Baby, it’s HOT outside! The brutal winter is a thing of distant memory as we now struggle to keep cool instead of warm as we FLEX through our favorite workouts. After an extra sweaty session in when you felt like you were doing thousands instead of hundreds, your core can get super hot, in more ways than one. While it may feel like you want to go jump in a bathtub full of ice, there are more comfortable (and delicious) ways to keep your cool so you can conquer each workout like the FLEX-y rockstar you are.
Ancient medicinal practices, like Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine, have sworn by balancing the temperature of the body during each season with foods that either cool or warm from the inside. And surprise, none of these ancient practices recommend dousing yourself in ice water or even drinking cold drinks! Now don’t worry, I’m not saying swear off the cubes, but you may also want to try some of these top cooling foods:
1. Melon – Watermelon, Cantaloupe and Honeydew
Melons (especially watermelon) are made of mostly water, so they help keep us hydrated, which is essential for keeping cool. They also contain high amounts of potassium, which boosts muscle and nerve function, so they are an amazing pre or post workout snack! Try: Saving leftover chunks of melon by freezing them and adding them into your water after a workout. They’ll give it a delicious flavor and you get a sweet treat as a reward for finishing your glass!
2. All the green veggies – cucumbers, asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, bok choy, celery, cabbage, kale, lettuce, snow peas, etc.
You get the idea. Greens, and especially leafy ones, that grow quickly are packed with vitamins and minerals and help to detoxify and therefore cool the body. Eating these raw (see the amazing recipe below) is even more beneficial, so you can take advantage of their naturally high water content and their full nutritional benefits. Plus, the satisfying crispiness of most of these is a great way to satisfy your need for crunch instead of reaching for chips or crackers, which can be too warm and drying for your body during this season.
Try: Substitute noodles in your favorite pasta dish with zucchini! Simply use a potato grater to grate long strips into a bowl or a pan and lightly sauté or leave raw and add a simple sauce for a quick, cool meal!
3. Coconut – coconut meat, oil, water, etc.
I love me some coconut products. Not only do I use coconut oil on my skin and hair, but I eat a tablespoon every day! It’s natural anti-microbial properties to help rid your body of toxins and protect against infection and illness. It’s medium chain saturated fat aids thyroid function, which helps regulate your body temperature and increase metabolism! So you will torch some extra calories while feeling (less) burn!
Tip: Add coconut oil to smoothies, shakes or even drizzled over fresh fruit. Make sure to buy the organic, cold pressed kind to ensure you’re getting full nutritional benefits!
Want more info? Here’s a Summer Shopping List of cooling foods from John Douillard’s LifeSpa website that I find very helpful during over-heated, post-workout hangry mode. Have fun, experiment and check in with your internal temperature after eating some of these foods. You may just feel so good you may finally try that FlexTRX (or Barre or Pilates) class you’ve been “wanting to check out” for *ahem* months now. 🙂
And if you’re feeling super adventurous, below is quick, easy recipe I tried out recently from Young and Raw that was DELICIOUS and cooled me off good after a long day of FLEXing! Note: Just be sure to leave out the chili flakes in the sauce – spicy seasonings are heating for the body and it is tasty enough without them!
Keep COOL and FLEX on!
Love and light,
Hannah B
Leave a reply