise to take along Goldenseal (which can kill giardia in the system) and parasite herbal formulas which contain Black Walnut. Also take Garlic. Be sure and keep your digestive tract in shape. When it is working properly and there is sufficient hydrochloric acid in the stomach, the parasites and their eggs are neutralized and eliminated quickly from the body. Effective digestive herbs include Peppermint, Catnip and Fennel and PDA.
The summer is a good time to think about “cleaning house.” The blood and the colon are two vital areas of concern. Some of the many herbs which help cleanse the intestinal tract include Cascara Sagrada, Psyllium Hulls and Slippery Elm. Blood-cleansing herbs include Red clover and Goldenseal. Taking combinations which include these herbs will do much in contributing to your overall health and you will feel more energetic as toxins are removed from your system. Be sure and drink plenty of fresh juices and pure water as part of your detoxifying regime, because this helps expedite the flushing of wastes from the body. Avoid mucus forming foods such as refined starches, meats and milk products, as this puts an additional burden on the digestive system, especially when you are trying to cleanse.
The sunshiny air and warm temperatures of summer encourage both exercise and rest. There must be a balance of both in your schedule or you may feel sluggish and tired. Exercise stimulates circulation to all parts of the body and is actually a nourishing element. It oxygenates the blood, is an excellent energizer and helps detoxify the body through the pores by promoting perspiration. Playing tennis or volleyball, swimming or even a quick jog or walk around the block are just a few of the many types of exercise which will boost your immune system. Rest is very important, too, but often we cheat ourselves from getting the proper sleep. However, sometimes even a quick “cat nap” will do wonders toward rejuvenating our spirits and enables you to continue our daily activities long after your friends are ready to call it a day.
The Chinese believe summer linked to the Fire Element (one of the Five Elements in the Chinese Quinary), and they feel that it primarily governs two organs of the body: the heart and the small intestine. The state of health of these two Fire areas can be indicated b the tongue. If it is pale, then a person could be weak in the circulatory area (anemic), if it is dark and red; then the heart and circulation could be too overactive, and the person could find it hard to relax. If the tongue has a coating, the intestinal area could be congested with mucus, and sluggish, or be loose (as with diarrhea).
Increase your vitality this season with good nutrition and also by monitoring your body’s signs.

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