The healthiest foods to eat in summer are different than what you eat in the other seasons.

That’s because in summer you want to eat foods that counteract the summer heat.

This is important.

Because summer heat has a bigger impact on your physical and mental health than you might realize.

When you have too much heat in your system it can cause all sorts of uncomfortable symptoms.

If you have rashes, acne, acid reflux, strong body odor, and a large appetite, those are all signs that you have too much heat in your system.

Angry outbursts, hot-headedness, and over-excitability are also signs of too much heat.

And some people need to be extra careful.

If you’re naturally enthusiastic, extroverted, and have a loud voice, it means that you naturally run hotter than other people.

And when you naturally run hot, summer heat can easily tip you into a state of imbalance and dis-ease.

But too much summer heat can make anyone feel icky, even if they naturally run cold.

Because according to holistic medicine, health is about keeping yourself balanced relative to your external environment.

And too much of anything, including summer heat, can cause imbalance.

So if you want to feel healthy, balanced, and energized all summer long, you’ve got to know the healthiest foods to eat in summer.

The healthiest foods to eat in summer are going to be cooling and hydrating.

And specific flavors and cooking methods will help you get there.

The best flavors to focus on in the summer are bitter, sour, and naturally sweet foods.

Bitter foods are naturally cooling and detoxifying.

But the bitter flavor also isn’t very palatable.

Don’t worry!

You don’t have to try to force down the most bitter foods to reap the benefits.

Some good options that are only mildly bitter (but still very effective) include kale, dandelion greens, spinach, endive, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Sour is also a good flavor to include in your meals when the weather is hot.

Because sour makes you pucker and salivate, which adds more moisture to your system.

If you live in a hot and humid summer climate like in New England you don’t have to eat quite as much sour as people living in a hot and dry climate should.

But because heat always causes your body to evaporate moisture, it’s a good idea to include at least a bit of sour in your diet every day in the summertime, even when it’s damp outside.

Some healthy and delicious sour options include lemons, limes, berries, and tamarind.

You also want to include naturally sweet foods in your diet in the summertime.

Naturally sweet foods are nourishing, harmonizing, calming, and moistening.

Which are all qualities you want to emphasize when the world is buzzing around you.

But don’t use this as an excuse to eat a box of cookies!

Naturally sweet foods are whole ingredients that have a naturally sweet flavor without any added sugar.

This flavor is a lot milder than what many of us are used to, so you might be surprised at some of the ingredients on this list.

Naturally sweet foods include whole grains, root vegetables, healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and avocados, as well as seasonal fruit.

Want to know more about staying healthy with the seasons?

Then click here to get your hands on Eat Healthy + Feel Better.

Eat Healthy + Feel Better is my simple seasonal diet + lifestyle E-book that’ll help you feel healthier, more energized, and more balanced throughout the year.

In it you’ll find an extensive list of flavors, foods, cooking-methods, and lifestyle tips to help you and your family thrive in any climate.

And now I’d love to hear from you.

How do you keep yourself cool and balanced when the weather gets hot?

Leave a comment, I’d love to know!